71 GS455 tribute--tell me why this isn't a good deal

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Buick...75&algv=DiscV1&_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982


Starting bid $15,500, no bids yet, 2 days left. I know it's a clone, and an inexpertly done clone, but it looks good, drivetrain seems good to go, and the price is currently so low that if you could get it for that price, you could afford to turn it back into something less fake and not be underwater. Am I wrong? Can you find "problems" with this car that make it seem shady? What reasons can you list that tell you that it wouldn't be worth $15,500?

 

No paperwork non numbers matching what's

No documentation, non numbers matching anybody can put a 455 in the skylight/GS. Wrong interior emblems in the wrong place GS wannabe. Lucky if he gets 12 K for it.

 

Junk,..I wouldn't give 5k

 

Looks like Olds Cutlass seat covers.

 

I don't see anything wrong with it. I don't like the interior. If the the body is free of rust, and that is a big IF, then it looks pretty good. I think they are asking all the money though.

 

The horn button's crooked.

The owner is too cheap to wear socks.

 

Okay, thanks guys! I did notice the seatcovers (do not like) and I already knew it's a Skylark with "some GS upgrades." Nice catch on the interior emblems. If it runs and drives good enough to not need anything, and if the paint is good enough to be a decent driver, then what I would do if I owned it, would be: Take off and sell the parts that detract from it but other owners would give you money for, such as the hood tach and the GS hood. Use the money to buy Skylark parts and turn it back into a Skylark that looks pretty good and accelerates like we know a 455 can do. It's got posi and a good dual exhaust system. If you're lucky, your net investment would still be only the 15 grand. (Still no bids on it, and just one day left, so if he wants it gone, he might listen to lower offers, so I'd take a chance on it if I had a spare $10,000.)

As Len noticed, the guy can't afford socks, so he may be in need of some cash!

 

Send the seller a message offer of 8k if you think it's for you.
Tell him after it doesn't sell, you'll consider buying for the 8k upon inspection.

 

Cars like this and say, 60’s Ford Galaxies, etc., make a good entry level car to get into the hobby for $5,000-$15,000. The owners can have just about as much fun as we do with less investment.

 

Ouch.

 

At least he trims his toenails...

 

Typical cobbled together clunker in resale red paint. I would bet poor body work or filler under the paint. Looking to hook a sucker at that price.Much better cars out there for 15k

 

Thanks to everyone for providing the perspective that I was hoping to get. I am not looking to buy this car--I want to improve my skills at detecting a bargain from a ripoff, and this seemed like a good specimen to learn from.

One question for Al, though: How many examples of a much better car for $15,000 can you list?

Also: The market is currently in "barn-find" mania, where fixer-uppers are in demand, and fetch high prices, if they were recently found after rotting for decades in a barn. Suppose this was not a complete, running, decently repainted car, but instead is a barn-find roller 1971 Skylark that needed paint but which came with a NOM 455 sitting next to it, in fine running condition, ready to bolt in and go.

Assuming the seller's claims are true about the "strong 455 c.i engine" and the T400 has no problems (notice the nice console in there--worth some bucks), the 3.08 Posi, and no rust anywhere, and the power disc front brakes and good vinyl top. and all electrical works except heater blower motor, and the Flowmaster exhaust with H-pipe is probably a recent mod so no need to replace---as a barn-find roller with a strong 455 ready to plug and play, would $15K really be a bad deal in today's market?

I can see a few of the seasoned Buick fan club people thinking "Wow, no major work to be done, no expensive parts to source, and it would be so easy to paint it the color I want, and then I have a stress-free cruising vessel while my meticulously restored 1-of-35 Stage1 or GSX can stay in the climate-controlled garage and keep its value." OR, as Jim said, for the first-timer with $15K in the bank, who is looking for an easy entry-level 70s muscle car to enjoy as a daily driver, cross-country vacation car and occasional street racer:

In that scenario, what better deal can he realistically find these days? Okay, share your thoughts please.

 

What kills me is that the board thought that rot box beater was a great deal at 14k. This car appears to be miles ahead of that car. Granted it's not a real gs, but it also doesn't 1000 hours of sheetmetal work.

 

In the past six months on here I’ve seen two real GS big block cars (one a ‘68, one a ‘69) in very nice shape sell for less. I’ve seen a few really nice ‘70-‘72 Skylarks in very nice shape sell for less than $10k. If a member here were selling a BBB swapped Skylark and could show what it looked like before paint, document the build, the drivetrain swap components and show it runs cool on the highway and like it should on the dragstrip, THEN $15k would be justified. Resale red with errors and cut corners? I’d want to look it over very carefully before making an offer, and if it’s everything he claims I’d subtract the cost of correct seat upholstery.
In my opinion.
Patrick

 

https://classiccars.com/listings/view/1209396/1969-buick-skylark-for-sale-in-lockport-new-york-14094

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1968/buick/skylark/101355193

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/904961620010466/

 

Those were some good finds, Al, I admit. Good deals both of them, for the person who is looking for a Stepchild. (I wish my '69 could be made that nice for a total cost of $14K)

I wonder, though, if it might be harder to find a '71 in that good of shape for a similar price.

Update on the Ebay '71: The auction ended with no bids, so I guess no one thought it was a bargain, and it appears the "not a bargain" comments were accurate. Of course, we learn of bargains that we don't buy because of the distance from us which makes it less of a bargain. Thanks to all of you for helping me improve my "bargain radar."

 

Good luck with your search take your time you'll find the right car.

 

Thanks, Stage 2. My problem is that I already have one car that I've owned since high school and MUST finish fixing up before I get too old to enjoy it, while at the same time I see cars for sale that are already good enough to drive as is, and their price is less than all the time and work and parts that it will take to make mine as good. The old dilemma that many of us are familiar with I bet.

 

Not really too hard too find. 70-72 skylarks in this price range. Most private sellers pulled their ads during the progression of the pandemic. Most ads left are from dealers and people with over priced junk. These cars will pop up again but i do know of a very nice 70 in your price range.