UCSF student who loves big wagons!

And once you find it, this is a good place to hunt down some parts:

http://www.unclehenrys.com/Classifieds/Search/Results.aspx?SearchID=26894171&isHistoricSearch=N

 

Welcome

Hey!

Don´t forget

www.autabuy.com
www.thebiglot.com

www.choseyouritem.com

Cheers! all the way from sweden.

Sincerly Klas

 

Welcome!
but lets not forget the almighty craigslist!

 

Speaking of Craigslist.....

Here is one in the LA area.

79 Lebaron Station Wagon- IN GOOD SHAPE - $1700

Reply to: sale-536789933@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-01-12, 9:54AM PST


79 chrystler station wagon lebaron. Runs, in good shape. Only problem is the paints original and warn. This cars been sitting in our drive way for a few years.a 3 18 2 barrel carb engine. All of the interior is original. Working heating and a/c. Asking 1700 or best offer. For more information call Vince at 818 987-9195... or Roxy at 818 624-9471. Email is Roxydragongrl@yahoo.com

• This item has been posted by-owner.
• Location: winnetka
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 536789933

 

Here's the first 1978 Chrysler T&C wagon I've found in my search:

I found this one on The Big Lot http://www.thebiglot.com

This one is a green one, being offered by a guy in Madison, VA. It is in immaculate condition, only 14,600 miles, and $7500. (I've been looking for a green one, like my parents had.) I've emailed the seller for more information and photos.

Here is a photo of it:



This is just the first one I've found. What do you think?

SmithAlien747

 

Dude!

They don't get any Newer than that one! Just look at how MINT perfect the woodgrain and teak trim is! This wagon is new!

Plus it is the color you want! HELLO! No more callers we have a winner!

Dude, you have to beg, borrow or steal to get it. Yeah the price is rediculouly high. But then again, the miles are rediculously low!

If the paint and interior look just as nice in the photos he emails you, then I'd be thinking of an offer.

Oh, and of course we expect you to show us the pics. :2_thumbs_up_-_anima

 

I'm still waiting for the VA seller to get back to me about the wagon.

If I decided to buy it, I would need to 1) get financing for it (might be hard due to banks being reluctant to finance a car this old), and 2) find a way to get it from Virginia to California. Any ideas?

SmithAlien747

 

No ideas on Part one, but Part two, UHaul used to rent towbars. Otherwise it's another $1,700 or more. It's probably a 5 day trip each way with two drivers. Coffee and donuts extra.

I think towbars are like $15 bucks a day.

 

I'd be real scared towing that wagon with a simple towbar across country and thru the Rockie mountains.

Have it trailered. Or fly out and drive it back if it is road ready*. Make an event out of it. Slow and easy and enjoy the sights along the way. You can always get the wagon detailed when you get home to remove any road grime and mega bug hits off of it.

As for funding? Do you have any bucks aside for it? True, banks won't finance a used car that old. But there are classic car loans. Check your newsstand for a copy of Hemmings news or Hemmings Classic car for financing ads. First thing I'd do is try to get the price down to $5,000 or less even. It is hard to put a price on a low mileage original car. M-body cars still don't bring big money like he is asking. But then again, he has potentially the nicest one around. And the fact it is the color you want is the icing on the cake.

Of course you don't want the seller to know you are sporting wood of your own over his woody! LOL. Be as poker faced as you can. Even on the phone. Don't call and say "I love that wagon! The color is my favorite! I'll sell a kidney to buy it". Do that and you'll have to sell a kidney because he won't budge on the price.

Of course he may not budge. He knows his car is low mileage. He knows you can't find one on every corner. But he may have just asked that high price so he'd have room to negotiate.

Personally I'd probably not sell a kidney for it. You never know when you may need a spare. Besides, Ebay prohibits the sale of body organs. LOL.

*Road ready. New or recent tires. Not just "new looking". Oil change. New Belts and hoses preferably. Look at the rubber fuel line up front. They dryrot. Peek in the radiator. Should look green not rust colored. Check his paperwork. Look at the miles on the reciepts.
Not just to verify the low mileage, but to see if the car gets driven occasionally. If he drives it occassionally, that is far better than if he let it sit idle for the past 25 years. Time capsules are beautiful to look at, but they self destruct when driven after a long hibernation unless you do alot of after storage prep. You don't want a tire to start tread separation from dryrot when crossing the Rockie mountains. Same for a radiator hose to blow. When they blow on the highway the mess under the hood is unbelievable. Been there, done that!

If you can't trailer it home, then plan on a day or two when you pick it up to get new tires and replace the belts and hoses. Or at least stop at the auto parts store and buy them. Bring tools. Definately replace the tires unless the seller can show you a reciept dated no more than five years old. Ten year old tires with zero miles on them have been known to peel and shred after a few hundred miles on them. Especially when driven for hours on the interstate.

Of course you could do the logical thing. (Which alot us don't do. LOL)

Pass this one up because it doesn't make financial or logistical sense.

I passed up on a mint 1980 Town and Country because I was losing my job due to downsizing and didn't want to blow the money that I might need to pay bills.

The auction ended for far less money than I expected it to reach. It sold for a reasonable amount. $3500 I think. I slapped my forehead and thought, DAMN! I woulda paid more than that! So to this day I stare at a few pics I saved from the auction wondering who has that wagon now.

Woulda coulda shoulda. But then again, maybe it was fate that prevented it?

 

Greetings and Welcome from Seattle Washington

 

I still haven't heard back from the seller, so I assume he isn't that interested in selling it out of state (?)

So, I want to look more locally (California) for one of these. Anyone know of any around the Bay Area? I'm still looking...

Thanks for your replies! I'll probably let this one go (it's too far away and too expensive for such an old car), and keep looking more locally.

I'll keep you up to date on what I find during my (long) search.

SmithAlien747

 

Hi again! An update on the 1978 Chrysler wagon in Virginia:

I found out today that the seller sold it quite some time ago, but forgot to remove his ad from TheBigLot. I found this out through an email sent to me by another guy who is also looking for a 1978-81 Chrysler wagon.

So my hunt continues...Wish me luck!

SmithAlien747

 

Wow, that hurts! Who knows why the guy strung you along. Well, I like your attitude. Keep on trucksterin' !!!