What would it be worth

[fossil]

I may have a chance to get hold of a 80ish (don't know the eaxct year yet but around 1980) short wheelbase SIII. It was bought brand new by the current owner who rolled it in the first year. It was then stripped down for a rebuild and that is prety much as far as it got. I know the chassis was galvanised back then but he got no further and it has been under his house ever since. It has the four cylinder petrol in it. I'm not sure how the engine and runing gear has been stored so that may be an issue. Everything is there and I have been told it is all in good condition. It comes with both a wagon body and the ute body. I will get to see it this weekend and see whether it is on the market or not. I was wondering what something like this would be worth.

Also what sort of issues would there be with an engine and running gear that has been stored for that length of time. As I said I don't know what precautions were taken when it was originally stored.

Thanks for any advice.

Iain

[JDNSW]

There is nothing particularly special about an eighties S3, so value would depend on condition, and assuming this to be good, perhaps as much as $3000.

But that is only the starting point. Then you have to take into account the fact that it is in bits. Are all the bits there? How have they been stored? You can assume that in assembly you will have to replace all the hydraulic cylinders, and in fact just about everything rubber, from body seals to valve stem seals and gearbox and diff seals (This can get expensive - rubber bits are not cheap and there are a lot of them!). If water or moisture has got into the engine or other major parts, then things get a lot more expensive.

Looking at it from the other side, as a collection of parts, a galvanised chassis is probably saleable for well over $1000, so you are probably looking at perhaps a minimum of $1500 - 2000 just as parts - but it might take five years to realise this!

I realise this is a bit vague, but it very much depends on condition, completeness and how it has been stored. If you buy it to reassemble, unless you are very familiar with the Series 3, you can expect to spend a lot of time and study (get a parts book!) working out what all the bits are and how they go together. And it will never be worth the amount of labour you put into it.

John

[Blknight.aus]

assuming its all their, and its been kept away from the weather... if the firewall and radiator bulk head are in good nick... Im going $3k.

when it comes to assembly replace the rear main seal, the gearbox front bearing plate seals and gasket, check out the core plugs then chuck it a new throw out bearing and bolt it all together....

chuck a battery at it and some fuel and start it...

All other things can be delt with in situe once youve got the big stuff in.

[fossil]

Thanks guys. I'll have a look at it on the weekend and try and work out what condition it's in and if it's all there. After that it will depend on how much he wants for it.

Iain

[FenianEel]

Not much at all I reckon, considering it's in bits too.
If it's in good nick maybe $500, $1000 max.
My reasoning, 3's are a dime a dozen and there are heaps out there for nicks. You'll get a pristine registered one for 3k.

I got this for $500.
Excellent nick, (6 cyl holden though), needed clutch master, brake master & slave and a bit of a tidy up. Got 3 large boxes of parts (a lot of NOS too) with it.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2016/08/1006.jpg

I got this for a pintle hook $110 (took a while to get said hook, to the vendor - sorry Shaun :blush:)
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/2.jpg

And I got these two below for free

The ute below is on the farm, and could've been easily registered.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/3.jpg
This LWB is the one JohnE is doing up.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/10/4.jpg

[Bigbjorn]

I agree with Fenian Eel. Maybe $500 if it is good and pretty much all there.

[isuzurover]

I agree with Fenian as well. Somewhere around the $500 mark.

Dad and I paid $2k in 1998 for a HUGE PILE OF PARTS - including a SWB IIA/SIII in bits - 95% of the steel bits were galvanised (even down to the brake pedals!). Other parts included a brand new stage 1 V8 front axle, a SIII Salisbury rear in VGC, HEAPS of new or reconditioned parts, a mint SIII firewall, etc, etc, etc. Overall almost enough bits to build 2 or 3 landies.

That should give you an idea - and prices have sunk A LOT in the last 10 years. Aside from the gal chassis it is basically worth scrap value for the Al.

[fossil]

Thanks for all the replys. I'll have a talk to the bloke and see what it is like and go from there.