How much can I get for this " classic " car

Factual Questions
1

Hi there,

Last year my uncle died ( rest his soul ) and I now have the task of selling his car. Here it is:

1977 Chevy Nova
Inline-6, 4 door
Original paint, original owner, 82,000 original miles
Never winter driven
Most original parts ( certainly the drive train )

This car is immaculate. I can’t even find any dust in the engine compartment. Anyway I’m just wondering what’s reasonable to ask for it. I checked the local trader and found the 8-cyl 2 door muscle-car Nova’s going from about 6-8000 CAN. But I’m sure this family car version isn’t worth quite as much.

Thanks for any input.

2

If it truly is in outstanding condition, open your Yellow Pages and find a reputable Classic Car appraiser. For about $200, you can have an appraisal book made out. Even though the car may not seem like a standout, it’s possible it has rare pieces, options, trim levels, etcetera, that are highly sought after.

–Tim

3

It’s worth about $200. But because I like you and want you to be happy, I’ll give you $250.

4

Thanks Homer that appraisal is a good idea, and it also reminds me that someone told me it had been appraised…I’ll have to try to find the papers.

E

5

There ain’t no '77 Nova with a 6-cylinder engine that will ever be a “classic.” It’s all about the engine. For example, a true classic like the '68 Plymouth Barracuda with a standard V8 will cost you about $30,000. But if it has a 426 Hemi engine, it is worth well over $100,000, one such car sold for $950,000 at auction, the highest price ever paid for a postwar US auto.
For a survey of prices, I suggest you go to the newsstand and pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News, or just browse their site at: http://www.hemmings.com. I found one ad for a 1978 Nova 6cyl with only 30k miles, selling for $1500. I doubt they’ll get that much. Even the restored models with V8s are being offered for $3000, and they’ll never get that much on that model either.
Homer, I once owned a '77 Nova, and I assure you, there is nothing unique or valuable about this car, it is not collectable. Never will be. Even some of the cars that SHOULD be collectable, just aren’t. I recently visited a vintage parts dealer, and he showed me a 1969 Dodge Charger with a 440 engine, a real muscle car, one owner, in perfect condition. He said he’d been trying to sell it for 2 years, offering only $1500, but hadn’t got even one offer.

6

Not much at all. My '71 4-door Nova w/ 307 V8 and 13,000 original miles cost me $2850. I can only guess at how much they got for it on the trade-in.

7

Does he still have it? I’ll buy it!

8

Nah, you don’t want to deal with this guy, he ripped me off on several parts purchases for my old '65 Cuda.