Priced too high? 1966 Satellite with some cancer

HasnoMopar · Feb 8, 2016

Hi everyone, I'll get to my introduction thread later but I need some opinions from y'all if you'd be so kind! I have been keeping an eye open for a variety of Mopar projects for myself for quite some time. I've come into some good capital lately and have found a candidate, and it's local. And the seller is VERY motivated. I am pretty handy with vehicles, have good welding skills, have built off road wheeling rigs, even megasquirted my old '79 Ramcharger when I was 17 and still in high school (10 years ago). I'm not scared of any project but know that starting with a good foundation can avoid lots and lots of headaches down the road.

Anyways, found a 1966 Coronet 2 door 360/727/8.75 console shift car locally. Guy wants $3500 for it. Motor is clean but needs a tuneup and has less than $50K on the rebuild. Originally a 318 car. Trunk pan is solid, floor boards are solid, rear quarters need replaced due to rust as well as bad rust on each rear window corner. Plus it looks as though someone put in a patch panel centered below the rear window but did a crappy job. Has fiberglass hood, dual exhaust, and needs a headliner, door panels. Other than that, the car has 99% of the trim (needs rechromed) and is a running/driving/stopping project. Seller volunteered a price drop to $3K. I went and looked at it, expressed concern about the cancer, and he said firm on $3k.

Just got an email from him for $2600 cash today or tomorrow. I'm very tempted.

I don't want a highly optioned car, whatever project I get will end up with a lot of aftermarket and a MPFI'd Turbo'd small block in the end. I'd love to get into a Cuda or Challenger (have thought about a dart, but in the end, its still a dart) but my rear love is the '66-70 B bodies.

Is this car worth his asking price? Looks like patch panels from a donor car are going to be needed to fix rear window rust, and new rear quarter skins needed as well. As I said earlier, I'm not afraid of a project, but is this just too much work for starting out on a no options original 318 66 Satellite? Heres some pictures...

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mmissile · Feb 8, 2016

I think it's too much, unless you're gonna drive it pretty much as-is. Done cars are too cheap to restore bad ones, these days.

Homstead · Feb 8, 2016

It looks like it would be a fun driver without to much work. I don't think the price is to far out either.

Kern Dog · Feb 8, 2016

I like it !
Even here in California, we get rust in our cars despite what some people think. If you have some fabrication skills, a welder and some balls, this ain't a big deal. If it runs and drives, is mostly complete and is what you like, pull the trigger and own it. Plenty of helpful members here to steer you in the rebuild if you plan to restore or just make it a decent street car.
Keep us informed!

Mark B · Feb 8, 2016

I think the price is fair. Just keep in mind the availability of aftermarket sheet metal for the 66 and 67's leaves a lot to be desired.

Coyoteduster · Feb 8, 2016

I've seen a lot worse sell for a lot more ...

747mopar · Feb 8, 2016

Love the car and think it's a fair price myself.

Moparsmitty · Feb 8, 2016

It's not a bad of a deal if you just want to throw some bondo on it and give it a cheap paint job and drive it around. Like these guys are saying, finished cars are just too cheap to throw a lot of money at restoring this one.

Jeremiah · Feb 8, 2016

No way. I have parted cars out that were in better condition than that. There are surely better candidates in the NW that will not require extensive metal work. I'd try to start with a really clean big block car myself. Welcome!

mopar 3 B · Feb 8, 2016

Looks like it has all the required options. You stated welding was not a problem and sheet metal can be found if you are willing to look for it.

Do not plan on buying what you really want at that price.

HasnoMopar · Feb 9, 2016

Thanks for the advice everyone. Sounds as though it's a fair deal. Not a steal, not outrageously priced... Only debate is how much work do I want to put into a starter car. I don't really care to have a great perfect 10/10 car, but having a cancer free car is top priority for me. I don't have much body work experience but as I said I have a good shop and good fabrication skills.

I love the bucket/console shift auto setup. Dash/glass is all good, needs a few trim pieces...

One question, will a 4 door satellite/belvedere donor car work for my patch panels?

Mike

moparker · Feb 9, 2016

It's a Plymouth Satellite. I don't think it's a bad deal.

