VINTAGE and CLASSIC CAR Rating Guide

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Jim Weise, Dec 5, 2005.

  1. Boscoe

    Boscoe Well-Known Member

    Hi Mark,

    I'd just like to say that the car pictured in your avatar looks beautiful. I love the color combination. What year is it? I'm not expert enough to tell. Thanks.

    Brian
     
  2. Nothingface5384

    Nothingface5384 Detail To Oil - Car Care

    I purchased a book that lists every car from the 40s to the mid 70s that decodes the vins, lists cars orginal price, shipping weights and other info...and it also has a price/rating guide like above butoffcource with a prices..

    Title of the book
    Standard Catalog Of American cars 1946-1975 4th edition
    by John Gunnell
     
  3. Stage2go

    Stage2go Well-Known Member

    Jim- long time no see.Are you rebuilding my original motor yet?? Give me a call or email me. Got to get things moving,hey its been what? 4 years??
    Car running strong.

    GB
     
  4. red68skylarkcon

    red68skylarkcon Well-Known Member

    I think mine is a fair #3. Almost a 15 year old restoration, and just showing the normal wear. But there are somethings on the car that are still original like the interior. Haven't touched it, although it is showing some wear now. But everything looks correct on the car now, except the radiator hose, and am preparing to change it soon. I agree, the majority of the cars you see at your local shows are mostly #3's, and depending on the show maybe some #2's and rarely a #1. But then also, like what was said in another thread on this post, everyone sees thing differently, like around here most of the local clubs just go by what they know, or like and those win, luckily I have done rather well(knock on wood:Dou:), but to go to good shows you have to drive a distance.
     
  5. GRIMM

    GRIMM Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the guide, i rate my brothers car (the wildcat) a solid 3, should be between if not completely a 2 by finish (do they ever really finish? :Brow: )


    Im no expert either, but im going to go on a whim here, i think its a 72 GS350, numbers matching of course :spank:

    Sorry, couldnt help it.

    Its in his signature :TU:
     
  6. d.chaney

    d.chaney Member

    my 77 2dr skylark, 403 olds is a 4, my parts car(76 nova 4 dr) is a 3. Sad is'nt it?
     
  7. 350-4/66special

    350-4/66special Active Member

    Good to know, when i'm restoring my car i can know just what it might be rated at the end.:TU:
     
  8. ragtops

    ragtops Gold Level Contributor

    So that book was totally relevent when it was written, but the prices were outdated by the time it was printed and on the rack for the general population to buy and read. The Old Car Price Guide is OK, but my personal favorite is the Hemmings Motor News Collectible Vehicle Value Guide, also in on this with Hemmings is CPI Value Guide, the Black Book. The guide is updated 6 times a year and cost $48 for a year subscription. Money well spent, in my book. And in the front of each issue is an abbreviated rating guide similar to the one Jim posted, so you will always be able to refer to it anytime you need, 'cause we tend to forget.
    Do I believe cars are only worth what any guide says? NO. Values can't be set in stone. Condition is everything, color, personal desires, what you intend to do with it, all play a role in worth. Cars may be worth more or less than a guide suggests, but everyone needs a basic idea of where the market is at any particular time, somewhere to start, and do what you feel like doing from there. Whether one is buying or selling, It's your money (or car) do what you want with it.
    I have a 19,991 mile '73 Malibu, that is pretty much original, but don't consider it better than a #3. It has surface rust on the underside because it was driven, and stored in an un heated garage. It's nice, very clean, and drives like a new one, the chrome, stainless, and all trim is like new, the paint is very nice for original paint, interior likewise, but to me a #3.
     
    TorqueMonster1 likes this.
  9. BUICKLESABRE85

    BUICKLESABRE85 Well-Known Member

    Between A 4 And A 5. I Am Slowly Restoring The Minor Bumps And Bruises On The Car But In Time It Will Hit 5. 6? I Doubt I Will Ever See 6 Anytime Soon.
     
  10. Chevellekillr

    Chevellekillr Active Member

    My 64 Riv would be about a 4 but after the restoration with it being all orginal with 64000 miles I hope it will be a 2 :TU: but soon after that it will be a 3 just because Im not one to trailer a car I mean it has four wheels and an engine isnt that what its ment for:confused: ??

