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II have to make a decision on my dad's Olds Ciera. My dad passed away right before the holidays and I had planned to get the car restored but didn't get around to it - looking after my dad took up most of my time.
This is a 1988 Olds Cutlass Ciera International coupe. I'm sure that it needs an alternator, and you can see it needs new paint, gaskets. Inside is in good condition.
The thing that I am concerned about is the car had repaired front end damage, and it vibrates at 55 and over.
I loved driving this car in college and would hate to junk it, but don't know if it is worth restoring - or could find someone who would like to restore it themselves.
I know that the car is rare, but whether it's worth spending a thousand or more.... ??
I contacted a local restoration shop and sent photos, but no response.
Can anyone give me some guidance here? Thanks Loved this car.
Frankly, the car needs considerable work, and these cars are not on anyone's collectibility radar. The person who will restore it will be someone like you, who has a particular, personal interest in the car. Just because it is rare does not make it more valuable or more desirable. The total cost to bring it back to some kind of presentable/car show condition would be well more than the car would be worth when you're done, and this is true for most any restoration project. You restore the car because of the enjoyment of the process, not because you expect to sell the finished product at a profit.
Whatever you decide to do, the FIRST thing I'd do is get it out of the weeds and into some kind of shelter to stop the deterioration. It's not getting any better sitting in the sun and the weather and sinking into the ground.
By the way, from your photos, it looks it has already been sitting for some time as it has partially sunk into the ground. This generally does not bode well for the underside of the car. Any idea of the condition of the undercarriage? Too much rust, and it wouldn't be worth restoring. It would be better to find one in better condition and use this one as a parts car. That wouldn't give you back exactly the car your father had or the one you drove in college, but you'd know that the car you fixed up using parts from this one would have something of your original car in it.
have it checked out first, the front towers where the struts fit up into rotted out on our 86 coupe, it was in PA with Salt every winter, the rest of the car wasn't bad, if the front is OK try doing a little at a time as Money permits if You want to keep it with Your DaD's memory
The underside looks ok, but I know there is probably at least $1500 in order to get it in good condition so I am trying to not let sentimental feelings cloud my judgement on it. Just have to let some things go. Thanks for your reply
As noted above, do not restore this car for any reasons other than sentimental ones. It has next to no value as a collector's item and will take considerable investment to even become a viable automobile, forget about a full restoration. As you said, it may be time to let go.
Have the car checked out mechanically first. $1500 will not get you very far. Do you have any idea how long the car has been sitting? Based on the pictures and the fact the tires have started sinking into the ground it appears to have been awhile. How many miles are on it?
As previously stated, there is no real collector value for this vehicle... However, if investing $1500 will get you a reasonably good solid driver and help you to maintain the memories, I say go for it... Getting a good used car these days would definitely be well over $1500... JMO coming from another Ciera owner who has definitely invested more then the current value...
January 6th, 2021 | 03:05 PM