Bruzilla · Feb 9, 2016

First, welcome to the site. Second, I wouldn't buy this car unless A: this year/body style is the car of your dreams, and B: you're willing to invest a LOT of time in doing paint & body. The only rust you're seeing is what's worked its way outside. It's not surface rust, so more than likely you're going to find a lot of rot as you start getting into this project and looking deeper into the rusted areas you can see.

Looking at this car, I'm seeing one of those projects that looks like a manageable affair at first, and then after a lot of time and expense it ends up on Craigslist for sale by a motivated buyer, which I suspect is what happened to the guy who's selling it. You need to ask yourself if you want to be the next guy who decides the car needs too much work and has to find a buyer. In my opinion, this is a $1,000 parts car.

HasnoMopar · Feb 9, 2016

Bruzilla said:
First, welcome to the site. Second, I wouldn't buy this car unless A: this year/body style is the car of your dreams, and B: you're willing to invest a LOT of time in doing paint & body. The only rust you're seeing is what's worked its way outside. It's not surface rust, so more than likely you're going to find a lot of rot as you start getting into this project and looking deeper into the rusted areas you can see.

Looking at this car, I'm seeing one of those projects that looks like a manageable affair at first, and then after a lot of time and expense it ends up on Craigslist for sale by a motivated buyer, which I suspect is what happened to the guy who's selling it. You need to ask yourself if you want to be the next guy who decides the car needs too much work and has to find a buyer. In my opinion, this is a $1,000 parts car.

As much as I love the car, my intuition agrees with you. There's just a lot of extra work there that doesn't NEED to be in a starter project. Hard when I can just do a quick craigslist search and find a very clean project car like this '73 Dart with minimal effort.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/est/cto/5427794368.html

Mike

Jeff_383 · Feb 9, 2016

A 73 dart and an 60's B body are two different things, even a 66/67. I like them both, but one worth more in my opinion. I'd fix what needs to be replaced, clean the interior, make it reliable and cruise it. It could be less, but I've seen worse. I will say though, the window rot makes me more nervous then the quarters.

YY1 · Feb 9, 2016

What's wrong with that Satellite are some of the hardest things to do to one.

Those cars can be had with NO RUST in those particular areas.....for the same price.

Jeff_383 · Feb 9, 2016

I guess, in my area THAT car is considered no rust. lol

Bruzilla · Feb 9, 2016

The 66-67 B bodies seem like they've been held back for the past few decades and are starting to come out in force now. I suspect a lot of owners were expecting them to pick up in value and now that values are dropping they are looking to unload them. I saw two 67 convertibles for sale for $2,500 last year, so there are values to be had.

HasnoMopar, it sounds like you're just looking for a Mopar and not anything in particular, so I would set an amount you're wanting to spend (forget willing to spend... that's a killer) and take your time until you find something that really speaks to you. For me, I'll walk past gorgeous 68-72 Roadrunners all day to get to a decent 73-74 Roadrunner because those are what really gets my juices going. The last thing you want to do is buy a car because it's a good deal and then come across that one that flat out sings to you a couple weeks later.

Figure out what you want, figure out a price, and go find it.

YY1 · Feb 9, 2016

There's one down here that has a nicer (in the pics) body, and it has a 440 in it (not running).

$1200 but I doubt it will last at that price.

If I had the room.....

Cranky · Feb 9, 2016

I like the 66-67's too along with the 68-70's but I can more readily afford the 66-67's lol. I have two 66 2dr post cars (my first car was a 66 Belvedere) and both are damn near rust free with one having been blasted and all the rust cut out and some patch panel welded in although not that good. I paid 1200 for a rolling shell but got most of the parts with it including an 8 3/4 rear with new heavy duty leaf springs. Some of the front end parts are new too but I didn't get any front end sheet metal with it. Last year I found a complete rust free front end for 500. On a side note, I sold a driver's front fender for a 67 Coronet for 200 bucks and the guy took it off himself. I paid 1200 bucks for my other 66 2dr post car. It was a /6 car, auto and AC and the AC worked but that car was bought 26 years ago. I'm with Bru on this one....lots of rust and there are many others out there in better shape body wise. Around here (Houston area), I'd be hard pressed to get 1500 for that one.

Priced too high? 1966 Satellite with some cancer

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