A neighbor bought a 65 Impala a few days ago. Paid $18 grand for a two door bench seat model with a 283. It had a nice paint job, decent chrome trim and bumpers, but still numerous imperfections. Interior is just plain with no options. Previous owner did the usual disc brake, Flowmaster thing, with mags. I would have guessed maybe 8-10 grand, but I would have been wrong. It was listed for only a week or so just around $21.
He wanted something he could just get in and drive, so peeled out the loot !!
The new owner is very happy. I'm sure the seller is very happy. I would have never believed these cars would go for this much money. An SS convert, maybe. Live and learn, as they say.

 

its the auctions drivng up the prices

 

It's the cost of parts, he could not duplicate a car himself for that kind of money. Do the math with a$2500 - 5k running car that needs powertrain rebuilt, front end, paint, interior, body mounts, etc.

 

I'll never understand values. I could put 30k into improving my house and raise the value 30k or 5k depending on the market.

 

I had no idea until last week or two, that a simple 283 was $4000 to rebuild now. Someone told me that, and I didn't believe it so I phoned one of the better known, local engine rebuilders. They quoted me $2700 for rebuild, $1100 for out and in, and taxes, another few hundred. There we were at over four grand. I asked someone how much to rebuild my 455, and they seemed to think at least $5000 to $6000 installed. I was talking to a guy last year about selling my 442 for $6000 with a 455, T-400 and Chevy 12 bolt 3.73 posi, all rebuilt. I can see now, that would have been foolish. Glad it didn't happen. I'm used to selling my used limited slips for a couple hundred. Mine is likely worth thousands by today's math.

 

I'll take it!

 

Around here a 65 non SS is usually about 10-12k small block SS 15-20 depending on the condition. I think at 18k he overpaid. I bought my 67 SS with a 327, all original, one owner, unmolested, 0 rust all Cali car, nothing missing, with protecto plate, window sticker and all other documentation for 15k.

 

Bear in mind that North of the 49th typically add 30% to an average SoCal or NorCal price on everything - fuel, cars, parts. There is no logic behind it, just gouging. So this is perpetuated by locals who feel their duct taped and bungee corded car is worth a small fortune for that reason. Most people I talk to see the border as an iron curtain - penetrable only by customs brokers and a few importers. If they only knew how simple it is to import a good clean car from the U.S. toothless Willie wouldn't get 18k for a so so car. That 30% figure rises as you move further East into the snow/salt belt. A bargain is rare.

 

Wow. My ma-in-law has a '65 convertible with a big block that she was thinking of selling. I need to tell her about this.

 

There's also a 10% difference in the exchange rate right now working against us Canadians so that should be factored in when comparing prices

 

Sounds excellent !! Got any pictures?
In high school, around 76, my buddy's parents bought him a 67 SS Impala ragtop with a factory 427, power windows, for $1600 from a car lot. Very cool. Unfortunately, being young, he cut the wheel wells out with a jig saw to fit big tires on it. Then tore out the console and cut up the parent's bear skin rug and mounted the head on the floor hump. Later he filled the trunk with dirt and grew mushrooms in it, while still driving it. When it got too rusty he pulled the engine and had the rest hauled away. Later the engine was even stolen from him. Those were strange times......a lot of Hendrix on the 8 track !!

 

[QUOTE=. An SS convert, maybe. Live and learn, as they say.[/QUOTE]

An SS convertible would have been going for $30-40 thou where I live. I don't know about British Columbia, but in the northeast US, prices are at a premium.

 

Yikes !!! 30 to 40 big ones? I don't know what to say. Nope.....I really don't.
I think I'd better fix up my 442 so it doesn't appear to need anything other than driving, and maybe the money tree will rain down on me.

 

67 and 65 are my favorite years when it comes to Impalas. Honestly I was looking for a 67 Cutlass, ran into this one and just couldn't pass it up. It was too damn nice and it had tons of documentation. 327 with PG, 67k original miles, undercarriage looks like it just rolled out of Chevy dealership. Lady told me her late husband never drove it in the rain. This car has been pampered all its life and I am planning to keep doing the same.

I hope I don't **** off Oldsmobile gods by posting Chevy pictures.

[IMG]IMG_2459 by 70cutty, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_2452 by 70cutty, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_2458 by 70cutty, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_2462 by 70cutty, on Flickr[/IMG]

[IMG]IMG_2689 by 70cutty, on Flickr[/IMG]

 

That's a pretty car. The Olds Gods will forgive you !!

 

Thank you. I'm a sucker for fastbacks.

 

The market is bad, because the economy is ****. I see local cars all the time sit for months at what they're worth and sit for years at way more than they're worth. There is even an olds I've had my eye on that the price goes from reasonable to unreasonable to "are you effing kidding me?" Then to a bargain (I'm moving or might own it). Simply put, if somebody is horny enough to buy it the price may not be the first factor. And as long as he's happy it was his money to spend.

 

My Grandpa had a Hamms beer blue 65 with a white convertible top and white interior and the car had every option made that year 300/327 it had less than 10,000 miles on it and sold on his estate auction for $3200 back in 1976, too bad I was a broke 20 year old. Instead I got his 250/327 no option 64 HT for $500.

 

In 76 almost any nice muscle car went for $500-2500. I wish I had half the cars I owned back then.