1965 Barracuda prices

[Norse]

Hello all,

These days it seems like the prices on mid-60's A-bodies are all over the map.
I am looking at a 65' Barracuda, 273 auto, manual drum brakes and manual steering. Mileage could be 68k or 168k, it's actual is unknown. Needs a front windshield, master cyl., rear passenger floor pans and a paint job (some old bondo spots here and there, nothing major).

Here's my question; "if" I wanted to buy and let's say fix-n-flip it, what would I expect?
Let's say I can get it for $2500 and fix everything but the paint for $1500, is the market on first gen A bodies going to return me at least $4000?

I know that there are a lot of variables to this. Mostly that this deal fell in my lap and I am trying to think it through.

Thanks for any input.

 

[cosgig]

Everything has gone through the roof value wise. What once was a cheap way to get into the hobby with an early A body has now gone up substantially! With that said, I’m still stuck in the bygone days, and price my stuff accordingly. Now, if the car you’re looking at has nice straight parts, a decent interior, runs and drives, and is not all rusted out or banged up, it should bring at least $5k, maybe up to $7500. If you’re in this hobby to make money on A bodies, you’re gonna have to find em cheaper than $2500.

 

[66fyssh]

It's all the little parts and pieces that add up. Is all the trim there? Dash parts, knobs, seat adjustment knobs, side interior lights, etc, etc?

If everything is there and it's just a matter of doing some metal work, you might" be able to make a buck or two.

The other thing is finding that "one" person who is looking to buy an early a-body. They just don't have broad appeal. It has to be someone who had a connection to them. .

 

[Norse]

Everything has gone through the roof value wise. What once was a cheap way to get into the hobby with an early A body has now gone up substantially! With that said, I’m still stuck in the bygone days, and price my stuff accordingly. Now, if the car you’re looking at has nice straight parts, a decent interior, runs and drives, and is not all rusted out or banged up, it should bring at least $5k, maybe up to $7500. If you’re in this hobby to make money on A bodies, you’re gonna have to find em cheaper than $2500.

Yeah, I know what you mean!
I have a 69' Barracuda and need a front fender. Those could be found a dime-a-dozen just 20 years ago. Now all I find is rusted and banged up parts for $500.

I'm not really into this to make money, BUT, I don't like doing something I enjoy and loosing my *** over (ask me about my 82' Imperial ).

 

[66fyssh]

I don't like doing something I enjoy and loosing my ***

Lol. I'm really good at doing that with my hobbies!!!

 

[Mike69cuda]

Unless you really like doing the work as a hobby, and do EVERYTHING yourself, probably going to be very difficult to make money. You can spend $5k in a heartbeat.

Create an account on Mecum and look at auction prices. That should give you an idea. Just because someone is asking $25k on eBay doesn’t mean it will sell for that. As I understand, a lot of car sales on eBay never close, even though someone may “buy” it.

 

[pishta]

Early A is probably the most fluid market out there for older Mopars 3-4 year only, very unique chassis for engine swaps..poor 3rd party support for model specific parts (ie. 66 fenders). Better trying to flip a B or E body or 67+ A body. Is it a runner? Clean interior, Cheap red paint job, Cragars and a $4500 price tag, flip it.

 

[66jim]

If your looking for a bargain I would look into other makes and models, Mopars are way too high for what you get.

 

[cosgig]

As in everything else, the sum of the parts is worth more than the complete car. To make money on a project car, you have to have the parts from parts cars to throw at it, buying the parts one by one can add up too quick. I did a project called “2nd Best” here a couple years ago, where I took a 66 Cuda I got in a 2 car deal, sold all of the best parts between the 2 cars, and used all of the 2nd best parts on the car and made it a nice little project for someone, at my price point of $2500. It was a challenge to myself, to not spend a penny of my own money on it, and still make it a nice little car. Did I make money? You bet, because I sold the best parts, kept the best car of the 2 as the project, sold that for $2500, and made about that on the parts from the parts car. All for a $1900 investment on the 2 cars to begin with.

My New Build...Project "2nd Best"!!

 

[dibbons]

It's a safe bet that when all is said and done on an early A body, you will be spending twice on purchase/restoration than you will receive at the time it sells. Do it for love, or you may find all your efforts don't pay off in the end financially speaking. The purchase price hardly even matters because that will be a tiny expense compared to the grand total (i.e purchase price $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 compared to $10,000 or more restoration cost). Don't get me wrong, not trying to discourage anyone here.

 

[Norse]

Thanks all for the input.
Some of this came from the fact that I love old Mopars (I currently have 3.5), but the A bodies were not something I had totally gotten into until I bought my 69' Barracuda earlier this year.
Years ago I was a solid B body guy. Several years ago I got back into Mopars by buying a 66' Newport, then an 82' Imperial (word of advice; Never Again), then added part of a D300 dually (the ".5), then got my 69. I know that if any of these were a Charger or Roadrunner, I'd have something worth $10k even if it was totally clapped out. But the A bodies were not something I knew other than the desirable models.
Then having someone offer me this 65' made me think to ask those of who have invented the wheel before me.
As it has turned out, the seller was set on how much he wanted, and I felt it was about $1000 too much. Guess he was right; he sold it this afternoon.