Missed the station wagon get together in Pittsburgh, PA a couple weeks ago. Came accross some internet posting of stationwagons in this forum. Decided to join. Have had different stationwagons most of my life. Anybody have some ideas of what a realistic price range for purchasing a 1974/1975 Buick Estate Wagon Or Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser with three rows of seats and the 455 engine may go for in very good or excellent shape in original condition(not restored). I was thinking about maybe acquiring one, but having problem pricing one(if worth money) if in good shape. I seen some that were real projects, but that is not for me:confused:. Thanks for any info and great forum with great pictures.
Hi, Hope you find what your looking for ! I was living in Uniontown Pa., until a few years ago. WV is my home state and much different then AZ., for sure. Welcome !!!
I think your bigger problem will be simply finding one at all. Everybody tells me that the clamshells were all used up in demolition derbies. I've been involved in the Oldsmobile side of the hobby for 20 years now, and until I came across my '73 wagon, I had never seen a clamshell-era Olds wagon at any Oldsmobile club car show, and that included one nationals I went to. Vista Cruisers, yes, you see those all the time, but not this era of the big wagons. There was a fellow on here a few months ago who had a '76 Custom Cruiser in very nice shape but who had to sell it for economic reasons. According to the Old Cars Price Guide, a '74 Custom Cruiser 3-seat wagon in #3 condition ("car show" condition but not showroom condition) is worth about $4,100. The '75 version has a value of about $3,700. For both years, the number of 3-seaters produced was around 11,500 while the number of 2-seaters was considerably less at about 4,500. For the Buick wagons at the same condition level, the price guides shows a '74 worth about $3,700 and a '75 worth about $3,300. I don't have production figures on the these. Interesting how the Buicks are worth less than the equivalent Oldsmobiles, at least according to this source. I think if you find anything half-way decent in a '74 or '75 Buick or Olds wagon, you should jump on it.
Yeah...these are nice cars for sure. Jaunt has a beauty and Jeff Alman's was a beauty, too. Jeff did all kinds of repairs on his car and did them right. He had to sell it and that was a shame. I almost bought the car before Jeff did...wish I would have in some ways. Maybe I can steal Jaunts one of these days when he's not looking! Jeff's car is pictured below......
What I should do is put a webcam on it so I can call up a view of it in real time on my phone any time I want. That way I can ALWAYS be looking!
Well then I would send you the link for the webcam, so you could look at it whenever you wanted to, too!
thanks for the price range.....It just gives me some idea of what I maybe looking at as far as price. For some reason, I have seen some 1971 olds CC and some 1973 olds CC for sale in variety of conditions. I have not seen any 74 or 75 Buick Estate or Olds CC. The derby have claimed alot of these wagons....which is a shame.....not that many around anymore. That is one nice looking 1976 olds CC. Part of my problem will be, I am not looking for any type of poject....so even limiting what I am to get or looking for. I will just be patient and hope one turns up in the condition I am looking for and hope it is resonable. Is the Pontiac Grand Safari's 74 or 75 as sought after as the Olds CC or Buick Estate?
Well, yes, if, by that, you mean not very much! I don't think any of these wagons is in that high a demand, relatively speaking. If you measure desirability by value, the '74 Pontiac Grand Safari 3-seat wagon in #3 condition has a value of about $3,650 while the '75 in the same condition is at $2,430. Those values are lower than the Buick values I mentioned above, and those were lower than the Olds values. The clamshell wagons from the fourth member of the family, Chevrolet, are actually higher in value, according to the Price Guide, than any of the others. The '74 Caprice Classic wagon is at $4,280 while the '75 is at $4,500. Now compare these to a '53 Corvette convertible in #3 condition. The value given is $105,750. Now THAT reflects desirability! In fact, even in the lowest condition level there is, #6, which means in such bad shape that's only worth is as a parts car, the value is $9,400.
You are right with everything being based on the demand and desirability of that automobile. Still way more affordable than some older corvettes. I was talking to a gentleman who owned a 73 olds CC for sale.....he stated his car he got alot of attention when he has it out for a ride....wasn't bad, but needed more work than what I wanted to do and also not the year I was looking for.
he there is another guy on here from your area..........ME! welcome! ill keep my eyes peeled up here for ya!
