73 Centurion Convertible on Ebay

[Richard Dunn]

Just found this on Ebay tonight.
Looks like it needs some TLC but the color combination is nice.
Auction 320192989432
But like all the decent cars, they're miles and miles away from me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320192989432&rd=1

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Definitely rough. $3500? Well just keep in mind that other '73 the red one on e-bay got only around $5500 on an offer and didn't sell. And this one is a 350 engine. One other thought. I could be wrong but the engine should be red not blue. Could be a replacement engine over the years. Let me correct that, a closer look, the timing cover looks red. Still would have some serious questions with the engine.

Missing trunk emblem, missing Centurion fender emblems, no trunk chrome or wheel well chrome, and lack of any rust bubbles, so that would tell me it was recently repainted, be aware on what may have been covered up. Could be just a quickie paint job. Top just replaced...I would check under the rear wheel wells and under the rear seat for rotted floor boards from a leaking top. The engine bay is filthy, yet the body is clean..??? Plus no ac. Another closer look at the shot of the wheel well with damage. It looks like a cheap bondo job that has started to break free with cracks showing the rust under it, poor prep work. Another shot shows the trunk open, the inside lip of the trunk lid is rusty yet the exterior is not?? Hmmm, more signs of shoddy cheap quickie body work. My guess is this owner got this car for dirt cheap and had a quick cheap paint job done, fixed the top and is rolling over the car for profit. I know this is a stretch, but seeing the small electrical tools on the front seat and he mentions a great sounding stereo makes me think that he just installed this cheap stereo to help push the price up.

Personally I would not pay over $2,000 on the very high side. It's a no option car with the only good thing is it's a convertible. I would venture to say he won't get his reserve.

Regarding this Centurion on e-bay. If it was a 455 engine car it would command a decent amount. And if it was I would go in with one or two others and buy it for parts. To restore that car you would no doubt sink at least 5 grand into it when its all said and done. I know cause mine was a basket case too when I bought it. But I paid $300 bucks for mine and it was a big block car with options. With the cheap buying price it was worth saving and restoring as a project car not needing it on the road right away. Actually I cound have fixed the top and buffed out the body and resold it for 3-4 grand. Just like what this guy is most likely doing.

1. Engine rebuild standard is about 2 grand if you do most of the work
2. suspension, That is a huge questions I would replace it all and thats another couple of hundreds
3. Body, ??? That's a HUGE question $$$$. It may look good in the photos but what happens to it in a year.

For you guys across the pond I would stay away from this one. Importing parts alone will cost you a small fortune.

If someone just wants a driver, well it may meet the needs, but as a driver it will eat its share of gas.

Possibly good for a guy starting out and planning on doing the work themselves, but $3500 is a bit steep.

That's my nickles worth here guys;)

[73 Centurion]

I agree with everything written above. Blue valve covers are wrong and should be explained. No AC and a black interior? Ouch.

This is the first car I've seen with Colonial Gold and Black interior. Usually they came with a Saddle interior.

The 73's have huge pot metal peices around the headlights that are prone to pitting. Finding a clean pair is difficult and rechroming them would be expensive because of the size and the need to drill out all the pits and fill with copper. The pair on this car are rough.

The chrome is missing around the wheel openings and that usually indicates a re-paint done cheaply. It's something that stands out for me when I look at a car. It just looks unfinished to me. Rust is a problem where there's salt and this car is sitting in a snowy driveway.

A couple of other items to consider. To put that radio in the dash requires cutting not only the face plate, but the structure behind it. The structure is designed to support a 2 shaft radio and you have to make a big hole to fit this in. If they didn't support the back of the radio the only thing holding it there is the face plate. It will crack pretty quickly.

The roof on it has a plastic rear window. It should be glass. Another indication that the owner chose the cheapest option. The spare roof he offers also has a plastic rear window, but the window portion is black while the roof is white.

The boot cover looks like Parchment which would not match the paint or the interior. There's something wrong in the colors on this car.

I will say that it sits square (not leaning down in a corner) and the panel gaps look fairly even. It doesn't show outward signs of major collision repair.

It could be brought back, but the buyer should look it over carefully and in person.

John

[73 CONVERT RON]

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[73 CONVERT RON]

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