Need some advise on selling my 74 Roadrunner

[74 Mopar]

I have my 74 Roadrunner up for sale. I need to get as much as I can for it. Problem is, 1 cylinder in my 318 isn't working, so it's running crappy. I don't know how and don't have the $ to pay someone $2000 to rebuild the 318 or the 440 I have (and I don't have any of the stuff I'd need to put a BB in).

I've found a 360 engine out of a 74 Dodge pick up that's been rebuilt (15k miles) and is running good for $500. Is it worth the time and $ to go ahead and get the Roadrunner running properly?

Do you think I can get the cost of the motor back in the sales price?

Or should I just forget about it, and drop the price?

What would you do?

Thanks, Alex

 

[old tired rebel]

Pictures of the car will help get you a good answer.

 

[74 Mopar]

Sorry, duh.

I listed it the other day in the for sale ads, with lots of pictures.

http://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/showthread.php?52041-74-Roadrunner-318-Project-Car

 

[WP29440SE]

4800 is too much whether the engine runs or not. you got too much home brew stuff going in there. that falls in the category of project cars. that's a 3500 car at best in my opinion

 

[74 Mopar]

4800 is too much whether the engine runs or not. you got too much home brew stuff going in there. that falls in the category of project cars. that's a 3500 car at best in my opinion

Got ya. So, would putting the 360 in, help the value much?

Thanks, Alex

 

[Bruzilla]

That's a tough call Alex. I looked at your pics, and aside from the painted stripes I thought it looked pretty good until I saw the quarter panels and all the rust and bondo on there. I'm guessing those are in rough shape, and that's a tough sell since no one is making reproduction sheet metal except the areas adjacent to the wheel well. You also have a challenge since it's a bench seat/column shifter car.

My advice would be to first sand off those stripes and primer over the area. Badly painted stripes practically scream "This car has had a lot of half-assed work done on it!" to every potential buyer, and with a poorly-running engine to boot this image doesn't help you. You're better off having primer there so you can say you removed the original stripes in preparation for repainting the car and did some cleaning up under where they were.

I wouldn't bother going to the time and expense to get a 360 and install it. 360s are in demand right now as upgrade engines for 318 and /6 cars, but most people are buying the engine to put it into something else, and aren't really interested in buying a car with one already in it. A more likely scenario would be someone buying your car with the intention of replacing the engine anyway. I think a better use of your time would be getting the interior as completed as possible. A nice interior will sell this car better than a 360 will.

Personally, I would rate this as a parts car due to the rust and where it's at, but I have seen people buying cars in much worse shape for $4k and more, so you could get that much. I think your best shot at getting it would be to use some Jedi mind tricks on the buyers, like in your local ads mention the car has a 318 in it but don't tell them it's not running very well. Whoever calls to inquire about the car is probably already interested in it, and when they ask how the engine runs you can say "to be honest, it doesn't run very good. Bad cylinder. I was going to have the engine rebuilt, but then I would have had to add a couple of grand to the price, plus most folks want a big block in there for more power anyway." These are the kinds of statements car dealers use to plant mental images in your head, in this case that you're paying less money and that they want a big block. Do this right and they won't care as much if the 318 is running or not because in their minds they're already thinking about junking the 318 for a big block.

Clean up the exterior, finish the interior, and play some mind games with the engine, and I think you could get your asking price and maybe a bit more.

 

[74 Mopar]

Thanks SO much for the advice. We should have the interior done (buckets are now in) and in this week. I'll post more pics when I'm done.
I did find some rear quarters from AMD for like $160 a piece that would more than take care of the rust, so the few buyers I've had come look at it, that's what I've told them. If they know a welder/body person, it wouldn't be a hard fix. My Dad's a welder and that's what he said, unfortunately, he's in KS and the car's in Utah.

I was wondering if I gave too good of a description....I hate when people don't post the truth, but your idea of telling them in person for the locals is a good idea, thanks.

Alex

 

[73runner]

Bruzilla nailed it with his advice. Clean it up and move it along. The cleaner the better. As a good body it's worth 1500 to 2000 regardless of engine.... Yours looks like its only ok.

You never said what was wrong with the 318... Is it simple? You said you thought it would take $2000 to set it right....

As a runner with a primer finish I could see it go for 3000 to 3500.

or.... Just pull the engine and sell it as a project with the 440 next to it

 

[Bruzilla]

I was wondering if I gave too good of a description....I hate when people don't post the truth, but your idea of telling them in person for the locals is a good idea, thanks.

