1976 Chevrolet Impala

Does not look like much, but there it is.

http://jackson.craigslist.org/cto/4848552522.html

 

400 V8. Does appear to have the rare vinyl roof option.

 

Characteristics of this car:

>Clamshell Wagon (Yeah, obvious but hey);
>Roof Rack;
>Vinyl Roof?
>Bumpers (not stripped off);
>Tail Lights;
>Headlights;
>Grille;
>Only has driver's side mirror?
>Scratchdent (I'm not sure what to call it yet) in Passenger Door on Driver's Side;
>Tailgate is sagging on the right;
>Rust near the tail end of the rear driver's side wheel well?
>Faded, starting to get surface rust hood;
>Missing hubcap?

Also, What's under the car in the front photo? Is that a ramp for the car to drive up on?

This one's about 1,050 miles away from me as it sits now. And now, it's not outside my capability to go and get if I'm so inclined. If.

 

A bit rough, but almost all there. The trim is missing from the right side of the tailgate window. Before I would give a second look, I would want good pictures of that drafted vinyl top. Look fornlumps, bumps, and tears. Those things are nothing but that magnets.

 

Hmmmmm Looks like a backwards OHIO plate on the front?

If someone gets it and needs it I have extra window chrome for it. Hell i'll have a half decent outside rear seal for the window since mine's now mussed up

 

The way the tailgate is sitting cockeyed in this photo is enough for me to walk away. There can be nothing good underneath, especially if it's been sitting out collecting rain in those gaps.



He wants $2000, and he doesn't even state if the car runs. Only three photos, too, with none of the interior.

As it sits and looks, it's more a $200 car than a $2000 one.

 

Talked to the owner this morning and he said it has rusty floors.

 

Strike three.

 

Well then, it's looking more like a derby car if someone doesn't go get it for a restoration.

 

I wonder whether it's even good enough for a derby car. We on this site pretty much assume that any wagon too far gone to restore is a good derby candidate, or at least would likely be of interest to derby guys, and I suppose that's true 9 times out of 10. But, while a derby guy may not care much about the condition of the body or the interior, he probably at least wants a decent frame.

Given what we can see in the photos and what we now know about the floors, it's entirely possible and perhaps likely that the frame is pretty rusted, too, and this car could very well collapse like an accordion the first time it's hit in a demolition derby. I don't think a derby guy wants that. As it sits, this car might very well be worth nothing more than as a parts car or for scrap metal. A few hundred dollars at most.

As far as restoration, I just don't see it. He wants way too much money for it. You can get cars in better shape for the same money. Even if he did come down in price, you would be better off spending a bit more initially to get one in better condition because you would spend far more to get this one to that same initial condition.

 

He sent me a bunch of pictures of this wagon and after looking at them I probably wouldn't pay $500 for it. If anybody wants to see pictures of this wagon I can email them to you because I don't know how to put pictures on here.

 

My first thought seeing that is "no tires on the passenger side so the ramp is to keep the rotor out of the mud."

 

I haven't seen the car close-up but from a distance it looks like it's worth $500 in parts to me. Well yeah, If it were like 1,000 miles closer to me:

Roof-Rack
Glass
Bumpers
Headlights
Tail-Lights
Grille
And maybe the engine and transmission would be good too.

 

Too bad about the rust!

 

The roof rack is nice. Someone should grab that.