Purchase advise

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If you really like the car I say go for it, but not as an investment. An investment in fun and memories maybe?

I bought a completed car a couple of years back and have already spent a TON of money on it changing things to my taste. I'll probably have twice it's value invested in it by the time I'm done with it. But in the end it won't matter cause I'll be dead. My wife has been instructed on how to liquidate my assets when I'm gone. Enjoy life cause you can't take it with you.
 
str12-340 said:
matching numbers, matching numbers, matching numbers... Bah Humbug!!! There are plenty of buyers out there that don't give a whit about matching numbers. They want a cool car that is fun to drive and turns heads. I get publications that list sales of cars with detailed descriptions from the big auction houses. Many times these days resto-modded cars are fetching as much or more than their bone stock counterparts. Sure there is value in a reference car and actual numbers matching cars could have some extra worth if they were a particularly sought after car, but that doesn't mean that there aren't lots of folks that would love to have a car with minor modifications like yours. I'd rather have a 1970 340 than a 1973 340 all day long. There's no way to predict what that car, well maintained, might bring in 6 or 10 years, just like there's no way to tell if the bottom might fall out of the real estate market or the stock you hold. Like living in a great house brings rewards every day even if you never see it get sold, having a nice functioning muscle car can too.

Just to stir the pot... it used to be that a numbers matching car was an indication of how new and reliable the car was in terms of all it's mechanical systems. By now I would bet that 90% of numbers matching cars have had their engine and trans pulled and rebuilt, just like most of their other mechanical systems, Even if they only have low miles on the clock. I think in reality matching numbers is a long outdated measure of a cars originality or reliability.
Click to expand...
I still contend that a numbers matching drivetrain will always command a premium when you resell. The crowd here is all about driving it till the wheels fall off or you die, which is what I’m all about too. However, the OP is considering his retirement, and as such may be selling it at some point. I agree that to most folks, a non matching drivetrain in most cars doesn’t really matter much anymore, but I’m some cases, even A bodies have some rare cars where it would matter. A 73 340 is a relatively rare car, and even if it had its original engine, you could build the heck out of it, add value on top of a matching numbers bonus.

In my experience, guys buy cars that drop in front of them, I tend to just wait patiently until the right car comes my way. If this has been his dream car, then yes, pay up for it, but if it’s just a purchase to enjoy a cool Mopar, I think this car is at the high end of the asking price.

I did see a 340 Duster yesterday with its original drivetrain, all restored, and the asking price was $80k. IMO, way too much money for any A body, except LO/BO cars.
 
1WildRT said:
And that I agree with...

But the post I responded to said " will always command a premium" and that just ain't so....
Click to expand...
Former slant 6 Duster vs matching numbers 340 Duster? Both with 340’s, the matching number car will hold more value, all other things equal.
 
What a great thread. So many different opinions and all have validity to them.
1. Every investment decision ( big purchase) I make is for me my wife and my 2 kids. (As in when me and her pass on. " did I make wise choices finically to help them ") and also I will have enough funds to continue with monthly investment plan and have a cd to cover a down-payment on another rental when one shows up( with home equity too) so my early retirement plan should be game on if I buy this car.

2.im thinking I'll be at 23k offer. Due to mostly not knowing what degree engine was built, how good body work was done, unforseen things to take care of and change out them ugly rally wheels. Got to have that A body stance.

3. As far as my resale vaule idea I had stuck in my narrow minded head. Some of you guys realy had me thinking and somehow you finetuned my brain. I'm thinking now I'll be spending money on it in general that I'll never get back.(maintenance, repairs gas gas gas, tires tirse tires.etcc.). But as the majority pointed out it's a 340 4 speed, 3 black car. Sort of rare too. So if kept nice it should resell fairly easy and probably not loose vaule.

4. The number matching game is not realy a reality and some of guys realy explained that nicely.

5. I love you guys, only came on here to sell these dang parts that been sitting in garage 25 years. And thankyou for buying. But I hate you guys too, one of you gave me this itch I can't stop scratching. Not sure which one of you did that.

6. Going to bank tomorrow and withdraw some cash. Still going up to look at it Oct 12th

7. Change of thread topic. Advice on how far I go when looking at it. Like what do you look at when buying a car with this history.

Thanks jim
 
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I bought my Duster off of a FB A body group two years ago. AFTER speaking to the owner probably a dozen times on the phone and viewing videos and pictures that he sent. Luckily, he had a lift and was able to send me pictures of the undercarriage. He was a good 'ol boy and wanted to sell it to buy HIS dream car. We drove eight hours one way just to look at it in person. The seller put it up on his lift and even let us drive it to lunch before any money switched hands. Overall, a very smooth process and I have a story that I'll tell for the rest of my life.

1758884475040.jpeg


I hope your buying experience goes as well as mine did. Good luck!
 

1/3 off.

...and it's OBO, so maybe more.

Looks like it's a solid, original body and it looks like what's been done has been nicely done.

If the OP was worried about expenditure and finances....
 
I am just doing what I do...

Research.

...finding comps (as best as possible) before making a decision.

Hopefully it's appreciated.
 
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Having restored my '68 at great cost, I can see the value in purchasing a nearly complete car with all the equipment you may want already there. 340, 4SP, etc.

The good thing about a '73+ is that it already has good disk brakes which can be easily upgraded to 11.81" cop car rotors with just a bracket swap. These are great brakes for an A-Body. Also, the '73+ has a better sway bar with shorter arms and is easily updated with aftermarket bars and torsion bars which make this a great handling vehicle. There is also the better captured motor mounts and a few other changes that make the '73 a great driver. I wish there was a rally dash option for the '73, and the baby buggy bumpers need to go if at all possible. But otherwise, this would be a great car to take on long drives and enjoy.
 
I'm just not a beak guy. They've grown on me a little more over the years, but I wouldn't buy one. That said, if it blows your skirt up, get it.
 
If it's nice it may be gone before you get there. If you like it don't worry about a couple grand when purchasing it.
 
Update. I looked at this car on Sunday. Sort of disappointed. The car looks awsome at 20 ft away. Right off the bat he said I'll take 21k(was asking 25k)
The good
Drivetrain is great.

The bad.
Every corner I looked I see sloppy.
Like nothing is completely finished.
The body looks very good until you get up close.
1. Passenger side quarter looks like he hung it 1 inch back to far. As you realy see it at back of door.
2.He replaced truckfloor center but left ugly battery box in trunk.[needs to be cut out for sure].
3. Old paint on window gasket at spots
4. Rocker on pass side replaced and line up at door bottoms very crooked.
(Driver side same replaced but looks good)
5.both bumpers chrome is ****.
Interior new carpet seat covers and dash pad.
6. All door cards are screwed on like right through them.
7.headliner is separated
8. Sails the typical brokin spots.

9. Fender tag and dash plate. All other number tags gone. (Is this a donor body??)
10.Steering column is only bolted with 1 bolt and the coupler is wiretied together.

The car looks pretty dam good at 20 feet. But I can't get over the sloppy I see and numbers are gone.the interior no biggie I have all part here needed.the drivetrain is no joke. But that body I'm afraid it will need redo in 5 years.

So I'm needing to pass on this.
Bummer

Thoughts?
Thanks jim
 
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