This used to drive me nuts when I worked at a dealership and someone would call up and ask about a car for sale, and a salesman would tell them it was still at the dealership when it had actually already been sold. Was it dishonest? Yes, but it would get people to come down to the dealership, which was the most important thing. Once they got there they would be told the car had just been sold, but most customers were willing to look at other cars they wouldn't have made the trip for rather than waste the trip.

Same deal with your car. If you list that the engine is bad, then that'll freeze a lot of buyers right there and you'll never hear from them. If you can get them to call you, then you can tell them about the engine and plant those mental messages that'll get them thinking the engine isn't a big deal. You can't do that on ebay since you probably won't get contacted, but locally you can.

 

[RJS]

No disrespect intended but that is a hard sell.
318 car with bad engine, body is not appealing at all and the interior pieces that have value are spray canned black????

2k tops to a person that has to have a money pit for themselves.
Telling a person they can buy AMD 1/4's for $160 dollars means nothing, and not an easy fix. We're not talking a bolt-on like a fender.
Be realistic and wash your hands of it quick.

 

[Bruzilla]

I agree with RJS on the body. Also, AMD doesn't make quarters for 73-74 Road Runners/Satellites, just 71-72. And looking at all that Bondo in the pictures, I suspect once that stuff is removed, there's going to be a lot more rust damage than what is seen now. In my experience, by the time rust-through holes start showing up on the outside of the quarters, there's massive amounts of rust on the inner sides of those panels that you can't see.

But I have seen cars in far worse shape sell for more than what 74 Mopar is asking. I doubt anyone on here would pay his price, but there are a lot of folks out there who still see a pot-o-gold every time they see an old Mopar. I wouldn't pay more than $5k for my car as it sits now, but I've been offered $12k, so if he makes the car look nice and gets a buyer excited, they're apt to overlook the warts.

 

[RJS]

I agree with RJS on the body. Also, AMD doesn't make quarters for 73-74 Road Runners/Satellites, just 71-72. And looking at all that Bondo in the pictures, I suspect once that stuff is removed, there's going to be a lot more rust damage than what is seen now. In my experience, by the time rust-through holes start showing up on the outside of the quarters, there's massive amounts of rust on the inner sides of those panels that you can't see.

But I have seen cars in far worse shape sell for more than what 74 Mopar is asking. I doubt anyone on here would pay his price, but there are a lot of folks out there who still see a pot-o-gold every time they see an old Mopar. I wouldn't pay more than $5k for my car as it sits now, but I've been offered $12k, so if he makes the car look nice and gets a buyer excited, they're apt to overlook the warts.

:wav:

 

[74 Mopar]

Thanks for the comments and advice! I just needed some ideas on what to concentrate on...motor, body or interior.
I will concentrate on getting the interior back in and then I think I'll sand it down, see how bad the back 1/4s really are, and put some black primer on it. Maybe, I can have my dad the welder fly out to Utah and do some 1/4 panel work for me.

My grandpa loaned me some money to buy a 70 Barracuda and I have to pay him back when I sell the Roadrunner. So, I need to get as much $ as possible for the RR, but obviously can't spend a lot of $ on it either.

Thanks!

Alex

- - - Updated - - -

I agree with RJS on the body. Also, AMD doesn't make quarters for 73-74 Road Runners/Satellites, just 71-72. And looking at all that Bondo in the pictures, I suspect once that stuff is removed, there's going to be a lot more rust damage than what is seen now. In my experience, by the time rust-through holes start showing up on the outside of the quarters, there's massive amounts of rust on the inner sides of those panels that you can't see.

But I have seen cars in far worse shape sell for more than what 74 Mopar is asking. I doubt anyone on here would pay his price, but there are a lot of folks out there who still see a pot-o-gold every time they see an old Mopar. I wouldn't pay more than $5k for my car as it sits now, but I've been offered $12k, so if he makes the car look nice and gets a buyer excited, they're apt to overlook the warts.

Thanks, hopefully I'll get some Mopar crazy kid like myself that wants a project.

On the 1/4 panels, this is what I found from AMD's catalougue page 26, part #755-1473-L & R. There's a guy selling them on ebay with free shipping.
Isn't this what I would need if the rust doesn't go up much further up the panel?

 

[Bruzilla]

Hate to say it, but your real target is a Dad. If you mention "father/son" project in your ads, that's another of those buzz statements that get guys thinking. Dads start getting visions of lots of fun quality time with their kids, and kids see a way to convince Dad to break loose with some $$$$ so they can get a car. Little do they know what's in store for them.

 

[flypaper]

i'm going against the grain here
my thoughts are
throw the 360 in it, get it running good and then sell
why?
you will sell a running car with a good engine alot faster
then one with a whipped engine that needs overhaul,project or not.
you might not see that 500 again or help the value any but
it will help you alot towards your goal to sell it and make it more appealing to a buyer..

throw that 500 elsewhere on that car
and it wouldn't make a bit difference as much as getting it running good would.