    Jason
     
  11. Tomsriv

    Tomsriv Well-Known Member

    The problem with that guide is that almost all the drivable cars fall between a 3 and a 4. Is their a high 3 or a low 4? It is to tight a description to fit most cars.
     
  12. MattRush10

    MattRush10 Buick Fanatic In Training

    I'm proud to say that my daily driver is a strong 4. :grin:
     
  13. Mr62Buick

    Mr62Buick Guest

    I think that before the restoration, my Buick Wildcat with 43,000 miles was a 3. Now that she is all done and is back to pristine condition, I would say she is a 1. A 2 when the cragars are on....as she is not original... :)


    According to NADA the Wildcat is worth $18,000, but I just had appraised a month ago from one guy and he said $43,000 and the other who I just asked a quick price, and he said even higher. SUWEEEET!
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 12, 2010
  14. GSX1

    GSX1 GSX1

    SO A RESTORED CAR , DONE FOR THE LOVE AND FUN OF IT , NOT 100% PERFECT OR ORIGINAL AND NOT ALL NEW PARTS LOTS OF NICE USED OR NOS PARTS , (NOT A TRAILER QUEEN ) A VERY NICE CUSTOM PAINT JOB THAT WILL BE DRIVEN TO AND FROM SHOWS AND EVENTS AND FOR THE CRUISE NIGHTS AS MUCH AS POSIBLE ,BUT NOT A DAILY DRIVER , THE GAS ALONE WOULD MAKE ME GO BROKE lOl.
    I SEE IT AS A # 2 1/2 WOULD THAT BE WRONG OR HOW WOULD YOU RATE THIS TYPE CAR ?
    TIM I SEE YOUR CAR AS A #1 YOU DO SWEET WORK AND VERY SELF CONCIOUS OF THE CORRECT FACTORY APPEARANCE , I TO A BUT DID TEND TO DRIFT AWAY FROM ORIGINALITY
     
  15. TimR

    TimR Nutcase at large

    Wow old thread and thanks for the kind words but no way is my car even close to a #1. #1 cars don't get driven, they are museum quality. Not only that but the #'s matching parts are on a stand and it has a 455 in it, looks factory installed but totally incorrect for the car, lots of parts are date coded incorrectly, etc and people seem to like pointing out it has panels from several different cars on it. I did things I KNEW were wrong just to make it look better and some people don't like that. That's their call, personally I don't care.

    But again it comes down to what a guy wants for himself.
     
  16. StageTwo

    StageTwo It's a Beauty Too.

    OK, I'll stir it up a little.

    I'm not going to say the rating system should be re-written, but I don't like how the "new" and the "better than new" cars are being lumped into the same category. On the same token, "better than new" can be a bit subjective. Really, the only true reference for judging would be a car that has just plopped it's wheels off the assembly line.

    The brand new car off the assembly line would not have any aging. It would still have the same fluids in it. None of the materials would have any breakdown in the chemical structure for any reason. It should be the reference. But I believe cars meticulously restored to as-new condition (no overly perfect alignment of body panels or application methods of paint not done in the factory during the cars production) should be judged the same as the brand new car that actually came off the line.

    But there should be a separate category for better than new cars. These cars are done using techniques simply not feasible in a factory that is turning out as many cars a day as they can. Again, there could be some guidelines for what constitutes better than new to keep out the guys who would say a gold-plated frame is better. Better than new should mean tighter tolerances, better paint, perfect assembly, improved internals in the engine, etc; things that Buick would have done if they had had the time and technology of today to build each car with no expenses spared. These cars should be appreciated in their own category.
    Just my humble opinion, anyway.
     
  17. buicknut@live

    buicknut@live Member

    have you ever seen a 85+- GN BB 4speed car or am i still the only 1 to have 1 :)
     
  18. austingta

    austingta Well-Known Member

    A few nice pics are in order!
     
  19. buicknut@live

    buicknut@live Member

    new @ this but will take pic on sat then up load
     
  20. Richardv

    Richardv New Member

    My 70 Skylark is a 4,but my 70 gs455 convertible is a 6 and I will rebuilt the little bugger...I hope it will be my last one (Again,quote my wife):pray:
     

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