I've 'known' this car locally for about 3-4 years.
Originally it was on CL on the SE side of town, looking very original and honest, for $4000, then down to $3500. I was mildly interested because it hung around on CL for a few months, and things I'm supposed to have seem to hang around until I buy them. But it was a sedan, a minor but major detail, and I didn't need another car to care for, so I passed. (if I ever get a Formal, it will be a hardtop)
Then perhaps 1.5 years ago it showed up on the main street near the exit to my neighborhood, perhaps 1/2 mile away. (small world!) Obviously recognizable as the same car. And the torsion bars had 'dropped' 2-3 inches in front (YUK!!!)
Then one day it was at the street with a FS in the windshield.
I drove past it every day to work, and after about a week I had to know - so I parked across the street and trotted over for a look.
I don't remember the exact price, but was around $7000 or something - I was surprised that it wasn't 2x that amount.
Then it popped up on CL again, at a firesale of $3000, and was gone from the street a few days later.
Within a month it was being flipped from a location NW of Indy for about $15k. I remember thinking 'good luck'!
Then Gateway brokerage had it listed for $21-22k shortly after. 'The fools', I thought. Nobody seems to know what they've got with this car.
I had mildly contemplated buying it at $3000, keeping it for < a year, and reselling. But the first seller evidently got 3500 or less, 2nd seller got 3000 (or less), so I would be a fool to think I'd fare any better. I didn't know if it was up to my reliability standards, so feared I'd hafta put some money in it, and then I feared I'd be stuck with:
most bland, non-descript, wallflower Formal I have ever seen.
About the car:
It's fairly nice, and I believe the mileage is genuine, although I haven't eagle-eyed it to validate. Well-cared-for cars could look this nice with 123k on them. The driver's seat has soemthign a little funny to it, like it's slightly worn, or slightly dirty, or ??? I simply remember thinking a 23k seat should look more crisp - it looks like a 80-90k seat. This car also has some tiny popcorn rustbubbles along the bottom edges, in the paint, and in that lower 2-3" of blackout treatment on the rockers. I've noticed that everybody that sells this car does not show photos of that!
Overall IMO it's a decent, honest car, has some flaws but not really hiding anything, and would be a good car for anybody except a purist/perfectionist. With that said, due to the color scheme, plain wheelcovers, and being a sedan, I'd put it at a $4-4500 car. IT's OK if that's your budget, but if you have more money go find something with a little more pizazz. Like Stan's!!!