 

[tallhair]

i'm going against the grain here
my thoughts are
throw the 360 in it, get it running good and then sell
why?
you will sell a running car with a good engine alot faster
then one with a whipped engine that needs overhaul,project or not.
you might not see that 500 again or help the value any but
it will help you alot towards your goal to sell it and make it more appealing to a buyer..

throw that 500 elsewhere on that car
and it wouldn't make a bit difference as much as getting it running good would.

Concur with flypaper. A running driving car will almost always sell easier than a non-driver old car

 

[moparmusclecars]

I agree with both RJS and Fly. You don't want to put any money in it really. You have a not so great body, with rattle canned interior. The engine doesn't really run good. Your kinda stuck as you don't want to put any money into it, yet you want as much as you can get out of it. I'm going down a different road here. I know you want to sell it, but if that is tough doing try something else. If you decide to not get it running (which is really what you need to do), try offering it for trade. Trade it as a project for a car (or small truck) that you can in turn, sell. You will need to find the right buyer looking for a project Runner, that maybe don't have cash, but could trade a car they have. It would take you a bit longer to convert to cash, but it's an idea. With a struggling economy like we are seeing, body style year you have, and it's condition, it will be a tough sale trying to get much for it. As it sits, in my opinion you have maybe a 2k car there. Please don't be offended by what I say, I'm just being honest with my opinion. The 73 and 74 runner cars aren't as sought after as the earlier years, but one in real nice shape can still bring the money! Good Luck!

 

[roadrunnerman]

Your car is in not that bad of shape IMO. If I remember right AMD does sell the lower patch repair panel for that year car. If I were you I would sell the subs,amp separately. It won't affect your price and the next buyer will/can put their own sound system in. Use that money to do any little upgrade for the car or pay your grandpa back a little (good faith). Put what you have back in/on the car, the more complete you show it, the better the buyer(s) sees what he doesn't have to buy for it. As stated before, sand off the stripes (they actually make the car look "cheaper" as they are not correct.

On a side note, I had a 74 RR with a 360 auto slapstick back in the late 70's but it met an early demise (4 accidents within a years time). Have been looking for one ever since to replace it. If yours was closer, I would seriously consider looking at yours. Good luck with your decisions and sale of the car.

 

[Bruzilla]

Lots of good advice, but I think it's critical for anyone selling anything to remember that it's much harder to sell an item than an idea. If people actually made buying decisions on things like if a car runs, every car salesman in the World would be thrilled to death as they would be able to move cars all day long. The best salesmen don't sell cars, they sell ideas. They sell the idea of you driving their car in way that stirs your emotions. You achieving your goals sells something more than the object itself.

Perfect case in point. I had the 360/904 yanked from my 74 Road Runner so a 440/727 can go in, and I needed to offset the costs of the 440/727 by selling the 360/904. After doing some checking, I found the average price for a complete and running 360 is about $550, and the value of a 904 tranny is about .28 cents. Problem was I needed about $1,300 to be where I wanted to be on the 440/727 costs, so I listed the 360/904 for $1,500. I made sure the ad had pics of the engine and tranny, but I also added a pic of my car with the hood down. Why? Because I wanted the buyer to see the 360 callouts on the hood and think how cool it will be to see 360 on their car. I then mentioned how 360s are pretty scarce (as compared to 318s), which sets the idea the engine is hard to find. Then I mentioned how paying $1,500 for my 360 was a lot better option for upgrading from a /6 or 318 than spending $3,000+ for a 340, which sets the idea they are getting a bargain. Lastly, I mentioned how this engine would be awesome to put in an A body car because of the performance it gave my B body.

I ran the ad and had four people contact me about buying the engine. I made a deal for $1,500 from a guy at the speed shop I ended up going to, but then the deal fell apart early last week because he couldn't sell the engine in his 66 Valiant. So I relisted the ad on Craigslist last week on Tuesday, and immediately got called up by a guy who had a 318 in a 69 Barracuda and after reading my ad decided now would be a great time to upgrade to a 360... wonder who put that crazy idea in his head. I sold the engine again, and when I took the money to the speed shop, the owner told me how he couldn't believe how I had sold that engine that fast since there isn't a lot of activity in that market after tax season, and I told him good ideas are always selling.

So I was able to sell an engine for close to three times what the market price is, twice, by focusing on selling the idea of buying a 360 and putting it into a car rather than just trying to sell the engine itself. This stuff does work if you do it right.

 

[moparmusclecars]

Good advice, Bruzilla!