Calling on the experts for advice – please help!

Hello fellow wagon owners!

Due to unfortunate circumstances (my G’ma passing away just before the holidays); I’ve inherited her 1976 Pontiac Catalina Safari. I’m not able to keep the car, so I need expert advice from you as to what a collectible car like this would sell for?

Based on Wikipedia’s information on this car, 1976 was the last year they made this particular model. Also with the recent downfall of Pontiacs no longer being produced, I have to wonder if that too adds some value to this car.

Here’s what I know about this car (what little I know at that)…

1) Right now it has exactly 60,561 miles on it. Now, I’ll be honest and say that I am not sure if these are original miles, as it’s possible that my G’ma may have had a new engine put in during her ownership. I am currently looking into this.

2) I am pretty sure that the car has been painted to match its original paint, as it looks too new, to be the original paint.

3) Also, I think the front seat has been reupholstered, as it doesn’t exactly match the back 2 seat rows (see pics).

Hopefully information the above doesn’t hurt its value too much. Over the years that my G’ma owned this car, she’s been offered everything from $8K to $50K – although with today’s economy, I don’t expect anywhere near the $50K figure.

Anyway, any information and or ideas/suggestions that any of you can give me, would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

Some pics as follows...

Side view:

Front view:

Back view:

Front seat:

Second seat:

Third seat:

 

Clamshell's are getting more popular - probably worth more now that the later '77-'84 'box' wagons in similar condition.

The most important factor in your car's value would be its condition.
--- Examine it for rust in the frame, the floorpans, the wheelhouse areas, rocker panels, bottom of doors, fenders and quarter panels. If you see what looks like rust, poke it with a sharp object like a screwdriver to see if the metal is rusted through. Where was it most of its life? In the north exposed to road salt and harsh winters, or in a milder climate?
--- Does the car run and drive well? Motor start without problems? Transmission shift smoothly? A/C and other mechanical / electrical items operative. (If you have only one or two minor things that need attention, i would recommend fixing them before you sell it - then you don't have to say "This or that doesn't work....")
--- What equipment does it have? I noticed it has power windows, which is good, but what else?
--- Also, of MOST importance for a clamshell, how is the operation of both parts of the gate?
--- Find out whether the car has 60k original miles, or 160K.....

Before we can give you any opinions on the value of your vehicle, we need to know some or all of the above. Otherwise, it could be worth $100, or $5,000

I'm sure others will give their input.

Marshall

 

I could never sell that. Gorgeous!
Opinions are like, well, you know, everyone has one.
And pretty invalid without an actual physical inspection.
But if I had to sell I'd probably do like everyone else, and put it one Ebay with a really high reserve and see how the bidding goes. One man's stack of cash could be chump change to another.

 

Please don't poke holes in the rust. It will look awful.
That's for inspector to do if they want to take your car off the road.

 

Well....I think Grandma should have snapped up that $50,000 offer.

 

Colorado vehicle? Snow and salt got a good piece of it.

If it was up here in the Prairies, you might get up to $3,000. It's an older wagon in decent shape, if the mileage is real. If not, maybe $1,000 to $1,500. Then the owner would drop another few hundred to get it passed for safety stuff (muffler, brakes, lights, steering) within 30 days of entry into Canada. If its got AC, they'd charge another $100 at the border.

Andy's right. Our inspectors are brutal up here. They're Gov't inspectors and their job is to get the old cars off the road. Rust is target one, for these robots.

 

I also agree with Andy...If it's not a rust bucket, I would keep it. If you want to sell it...Ebay (unfortunately) is undoubtedly your best bet to find the people looking for that specific wagon. I'm not sure I'd be looking for 8K.

 

Thank you Marshall for your response, my answers (the one's I know answers to) are as follows:

Thx again for your response - advice/suggestions. If you need more info from me, please let me know.

 

Thank you. The car does tug a little at my heart strings, mainly because of my G'ma's love and passion for the car. I was heartbroken for her, when she had her stoke in Jan 08, and was no longer able to drive it.

But since I already have 2 cars, I don't really have the room for this one too. Also, whatever I can sell it for, will help me with covering some of the expenses I had last year while taking care of her before she passed.

What would you set the reserve for on eBay (based on the info above)?

Yeah, I am not comfortable with that either - but as mentioned above, I'll be surprised if there is any rust.

I agree! She got many offers on that car over the years, people would so much as wait by the car in a parking lot (if she was in the grocery store for example), and then ask her about it - as well as offer to buy it.

The 50K offer, oddly (and kind of funny) enough came from a cop that pulled her over. He wasn't pulling her over to give her a tix for anything, just wanted to inquire and offer to buy the car!

Yes, a Colorado garaged babied car. So hopefully we won't find any rust, we're doing a detailed clean on her tomorrow, so we'll inspect the car thoroughly for this.

Yeah, unfortunately I think the 8k-50K days are LONG gone! I'll ask you the same question as Andy, what would you ask for it for on eBay?

 

Answers so far looking good. The Grandville Safari's (top-of-the-line) had all the power equipment, but not all the Catalina's came with the power stuff. It's got a 4-barrel 455, which is awsome. Grandma must have had a lead foot. Assuming no problems are found, all you might need to do is clean it up real nice, INCLUDING the engine compartment. (There's a thread on here recently about that....)

Double-check the A/C. Find out if it's been retro-fitted for R134A refrigerant. One of my pet peeves in auto ads is "A/C is all there but inoperative...." i see that a lot. Try to have the car ready to hit the road, able to be driven on a trip with no worries........

One last thing - how are the tires?

 

Sorry for you loss. I can't offer a figure but if that has a 455 then that figure goes way up. Personally I would keep it if you could.

 

LOL! Yes, there were times when she'd speed in it - almost hard not to, with all that power! I can relate to that with one of my other cars - I am ALWAYS having to watch my foot!

I know the A/C works, as it kicked on when we started the car yesterday - as well as I found a receipt where she paid a lot to get it fixed/replaced? Since she babied the car, always on top of tune-ups, inspections etc., I be surprised if there was a whole lot to do to it.

Will check the tires tomorrow, when go over to clean her. I did come across a receipt from Discount, but didn't really look at it - as it could have been for a repair. I'll look. Thx again!

 

Thank you. In some ways I wish that I could keep her, but unfortunately with no room, and needing the $ to help cover expenses - it's just not possible.

 

I wouldn't be comfortable in giving price advice unless I either saw the car in person or had a ton of good pix in, out and under. KK's questions and advice are pertinent. My bet is that there is rust on this wagon in some areas. Is that rust starting low behind the right front tire? That seat cover will hurt you some too. Guys that want a 455 wagon aren't as enamored with that '76 engine as they would be with the earlier ones. '76 was the last year for the 455 and it was not nearly as quick as the early models. The HP is dismal. Not to say you couldn't build it up but it would be cheaper to build up an early engine if, indeed, you needed to build it up. I'm surprised that you asked this question here before searching for rust etc. One other thing...you can't run a record check on that year car so if you don't have CLEAR ongoing records ... many will not believe the mileage. The bottom line will also depend on the quality and number of pix in the ebay ad. Lotta if's here.

 

Anyway - thx for your response, and for making some good valid points to look into.