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sobamaflyer
Freshman Member
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Hello All, I'm a very long time car nut with (old car) past experience mostly in vintage VW's. I have recently found myself wanting a new toy to play with which led me here a few months ago where I've been lurking soaking up info.
I saw an ad in the local paper for a '71 Midget that by chance I passed yesterday so stopped to check out (it's at a dealer lot on consignment). They tossed me the keys and after a little while of crawling around it I took it out for a little drive. It's been a while since I had such a fool grin plastered on my face as I must have had driving that tiny little thing (I've had a few cars that induced it regularly but through either fate/necessity/stupidity on my part I haven't had one in a couple years now that did it). So OK, I'm hooked and I could really like a LBC. What I ask of all of you much better versed folks is assistance in helping me quantify some of the things that I noted about this car and generally what pricing should be for such a car (as I begin to search for one).
The car I drove has a (starting) price of $3500.
Rust: The floors were a bit rusty but not as bad as some other cars I've driven around for years so I wasn't too concerned. The rockers seemed solid as were the wheel wells. There were bits of spots here and there that could certainly use attention but nothing major.
Suspension: I'll tell you what I felt you tell me what "normal is". It wasn't as "tight" as I had expected, would set into a lean in a corner but I never felt anywhere near out of control. It didn't rebound constantly so I assume the shocks were ok but it was still rather "springy". Also the steering wandered a bit.
Engine: wow, much more than I expected given my old VW past, it was very peppy and enjoyable to drive. 3/4 through my jaunt the exhaust pipe decided to let go of the header (it had a Weber & Header on it) and dangle down a couple inches from the road surface. I nursed it back to the dealer and found that it was [not]secured by a C-clamp and obviously wasn't on tight enough. I did see a little dampness up around the radiator hoses and a cross member behind it.
Interior: was in better shape than some cars I've bought by a good bit, it wasn't great but it was ok. The speedo (and Odo) didn't work but the tach did. Funny side note, my wife was very disturbed that it appeared rain would come in around the top, I told her from what I gathered that wasn't too far off "normal" and it wasn't intended to have that top in place anyway.
It had wire wheels in respectable shape with decent tires. A rediculous shift knob and a modern radio/speakers. The dealer had absolutely no idea about the car even though he attempted to act like it (I love those guys, it's a sport of mine to make them squirm). He attempted to tell me the car had "great compression" I asked what the numbers were for all 4, I get the blank look and he says I don't know but drive it it's got great compression.
So, If you would all be so kind (after reading this way overly long post) and tell me what's "normal", what's a "red flag" and your opinion on pricing. My impression was from my reading here, wandering on Ebay and other places this was not a bad car for $1500 but that it wasn't worth the $3,500 he wanted. I didn't have much intention of buying THIS car but it was the first opportunity I had found to drive one of these fun little wonders.
Thank you, Travis
I saw an ad in the local paper for a '71 Midget that by chance I passed yesterday so stopped to check out (it's at a dealer lot on consignment). They tossed me the keys and after a little while of crawling around it I took it out for a little drive. It's been a while since I had such a fool grin plastered on my face as I must have had driving that tiny little thing (I've had a few cars that induced it regularly but through either fate/necessity/stupidity on my part I haven't had one in a couple years now that did it). So OK, I'm hooked and I could really like a LBC. What I ask of all of you much better versed folks is assistance in helping me quantify some of the things that I noted about this car and generally what pricing should be for such a car (as I begin to search for one).
The car I drove has a (starting) price of $3500.
Rust: The floors were a bit rusty but not as bad as some other cars I've driven around for years so I wasn't too concerned. The rockers seemed solid as were the wheel wells. There were bits of spots here and there that could certainly use attention but nothing major.
Suspension: I'll tell you what I felt you tell me what "normal is". It wasn't as "tight" as I had expected, would set into a lean in a corner but I never felt anywhere near out of control. It didn't rebound constantly so I assume the shocks were ok but it was still rather "springy". Also the steering wandered a bit.
Engine: wow, much more than I expected given my old VW past, it was very peppy and enjoyable to drive. 3/4 through my jaunt the exhaust pipe decided to let go of the header (it had a Weber & Header on it) and dangle down a couple inches from the road surface. I nursed it back to the dealer and found that it was [not]secured by a C-clamp and obviously wasn't on tight enough. I did see a little dampness up around the radiator hoses and a cross member behind it.
Interior: was in better shape than some cars I've bought by a good bit, it wasn't great but it was ok. The speedo (and Odo) didn't work but the tach did. Funny side note, my wife was very disturbed that it appeared rain would come in around the top, I told her from what I gathered that wasn't too far off "normal" and it wasn't intended to have that top in place anyway.
It had wire wheels in respectable shape with decent tires. A rediculous shift knob and a modern radio/speakers. The dealer had absolutely no idea about the car even though he attempted to act like it (I love those guys, it's a sport of mine to make them squirm). He attempted to tell me the car had "great compression" I asked what the numbers were for all 4, I get the blank look and he says I don't know but drive it it's got great compression.
So, If you would all be so kind (after reading this way overly long post) and tell me what's "normal", what's a "red flag" and your opinion on pricing. My impression was from my reading here, wandering on Ebay and other places this was not a bad car for $1500 but that it wasn't worth the $3,500 he wanted. I didn't have much intention of buying THIS car but it was the first opportunity I had found to drive one of these fun little wonders.
Thank you, Travis
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