Hello,
I am looking at purchasing a 1963 Starfire Convertible, small rust spots, no interior, rebuilt engine 10 or so years ago, not matching numbers. It has a conversion 700R4 Transmission specially mounted to a 394, which is not the original motor in the car. The car does run, drives, but needs a new break-booster and fuel-lines. Has never been in an accident, missing some chrome which I have extra.
How much do you guys think this car is worth??
Thank-you very much for any helpful information
-Doug and Dalton

 

Well from your description and no pic's, (not to be a smart butt) what ever someone is willing to write you a check for. Maybe $2 - 5k??? Probably worth more in parts!

 

Tell us the asking money and then we can decide if it's a fair price. I can promise you he has a chunk of change in that transmission conversion, and in this day and age that wouldn't be a deal breaker- for me anyway. You'll find that the 700 is going to feel like a Slim Jim when it shifts anyway thanks to that steep ratio drop between 1-2.

I wouldn't grumble much about a non-original engine either as long as it is a 63-64 engine and has the J prefix and S suffix. You might find a non-Starfire mill will be easier to live with fuel-wise. Those engines absolutely do not like modern crap gasoline.

Brake booster can be rebuilt easy enough and Inline Tube should have the 63 fuel lines. They had 64 brake lines.

If you have the missing trim in good condition, half the battle won.

How much "no interior" are we talking? Seats/carpet, or all the side panels and console too? That might get expensive because Starfire guts were different and had a lot of leather.

 

The April 2011 issue of the Old Cars Price Guide lists the value of a '63 Starfire convertible in good running (#4) condition but needing full restoration at $7,000. In #3 condition ("car show" condition, or "a 20-footer"), the value is $15,750.

With the non-original engine, etc., the value will likely be less than these, but, still, those are desirable cars.

 

Thank-you all much for the responses,
-Rocketraider- The door panels are gone, I think the seats are not original since one has a headwrest?? I do have a 63' Starfire Coupe that I could take some interior out of but it just depends. The console, dash, rear seat, are all there, NO top.
Thank-you
Doug & Dalton

 

I've been following the asking prices of 63 Starfires for quite some time. The values Jaunty quoted seem about right but I haven't seen any sell. Right now there is a very nice 63 hardtop on E-Bay NO RESERVE up to $9,000. I paid $4,000. for my "20 footer" hardtop a year ago. It is a good solid car that runs strong but could use probably $2,000 in things like rear bumper rechromed, a/c repaired, rear seat recovered, new weather stripping. If those things were done I might get $7,000 for it.
Higgins

 

The OCPG lists values of '63 Starfire hardtops at less, not surprisingly, than convertibles. In #4 condition, it lists the value at $5,200 vs $7,000 for the convertible. In #3, it's $11,700 vs $15,750.

If you paid $4,000 for your sounds-pretty-good hardtop, you did well. Fix it up the way you're describing, and it could get into the $9,000 to $10,000 value range if this guide to be believed at all.

 

Do you have a picture of the car? Is it registered and insured? If it is not a running driving registered rig I'll stick by my original price range.

 

I bought a 63 Starfire hardtop a couple of months back. After spending some time looking for a few parts that I need......I have come to the conclusion that they are apparantly PRICELESS! Especially when being parted out!
I love this car and this motor though. Guess I'll keep looking for parts. Who knows, I might find one I can part out, and retire!!!

 

-Lansing- I do have a 1963 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 4 door that I am parting out, if there are maybe any parts you may need that interchange please let me know.
I have about 15 parts listed on Ebay right now but that is about it.
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/sscblaze...id=p4340.l2562
These are the parts I have listed now. (Also parts for a 1953 Oldsmobile V8 303)
-Dalton

 

I will have pics after I purchase this weekend... It is registered and insured. It is a runner. The entire interior will need to be replaced except console/dash. Door panels, seats, carpet, headliner (just kidding it is a convertible) soft top all need replacing. It is a good project car. Since my son is only 13 he will have lots of time to make this a daily driver/auto show circuits.

 

So whats the asking price/ purchase price??

 

Thanks for the ebay link. Now I need to find out what will interchange between the dynamic and the starfire. Will try to figure that out tonight after work, or maybe some kind soul here knows. I am especially interested in a rear bumper.

 

Rear bumper is common to all B-body 1963 Olds.

