"classic car" dealers in Los Angeles metro area?

[Tennesseestorm]

Thanks again for all of the replies!

If anyone sees one of these cars for sale in the Los Angeles area thats priced reasonable, please let me know!

Thanks all!

[Tasksgirl]

Thanks for all of the information..! I too would like to purchase a classic car someday (40s or 50s bomb and also a sporty muscle car like a 60s Mustang) so I'll be saving this post .. !!

[CALGUY]

Having been in the classic/ collector field for some time now, I can tell you flat out, the type of vehicle you are looking for will be non-existant in a classic dealer's lot.
First off, they only deal in vehicles that there is a market for.
Station wagons don't have the market appeal to warrant any classic dealer having them.
They deal more in exootics, and cars they know will appeal to the classic consumers.
There is one site you might want to check out though.
They have ads for vehicles by make and year, and cover the entire country.
Most are private sales.
The link to that site is on another one of my forums so, After posting this, I will go to that other site, and copy the link, then come back here and post it.
Finding the station wagon you want will be next to impossible at a classic dealer.
Here is the linkto that site.
http://www2.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cp&itm=lincoln+1970s&loc=&fil=&ys=&ye =&ps=&pe=&pgs=50&submit=++++go++++

Bob.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Dennisbuyscars is not in the same market as the OP or in even a Classic car market. His site deals with cars from 1981, hardly classics.

[davidabraham]

Someone said there were some dealers in LA that specialized in older cars at fair prices, but I have been unable to locate them online.

Thanks,
david

[CALGUY]

I don't think there is a dealer in the country , let alone Los Angeles, that sells at what you call "fair prices".
Classic cars are for the most part, collector items, and can not be put in the same class as ordinary cars.
Many who are selling classic cars , especially dealers, have tons of money invested in their classics, and selling them at "fair prices" would depend on what you call "fair".
Depending on the car's condition, many classics sell for well over one hundred thousand dollars at the top auction houses.
I know a few classic dealers in the Los Angeles area, and many of their cars are completely restored, and the prices are usually in the upper thirties to mid fifties,and higher, depending on the car.
If one wants a classic car that needs work, your best bet would be on line at the classic car web sites.
You are never going to find a restored, or partially restored classic at a dealer selling for a fair price.
I will give you this as an example as to how classic cars are priced.
First, it depends on who is selling it.
Last week on Ebay motors, a dealer in classic cars listed a 1959 Continental mark IV convertible with an opening bid of ninety four thousand.
Two years ago, I sold my 1959 Continental markIV convertible for twenty thousand.
My convertible was not fully restored, whereas the one on Ebay was finished.
Presently I own a completely restored 1966 Thunderbird Town Landau.
I purchased it for seventeen thousand last january.
The seller needed cash, and sold it for less than it is worth.
Looking at other birds for sale, and the condition they are in, if I were selling mine today, it would be listed in the high forties.
This is the way the classic car market works, be it dealer or private sale.
One thing you MUST keep in mind when thinking of buying a classic car.
Either you pay top dollar for a fully restored vehicle, or you pay less at the time of purchase, and spend many, many dollars restoring it to it's original glory.
My tbird has been maticulously restored, and it is like it is 1966 all over again, and this bird just left the showroom.
True, there are many out there that are selling for less, but more than likely they need some work.
You have to decide if you are willing to do some work on the car, or you want one fully restored.
Unless you fall into the latter, I would stay away from the dealerships.
Bob.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

First off CALGUY, beautifull T Bird.

I am with you on the price thing. Many restorations are total jobs or what is called frame off restoration. That means you take everything off the frame and rebuild from that point. Plan on spending 5 years in weekends and evenings doing this. Many times you could be looking for parts at auctions to complete the project. When you hear about someone investing 30,000 or 50,000 on a job in time, parts, and other cash you can understand why it will be hard to pick up one of these cars on the cheap.

Another option is heading on over to Pomona

Pomona Swap Meet: The Digest

Another site to visit has a listing for current rides on sale now. I saw a 1937 Ford that they want $135,000 for. A 1970 Chevy Malibu with a $21,000 asking price, A 1967 Pontiac GTO for $29,900. Since the OP was looking for a wagon how about a 1961 Chevy Parkwood Wagan for $45,000. I did see a 1965 Ford Galaxie Country Sedan Wagon listed for $6,965.00

http://www.oldride.com/index.html