Is a 1987 town and country worthy

Hi all

I am still on the hunt to become a wagon owner. I came across a 1987 town and country wagon. I love the plastic trim around the wood grain and love the look of the car. I wish it was brown paint but I can live with white. This one is just a twenty min drive away as well. I posted a video in another post that the owner made of the car. From what he says and I read this is a glorified K car. It this a used car that will hold up engine wise ? Or would you recommend something from the 70's for reliability ? I am thinking the car is worth around $5000 after reading a lot of the threads on here. Any advice on what to ask or look for with regards to this car would be great. Any 87 town and county owners on here?

Thanks

 

Hello and welcome! I watched the video - the wagon is in excellent shape, appears to be fully loaded and well-maintained. But is it worth $5k? Worth is a tricky subject - what it's worth to you (buyer) and him (seller) are rarely the same amount.

So you perform all the proper due diligence - you scour the market for comparisons, you check all the pricing guides, you ask geniuses like us. And you end up more confused then ever. It's not you - it's the nature of the beast.

If this is the ride that makes your heart skip a beat, you'd have pride of ownership while driving it, and maybe it has sentimental value (parents had one, etc.), then go for it! You could not build one that nice for $5k. You don't see many of them either. The turbo is rare and the body, carpet, interior all look to be in great shape.

If you're looking for a deal, something that you could have fun with then flip after a year or two, well then I'd tell you to keep looking and find a wagon with more market appeal. There just aren't a lot of folks looking for an '87 LeBaron wagon.

I'd say time is on your side with this one - you could wait the seller out possibly to get the price you want. Show up with $4000 cash in crisp $100 bills and I bet you drive home in it....

Keep us posted how it goes - good luck!

 

Did I miss the "TURBO" word? 5K is a tidy sum even if it is turbo, but I think some what out of line if it isn't! My .02, Jer

 

Thanks for the comments. I like the look of the car but am not tied to it. I want the "ugly" look; and by ugly I mean beautiful to me lol. The most important thing to me is reliability longevity etc. I know there are not too many 1987 k cars on the road today. Am not a car guy so to speak so seeking knowledge here. What would the more desirable wagons be? I know I want a 70's or 80's wagon good shape and reliable of course. Need to be ugly as sin. Wood grain and plastic trim are great. I love the plastic trim on this car. Makes it stand out so to speak. Lol

 

1970s GM full-size "clamshell" wagons and the Ford LTD Country Squire wagons come to mind and are my favorites, but often carry hefty price tags these days, but for $5K, should be able to find a nice one.

 

He said ugly. That would leave out GM clamshell wagons. Seems like a Ford would be perfect!

 

Personally I think my ford a and my clam are both sharp cars!

 

SHARP ---I like that word!
By the way I was just kidding. I love Ford wagons. Don't let this get around.

 

If it is longevity and durability, then go for the late-80s full sized G.M. box wagons or the Ford/Mercury twins, or else the 90s Whales from G.M. For $5,000, you should not have much trouble coming up with a good one.

 

For ugly check out the '78 AMC Pacer wagon or the '74 AMC Matador wagon. They have faces only their mothers could love. The Pacer looks like H.R. Pufnstuf and the Matador looks like Lurch from The Addams Family.
People either love them or hate them, there is no middle ground.
Then there's always a Checker Marathon if you want a wagon that looks like a bag lady. The ugliest import has to be the the Citroen, it's so ugly it's face would make a train take a dirt road to get away from it.

 

So, you're looking for something with a "Wagon Queen Family Truckster" vibe? Something in a Metallic Pea or Antarctic Blue with the optional Rally Fun Pack? Then I'd say stick with the one you've found. If you don't feel comfortable validating the mechanical worthiness find a reputable mechanic and ask them to do an inspection for you - you can get one done for less than $100 and you'll know for sure what you're up against. Good luck!

 

That describes just what I want. If the 87 town and country was the brown instead of the white I would have it now. The whole k car thing is Deff putting me off some. I do want the green brown or blue. I just have yet to find a local one under 6000. Just finding a wagon for sale in Atlantic Canada is a rare event.

 

I love the 78 pacer. There was one for sale in BC but that is the wrong coast. I am beginning to think I may have to travel to become part of the wagon owners gang

 

I had to fly 1000 miles 1 way for mine, then a 1000 mile drive home! It was worth it!

 

5K is just too much. I owned an '87 T&C in the late 90's. Wasn't a bad car, but definitely not in the same class as my Caprice wagons. Head gasket is an issue on a 2.2/2.5 and if that car has the digital dash, that also can be problematic. Mine went out twice and the car only had 45K on it. If you aren't absolutely in love with it (like its K-Car roots) then I would keep looking.