"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
03/30/2020 at 11:55 • Filed to: None
3
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"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
03/30/2020 at 11:55 • Filed to: None | 3
| 10 |
Oppo’s very own Aremmes went to look at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for me and came back with a very detailed report and some great pictures (having trouble adding them) . Here is my summary of findings:
Bad:
The rust is worse than the seller stated (surprised? ) - It’s not just the tub corner, its across the entire back of the tub under the hatch. There’s also some near the left rear wheel tub. Aremmes couldn’t get to the right wheel tub, but it’s possible (likely) there’s some there as well. There’s also a bit of surface rust on the rear hatch just below the window.
The rear bumper delete is exactly as janky as you’d imagine. It’s all held together with screws, no welding.
Less bad:
Needs some normal work expected for a car this age - motor mounts, front seats, rear hatch struts, some weather stripping.
Needs some work to pass inspection - headlight high/low beams are wired backwards, needs a rearview mirror, some other lights
Fuses are missing from heater and cruise control. Could just need new fuses, or could need more sorting.
Round headlight conversion is also janky
The lowering puts the tires within 1" of the fenders.
Good:
Engine starts first try, idles nice, sounds good, doesn’t smoke
Rest of the body, including doors, door surrounds, as well as the engine bay and under the car are all very clean and rust free.
Dash, head liner, and rear seat are in very good shape.
He said that the seller added that someone was interested in driving over from Pittsburgh with a tow truck to get the car that same evening. But a s of this morning the car is still for sale. Sounds like a bluff to me, but whatever. If someone does show up with cash before me, I guess it’s all theirs. I need to sleep on it.
My current thoughts:
When the seller told me “There’s only one bad rust spot the size of my hand, the rest is just surface rust” I was naturally skeptical. I’ve done my research, I know what the common rust spots are on these cars, and Aremmes’ sleuthing confirmed my suspicions. That said, for the age and condition of the rest of the car, the rust isn’t that bad. It’s stuff I’d be willing to tackle myself (i.e. its in places nobody will see so I don’t need to be perfect).
The next issue is the janky rear roll pan. If it’s all done with screws it’s possible I could undo it and put a bumper back on. Another option is go all in on it - I think it would look really cool with a roll pan and then a custom thin bumper (think Mk 1 Golf style ). M y dad had some custom body work done on one of his trucks years ago - and I’m talking fabbing custom panels, welding and blending them in, etc., a nd it looked phenomenal . I may reach out to the guy that did it and see if he has any interest in this and try to get an idea of what it might cost.
Beyond that, I think I can tackle everything myself. The inspection stuff would come first - motor mounts, rear view mirror, sorting the lighting and electrical. Seat swaps seem to be common in these, and there are some good options. I’d probably start with a set of junkyard seats and then do something nicer and more permanent down the road.
I’d also need to address the lowering / wheel & tire issue, don’t want the fenders cutting the tires or tires beating up the bodywork. To be honest I like these cars when they sit a little lower, but this might be a bit much. I have some ideas on how to address this.
So where am I at? I think I still like it, and I think it may still be worth taking on. It seems like it’s totally salvageable, although a bit more work than what was initially indicated (but isn’t that how these things always go?). W ith a smart plan it shouldn’t be too hard to tackle in steps. And i t would save the poor car from some terrible fate like becoming a drift missile, or worse. All that said, am I wrong in thinking $1500 is still a bit much to risk on this? I haven’t negotiated at all with the seller, though I do know they had the car previously listed at $1900, so I’m not sure how much more they’d be willing to come off.
What do you all think?
Rainbow
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 12:15 |
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I got my equally rusty 1970 144 for $1200 (seller was asking $1500 and accepted our offer immediately, so we probably could have gone lower) . What’s the mileage and repair history of this one? I wouldn’t spend that much on it myself unless it’s at like 6 0k or something, just due to the rust and janky work . It looks super cool though, so I can see why it’s tempting!
EL_ULY
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 12:15 |
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It all depends what your standard is. Previous owner had low standards from what I could see. Right intentions doe.
Me? I would not settle less than that epic ride be top shelf quality. Full resto be damned. $1500 is a drop in the pond compared to the $3 -4 k-ish needed to get it in proper shape.
Count on half of that though to make it decent. I say go for it!*
*unless there is another in better shape somewhere else
Aremmes
> Rainbow
03/30/2020 at 12:40 |
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It’s got 228k miles and no recent repair history. The current owner hasn’t done anything with it since he bought it beyond starting it weekly and moving it around his front yard due to becoming rejected from donating his organs in a motorcycle accident shortly after the purchase
, and doesn't know anything about what the previous owner did
.
GoodIdeaAtTheTime
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 12:52 |
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I’d offer 1100 cash. And have it in hand . Hard to walk away from what you can see. 1900 is, well, optimistic on his part.
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Aremmes
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 12:55 |
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Some pictures here.
promoted by the color red
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 13:00 |
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Seller can definitely do better than $1500. I paid $1950 for my 245 Turbo 4MT with roached interior but with a intact spare tire well and I’m 90% sure I overpaid the further I get .
Aremmes’s findings
sounds like the car you’re looking at was hit and shoddily repaired at one point, which concerns me.
Heater “missing a fuse” also has me wondering if the heater core took a shit - it’s one of those “they built the car around it” kind of repairs. Not impossible, just hilariously difficult.
I think I still like it, and I think it may still be worth taking on. It seems like it’s totally salvageable, although a bit more work than what was initially indicated (but isn’t that how these things always go?). With a smart plan it shouldn’t be too hard to tackle in steps. And it would save the poor car from some terrible fate like becoming a drift missile, or worse.
I remember when I said all these things and the subsequent nights where I’d lie awake at night scheming to fix whatever went wrong or piecing together shopping lists at FCP Euro or iPd.
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Rainbow
03/30/2020 at 13:08 |
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Yeah, seems like cool ideas, poor execution. But I think there’s enough there to work with. It is tempting!
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Aremmes
03/30/2020 at 13:14 |
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Thanks again so much,and thank you for adding the pictures here.
You didn’t mention the motorcycle story, that’s crazy! “R ejected from donating his organs. ” I’m going to have to remember that one.
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Aremmes
> Snuze: Needs another Swede
03/30/2020 at 13:32 |
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Happy to help!
Sorry for omitting the motorcycle story. The guy told me that he had the accident about a week
after buying the Volvo, becoming bedridden and then on a wheelchair until earlier this month
.
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Snuze: Needs another Swede
> Aremmes
03/30/2020 at 14:05 |
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No need to be sorry , that just kind of caught me by surprise.