Getting a 1969 Chevelle SS 454 for 8,000$

[Nick89]

Well the seller has given me pictures of the car. It looks to be in good condition.

The interior is redone and the engine looks to be in good condition.

what are your opinions.

Some pictures:

[JC316]

SCAM! No way in hell is that legit, it's a $50,000 car. There was one around here that was just like that. Your pics aren't showing up, but I bet it's the same one.

[Reventon]

I'm more partial to '70 Chevelles but yeah that seems pretty low if it's in good condition it should be at least $15,000.

[JC316]

I'm more partial to '70 Chevelles but yeah that seems pretty low if it's in good condition it should be at least $15,000.

Cheapest 454SS that sold on Ebay was $20,000, most expensive was $46K. Unless it's in need of complete restoration or it's not a numbers matching car, then it's a scam.

[DaMulta]

You never know, there are dumb people in the world.

[Reventon]

Cheapest 454SS that sold on Ebay was $20,000, most expensive was $46K. Unless it's in need of complete restoration or it's not a numbers matching car, then it's a scam.

Yeah for a 454 SS I guess that seems right.

[Nick89]

Here

[erocker]

Yes, get it.

[DaMulta]

Jump on the deal before anyone else does.

[Nick89]

Now the car is in texas and I am in nevada, whats a good shipping service that could ship it?

[DaMulta]

IDK about buying a car without seeing it first. You could always just take a overnight road trip with a buddy to pick it up. Make a weekend out of it.

[erocker]

Now the car is in texas and I am in nevada, whats a good shipping service that could ship it?

Nope, forget it. Either travel over there to inspect the car firsthand or move on.

[1Kurgan1]

Agreed with the rest, look at something like that personally, if your going to be spending 8 grand on it, might as well spend a bit extra on gas and a trip to look at it yourself.

[Reventon]

IDK about buying a car without seeing it first. You could always just take a overnight road trip with a buddy to pick it up. Make a weekend out of it.

That's what I'd do. Where'd you find the ad? It sounds like a scam. You should ask to see the car first.

[Solaris17]

yup its now a scam.

[3991v]

Sounds too good to be true... I'd look at it and inspect it before you buy it.

good luck :)

[Reventon]

Well yes I would hope it's not a scam because that's a great price! Just be aware.

[Nick89]

well its on Ebay and there is only 1 day and 9 hours left to buy it.

I asked the seller some questions.

His response:

Other than needing the starter it is fully drivable and has no leaks or smoke coming from the engine or anywhere else. brakes are new and so are the tires. undercarriage and body are in good condition. not sure about how many miles are on it since the previous owner is the one who switched it all out and didn't mark it down. I am trying to sell it as soon as possible because I have a lot of personal bills starting to stack up. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be selling it to begin with. So if you bid and win I would like to have everything paid for and shipped out within a week unless you want to send the full amount and I will mail you the title and just hold the car in the garage until you are able to make the pick-up. If we go that route we would of course write out a contract that we can both agree to stating that its paid for and you are being given the title as proof that it is your car.



This guy seems pretty legit.

[Reventon]

Well if he is offering the choice of pick-up that probably means he is legit yes.

[DaMulta]

I would offer a grand for him to hold it till you can come pick it up within a few days. Then pay the rest when you show up.

[JC316]

well its on Ebay and there is only 1 day and 9 hours left to buy it.

I asked the seller some questions.

His response:

Other than needing the starter it is fully drivable and has no leaks or smoke coming from the engine or anywhere else. brakes are new and so are the tires. undercarriage and body are in good condition. not sure about how many miles are on it since the previous owner is the one who switched it all out and didn't mark it down. I am trying to sell it as soon as possible because I have a lot of personal bills starting to stack up. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be selling it to begin with. So if you bid and win I would like to have everything paid for and shipped out within a weekunless you want to send the full amount and I will mail you the title and just hold the car in the garage until you are able to make the pick-up. If we go that route we would of course write out a contract that we can both agree to stating that its paid for and you are being given the title as proof that it is your car.



This guy seems pretty legit.

Red flags for me. "Other than needing a starter" usually means "I can't start the car to see if it has a rod knocking, but it should be OK."

