Intro and Request

[joeinbcs]

Greetings All,
I'm Joe Northrop. I have a few cars, including a '63 "slab-side" that I'm in the process of restoring.
I've joined the Mark II Forum because I'm trying to be of some help to my uncle, who wants to find a nice driver, preferably in black.
We've looked at many cars (electronically mostly, a few in person) in the past few months without finding a nice car at a realistic price. My uncle is not interested in restoring a car, or in a sloppily prepared quickie re-do, but a properly restored car that is very presentable...maybe an older restoration, but one that is holding up well.
I've looked at several sources to get an idea of what a decent (not a show car) car should cost. My sense is that he should be able to find a nice car for somewhere in the low to mid-$30K range. I based this on auction sales as reported by Keith Martin's "Collector Car Price Tracker", Ebay sales and other sources.
I wonder if members here could give me a reality check...is this price realistic to find a nice car that needs nothing. Again, I realize that a show car, or a #1 car will cost more. I'm talking about a #2 car...very presentable, but with patina.
Also, how much does it cost to paint one of these to a high standard (assuming minimal body work)?
If anybody knows of a nice car, or has any thoughts that might help us find the right car..please let me know.
Thanks very much,

Joe Northrop
9851 Whites Creek Road
College Station, TX 77845

(979) 846-9851

http://www.cardomain.com/id/joeinbcs

[Barry Wolk]

$35K is about right for an unrestored car that's in nice shape. Completely restored cars can bring $80K as they are expensive to restore.

Paint job prices are relative to how much prep work is done. Anybody can slap paint on, but good prep keeps it on.

My advice is, don't limit yourself to a price. Look at the car to see if the value is there. I would tell you to spend $50 on an older restoration, rather than trying to restore it for the difference.

The only one that typically comes out ahead on a restoration is the buyer, not the seller.

Welcome to the site.

[joeinbcs]

Thanks for the info, Barry.
I agree with you about restorations. I bought a '63 Continental that I'm now in the process of restoring. I'm pretty sure I'm already upside down in the car, and there's still a very long way to go. I guess the good thing is that I'll know exactly what I have when I'm done, and it will be exactly what I want.
As for my uncle, he's not at all interested in doing a restoration, probably not even a paint job. I did come across a potential car in Vermont: http://burlington.craigslist.org/cto/1723707757.html
This car is claimed to be an original mileage car with one repaint (it was originally white). The owner also says lots of good things about the car and seems an honest guy. But...its still needs paint. I don't think I've seen a Mark II without two-tone leather, but I suppose it could be original as the owner believes?
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts...I'll pass them along to my uncle as we continue the hunt.
Best, Joe

[Barry Wolk]

Get the serial number and look the car up on our data base. You'll find the codes for what the car had as an original interior.

The only think that makes me doubt that it's an original interior is what appears to be a seam in the rear seat back in the upper corner. Continental used full hides, so there were no corner seams.

It looks like a nice car for the money.

[crystal59]

Barrys comments are right on. So far as single colour upholstery mine has it. http://i869.photobucket.com/albums/ab251/crystal5959/5c1873db.jpg. Gary

[joeinbcs]

Beautiful interior, Gary, thanks for sharing.
My uncle likes the look ot this listing on Ebay. Anybody have any thoughts on this car/know anything about it?
The door gaps look a little excessive to me, and there also seems to be quite a gap at the top of the hood.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rare-Continental-Mark-II-/280502471316?cmd=ViewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item414f400a94#v4-38
Thanks for any thoughts on this one..Joe

[Nick DeSpirito]

Joe,

I saw this one on Ebay too. The hood liner and windshield washer coordinator are missing, seems like they have installed a PCV system. They have relocated the air cleaner sticker to the front cowl. I can also see that the A/C hoses have been replaced. The picture is not clear, so I can't tell if it has the original compressor. Also, the bottom half of the firewall is painted black. It could be this car came from the factory with black paint.

If I remember correctly, the seller has not posted the VIN. If you can get it from him, then we be able to give you the data on the interior. He also does not offer a description of this particular car, just a general description of the history of the Mark II. He needs to tell prospective buyers in his description, the particulars about this specific unit.

[joeinbcs]

Thanks for the observations, Nick.
I've asked for the VIN...always a little suspicious when a seller does not have access to the VIN...seems like the first thing one would post in the ad, or at least have available when selling a car. Also, an ad full of the marque's history (well-known to any prospective buyer of this car), but nothing about the particular car on offer is not a good sign. Joe

[joeinbcs]

I should have asked this in my initial post asking for help in finding a Mark II....but, does anybody have any advice on who to ask for a pre-purchase inspection? I've suggested to my uncle that he MUST have someone familiar with these car do a thorough inspection before buying a car. I know there are antique car inspection companies out there, but I've had only one very regrettable experience with inspectors.
When looking for a '65 Buick Riviera a few years ago, I engaged an inspector in Phoenix to appraise a car I'd found there. He described the car in glowing terms, so I agreed to do the deal. When I flew out to pick up the car, which looked great in pics, I found a rusty jalopy with a quicky paint job that I'd have been embarrassed to be seen in. I got my money back, but not the cost of my wasted trip out to look at this car.
Thanks for any help or advice with this, Joe

[Barry Wolk]

Where is the car?

[Nick DeSpirito]

Russ Upton lives in Scottsdale. His info is in the parts suppliers section. He is also is into Mark II's and is a long time member of LCOC and sells parts for them.

[joeinbcs]

The car of the moment is in Vermont.
I've spoken to the owner of this car (the green Craigslist car that I posted here a couple of days ago) several times about the car.
He actually has three cars; the Mark II, a '57 Lincoln 4-door hardtop (Premier?) and a late-model Shelby. He has a guy interested in all three coming tomorrow. If the Mark II is still available after that, I'll need to find someone to look it, assuming my uncle decides that he's willing to paint the car.
I'm still waiting for additional pics of the engine bay and undercarriage.

[crystal59]

The Mark II in Vermont looks from the photographs to be better car of the two. The one on eBay with 107,000 miles will have it's own set of problems. As a benchmark given the age of the car I like 90,000 miles or less. Mine had 83,000 and I was in for a total engine rebuild and I purchased the Mark II from an elderly gentleman who had owned the car for 39 years and had purchased from another elderly gentleman who was the first owner. I was a little surprised as I thought the car would have held up better than that but did not really care as I fell in love with the way a Mark II looks.Gary