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69 396/375 4 speed

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7.3K views 54 replies 23 participants last post by  BelAirBob  
#1 ·
Guys,

Got a line on a 69 RS/SS 396/375 4 speed. Matching numbers drivetrain. Needs full resto. No pics, but assuming minimal panel replacement, WIW?
 
#6 ·
Re: 69 RS/SS 396/375 Matching WIW?

78MBA said:
Between $20K & $40K, how much resto? Cosmetic or full with panel replacement?
Click to expand...
Needs one quarter and a trunk pan. Car is Hugger orange, original cowl ind hood,white hockey stick stripes. Real RS by the looks of the firewall and original front and rear sheetmetal.

It was a no console, no gauge, no PS, X22D80 w standard interior. Going to verify the block stamp today. Car can probably be bought under $25K. Same owner for past 30 years. No docs at this point, and the tranny is missing. 12 bolt is in car. I think it gotta be worth that,but am desperately looking for opinions. I need another project like I need a... well, you know, but for the right amount, its better than most investments right now.
 
#5 ·
Bob I could be off but that car if it needs minimal work and is a #'s car it still has to be worth at least 35K or so doesn't it ? I would price it at least similiar similiar to a Z in the same condition but as a higher HP car with smaller production numbers it should be worth more..... Rally-Sport too? You go Booooy ! What color combo?

Bob after looking at my post .. I have no clue.... it seems that car should be worth some serious coin and my numbers are light . But this market and economy who the heck knows ?!
 
R
#11 ·
Re: 69 RS/SS 396/375 Matching WIW?

Wow Bob, I'd say that you can't lose for that kind of money. Right color for resale as well. Do it up w/ Dog Dish rims ~ :) ~

Rich
 
B
#12 ·
Is that the car that was on ebay?
 
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#16 ·
Yes, it was/is on Ebay. He said he needed to revise the ad, since we now know its not the matching numbers engine. We had to dig the block out of his garage to check it out. He was very surprised and disappointed at the result :eek: I'd have been an owner today if it had the right block and was matching. Checked to see if he had any docs,and other than the title, the answer was no.:noway:

Here is the Ebay listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130275529222&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=003
 
#15 ·
*** UPDATE***

Just got back from looking her over:

Its a real X22D80 car, hugger orange, std blk interior.
Need both quarters, a full trunk pan,and rear LH floor pan.
Has RS equipment,and factory firewall piercing for the ZL2 and RS.
Original 12 bolt with 5 springs
Original appearing single 3/8 fuel line
BB Heater box
No console,gauges or PS- A barebones weekend racer for sure.
Here's the kicker- the block is a "CE" block, and not the original 375 block.

How much does this hit the value? (I'm thinking a bunch)

Car still wears the original hugger orange GM lacquer.

Needs more sheetmetal work than anticipated,but I'm confident it started life as a 396/375 HP car. The rear is 4:11 posi.

The current owner has had it since 1978.

Thoughts on how the CE block affects value would be appreciated.
 
J
#17 ·
If there is no other documentation, then the CE block is a big neg hit compared to having the original block

If there is a POP or paperwork showing it is a real L78, then the CE is not as big of a problem

Does he have anypaper work? any owner history, any baby pictures, does he know where the original block may be?

IMO
 
#18 ·
Joe,

No, I went through all of that with him. No POP, and no docs, other than the titlework in his name from 78'. Ironically,he was in the process of having the engine rebuilt years ago,and was careful to instruct the machine shop not to mill the pad, for fear they'd destroy the "matching" numbers. When I told him about the CE story,he apologized to me profusely. I totally believe he was not aware that it was not truly a matching engine. I think that the lack of the "real" block with no docs hits it about $5-10K,but that just an opinion.

After seeing the car in its current state, I'm convinced it was in fact a 396/375,but still can't pony up what he's asking unless its able to be verified.
 
