I wonder if anyone would offer suggestions as to my course of action. I have an ’87 245 that I need to “get rid of.” My dilemma is this: should I sell it, part it out, or keep it and dismantle it to use as spare parts for my ’86 245 (and, to a lesser extent if at all, my ’83 245).

It has 195k miles and was recently in a fender-bender that destroyed the grill, passenger side headlight, and bent the hood up.

Worse, I am certain the tranny is going to go any day now.

It has very little rust, and the engine starts every time in all weather.

I think it will be hard for me to sell it for more than a few hundred, considering the body and transmission work that will need to be done.

It seems to me (and I could be wrong) that the whole is now worth less than the sum of its parts. Any estimates on what I might be able to make by parting it out? I’m buying an ’88 760GLE for $800 and if I could come close to that, I would definitely do it.

On the other hand, my ’86 has 192k miles on it, and I could turn the ’87 into a parts source. Given that various things will eventually need to be replaced on the ’86, would it be smarter to keep the '87? The ’86 is in good shape overall—it runs just great with no rust at all.

I know it might be hard to say, but if you were in my position, what would you do?