Opinions Needed Asap Urgent

[gr_speedy]

Please guys let me know what you think.:spank: :confused4: I only hope the floors are solid.:Blasting: Owner said they are, little rust but looks like he put this 26 gauge sheetmetal on the floors like he did on the front inner fender well under battery (looks riveted) He wants $1500 but the car will cost me with shipping $2300. Maybe $2000. Can i find better ones for $3-3.5 ? Do you know any? I tend to do the same mistake like my first Centurion..... love makes blind.......:Brow: :Brow:

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj54/gr_speedy/

[centurion 455 ragtop]

Please guys let me know what you think.:spank: :confused4: I only hope the floors are solid.:Blasting: Owner said they are, little rust but looks like he put this 26 gauge sheetmetal on the floors like he did on the front inner fender well under battery (looks riveted) He wants $1500 but the car will cost me with shipping $2300. Maybe $2000. Can i find better ones for $3-3.5 ? Do you know any? I tend to do the same mistake like my first Centurion..... love makes blind.......:Brow: :Brow:

http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj54/gr_speedy/

OK I'll bite first. (Damn Keith your fast) OK I'll bite second;)

Interior:
On blurred photo the front seat seems to be torn up.
Kick panels shot
wires from unknown origin hanging from under dash
No options on car, except a/c
Steering wheel wood grain appears to be damaged or weathered
Look closely at lower back seat. Sewn seams seem to be stretched or ripped (nice tonque twister eh?)
The floor boards being repair, well if it is done properly would be ok. I say this cause I had small pin holes in mine. After cleaning it up I carefully used metal to patch over it and fiberglassed the entire floor. Took some time but after sanded and painted came out great. This car seems to be a quickie cheap job, not good.

Powertrain
350 engine is not a money maker for this car. The 455 was more desireable as an option for this year.

Engine compartment is worn and rusty. I would bet the ac is shot. Battery tray well its fixed but a sloppy job.

Body
Rough, rust on four corners, missing center caps and Centurion fender emblems (car was a repaint) Could be hiding some major cheapo bondo work.

Top
Shot no good. No photos of it down, hmmmm

Trunk
The biggy here. The cardboard side panels could be hiding some major bondo or rust.
The wet moldy floor trunk floor mat is hiding metal floor condition. Most likely rust under it possibly rust holes or very weak rusted trunk floor. Frame? God only knows...

I say the trunk is a biggy because there is obvious water leaks in this car. I would bet under the back seat will be rust holes. Even the ash tray is rusted. THere was a lot of moisture hitting this car. Plus looking up at the frame and floors from under the wheel wells may show some rusted frame spots from a leaky top and trunk. With this car it seems to be a quickie patch job. Not good.

My take:
Offer him $700, and only if it runs. If it does not run offer him $400 and use it as a parts car for your Centurion that you will find down the road. If the top works and works properly maybe a little more...maybe. Remember one of the biggest draws is the 455 engine and in 1973 model this was an option unlike the 71 & 72 models. This car as we see has a 350. Three years back I found a 350 Centurion ragtop, running, the body was in better shape than this car but it was a Fred Flintstone car (floorboards gone). I paid $700 for it. Used it as a parts car for my Centurion.

So be ready to just walk away from it. Even 2 grand is WAY TOO much and will only bring you WAY TO much headaches. You will be better off paying for a more complete car for around 3 grand and instead of shipping it home, drive it instead.

Sorry to be blunt, but you want the straight honest opinions.

[gr_speedy]

You are dead on all points...... Yes front seat is torn. Only option additional is pwr windows. I am not looking for a money maker....... just for a nicer car ( by all means not perfect) that is not as my other Centurion/Flintstone mobil.

[Richard Dunn]

Well I'm a sucker for a 1973 Centurion, especially a bamboo cream convertible, and I want to look at it as if it were a 100 point restoration.:)
But it isn't. Darn.:(
I think this time I'll agree with everyone else. It might make a good parts car (God I hate those words being used about a vintage car) or an extra long and costly restoration project. The parade boot and the mounting hardware alone make it a good parts investment for the right price.
If you have the space to store it until you get the time and money to restore it, I say go for it. But I think it will be an expensive project.

[gr_speedy]

I am also trying to contact this guy here but can't get a hold of him. Not much info posted........ pictures look ok....

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2550346

[73 Centurion]

One more note of caution on the Bamboo car. I noticed the rear bumper is at an odd angle, particularly on the passenger side. There is a weak spot in the frame just behind the rear wheels where it is horizontal. Any rust in this area and the rear bumper begins to sag, just like the picture. If you're considering it check the rear frame closely.

I have seen Centurions from Texas, New Mexico and Arizona being sold. I almost bought one in Texas that needed a lot of mechanical work, but was absolutely rust free. That would be my #1 recommendation. Wait until you find one with a solid body. Fixing the rest is a matter of time and parts, but body work is big bucks.

A 350 in a full size car is under powered. There are guys here who get 18 MPG with a 455, but I can't get much above 15 with the 350. It has to work too hard.

Good Luck and let us know how it turns out.

John

[gr_speedy]

I guess i'll wait......... mechanically my Centurion is in very good condition. Body is THE downturn. If there is one in reasonable shape out there please let me know. So far the majority of the Centurions that i find are in the north.

[The German]

I am also trying to contact this guy here but can't get a hold of him. Not much info posted........ pictures look ok....

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2550346

This offer is signed with : "Last updated: Jan 21, 2007". So I guess the car is sold.
_________
Rolf

[gr_speedy]

This offer is signed with : "Last updated: Jan 21, 2007". So I guess the car is sold.
_________
Rolf

Might......... might not:)

[dewbers]

Hey GR - I am way confused... is the Centurion on the photobucket.com site your current car or the car you're looking to buy?!?! :confused:
Help us help you...

Photobucket.com car - your car?
Cardomain.com car - the car you want to buy?

Yes? If that's the case... then opinions on here might change. I agree with the guys about the 350, it is underpowered. But the car on cardomain.com has a pretty decent looking body on it and the engine bay is very clean.

Clear this up for us bro!

ONE OTHER THING GR - that cardomain.com site has a bunch of other Centurions owners on it that don't seem to belong to our forum. Why not invite them over?!?! Check out this ride that's for sale over there: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2720342

Oh God... just saw this one: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/718974?cmd=related&order=5

[gr_speedy]

Sorry for the mixup. The cardomain one i can't get a hold of the seller (ad is old) Topic was meant for the first one "photobucket". I heard it few times 350 underpowered...... i was happy with the 350......... i also never stepped too hard on the gas beeing afraid that the rusted body will fly off .LOL

P.S.
The "cardomain" Centurion got sold. Just got an email from him.