I was just sniffing around on ebay and looked at this ad of a 122 sedan, an authentic "rust bucket nightmare" it's going for $1125 and still did not meet reserve.....

Who ever has bid on this one does not have a clue of how much it will cost in thou$and$ to put this car in good condition and realize that shopping with patience you can buy really good daily drivers with minimum or no rust for $2500 to $4000.

The interior of this red volvo is pathetic and the rusted doors makes me cringe, the icing on the cake are the air filters......

This is a money pit on a car that when in very good condition is not worth a lot, makes no sense.

I have owned already 3 Amazons in the last 10 years, and am enjoying now a very nice '65 123 that will be with me I think for the rest of my life.

Check out the ad and can somebody inform me where is the "INTERIOR AND BODY OK"?

If that car's body and interior are OK,, my car is museum quality.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volvo-Other-4-Speed-Runs-Drives-Nicely-Interior-Body-Ok-1966-Red-122-S-4-Speed-Runs-Drives-Nicely-/390528574826?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5aed51256a#ht_38770wt_1161

These guys still do not have a clue,, they are stubborn,,they just can't sell this car, this is their third listing of the rotten rust bucket Amazon,, who knows, there will always be a sucker that buys it at a unrealistic price and later on realizes the big mistake.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Red-4-Speed-Runs-Drives-Nicely-Interior-Body-Ok-/390540924195?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item5aee0d9523#ht_38770wt_1161

Without looking at the car in question I'll share these thoughts.
1. Having to do extensive body work without the proper facility, experience or financing is a recipe for failure. For one of those projects that we all have seen, 1/2 done and abandoned. I can think of a fellow that I know that has 3-4 projects going at once, all basket cases. Nothing ever finished just a pile of parts and below standard workmanship. What's the point?
2. Mechanical work is at least finite, requiring basic skills and ordinary tools for the most part.
3. Better to spend more than anticipated up front for a car that is basically sound throughout than
a fixer upper. In my case I have 2 cars, both ex Californians, both had extensive work done by the previous owners, way more invested than recouped when sold. Good for me, bad for them. They weren't cheap but niether car has required any madatory work done to them beyond brake rotors or a new muffler in the 8 years or so that I have owned them. I have made some improvements, along the way. That said, I probably would not be able to recoup my investment in them if I were to sell. Unfortunately in the world of classic cars of "minor importance" this is just the way it is. Meaning that a rare classic desirable Aston-Martin or Ferrari, if maintained, will always make money for the owner when sold. Less impressive, albeit beloved, cars like the 122 in any form are less likely to do so.
4. As an example, It takes just as much work, maybe more, to restore a 122 as say an Austin-Healy 100 to concourse condition . In prime condition maybe you would realize $8-12,000 for a buff 122 while the AH in the same shape would sell in the $30-50,000 range.

Didn't notice it until someone pointed it out over on Turbobricks, but there's a video of the car in the ad:

http://youtu.be/rvr9zbvnHlY

The thing... runs... horribly.

Running on 3 cylinders. Possibly 2. It does move, but to say it runs 'OK' is to miss the basic essence of what 'OK' is supposed to mean.
--
'63 PV544 rat rod, '93 Classic #1141 245 (now w/16V turbo)

Hello All,

I often see Volvo's of varying years for sale on the east coast for way more than they are worth... There are presently two 120's in average shape both automatics going for 8,000 US each in my neighborhood. As well as a metallic colored 164. I laughed when someone told me the owner wouldn't sell if for less than 10,000 because it was "rare". I can't wrap my head around it but it is what it is.

I didn't think it was as bad as you made it sound, but still needs a lot of work.
And someone please tell him those are SUs not Strombergs.
--
"Differences of opinions should be tolerated, but not if they're too different' - Sharon Craig

When it costs nothing to try, the P.T.Barnum types fish with any bait. Not only the rust is atrocious, the battery case corrosion certainly will drop the battery soon, and the grime by the motor mount below the fill stick shows a lot of blowby.
The Volvo I bought from Boston had a bit of rust on the wheel shields, but this is truly a rusty hulk. If he wants that much money, he should part it out.

Maybe that seller is also selling this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volvo-Other-wagon-1996-Volvo-960-Station-Wagon-/190786128846?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2c6bbd4bce#ht_500wt_1182

Asking $10,000 (Ten Thousand US Dollars) for a 1996 960 Wagon with 200,000 miles. But hey, "Car is built like a tank. Drives like a sports car." Can't put a price on that.

"Can't put a price on that. " Apparently he can and it is about $8K for the quote and $2K for the car.

"Body ok" depends on where you are i think. Ive rarely seen a NH car in much better shape. New england salt obliterates even swedish steel.

However it would be too rusty for me. Id rather spend a few grand on a dry shell from west coast. Heck, id rather have moderate frame damage that rust like that. These folks might not know amazons.

Rust is relative to location. Where are you located?

Are u sure you have a 65 123? 67 or 68 maybe? Or is it the far more common 122?

Roll on

"Body ok" depends on where you are i think. Ive rarely seen a NH car in much better shape. New england salt obliterates even swedish steel.

However it would be too rusty for me. Id rather spend a few grand on a dry shell from west coast. Heck, id rather have moderate frame damage that rust like that. These folks might not know amazons.

Rust is relative to location. Where are you located?

Are u sure you have a 65 123? 67 or 68 maybe? Or is it the far more common 122?

Roll on

I got a fat finger and wanted to type 122 and the 3 came out and since I type with two fingers looking at the keyboard and sent it out fast without checking,,, anyway I'm in North Carolina and rust is not seen much down here unless you live close to the coast. The way I see it,, that car on ebay is worth -1000 (yes , minus 1000) if your intentions is restoration,, even at that price it's easy to lose $$$$$$...

What on earth do you mean "lose" $?

You only "lose" money if you intended this to be a money making effort in the beginning

But for this to be a money making effort you have to do a really cheap and bad job at anything you'll do in the flipping process.

And cars "never" (nearly never) make you any money anyway. Cars are an expense.

Losing $$$$ in comparison to outright buying a well conserved daily driver Amazon,,, this car on ebay is a rust bucket,,, and to do the repairs right on a rust bucket when in good shape is very affordable is like burning away money,,,

Life experience has taught me that a good car with bad mechanics can be repaired to a 100% with money,, a rust bucket can cost beaucoup monies to repair and you still have a lousy car,,,,

Check out the doors, floors, fenders etc etc etc of this car,, to do it right will cost a lot and I'm not counting the interior that is shot and by the video mechanics aren't great either,,, I have seen in the last couple of years in my local bargain trader and on ebay and hemmings some very nice no rust amazons,great interiors, some with upgraded A/C and nice wheels going for 4 to 6 thou$and,,,,

That is the reason that buying this car to restore is losing money.....