What do you think it's worth?

Hey y'all.
Hopefully I can post this right I'm new here so I apologize now for my ignorance.
I found a wagon that needs work... looks like a lot of work. It's a 71 country sedan in green, paint is faded, it's got some rust bubbles around the rear quarter panels, and rain guards.
It's missing the front passenger door handle on the outside, that door also doesn't open. Missing the inside pull handle arm rest on left rear passenger door. No radio. Small dent in front right fender.
Windshield washer bottle is shattered.
Hood Springs are stuck or sprung as hood won't open all the way.
The cargo area plastic trim on both sides has big chunks missing from it. Tailgate missing outside handle, and inside door panel.
The muffler is dragging, and the wagons sitting low (is in dirt but seems to just sit too low)
Now for the engine, its a 351 windsor but here's where I'm wary.
The reg sticker exp 03 15, so it's been sitting for awhile.
He says it doesn't start because the carb needs to be rebuilt or replaced, he figures the car has 113,000.
Oil has been changed really recently (odd since it's been parked and the oil looks new).
Transmission fluid was dark red not light stawberry but not burnt smelling either.
The brake fluid was see through looks like it's mostly water.
The radiator had oily water and brown chunky stuff floating on top.
Battery was dead so couldn't turn it over to tell anything more.
Hopefully I can figure out how to post pics.
Sorry for the long winded post.

 

Looks reasonably solid. The mechanical stuff wouldn't scare me too much, but I'm able to do that stuff myself. I would however use the unknown nature of the mechanicals as a bargaining tool to bring the price down.

 

He wants 2 grand for it, I'm thinking 500 bucks. With the engine not running and oily water in the radiator, along with the odd fresh oil change I'm thinking maybe a blown head gasket. Opinions?

 

That's a very close guess. It could have a blown gasket, or it could have a bad intake gasket. Either way, he claims it doesn't start, and that's the big red flag. It could have bottom end issues, and without a start, there's only yarding and tearing down the engine. As someone who has found that 'good-running beaterr,' the body and interior problems don't scare me, but when you combine it with an unknown engine, that's not even a $500 car, IMHO. It's a parts car or it's scrap fodder. If you have the room, and he lets it go for $300 or less, strip it of every worthy piece and the drive train, then find a halfway-decent wagon with the same drive train and use those parts to restore it.

 

I don't know if he'd humor a price that low.
As for the engine would it be better to tear it apart and rebuild it, get a newer 351w from a yard, or just get a new crate engine.
That's all theoretical as I think it's definitely a parts car and not worth much.
Not that I would mind the work though.

 

That's up to you. There are plenty on here for sale (perhaps not local to you) that I'm sure are better condition than this one. The vote I give but is not up there is buy it for your price for parts, or walk away. But no matter what you do, go nose through the for sale threads in here, of both member's cars and the C/L--eBay section for like wagons. Who knows--you might find a different one to catch your fancy and is close to you. Remember, though the C/L--eBay section candidates have a limited time on them.

 

Guess I'll pass on this one, unless he comes to me and takes a minimum.
What I'd really like is a 69 to 73 colony park. Never seen one locally though.
Anyway thanks for the help guys.

 

IF you like it, I would consider up to $1000. You'd have to really like it and plan on keeping it a long time though.

If you're looking to get it cheap and flip it, I'd pass.

 

OK gents let's throw this into the equation, he is willing to trade for my 2003 crown victoria police interceptor that's been sitting awhile. It needs work,tires, AC is out and just needs other maintenance any car with close to 300k needs.
Would that be a good trade?

 

I'd look the wagon over closely then decide. You're getting a non runner for a non runner but one you may like. At least you'll have a station wagon to wheel and deal with.

 

How much work would the CV need to run? Is it more than about $250, which is the upper end of rebuilding that carb if it's a 2-barrel.

 

To get it running? Well dumping the two year old gas and changing it would probably be a good start. It starts with fluid but the gas is bad. The battery is fresh, I replaced a used but working one in the 08 to get this 03 going. That was 100.
Other than that for drivability the tires need to be changed. Brakes should be checked, fluids probably changed.
That's for drivable, what probably should be done since it's got about 300k on it? That list is longer.

 

I'm only interested in whether or not the engine can be made to run. That would give you a leg up in negotiating a trade. But I still think, without hearing the wagon engine run, it's a cheap-@$$ed parts car only.

 

A '71 Country Sedan in non-running but restorable condition is worth $1000 to $1500. If it's no better than a parts car, $500 to $1000.

An '03 Crown Victoria that doesn't run but is restorable is worth $500 to $1000. If it's no better than a parts car, it's worth a few hundred at most.

 

Sounds like a fair trade then, he wont take the deal unless mine is running, so I have to get the old gas out and put some fresh in there so I can get it going. Hopefully I can get it going this week and I may have a new wagon by this weekend, if he doesn't get any other offers for it.