hi oklacarcolletor...
i would be willing to pay someone a finders' fee of $500 for helping me find a m-code fastback barracuda under the following conditions:
1. i have to actually purchase the car. information about cars that are so rusty they are beyond saving or which the owner wants an excessive price do not count.
2. ideally, i am looking for a rolling chassis with no drive train that may require a lot of body work EXCEPT work on chassis frame rails, suspension and/or torque boxes. i am willing to consider any car that does not require extensive chassis repair.
3. i have seen several fastbacks with no drive trains and "repairable" bodies over the last three years for between $5-15k. i tried to get one of these cars but missed the two i was most interested in.
4. labor and materials for a complete restoration of a "rough" car currently runs between $35-50k not counting the cost of the car. unfortunately, the sales market for m-codes is also less than other collector cars ranging from $45-70k. so i don't think my desired sales' price is too far out of line.
Jim, your better off buying a decent shell, that doesn't require much body work by paying more for it up front then the next buyer. You missed 2 already you say and I don't know what conditions they were in, but I would pay more than someone else for the clean start. Having said that, 25K for a solid non #'s car, missing hard parts, well I'm crazy, but not ready to be committed. good luck with your hunt.
