Hey Gang,
Thanks for all the help (especially the warning about buying a pig in a poke!)
News: today they let you look at the cars before they go up for auction tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:00 a.m. EST
The car is now marked as running (but then stalls, more than likely a fuel pump issue, which was noted on the windshield), and that the vehicle moves. Now, the criteria for "moves" in this auction is they start up the car and drive it forward 2 feet and then drive it back 2 feet, never getting out of first gear. Doesn't say much, but more information than I had before. I can't believe they got it to fire up, considering it looks like it's been sitting outside somewhere since the late 80's.
Now, the new issues I was able to discern while looking at the car for
45 minutes was there is some light Bondo work (brought me a magnet!), but nothing serious, just some areas around the fenders. My NEW main concern is the car is very low in the rear, specificaly it is almost, but not quite, resting on the tires. The tires ARE underinflated and 2 of them are completely flate (one rear and one front, opposite sides), but I don't think this is what is causing the rear to sink onto the tires. There is also some evidence of a home-made repair to the rocker panels (using rivets), which is starting to rust away. The rear fenders are also showing some rust-through issues towards the very tail-end of the car (underside). The nose looks clean and everything else looks pretty stock.My question to you guys is this: what is causing the car to sit so low in the rear that it is almost resting on the tires? I've seen cars drive on the road like this once in awhile and wondered what the deal is? Too cheap to get new shocks? Are the springs gone? Is the frame failing? I owned a car when I was 16 and the frame failed while I was driving along and the tires started to smoke! This was AFTER Midas put
4 new shocks on the car and told me NOTHING about the frame issue! Is this possibly something serious? I have ZERO intention on buying a car at ANY price if the frame is starting to go. We have about 90 minutes again tomorrow morning to look at the cars before the bidding starts. Is there something I should specifically look for this time to determine if it is just a case of new shocks/springs, or a frame failure. Thanks!- Darren
BTW - another Ghia owner looking at the car said it should easily go for $1500.00. I think he was full of it and just wanted to scare me away from bidding. It is NOT a convertible.