Listers,
I just looked at a '78 Spitfire 1500 that is for sale ($500 asking). I think
it may turn out to be a good parts car. They body has almost no rust (just a
couple bubbles on the rear fender) but has a good size dent in the bonnet and
a gouge in the drivers door. It has not been running for 2 years but has been
covered in a garage. The owner said that he would be driving it and the
engine would just quit. The last time that happened, he gave up and parked it
(he is not mechanically inclined). It is however mechanically complete. It
even has a hard and soft top. Hard top in great condition (probably never
used here in Hawaii). It has a single carb.
Here is my thinking on this, please tell me if I'm off in left field.
I don't really need a parts car at the moment, but you never know when your
gonna need something. Since I'm still in the process of rebuilding the engine
in my '73 Spit 1500, and hate not being able to drive it, I could pull the
engine in the '78 and put it in my '73 and be back on the road in a couple
days. Meanwhile I have a decent source of parts or more likely a good project
car. The hard top is a pretty nice extra although it will probably never get
used here. Maybe when the Air Force decides to send me to someplace like
Colorado it will come in handy.
Is $500 a decent price for a nonrunning but complete car?
How much is a good hardtop worth and is that enough to justify buying the car?
Thanks in advance for your wisdom. I guess I have already made my decision to
buy it (maybe even talk him down to $400) but I just wanted a sanity check.
Money is tight as always, so this is a splurge for me, but this seems almost
too good a deal to pass up. What do you think?
Thanks,
David Gates
'73 Spitfire 1500
Maybe soon a '78 Spitfire 1500
http://members.aol.com/gatesdavid/index.htm
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