What parts are you looking for? Post and we'll tell you if it will work.

 

Thanks guys.
I'm also needing driver side front fender, both rear quarters, and rear fender mounted radio antenae ?spelling?

 

trackz man,

Of course I'd take a complete floor pan also. (Don't know if your parting out to that extreme!)

I sent you a pm and also contacted you via ebay.

Thanks much.

 

Do you think $4500.00 would be a good deal???

 

I do, but be prepared after its all said and done you will have about $16-18k in it if you do most of the work yourself. That would be a frame on driver quality resto.

 

You and just about everyone that owns a 1963 Starfire Rust above the tailpipes.

 

In your honest opinion, what is a frame OFF restoration worth to the value of a 63 Starfire convertible?

 

A true frame off restoration or a resto-mod??

 

You are right, I guess we need to make the distinction between a full frame off restoration to original and/or a frame off mod restoration, since it already has a 700r4 as the transmission. Well. lets go both ways with it. What do you think the value would be with matching numbers/trans everything original as it came off the line? And what do think the value would be with a none matching numbers engine, not original transmission, but as you looked at it, it would appear all original from what you could see

 

The starfire you purchased as a convertable is worth more than the coupe however these cars came with quite a few options and each option adds value to the car, a loaded convertable is worth alot more than a plane jane.
If you decide to load it up you could be in for a shock as to the number of options that were available in 63, just a few were power vent windows,power windows,power antenna,power trunk (vacuum),reverb,AM/FM posi rear end,air and cruise control.
The colour combination also plays into the price.You could spend upwards of 50 grand (yes I know someone who put that kind of cash into a 63 starfire) if you choose to do it your self you could save a bundle but how much is your time worth.
I like the idea of a father/son project and a rag top is a great place to start, my daughter is helping me on a convertable right now, stripping the paint and pulling the interior getting it ready for paint.
Like Glenn said earlier if your in it to turn a profit you will end up shaving corners and end up with a poor product but if your in it for the knowledge and fun there is no better project in my opinion.
Not sure if this helps you out but it is how I see it.
Steve

 

A restored frame off perfect numbers matching car may be worth in the 30's. A resto-mod depending on your taste vs the masses (the person who writes the check), which by the way is similar to a complete frame off only with just as or more expensive parts, possibly may make it in the upper 20's.

How much of this work are you going to do yourself and how much are you going to farm out. A complete frame off resto and/or resto-mod with alot of the work farmed out can run up into the 50-60k range.

If you did all the work yourself, doing what you stated above, it would not bring what you would have invested in it by the time your done, probably upper teens.

Please understand I am in no way trying to berate you or undermine your father and son project. In the case of the car you chose, I personally would not buy that one and try to find one that is an older restored or well on its way, and personalize it. This way you can capitalize on someone elses depreciation.

The Cutlass you see below was my father n son project, it was purchased as a running driving car. I had to do brakes, some frontend work, service the trans, a valve job, carb, distributer, some exhaust work, springs, shocks, body bushings, hoses / belts, paint / interior, and the wheels and tires. Let me tell you about a quarter of the way thru he realized just how much work he bit off, and I ended up finishing it myself.
In the mean time I sold my pride and joy to make room in the garage. I now have $14500 in it and still need to do an engine and trans to make it what I want! So I have about another $6000 that it will take to make it a very nice driver! The underside of this car still looks like a 44 year old car. When I'm all done with it I will probably have in upwards of $22k in it and it will probably be worth maybe $16k.

And to add insult to injury I also bought him a used 2006 Mustang. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed fixing it up with him and he realized his limitations, however in hindsight I should have done what I suggested above and find something that would not have been such a big under taking.

 

Since this is a father/son project, there is no way that we could ever get out of this project what we spend in hours converted to $$$. We would however possibly get the value of parts $ spent. However- the main focus of doing something to this magnitude is because of the LABOR OF LOVE that we all have for our Oldsmobiles.

Better than seeing it go to the crusher.

The memories made of frustation, become all forgotten when the day is 70-80 degrees driving down the highway with the top down, wind blowing your hair, sunglasses on and the roar of a 394 kicking it in.
We do this because we love the hobby and not for the money. Like someone mentioned earlier, if we do it for the money, we cut corners, create shortcuts and then the final product shows it.

