Newbie needs advice on '64 Impala Purchase...

[Cruzin4Cash]

I'm totally new to classic cars and don't have much expertise as to what to look for when buying one and not getting screwed, but lately I've had my eye on a couple of them...lets start with this one...

There is a '64 Impala SS in my area...
Details say:

350/350, 20" Wheels, Neons, Flame Throwers, Custom Blue Paint with flames, White Top, Clean Car, 2 Doors...Hard top
50K miles...


Its got a shift kit for the trans...
Engine compartment is painted nicely and interior is very nice...and has a bunch of mechanical mods the guys started listing that I didn't get a chance to write down yet..

Going price is 14K or best offer...

Oh yeah, everything works on the car, except the dash lights because the wires aren't connected...has no AC and there is a very small area where the paint bubbles up somewhere in the back...

Haven't seen the car in person yet, just some pictures inside and out...

Can anyone help with this info or do you need more...?

[rambos_ride]

I'm totally new to classic cars and don't have much expertise as to what to look for when buying one and not getting screwed, but lately I've had my eye on a couple of them...lets start with this one...

There is a '64 Impala SS in my area...
Details say:

350/350, 20" Wheels, Neons, Flame Throwers, Custom Blue Paint with flames, White Top, Clean Car, 2 Doors...Hard top
50K miles...


Its got a shift kit for the trans...
Engine compartment is painted nicely and interior is very nice...and has a bunch of mechanical mods the guys started listing that I didn't get a chance to write down yet..

Going price is 14K or best offer...

Oh yeah, everything works on the car, except the dash lights because the wires aren't connected...has no AC and there is a very small area where the paint bubbles up somewhere in the back...

Haven't seen the car in person yet, just some pictures inside and out...

Can anyone help with this info or do you need more...?

Well the 350/350 combo isn't the stock setup for these cars so you're actually paying more for an "SS" that is not an SS anymore - maybe it never was and was just badged an SS by the builders?

Slapping bolt on stuff (20's and 'flame throwers') and detailing it to make it look clean are the easiest and oldest tricks in the book to turn a not so nice car. Bubbles in the paint now = rust and if there are bubbles now there will be tons more rust hidden beneath the layers of flame paint and bondo - guaranteed!

What type of car are you looking for? Daily driver, hot-rod, stock? Do you mean to buy a car that is already built or are you looking to do some of the work yourself?

[Cruzin4Cash]

Well the 350/350 combo isn't the stock setup for these cars so you're actually paying more for an "SS" that is not an SS anymore - maybe it never was and was just badged an SS by the builders?

Slapping bolt on stuff (20's and 'flame throwers') and detailing it to make it look clean are the easiest and oldest tricks in the book to turn a not so nice car. Bubbles in the paint now = rust and if there are bubbles now there will be tons more rust hidden beneath the layers of flame paint and bondo - guaranteed!

What type of car are you looking for? Daily driver, hot-rod, stock? Do you mean to buy a car that is already built or are you looking to do some of the work yourself?

So what are some ways to tell its a genuine SS? By the VIN?

I understand what you mean by the tricks, but thats whats on the car right now so I was wondering how that plays out price wise...is 14K way too much or is it slightly much....lets say for instance this is a genuine SS with one area of rust that has to be worked on, how much should I offer for it?

Or should I just wait for something else? What would be worth more money in the future...an all original setup?

I am looking for a weekend driver, possibly a daily driver depending on how that particular car drives, but I was thinking of buying something I can hold on to for a while (either something that may appreciate in value or something that needs work and I can fix, and something that will sell later) or some kind of resto-mod...Maybe you can point me towards some better "investment" vehicles if you don't think its feasable with this one...

BTW, I can try to post some pics of it if it helps you determine what I should do...

I just wanna be sure that I can get my money back or more if I was to sell it at a later time...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/radcon7/impala/724027018_m.jpg
its got different rims on it now, but you get the picture...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/radcon7/impala/724019868_m.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/radcon7/impala/724007358_m.jpg