mart

This is the first post so pardon me if its in the wrong forum. I have been asked to list and help with the sale of a 1973 Toronado 455. On a scale of 1- 10 I would rate this car an 8+. It has been sitting in a garage for 7 years,,a very clean garage I might add. The owners husband died and she never drove it afterward. She said she didn`t like the front wheel drive when he bought it. Anyway, the body has no dings, the interior is excellent, trunk is clean, whitewall tires are clean. It has been a long time since I have seen a car so well kept. Only thing it really needs as far as exterior are the plastic panels behind front wheels ( has the left one but right side deteriorated and crumbled) I would replace both if it were me. Also same deterioration on back plastic panel below rear tail lights and bumper. The gas and radiator was drained before it was parked. Color is baby blue inside and out, vinyl top is good. Could someone give me a price range so I can determine an asking price for this car? We are in NE Texas. Online are all asking prices and they are all over the scale. Need good practical info. so I came here !! I appreciate the assistance.
One other thing that may be a factor,, the lady cannot find the original title but the attorney that is handling the estate will have all necessary legal paperwork done so the buyer can just sign and mail it in.
Thanks again,!

tru-blue 442

Hello, and welcome.
If you could post the
miles, if would help too.

Sounds like a good one, good luck.

mart

89,057 miles. Thanks for responding !

Professur

You, (and she) would be well advised to look for a professional vehicle appraiser in the area. Up here, any vehicle over 25 year old must be appraised by a pro at the time of sale (so the gov't doesn't miss out on taxes). Last one I had done cost me $125, guy was done in 15 minutes and I had a written evaluation in hand the next day for not only the gov't, but insurance too. Pretty much any insurance broker will have an appraiser's number on speed dial. Ignore the price as you'll certainly pass that cost on to the next owner, and he'll appreciate having that bit of paper in his hands when it comes time to argue with his insurer.

MDchanic

We don't have to do any of that Socialist stuff down here, thank Heaven.

An appraisal is fine (though may have nothing to do with the price he can ultimately get for it), but members here can probably give him a pretty good idea, at a saving, apparently, of $125.

- Eric

mart

That is not required for any vehicle in Texas. At least none that I am aware of and we have classic cars,trucks and tractors. Just need a little guidance on Oldsmobile pricing since we are not that familiar with how or for how much they sell for on average.

jaunty75

The latest issue (October 2013) of the Old Cars Price Guide lists the value of a '73 Toronado in "car show" but not showroom condition at $7200. In the condition one level down, which is "runs and drives but needs complete restoration," the value is $3200. With the deteriorated trim you mention, it's not in car show condition, but given your description of it as it being in "8+" condition, it's probably not far below it. So maybe $6,000 to $7,000, at least as an initial asking price?

An online vehicle-value site is Collector Car Market Review, and their values are pretty similar to the OCPG.

http://collectorcarmarket.com/menus/.../73oltodo.html


I don't think the lack of a title is an issue assuming a new title can be created. People do lose them, especially when they've kept a car as long as the current owner apparently has (are they original?), and DMV offices can make new ones.

tru-blue 442

$1500-$3000?
The Toro guys can help out
on this one maybe.
This time of year could be tough.

oldcutlass

It's tough to say what a given vehicle is worth because it depends on condition, collectability, how well it runs, and region. Living here in N Texas those cars don't have much of a following so it will likely go out of state unless you have someone already interested in it local. It will be worth more running, so that would be my first objective.

If you can post some pictures of the interior and exterior that would help us with a rough value.

mart

Thank you all so much !! That helps a lot. I did take our area into account because like you said, they don`t have a huge following here. I had $5500 list price in my mind but was not sure if that was close to actual value. In my mind this car just screams to be a womans car,,it is that pretty. But here in NE Texas it will likely sell on nostalgia factor,,if it sells !! The owner is downsizing and moving to town and the attorney`s wife is a friend so I said I would help with listing it. We will get a new battery and make sure the motor is working properly this weekend. I am not looking for problems with it. But,,you never know. She also had a Toyota PU that sat in the carport for same number of years, and it fired right up with no problems and sold first week the ad ran.
Again,, Thank you all for your assistance. Excellent forum you have here !!

oldcutlass

Good luck.

jaunty75

"Actual value" does not exist. Each car is different, and the price guides are only averages. I think listing it for $5500 is an excellent idea.

We would love to see some photos of it.

MDchanic

I'm no late-'70s value expert, but, with no pictures to help clarify the value, I agree that $5,500 is a reasonable starting point.
Just remember that the market for this car will be unpredictable: you may encounter someone who's wanted one in this exact color all his life, and you may find nobody who's interested at all, even at half the price. You may need to adjust the price downward if conditions suggest to.

Good luck!

- Eric

jaunty75

And apparently not much of an expert with regard to dates, either, as 1973 is hardly "late-'70s."

MDchanic

Duh. I had remembered it as a '76 or '77. I was picturing it with the squared-off wraparound rear window.

- Eric

jaunty75

Here's the back end of a '73.

mart

I took a few with it still in the garage. In the first pic what looks like scrapes,,isn`t. Look close and you can see that its the reflection of white storage shelves on the other side of the garage. Everything was reflecting back.

MDchanic

NOW we're talkin'. That's purty.

Maybe you could do better than 5,500, if you found the right buyer.

Advertise in Hemmings.

- Eric

mart

Rt side of trunk has a problem on that one doesn`t it ?

oldcutlass

It's a very nice car, get it running. Then you may want to start a bit higher in price and let them negotiate a bit. It needs a new bumper filler panel.

mart

Yes it does,, I put that in the first post also need the plastic panel behind rt front wheel. For some reason those just disintegrated and crumbled !!

sammy

I will not get political.....I will not get political......darn socialist stuff

Nice looking car....! Up here in socia......oops ! Up here, that car in that condition would be worth 6000$ all day long.

jaunty75

Yes, they do, and the problem is that these are not reproduced new, so any replacement has to come from another car or be an NOS piece still in the box. In either case, they're just as old as the ones on your car and likely in very similar condition. They deteriorate with age, not with use, so even NOS pieces still in the box are likely to be no better.

Just ask 76 Regency, a regular on here who has a '76 Ninety-Eight with the same kind of plastic trim and who has been trying to get a company to make these new if he could get enough interest.

Regardless, it is a nice car. As noted, you'll have to find the right buyer, but advertise it well, and you can probably get something on the high side of $5,000.

mart

We still have wrecking yards in Texas !! So a local buyer might be able to find them !! If it were me, I would find a good sheet metal shop and have them repro`d with light weight chrome sheet !! I am taking hubby to see it tomorrow, will take a good look under the hood then ! I would love to buy the car but we are car poor,,have more than we can drive now !! Plus the tractors and RTV !! But,,,its the same color as my 71 Pontiac Catalina I had years ago !! You know,,the nostalgia factor kicks in occasionally,, even with me.

Allan R

Found this on a search. Might be worth a shot
1973 Toronado Bumper filler

mart

Thanks for the link but the car is not mine !! It belongs to an elderly lady whose husband died !! I am just helping her and her attorney in the listing of it !! Just listed it on this site for sale !!