Sure, when the project is completed there may things that I only know about, such as a little grease in the transmission crossmember that I could not get out, but who in the heck is going to crawl under the vehicle with a telescoping mirror and mark you down points because there is some grease that has been on the member for over 40 plus years that I did not get when the vehicle was restored. That is why I will be grinningfrom ear to ear when the "Best of Show" trophy sits in front of the car.

But that is not the main reason for the project, it is to spend quality time with my 13 year old boy, who would rather be wrenching, sandblasting, painting or researching on his projects than be playing video games, watching television, texting or on facebook. That is the MAIN reason for the projects. We need more younger people to grab ahold of hobbies, such as this. Enough of the soapbox. Back to researching a 63 Starfire convertible....

 

if it's about the father/son bonding & providing a constructive outlet for your son, why not tackle a project where the parts are easier to come by and cheaper, has the original motor & trans, etc. ...like say a 68-72 A body convertible ?

It's not like the 'wind in your hair' would feel any different, and although it seems everyone here has such a car, they are still quite uncommon at cruise nights.

Why make your project harder and more expensive than it needs to be ?

 

'the wind in my hair', heck I hardly have any anymore

We have decided that we would like to do a "unique" car. We have spent two years researching. Yes, parts are hard to find. But we have made road trips all over the Northwest to get parts, find wrecking yards off the beaten path, that is the enjoyment of it. Sure we could do a A body, as we do not see too many around here, but have yet to see a B body convertible. I am very happy to be doing a Olds.

Not to offend anyone here, but we get sick at looking at all the Chevelles, Camaros and Mustangs at car shows. When was the last time we saw a B-body at a car show??? Never.

I do not believe that it is any harder or expensive. The way we have made it cheaper is to buy up a few extra cars and use parts off of them, rather than purchase the entire car parts out of a catalog. It works. We now have six cars that we will be making three out of. And they are all Oldsmobiles

 

Don't know if you've ever driven a Starfire but once you do you are hooked. A 20ft long, 4,100lb luxury car that will do a burn-out will get to you. Yes, I've had a 69 442 convertible with a .060 over 455 and it was fast, but something about my Starfire.

 

Yes, I have but not a convertible. Three years ago I cut my tail (long hair) off, so now just keep it close with a #1 razor.

I think you said it all- Higgins

 

sounds cool...you said the main goal was for bonding and creating a valuable outlet for your son..which is why I said an A body seems perfectly fit for that purpose.

If the reason is not as you said at first, and you just love the Oldsmoboats, sure, that's a great project.

 

Hello,
This is Dalton, (The son)
Thank-you all very much for the good information on the car.
I purchased the car yesterday, and then pulled some parts of the original owners other 63' Oldsmobile's. If you would like the guys number (he has 5 63' Oldsmobile's) please call or email me if you would like it!! 541-678-0606
Here is a link to see pictures of the car that I purchased...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/organiz...57626318329468
Thank-you all very much!
-Dalton

 

I appreciate any/all father and son project. Again, do not forget why you started the project, mutual respect is the key here! Keep us posted on the progress and as always pictures!!!!!!

 

This is a great project so far. Replaced the fuel tank all rubber fuel lines and the steel frame fuel line-it was spraying all over-and now it drives up and down the road fine. Going to need lots of TLC and time, but our time does not cost $$$. Will keep you updated. As you can see by the avatar, that is it. Will post more pics soon...

 

Is the color Antique Rose or Saddle Mist?

Starfires are the ultimate Oldsmobile IMHO. Fast, flashy and unique. My blue 64 surprised the hell out of more than one Mustang and ate a friend's 65 Impala for lunch, to his embarrassment and consternation.

And the best thing is you don't see one on every corner!

Not that either of mine are seen much at all now...

 

Hello Rocket Raider, the color of our Oldsmobile is Saddle Mist. It looks perfect and new from this angle but if you look at the rear end it looks like someone sand blasted the car and dipped the rear end into a mixture of 10% water and 90% salt... terrible... You can take a bath in the trunk and the over flow will leak into the fenders, and all the rims around the trunk... suprised it held me up when I was in it cleaning it!!
I do have an eBay store now that I am parting our some of my Oldsmobile's on.
http://stores.ebay.com/DMEs-Oldsmobile-Parts-and-more
-Dalton