I'm thinking of stopping trying to sell my 65 Valiant after lots of calls but no sales even after lowering the price so far down I couldn't believe it. I know it's not a Barracuda or even a V8 2 Door Signet. But it would be nice brought back to what it was once. The coolest thing to me was that I was able to find out where it came from originally and originally sold. That was something I couldn't do on my 73 Charger because it had no record at Chrysler Historical because of the fire back years ago. My Valiant runs, although it's tired but wouldn't take much work to make it 100% mechanically sound to drive anywhere. It's low point is the floors. Heater core leak likely destroyed front floors. Someone fiberglassed the passenger so it's not like Flintstones but I'm sure if you kicked it hard enough it would be. Fortunately I bought some replacements when they were still available but I can't put them in because I can't cut and weld. I have a good mechanic but he said it's likely to be possibly up to $500 a side and maybe more. It needs a driver's front fender, front suspension rebuild, and a transmission park cable leak repaired. Which is another thing I cannot seem to fix. I can't even get a quote on fixing the transmission park cable link until it's looked at. The front end rebuild is probably around $500. So I'm trying to get suggestions if it's worth getting it roadworthy be taking care of the mechanical and then trying to resell it. I would have to take it to a shop so I would have to ask more to make it worth while. So when do you know when to give up or just keep fixing it a little at a time at leisure? My 73 Charger will likely be the next to go but haven't made it to that point yet.
What to do with a 65 Valiant that won't sell
- Thread starter wh23g3g
- Start date
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Not to kick you when your down but your not talking about a real desirable car that needs by your own admission a lot of work! You say the engine is tired, it needs floor boards, it needs a fender ,needs a heater core, needs the park cable fixed, needs the front end rebuilt. I mean that is a lot of money and work to make it road worthy.
Yeah thats why I offered at a low price keeping mind the work it needed. It doesn't need a heater core. I was able to do that myself. I did the front end on my Charger but the money I saved by doing it myself I didn't find it worth the hassle. It was a lot of work especially since it was a first time. The engine isn't about to blow up it's just been sitting for awhile but it's a 170. It doesn't make any unusual noises and doesn't leak. I'm sure that fixing the Parking cable leak would be the least amount. I just can't do it right on the ground because I can't see it good enough. I was just wondering if taking care of some of those issues even if not all of them would perhaps make it more sellable or is it not worth it.
abodyjoe
Well-Known Member
What were you asking for it? A four door valiant just isn't gonna bring money especially needing the things you say it needs. I doubt you dropping more money into it is gonna help much. If you decided to drop money in it where do ya put the money?
Had a 64 4dr. i got about 4 yrs. ago just for the grill and to part out. Was about in shape you are describing yours.
Was taking a intro. welding class at our community college at the time and saw they had a great auto trades program so donated her to Paul d. Camp CC. Made me feel good, students loved her, made some car friends I still have and got a little tax write off.
Just a possible option for you.
Was taking a intro. welding class at our community college at the time and saw they had a great auto trades program so donated her to Paul d. Camp CC. Made me feel good, students loved her, made some car friends I still have and got a little tax write off.
Just a possible option for you.
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If you have the ability to do it, part it out. When you are done or tired of it, scrap out what's left. Scrap cars are worth a few hundred $$ at the salvage yard.
If you try to get it fixed, you will never recoup the money that you put into it..
motorpirate
serial mopar owner
Ever hear of 24 Hours of lemons?? Sounds like a perfect candidate...
Charlie Sheen would have it driven off a cliff...
Valiant63
Early A-body Valiants
A few months ago you were asking what a 65 Valiant four door was worth and everyone said a thousand or less. The Valiant in Stone Mountian, GA, your car, has come down from two grand to twelve hundred currently. I am not sure you are really trying to sell it or you have sentimental value tied up in it. I have A 65 Valiant four door that I am selling which seems to be in better shape. I am in a more populated area, and I an still only asking twelve hundred as my starting price. Some cars, most A bodies, you are not going to make any money on.
Perhaps you can trade it, or come down to eight hundred. An initial high price turns a lot of people away from a car. Take it off the market for a while or part it out if you are in a hurry. Its worth more in parts of you got the time , wrenches, cutting tools and patience.
Perhaps you can trade it, or come down to eight hundred. An initial high price turns a lot of people away from a car. Take it off the market for a while or part it out if you are in a hurry. Its worth more in parts of you got the time , wrenches, cutting tools and patience.
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451Cuda
Well-Known Member
Fix it as a driver, sell it much cheaper, or cut it up.
D-Rocket
Member
A couple of options.
Believe it or not nobody is born knowing how to weld.
Get a mig welder and practice on scrap metal until you get the knack of it and then weld up your floor holes. A 4 door valiant is a perfect car for first time hobby welders.
The other option is to cut up and part the car out.
Frame rails etc are probably good enough to sell.
Believe it or not nobody is born knowing how to weld.
Get a mig welder and practice on scrap metal until you get the knack of it and then weld up your floor holes. A 4 door valiant is a perfect car for first time hobby welders.
The other option is to cut up and part the car out.
Frame rails etc are probably good enough to sell.
Most cars come to a point that the owner wonders if it's worth fixing and many get scrapped. This is the fate of most cars it's just that yours lasted an extra 25 years.
My vote is to take off the small & easy to ship parts (trim, emblems, arm rests etc...) then scrap it. There's a lot of bits that folks need from a car like this. Just be prepared to pack and ship items ( I never post something unless I have a box for it).
I love these early Valiants but there is only a small number of us.
My vote is to take off the small & easy to ship parts (trim, emblems, arm rests etc...) then scrap it. There's a lot of bits that folks need from a car like this. Just be prepared to pack and ship items ( I never post something unless I have a box for it).
I love these early Valiants but there is only a small number of us.
451Cuda
Well-Known Member
And the numbers are dwindling. Pretty soon the bulk of the muscle era crowd will be just like the pre-war resto crowd - dying off in nursing homes. Sure, there's always a small segment of fanatics that are much younger, but the majority are people who were young when those cars were new.
That plus the mass market new cars getting faster and more fun to drive than many "muscle" cars.
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Dude I'm in Ga and have seen your car on craigslist. I love all old mopars and am currently trying to sell a 65 Valiant Wagon. Even my wagon is taking a long time to sell. They just aren't that desirable of a car even though some of us love them. I have a 69 383 4 speed Cuda that is awesome but when I sit in my 65 slant 6 wagon its so simple and cool that I love it in a different way. You just have to find someone that appreciates these cars. You should just keep it.
You lower the price till it sells. Just like everybody else.
When something doesn't sell, that means you are asking too much.
When something doesn't sell, that means you are asking too much.
AJ/FormS
68 Formua-S fastback clone 367/A833/GVod/3.55s
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Or you're trying to sell water to a fish, dirt to a worm, snow to an eskimo,etc.
BillGrissom
Well-Known Member
List on ebay w/ $5 starting bid and no reserve and I bet it will sell. Offer free shipping anywhere in the lower 48 and it will surely sell, but probably at a loss. Ask yourself if you would buy the car from someone else at the price you are asking, assuming you were looking for such a car. If not, you have it over-priced.
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