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Thanks for all the good information.
The car belongs to my sister (would rather try trading with a total stranger than her, but that's another story ...). My sister says the car will run if you pore gas into the carburetor (carb and/or fuel pump problems???). I haven't talked to her about selling the car to me, as I wanted to get an idea of what it may be worth before even talking about a price. Here's a little background on the car:
My aunt Hazel bought the car new in 1961. My aunt was a school teacher who never married and always lived at home with my grandmother. From a very early age, I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother and aunt. After I started to school, my aunt would come to my parent's house on Friday afternoon and take me back to her and my grandmother's house (the house I now have, by the way). I would ride in that '61 Chevy every weekend.
My aunt Sara had a '65 Ford, and when she passed away in 1983 that car was left to me (still have the car and still drive it regularly). When my aunt Hazel decided to stop driving around 1993, she gave her '61 Chevy to my sister. My sister drove the car for several years, but eventually parked it for good in 2007.
My sister and her husband are always "looking for the big buck" kind of people, and several years ago they got the idea that the car would be worth "$8,000 or more." Needless to say, they haven't sold it yet.
I hadn't seen the car for several years, but have always wanted to get it back "home" where it belonged. I'm at a place now where I could devote a couple thousand dollars for something like this. I'd like to get the car back to driving shape and give it a paint job. I can't afford to "restore" the car, but just "stabilize" it so it will not deteriorate further.
I stopped by this afternoon to look at the car (she has it parked in a field behind an abandoned service station). I almost wish I hadn't seen it, as it's in worse shape than I knew. There is no "major" rust, but it really needs paint bad. The interior is not too bad, except that it has been closed up and is moldy (and is probably home to a couple families of field mice). My poor old aunt would rollover in her grave if she saw the condition of her old car.
Here are a couple pictures taken this afternoon.
And one more of the car, my aunt, and me back when the car was new.
If nothing else, I'd like to get the car and take it back home to let it die a natural death where my aunt always had it parked. The old car deserves more than to be abandoned to rot away in a field.
Ok, I thought I remembered you telling about this car. It looks like it is all there and that is a good thing. You can't get some of the side trim very easily or cheaply so that saves money right there. It is not bad at all. It has the flat top that those cars were known for. I think you could put out a bit more money than I thought originally as it has sentimental value and the like. Painting it won't be that bad where you are. For a few grand it will look like new outside. Likely the fuel pump is gone if it will start with gas down the carb but won't continue to run on her own.
Looks like the radio is gone and the turn signal is an aftermarket bolt on but on the inside she looks serviceable. You can get rid of mold with soap and water---just don't do it without a mask or gloves.
All in all I would say you certainly could get her up and running easy. Those engines have parts that are going to be around for another fity years so you are ok there.
I wouldn't go over $6,000 if I could help it though. The lower you get it the more money you have to fix it with. $8,000 is a no starter. If they had just kept it in decent condition then.......You certainly need to get it before those tires get lower and the frame and floor pans start touching the ground. Then you will have nothing to save. Perhaps offereing them a place to store it might work?
I ahte to see things like this happen to a family car. I have four family cars in my stable and I keep them the best they can be. They are all kept running and moving---it is better for them that way. They were made to be used.
