Bill of sale shows a 325 horse, cowl tag says M40 so it is a factory big block but all the mounting brackets and the pulleys are 69 or newer. And the TH400 appears to be MIA.
It would have been built with a 12 bolt and now it has a 10 bolt.
Maybe I'm just too fussy but I'd expect the trunk to not show obvious signs of rust repair, the flexplate cover to be in place, exterior emblems to be there, the front bumper to be lined up as well as a few other things if I was paying that kind of money for the car.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
It's an exercise in recognizing all it's missing. Hence why I posted it really. I think you've covered most all of it Carl.
Shame, would have been a sweet car in it's time. Still could, but not for that.
And a 3 leg 10 bolt replacement at that.
But this is most interesting to me,
I'm assuming this Clarence Edward White of Coquitlam BC to be the purchaser in March of 1966. Lucky guy, must have been pretty excited at that time. Probably smitten by the 396/TH400 and those Taillamps. I hope Clarence enjoyed it for a long time.
Traded in a 63 or 65 Dodge 2 door HT for $2800 to Trapp Motors. Then he had to make 48 payments of $104 1966 dollars starting on May 5th. Like $800 today. Clarence obviously had a decent paying job as an Elevator installer/repairman. Check out the financing cost. $1200 bucks...Ouch!
It's almost as if somewhere along the way, someone bought the car and stripped the 396/TH400 and the 12 bolt. Hard to believe someone would do that....
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
That's what I want to know. Are people paying these prices? A bit off topic- I read that dealers on the states are marking up the new Hybrid Rav4 by as much as 40 grand! That puts the price at over 90k for a Rav4! Who in their right mind is paying this??. Back to topic:
Bill of sale shows a 325 horse, cowl tag says M40 so it is a factory big block but all the mounting brackets and the pulleys are 69 or newer. And the TH400 appears to be MIA.
It would have been built with a 12 bolt and now it has a 10 bolt.
Maybe I'm just too fussy but I'd expect the trunk to not show obvious signs of rust repair, the flexplate cover to be in place, exterior emblems to be there, the front bumper to be lined up as well as a few other things if I was paying that kind of money for the car.
I don't think you are being too fussy. It's nice, but for this price the car should be complete, original and mint. You are also right about prices - very high lately. Maybe it's being driven by lockdown fever.
If this is the new market guide I should be able to get $30 to $50K for every old car I own. But I won't of course, not only because they are not on the market, but also because of current high shipping costs for vehicles, combined with my location on the edge of the country.