Would be needed to fix this thing up? It has sat for twenty years no rust..top is in bad shape, the engine has 107k original miles. All number match...all power options AM/FM and AC.
It has the 400ci...what kinda of return could I see if I dropped say 5 grand into it?

The engine bay is clean. I can get more pictures or info on the condition of the car too...

thank you all so much!

 

That question is like me asking you how much to build a house with no other details provided. Additional details like current operating condition and what all you want to accomplish.

 

Anywhere from $1 to a million bucks. Without a detailed inspection of the car and a complete understanding of what you want to do to it, an estimate is impossible. Are you doing the work yourself or paying someone else? What are your skills? What tools and equipment do you have? Do you want it to be totally correct and stock, or modified?

Bottom line is that if you plan to fix it up to flip it, you will NEVER get your money back. Sell it the way it is.

 

X2... Your very first decision is to decide to keep it or sell it... Finances and skills available are essential in helping to make this decision...

 

So far we can see it needs a new top. What else?

Post some pictures.

 

You should be able to get $2500 more than what you can sell it for now, if you put $5000 in to it. I always say any upgrades expect to get 50 cents on the dollar and labor is worth nothing. Jmo.

 

 

x4...you are not going to get enough $ back investing more money in it. Does it run + drive? What do you know that it needs?

 

I know it sucks , but everyone is right . You wont get your money back. If you keep it do what you want with it , money allowing and enjoy the journey. If you just want to make money on the car then just sell it and forget about it. I think most everyone here restores cars because its what we enjoy doing .

 

As others note - accurately - that is a pretty open ended question, and to me if you are "flipping" a car (even if it took 5 years to do it like I do sometimes), whatever money you may make was made when you bought the car. If you got a deal, you may come out ahead. If not, not. Not sure I agree that all money spent is at a loss, but damn a lot of it ends up being that way. I usually try to address, or semi-address, the issues that bug me the most if possible assuming they may be a deal-breaker for the next guy.

I would focus on elbow grease items (cleaning, sorting out the easy stuff, etc.) and making sure it is as close to a decent, safe driver as possible.

Stuff like an old top, cosmetic issues, etc. etc. have never stopped me from buying a car - so it is OK to sell it for what it is if you are ready to move on to the next thing; just take a weekend and a few bucks to put the best foot forward for the car.

Also, I'd suggest advertising the car when you are ready to sell with lots of high-res photos and a candid description of the good and bad. Most appreciate knowing what they are getting into, and (at least if they are like me) are delusional enough to think it still makes sense to buy it

All of that is my opinion, which is worth exactly what you paid for it!
Desirable car, good luck!

 

Of course, since the OP hasn't come back to this thread after his initial post, we have no idea if he is asking in order to flip the car or to keep it...

 

He stated in his Newbie thread he's had it a long time.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-my-442-a.html

 

Wow, three posts in six years. Guy's a real fanatic. At this rate we can expect to hear back from him just after the 2020 election cycle kicks into high gear.