Opponauts Assemble!!!!!

"Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!" (theduckduck)
03/08/2019 at 10:30 • Filed to: None

Hello everyone!!!!! I am looking for help either researching or suggestions on what is a good and fair price for a 1982 Buick Riviera Convertible. I am helping an older woman figure out a good price for it. Her and her husband were big car fans. Her husband was a massive car nut but unfortunately he passed away a little over a year ago. I actually bought my first awesome car from him. He sold me my 1980 Pontiac Firebird. Anyways, I am looking into incite on what is a fair price for the car. I stupidly forgot to take any photos of the car when I saw it yesterday but it is in great shape. Has original paint. The top is in great shape. Unsure of the mileage but likely under 100k. It has an Oldsmobile 307. It is a convertible and from she told me quite rare. Buick didn’t actually sel l these as convertibles. She said they were sent up to a company in Canada that made them into convertibles. This body style was made from 1979-1985 if you want help narrowing the search. I appreciate all your help on this Oppo.

Not the exact car but the right color. Convertibles were only sold in this red door white from what I can find.

DISCUSSION (19)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 10:36

https://classiccars.com/listings/find/1982-1984/buick/riviera

It looks like $10,000 to $15,000 depending on condition. I’m not sure who is buying tho, early 80's A merican cars were crap.

fintail > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 10:36

Not sure about value, very detailed pics would be in order, then maybe an analysis of prices from different sources over the course of maybe a year. Cosmetic condition matters most, as quality paint and interior will cost a lot more than mechanical freshening.

I believe these, like many convertibles of the era, w ere ASC conversions.

Kiltedpadre > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 10:49

I think this would be a great candidate for BAT. She may need help setting the sale up, but I think even in near perfect condition it would be hard to sell this for anywhere near as much through anywhere but there or possibly somewhere like Hemmings. I definitely don’t think Craigslist or Facebook marketplace is the place for a car like that.

As far as price it’s hard to say without seeing the car itsel. I’ve seen decent ones around $5k and great examples closer to $12k.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/08/2019 at 11:07

That’s kind of what I found. I mean it's a nice car but that seems like a lot.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Kiltedpadre
03/08/2019 at 11:08

Okay, yeah. I don’t think she would want to deal with Craigslist/Facebook at all. I will keep BaT in mind.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > fintail
03/08/2019 at 11:10

Yeah, sorry I didn't take any photos at all. The paint will shine but it's original so the shine doesn't seem to last. The interior is excellent. Thanks for the info.

WilliamsSW > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 11:11

Hemmings has 4 listed, 3 with a price, between $9450 and $19500. The cheapest one is at Country Classic Cars, and in my experience (I’ve walked their entire lot), almost all of their cars are 25-50 footers and no better, so you should be above that one .

I agree with KiltedPadre on BaT - that’s an excellent place to try, particularly if the car is a rust-free 1 owner car.

These are a little special to me - the Riviera was at the forefront of the “return” of the American convertible, and I loved the look of it as a kid. When I was 16 I would have killed for one (now, not so much). There’s a market for these, for sure.

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/?makeFacet=Buick&modelFacet=Riviera&adtypeFacet=carsforsale&year_min=1979&year_max=1985

WilliamsSW > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
03/08/2019 at 11:14

These marked the return of the American convertible to me (along with a few others of course) , and I always liked the look of that gen Riv. I was really upset when the ‘76 Eldo came and went, because I loved convertibles and wanted one desperately when I grew up. So there’s some sentimentality to it.

But yeah, cars from this era were crap and I don’t really want one now.

Arrivederci > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 11:14

Rare =/= Valuable, but as others have suggested, I think BaT may be a good place to try. They’ll probably want a No Reserve auction, but if the goal is a sale, then that’ll result in one.

BaT seller tips - get the car professionally detailed and photographed, and be an engaged seller in the comments, being as transparent as possible.

Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 11:42

I can spit Hagerty at you, but, Hagerty. Feh.

Here’s the thing: everyone’s going to lowball you. Don’t let them. First of all, if it’s all original, survivor premium applies. Second, it’s a convertible. Third, it’s an Olds 307 - the best non-T-Type motor. (IIRC couldn’t get T-Type droptop.) Fourth, extremely low miles . So you’ve tacked on a LOT of premium here.

Being all original survivor that holds a shine on the paint, that puts you firmly between Hagerty #1 and #2 values, as an opener. Secondly, values are climbing on these. RAPIDLY. They’re very much in demand because 80's, so hot right now. ESPECIALLY drop-tops.

In the past 3 years, Rivieras have climbed on average $3000-5000 in valuation. That’s in the past 3 years, based on public sales data. And that upward trend is continuing.

Now, here’s the other thing. It’s an ‘82 convertible - those are exceptionally rare, because they were insanely expensive for the time - more than $24k! Your car here is a 1982, Convertible, 307. 1 of 1,248 ever built counting all engine types . That’s it. GM made that few. TOTAL convertibles for the generation are only 3,898 (rarest being ‘85 where it was a limited edition of 400.)

http://rivowners.org/features/Ev_Stats/productn.html

Given all these factors and a current concours price of more than $14,000... depending on the interior condition and miles I would ask between $11,999 and $12,999 if it’s over 50k miles but under 100k. That’s if you don’t mind waiting for the right buyer. That’s just the opener. The prices on these are climbing INCREDIBLY fast and hard. A minimum ten grand is not even remotely out of line, especially with a one-owner with solid provenance.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
03/08/2019 at 11:49

Thank you so much for your detailed reply. I think finding the right buyer is the key. I am not sure how long she is willing to wait but I will definitely make sure she doesn't get lowballed . I will talk to her more and let her know what you and everyone else has said. I know she is at least the second owner. I didn’t get the full history from her on it’s past but will find out.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > WilliamsSW
03/08/2019 at 11:52

Well she is at least the second owner. But definitely appears rust free and in excellent shape.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Arrivederci
03/08/2019 at 12:00

I agree with your rare =/= valuable thought. I mean I think it's a cool car but yeah. I will talk with the owner and let her know about BaT and try and decide what route she wants to go. Thank you.

WilliamsSW > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 12:05

The condition matters more than tree number of owners.

I would try BAT, then either Hemmings or Classic Cars. NFW on CL or Facebook.

I would agree with Rootwyrm on pricing - if it’s really nice and original, maybe even up to 15k.

The one listing I saw at 19.5k did have the turbo - which carries a premium.

WilliamsSW > Spamfeller Loves Nazi Clicks
03/08/2019 at 12:13

Well said. These are rare, and there absolutely is a market for them - no reason to put up with bottom feeders on a quality survivor.

WilliamsSW > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 13:42

I’m looking through BaT, and I see some reserve auctions that probably won’t top what this car would bring.

They may want no reserve, but I think that if you set it at a reasonable figure (10k??) just to make sure she isn’t taken to the cleaners, they’ll accept it.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > WilliamsSW
03/08/2019 at 15:57

Okay, thank you for that advice.

WilliamsSW > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW!
03/08/2019 at 16:30

I would love to see more posts on how this process goes for you and her. There are a lot of options out there, would be interesting to see how they really work from the sell side.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > WilliamsSW
03/09/2019 at 12:18

Will do.