F
#20 ·
Too bad Bob, but it's a rough car. And to help you feel better, it looks to be the wrong radiator too. (two core) Should be 4 core. And it might have had the 'Fred' modification; Mounting tabs removed and a tray built to hold the radiator.
 
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#22 ·
Yeah, you are right Tom. He told me he wants $25K, but that was assuming it had the correct engine. Fred, you are also correct- the rad was wrong- it was a replacement 2 core unit. My thoughts are $12-$15K max for it as it sits,and thats only because of the nice GM metal on the front clip (GM cowl hood and RS fenders). We'll see.
 
R
#23 ·
Hmm, yes, I say 12-15 as it sits. The 411 is a big plus, as is the HO color and RS.
Closer to the 12 in today's money, closer to 15 if you love it and want to keep it.

The CE is better than anything but the #'s engine, if it dates right (after the car?)

If you bought it, you could have JM look it over and if there is enough there, maybe get some cert on it?

Good Luck,

Rich
 
R
#24 ·
Being an unrestored car, there should be enough convincing physical evidence of being a true L78 car that you can document.

No #s/paper, but being an RS, I'm thinking ~$12K but probably no more. A lot depends on the components, ie dist, carb, alt, etc. which I know you know add up a TON when trying to piece one back together.
 
B
#25 ·
Here's the ebay# 130275529222. I have been watching it . This is the seconed time it has been listed. But without the original engine and no documentation it's a tuff sell.
 
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#26 ·
Dave, you bring up a great point. The components are a killer to find, and add up quickly. It needs a correct radiator for starters,etc,etc.

I am convinced this is a 375 HP car, based mainly on the obviously underdisturbed single 3/8 fuel line. Its nice and crusty like the rest of the underside of the car.It also has the frame rail plate, brake valve, correct firewall piercings, X2 on the rear seatback,BB heater core,etc,etc.

Yeah, the other thing that bothers me now is that after I went to look it over, and clearly pointed out the "CE" code on the engine pad, he said he was going to revise the ad, and as of today, still has not. Hmmmm. If someone does happens to buy it, they are going to be pretty twisted once they arrive,only to find the wrong block.:yes: I also looked at the heads, and they too are incorrect. They were oval ports made in Feb 69. Way too early for a September car.

Also, one thing that was curious- the rear tailpan was not blacked out. It appeared to be original, and wore hugger orange lacquer, yet no evidence of having ever been black. As an BB SS car, it should have been blacked out, correct? The rocker sills were, but the tail was not.
 
C
#27 ·
For those of you that are trying to sort out fake from real trim tags. Look at the tag on this car , right click and save it in a file you name real trim tags. Do that on other cars you see that appear real. Also do it on ones that people tell you are fake. Then study the differences. After awhile you will have a good cross section of tag pics and a better understanding.
 
#29 ·
Yes, I agree, it would be a great one to restore, but for what he told me his bottom dollar is, one would get buried in a hurry. He's about $10K out of round with the CE block.

He also does not state in the ad that it needs a full trunk floor- A patch won't get it done,since its rotted out past the rails. Tailpan and quarters have to go, The dash looked solid,which is unusual. The rockers were ok, but one door shell (pass) looked too rusty to save.
 
C
#32 ·
Do you really want to gamble on that big of a project ? Sometimes we get caught up with the hunt and reality goes out the door. I keep accumulating oddball projects and am coming to the realization that I only have so many hours in a day to get stuff done. What is a no paperwork, non orig engine car worth when done and what will it cost to do it ?
 
#33 ·
Good point Charlie. Part of me wants to save the car from ultimate ruin,but the realist in me feels the same way. I already have a Z that is far from done, as well as a 67 RS even further away. To add an X22 to the mix would complicate things to say the least! :yes:
 
R
#34 ·
There's a car local that is very similar to the description, except RG X66 and has a "maybe" original block thats been decked rather than a CE.

Hasn't marketed the car much, but didn't get any takers at $12K.
 
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