Hi so I just dug my dads 1965 Oldsmobile 98 coupe out of the garage, we were planning on scraping it, but the more I look at it the more I want to fix it, I have never seen an Oldsmobile like his anywhere it was hit by a drunk driver years ago, so the power steering is shot the engine will need to be rebuilt needs paint and probably a lot more I just want to know if its worth fixing I can't seem to find other 98 like his so I don't know how much they are worth I also don't know how readily available the parts are so what do you guys think is it worth restoring?

 

Looks fixable to me.If it was mine i wouldn't scrap it.

 

If you are considering the resale value when you are done, then don't fix it. You will likely have more in it than it is worth, BUT, it is your Dad's car. It looks to be fairly rust free from what I can see and that is a big plus. It is a 2 door and that is a plus. You have come to the right place for help. There a lot of good folks on here that are willing to help. These big cars make great cruisers.

 

i know it fixable. i just wouldn't have a lot of time and money to work on it i have a bite of a project car already. im curious how big of a project it would be i don't know much about restoring classic cars.

 

Welcome to the site. It looks like most of the damage is limited to the bumper, and maybe the lower radiator. Why do you think it needs a rebuild vs some freshening up.

 

this is the first time ive got a good look at the car its been buried under junk for years im just going off what my dad has told me.

 

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Those big cars don't bring a lot of money. If you are looking for money, clean it up and sell it as is. You will never recoup any money you spend on the car beyond that.

However, it is a very cool car and there is only one in the world that was your Dad's. The front end damage does not look that bad to fix and the engine may not need a rebuild. You can probably get the car back on the road for not much money.

It is up to you, but I would certainly fix it up. I would love to drive that car

 

Get it started and go from there.

 

i wouldn't have much more then 6k to put into this car so i am not sure if i can get it back on the streets. it would be a same to have this car scrapped. if any one in the portland area is looking for a project car we might be able work out a deal.

 

we would love to keep it but my dad can't work on it and i have a 350z that i can barely afford to keep running. so i am not sure how practical it would be to fix it.

 

It would really help if we knew what shape that engine is in and if it shifts respectively .Big bucks hang on that. The transmission is a Roto Hydramatic (Slim Jim).Not the best in my book but others do OK with them. The engine is a High compression 394 by the color of the block and puts out good HP and a bunch of torque, you would like what it will do to that big sled, both will cost twice what a Chevy of the same displacement would cost to rebuild. In my humble opinion we just don't have enough info to make a recommendation....Tedd

 

Tedd, The car is a 65 which means it has a 425 not a 394 and a Turbo_hydramatic 400, not a slim jim.
If the engine turns over and has reasonably good compression , it most likely can be made to run.
Probably with nothing more than a new set of points and plugs and a carb overhaul.
Looks like the front end could be repaired with used parts from a parts car.
If the engine is "stuck" and doesn't turn , then that's another story.

If you do decide to scrap it why not offer it up as a parts car here . There are forum members here that can use a lot of the parts on it.

 

Are those blue yellow plates original? One owner perhaps?

There are a few guys in Oregon that maybe interested in the car but honestly I think that appeares to be a very easy fix and the hardest part will be to gather the parts just my .02

 

Oops to quick to respond my mistake, thinking 64 all the way, but the engine was sorta red ... Tedd

 

Get some wheels on it, get it out and give it a bath and then see if the engine turns over as several have mentioned. If you scrub it up and get it running, it will bring lot better money if you decide to sell it. I would get the bumper off so you can see if there is any frame or radiator damage. Keep us posted because we would like to know how this comes out.

 

From what I see it is not that bad. I have been working on my 65 vert for 4 years now. It was much worse. But I do most work myself and figure I will have 10 k in it when finished. The bumper may be tough to find, I think a one year piece but Charlie knows better then me. When done as a nice driver it may be worth 10-15 grand. I think 6 grand is possible if you can do it yourself and don't go overboard.
WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT SCRAP IT!!!
Take your time and sell it or part it. If you were closer I would want parts.
Is the bumper painted?

 

A careful reading of your posts reveals a theme that is running through them:

You don't really want to fix this car, but you can't quite decide because it's your father's car. But if it could go to a good home, you'd rather let it go than keep it.

Close?


You've been given a lot of advice here, all from people who collect and restore old cars for a hobby, so their opinions are going to lean that way.

The reality is that you will spend a lot of time, money, and effort to get this car into good running condition and fix the damage. Keep in mind that nothing in the way of body, trim, and interior parts are reproduced in the aftermarket for the big Oldsmobiles, so any parts you need, such as a front bumper, grille, etc. will have to come from donor cars. Good quality bumpers suitable for replating and putting on your car are hard to come by, expensive when you do find them, and expensive to get rechromed. It could easily be $800 or more to turn a good quality core into a shiny, car-show-quality bumper ($200 for the bumper, $100 to $150 to ship it to you as it will probably be on the other side of the country from where you are, and $500 or more for the re-plating). Remember, too, that everyone restoring a full-size '65 Oldsmobile wants parts from donor cars, and people with donor cars usually know what they have and charge accordingly.

As far as what's the value when you're done, as has been mentioned numerous time, it will be well less than what you spend to fix it up. It sounds like you don't have a lot of money to put toward this, and the tone of your posts suggests that you're not very enthusiastic about it, so I can see progress being very slow with the car sitting for long periods un-worked on, which isn't good for it.

As far as selling it in its current condition, that will be tough, too, unless you can find someone with another '65 who would use it for a parts car. As it sits there in your garage, it's worth maybe $1,000, IF you can find a buyer. If you can get the engine running, or at least confirm that it turns over, that will help as the 425 engine is probably as valuable as anything else on the car.