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Future of Late (75-79) B-bodies ?

WileERobby

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With the obvious desirability & collectability of pre-75 musclecar b-bodies, what is the present situation & future outlook of the 75-79 cars ? The pre-75 cars values climb into the stratosphere dependent on year, model, engine, rarity, etc. etc. and the project cars demand what a nice, clean, running, and somewhat rust-free late model 75-79 value is. So... what are the thoughts as to where these cars are, and where they will go, in terms of interest, and accordingly, value ? I'm also curious if age affects the perspective of these cars, as I experienced the musclecar era & subsequently the transformation into the late 70's. Your thoughts, comments, opinions ?
 
As a new member not only to this forum but to the '75-'79 B-body club I will share my thoughts. I have owned an old Mopar of some kind since I started driving back in '84. I was and still am a long time C-body owner. I sold my '65 Monaco 383 car this past summer after 25 years of ownership. I decided that as much as I liked the car I finally wanted something different. My goal was to spend the proceeds off the Monaco on the next car,preferably less,but not more. It took many months of searching to find the car I wound up with. Pics are in the Garage. When my search began I was seeking an all original low mileage car as I tend to appreciate them more and more. Anyone,especially with a large enough wallet,can restore a car, but as the saying goes,they are original once. Besides the criteria I started with, I was lucky enough to find an original family owned car from day one,basically loaded to the gills,and my favorite color x3. I don't feel I overpaid for the car but I wish that I could have gotten it for less(as most of us do!). And seeing some of the outrageous asking prices for these styles(Cordoda,Charger,Magnum,Sport Fury,etc.)I think I bought very well.
As for value, I believe the more heavily optioned cars(especially T-tops)will command more of a price. My two favorite muscle cars are a '68 Charger and a '70-'71 Cuda. For what I paid for my Cordoba I would be lucky to get an engine block surrounded by 4 wheels sitting on a pile of rust for the cars I like. Although my car is not 100% perfect(what 40 year old car is)I can hop in it,hit the key,and DRIVE! In conclusion, I feel that although the prices on these cars will not skyrocket, I think there will be a slow and steady rise. The average hobbyist is priced out of the muscle car market, therefore if they want to participate in the old car hobby, they will have to set their sights on a more affordable car.
 
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I agree with what Moparnutcase said. Thing to remember: Lots of crazy asking prices out there (Thank you Barret-J), but these cars sit for a longgggggggg time. Over a year for some (several come to mind right now.) Also it seems that with the old car hobby that few if any make money, and the cheaper the car you start with (hello $3k cordoba) the less money you lose!?!?
 
Nutcase, that is one beaut of a car you have ! Absolutely, stunningly gorgeous ! Hope to see it in person one day, if you're ever in central NJ.
 
Nutcase, that is one beaut of a car you have ! Absolutely, stunningly gorgeous ! Hope to see it in person one day, if you're ever in central NJ.
Thanks WileE! After attending the last few Mopars at Englishtown, my buddy and I basically decided not to attend in '17, if there is an event. After purchasing this car I may see about putting it in the "Survivor Tent" this coming year. So, if I do and you attend ,with any luck we will hopefully meet.
 
As a owner of a 79,they are great cars as far as ride, comfort,and with a small amount of work they can and do perform well.Sadly the market is not very strong at this time.Who knows ? Maybe in the future they will increase in value but I fear by not much.The restoration parts for these years are slowly becoming available,mostly the rubber parts. I have talked to several of the interior firms but none are ready to bite the bullet yet.I see prices for 72 and older A & B four door cars are starting to climb that were once only seen as parts cars.Again Who knows ?
 
I think that if you put yourself in the mindset of the modern car enthusiast (younger with bucks) and point your vehicle at that market there is money. I own a 68 Roadrunner and a 75 Doba and acquired these vehicles because I had new ones back in the day. The Doba was never a muscle car. It was a glitzy disco car that looked good and cruised the highway very well. The price for disco cars will never go up - the disco culture was about glitz with no substance - disco is dead.

The saving grace about b-body Doba's is that the basic body lines are stunning and to my mind the best lines of any b-body made. The market is those guys that buy modern 300's, BMW's and Mercedes and trick them out. To get there you need to de-disco your car and redo it in the style of the 300, BMV and Mercedes that many are working with these days. Moparnutcase - you car is just to beautiful to start putting a torch to it but to my mind it's still a disco car. I began my project with one that had been run hard and left outside for decades. I passed on a beautiful Doba with the continental option for the same reason - it was too beautiful to put a torch to it.

My project is finished. The Doba attracts more attention at car shows than the my Runner and generates unsolicited offers to buy from people on the street. My brother put it this way "You took something and made it better". My brother is the type of guy that puts small block Chevies into Toyoto Land Cruisers or put holes in hood and fenders for carburation and exhaust systems
 
I think that if you put yourself in the mindset of the modern car enthusiast (younger with bucks) and point your vehicle at that market there is money. I own a 68 Roadrunner and a 75 Doba and acquired these vehicles because I had new ones back in the day.
Yes, and many people owned these cars back in the disco days, so would there be interest in these as a way for an enthusiast to be involved in the collector/classic car market in a way much less expensive than the musclecars ?
 
