1969 SS 396 Value opinions

[DWCamaro69]

He is asking $27,500. Hard to find a numbers/documented SS396 these days but looking at a complete restoration, you would be way upside down in it IMHO. For those of you that guessed 5-6K, 7500 & 10K, please tell me where you live so I can come shop for a Camaro in your area!

[Charley Lillard]

27,500.00 sounds very fair. Just hope the rust isn't too bad. Just enjoy it the way it is.

[black69]

what i do is look at the max nada value and divide in 2 to get started. so nada shows 47 max for that car, so 1/2 is 23-24.
nada shows average value for 27.
so to me, with it not being original paint (then it may be a confirmed 27k car, ie. buy it) i would think 23-24 is fair with all the docs and some history and to know its not a cut rebodied car. I have seen a rebodied car and to know the odds are zero on a purchase like this it is not a rebody stands for something (this is why i myself would be very nervous buying a fully restored car anymore). not too many have free money these days (401ks have gone to sh-t), and some people with out standing lines of credit may be afraid to use them anymore to buy cars, thus this all effects the market. With that said, i would derate the 23-24k a little more, say by 20%, so you are at 19k. its looks like a nice car, but people are not flocking to the lower horse cars. 19k is the realistic price on that car to me, no way jose on the 27k. If you like the car, i would rationalize with the guy between 19k and his asking price. With the mopars I have looked at, green green was usually the kiss of death on color combos. Not sure on camaros, but think it may be more popular these days for some reason. I agree its hard to find a car like that documented, and not a rebody, but I would not go to far away from 19k-20k, considering its been repainted, and survivor cars are pretty popular. If you like it and plan to keep it, I am sure you can come to a reasonable price somewhere south of 27.
look at completed auctions on ebay if that helps. If it were me in this market, i would pay 18k giving some room to spend money here and there, 27k would be fine if it had most of its original paint. my 2 cents. nice car.

[Salvatore]

I know the car is loaded up pretty heavy but make sure you will be happy with a 325 horse, automatic with air car. To me and JMO does not seem to "muscle" to me. More like a later middle age person like Cumby would buy! To sink restoration money in a car like that? Kinda boring to me. BUT JMO!!!! only

[ORIGLS6]

Hey! I can't even catch a break on my Birthday?

Well, it's still a Big Block '69 Camaro. Forget a restoration. It's too good as-is. Throw a sweet cam in it and take the AC off; some vintage mags and tires, maybe headers and purple hornies and have some fun......... before you get too old!

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Throw a sweet cam in it and take the AC off; some vintage mags and tires, maybe headers and purple hornies and have some fun

[/ QUOTE ]

Now you're talking!

[redeuce]

DW

Looks like the Camaro has possibilities. But I have to caution you, as a member of the NADA Classic and Collectible Advisory Board and the IAAA, how to interpret NADA price guide values. NADA is not the same as Old Car Price Guide, which goes all the way down to parts car value. Nada essentially evaluates only investment grades. Many classics out there aren’t even gradable on the NADA scale. Although high retail is not undrivable, trailer queen status, it is only a step below it. High value would be an accurate guide for many of the vehicles owned and discussed by the members of this board. Fully restored, low mileage, documented investment quality vehicles. Unfortunately, most vehicles you see for sale out there are not high, but average, low, and below. Even the low category is referring to vehicles needing only minor reconditioning. Technically, there isn’t even a NADA category for project.

With that said, it is impossible to rate your car on one picture. However, by your description, it falls below low retail, which is $17,000 and change.

Now the other side of the coin. In this economy and this depressed market, Documentation and provenance are still at the forefront pertaining to sellable classics, but rarity is now of utmost importance. Quite frankly, a 325 HP Camaro is no longer on everyone’s want list, so if you are looking for a quick flip for profit, there are better deals out there for you. Now, if this is your dream car, and you want to restore and keep it in your collection, then you have to look strictly at restoration costs. It sounds as if the car needs complete body and paint, add in new chrome because the old chrome will look bad with new paint, new seals, jam seals, weatherstripping, interior, etc. You also don’t know how fresh the drive train is and what would be required to freshen it. At his selling price of $27,500, and possible restoration costs of $15,000 or more, you will now have invested in the car exactly what high retail value is today. That’s OK if this is the car you must have, but not investment smart.

As an appraiser, collector, and General Manager of a muscle car store, I can’t see the car being worth more than $14,000- $18,000. This is only my .02.

[JRSully]

If you can get it in the low 20's, take the orig Lo-Po BB out and drop an LS6 BB crate motor. Go have some fun now and restore it later to a 100 point trailer queen when the market comes back

[jtower1969]

You do know the 6K, 7500 & 10K prices were all sarcasm.. If the car floats you boat...price is no object.

[njsteve]

I guess the $15,000 quote for a restoration has gotta be sarcasm too.

I'd estimate about three times that, at a minimum.