"Unless you want to send me the full amount and I will mail you the title" means "Please let this guy be dumb enough to send me the cash so I can have the car, the title, and the money"

"We would of course write out a contract that we can both agree to stating that you paid for it." Means "It's a piece of paper that is not legally binding nor notarized that wont hold up in court, please send me the cash in advance"

I am a car dealer man, I have been doing this for a long time now. Something like this to be legit is a hundred to one odds.

[JC316]

Never mind those are still red flags, but I just found the complete ad on ebay. It used to be an SS396, but that motor is long gone, replaced with a 454 that is likely the 240HP job that came out of the pickups. The paint is screwed to hell, the interior has "patchwork" done and it has rust in the trunk. They don't even know if it runs.

I wouldn't pay more than 3K on it, and only as a project to make a beast out of.

[Reventon]

Oh lol he wants you to send money before you see it? Fuck that shit

[3991v]

I'd avoid at all costs. I just checked out the ad, and he doesn't even have any feedback.

[Nick89]

His reply to more of my questions.

I can get my fiance to take a picture of the car with my account name on a piece of paper as you requested when she gets home. I'm not sure about the transmission if it was rebuilt or not. The last owner is the one that switched out the transmission and the engine and I'm not even sure what the actual miles are on it. The car originally had a 396 that I'm told siezed up and they opted to replace it with a 454 for the added power and the 350 turbo transmission for faster gear switching and higher rpm's. I think they were in the process of getting it ready to race.

[JC316]

I am less concerned about a scam seeing that it's not an original SS 454 and the 396 is long gone. I guess the question now is what do you want it for? It's collector value to completely gone since GM needs to have a numbers matching engine. Are you mechanically inclined enough to fix the engine if there is something major wrong? Also, the 454 has many different power levels depending on what it was taken out of. Seeing the half assed work on it, I bet they went with the cheapest, which is a pickup and not all that powerful.

Bottom line is that they are asking $8K for a car that doesn't run and is not in super good shape.

[DaMulta]

His reply to more of my questions.

I can get my fiance to take a picture of the car with my account name on a piece of paper as you requested when she gets home. I'm not sure about the transmission if it was rebuilt or not. The last owner is the one that switched out the transmission and the engine and I'm not even sure what the actual miles are on it. The car originally had a 396 that I'm told siezed up and they opted to replace it with a 454 for the added power and the 350 turbo transmission for faster gear switching and higher rpm's. I think they were in the process of getting it ready to race.

You know the guy could be telling the truth about the starter. I've bought cars in the same issue of just a little fix. Just cause the people got tired of fixing an old car.

I was talking to my dad today about this. He thought the car orignaly had a 396, because the 454 didn't come out till 70. He also thought that it should be a 2 gear transimistion, but in this case that isn't true. It could be a good thing that it's changed with an everyday driver I'm sure you would enjoy it better.


It all boils down to if you are willing to keep working on the car. All old cars are going to require that from you, and if you willing to gamble to get the car.

Like I said, offer a down payment, and go pick the car up yourself. Changing the starter would be an easy thing to do.

Offer the down payment, and ask him if he could get the starter installed before you show up from another state to get it. You could get there in 24 hours without stopping, and or fly there then drive it back home.

[Nick89]

Well, all I want the car for is a weekend car to drive for fun.

I've been looking for a car like this for the weekends.

I've rebuilt a 1965 283ci engine in an El Camino with a racing cam with my uncle.

What I've told the guy:

The only thing holding me back on this is the fact that I cannot look at the car myself before I "buy" it with ebay. Buying it then looking at it is not something I like to do.

If you would like to still sell the car after the bid is over I could drive/fly down to look at the car in person. My email is **************@yahoo.com OR **************@gmail.com

[Nick89]

WELL.

I was outbid at the last minute

I don't have buyers remorse I have the other one where you wish you bought it.

[1Kurgan1]

Seeing as it was a 396 with a who knows what 454, I would just keep looking. And maybe try looking at Chevelle look alikes, I personally like the Buick GS front ends much more and it's basically the same car for a cheaper price since everyone and their mother wants a Chevelle. And it will be different, and cool.