The Doba was never a muscle car.
Of course not, but neither were any late 70's vehicles, particularly the f-body cars from GM. Yet these slugs are getting good dollar these days. How these firebirds with their cowcatcher noses get any kind of value is beyond me.
 
NO WAY !!
" Oh, I love the night life,
I got to boogie on the disco round " :p

Disco died in Chicago in 1979 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_Demolition_Night

With it went leisure suits, platform shoes, Herb Tarlek, disco clubs and disco cars (Cordoba, GM A bodies, Ford Granada and Ford Elite). These cars advertised fake quality aka glitz - fine Corinthian leather, ads comparing the Granada to a Mercedes, Cordoba the small Chrysler and so on:bs_flag:.

Night life is not synonymous with disco. It existed before disco and continues today.
 
Of course not, but neither were any late 70's vehicles, particularly the f-body cars from GM. Yet these slugs are getting good dollar these days. How these firebirds with their cowcatcher noses get any kind of value is beyond me.
You are confusing bananas with dildos. GM F bodies were not disco cars. The A bodies were and they are not worth much either.
 
You were referring to "muscle car", so neither were the late 70 GM birds. Hence, my point of how they have any value today. And, I'm making light of the disco references, you don't have to be a wise ***.
 
Not saying that Cordobas or any other car in the near future will bring what the latter part of the '70's Trans Ams are bringing, but if you want to call a car a "disco" car, I would say the T/A is the poster child. And look what they have done in the market place. Like I said before, people are being priced out of the "muscle" car part of the hobby and will have to gravitate towards more affordable rides if they want to be a part of the hobby.
And on that subject, everyone should remember that this is what this is ...a hobby. When you start worrying about how much a car is worth,whether before purchase or after a resto, it is no longer a hobby, it now has become a business. How many "hobbies" do you participate in or can think of that you will ever get back what you put into it? Same with most old cars, you will probably never recoup all the money you have poured into it. That is why it is so important to have a car because you like it, not because what you hope you can sell it for, that just winds up taking the fun out of the "hobby".
 
I think it is almost inevitable that all older, good looking cars will go up in value. By up, I don't mean that they will all reach the >$1M price tags of Hemi 'Cuda convertibles, or rhe >$250K of the wing cars, but I can see some of the better cars hitting $25-30K. It is a matter of: a) not looking anything like a present jellybean car, or being distinctive/different; b)most things can be done at home by somebody with mechanical aptitude; c) having large small blocks (360) and big blocks factory standard. In many cases, the styling, while obviously not current (yay), still looks good today. Look at what has happened to the prices of the post-1970 B body cars. They may not have left the factory as muscle cars, but they can easily be made into one. So can the late "B" bodies.

As for the "disco" statement, I don't know that it applies tp the late "B"s so much. I would apply it to decal laden cars that often were nowhere near as fast as the decals sort of indicated. This would apply to the Trans Am of the late 1970s for sure (Turbo Trans Ams? Z28s with decals for hood scoops? and yes the Plymoth Volare based Road Runner with anything less than a 360). The Cordobas, Mangums, late Chargers, etc. were less "disco" than any of those cars, and while not "muscle cars", they were much better than the Ford Elites, Chevy Monte Carlos and Pontiac Grand Prix of the day, both in looks and performance.
 
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Good commentary. So, would someone, knowing the high cost of buying a musclecar project & then restoring it, now consider these cars ? Would the question of parts (resto metal) be a drawback ? Instead of scrapping/parting out a reasonably solid car, would there be interest in a mild resto, and, without the constraints of smog equipment ? Not too long ago, I saw a magnificent redo of a big-block in a Cordoba, for pennies on a dollar to what it would've cost the guy to do a musclecar, as he told me.
 
In reality, I need another car to restore my car.... or actually just another car. Finding the metal I need is a huge waiting game followed by IF and when I have the money.

When I have the money and the part shows up, it is in the hands of people that always say, and I truly mean always, "It's to much for me to ship, come and get it."

OK, drive half the country to get a part that I barley have coin for. Umm, not happening. (FYI, it will take me 2 hours to clear New York City & unbelievable rolls!) It is cheaper to ship and have UPS, Fed-Ex etc... come and pick it up at your door to deliver to mine.

(Minor rant coming....)

A member here had a gas tank I needed and went many months without unable to drive the car, way happy he gave me a very very good price for. AND he trusted me to leave the monies in the mail box because I was running 5 hours late.

The twist? The con. I had to drive 5 hours to get it. 4 tanks of gas. In a '16 6 cylinder Challenger.

The pro? I spent a long time/drive getting to know my Challenger.
The gas tank fit in the trunk!
(Total gamble on that.)
 
On a side note, I am considering selling the car. Just frustrated. Tired. 2 steps forward, kicked back 5.
 
You just need a good rust free car like mine to start with........
 
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