Lower your sights a little and you might find a screaming deal...

I get a lot of thumbs-up from people about a post from a couple years back. It was titled "There is no used car factory" to order from. Many people need to hear that statement. The chance of you finding a 40 or 50 year old car with the engine and transmission you want, the interior color you want the outside color you want, the axle-ratio you want, the wheels you want, etc, etc is almost nil. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning or winning the lottery. You have to be reasonable. I can understand saying "OK, I want an SS396 Chevelle with a 4-speed and front disc brakes." There's hundreds of thousands of them from 1966-70 with those options. If you can't find a car with those options, you aren't looking past the end of your nose. However if it has to be a 1970 model with a cowl induction hood, a tilt steering wheel, A/C, power windows, a white interior, and a white vinyl top and white stripes over a cranberry red paint job-your going to have a rough time. You have to be flexible-If you want a '70's Monte Carlo most are 350 powered. A 402 or 454 model is going to be rare and expensive. However-Pontiac Gran Prix's from 1969-76 have 400 power all years and a fair number of "SJ" models have 455s.  If you want a 1969-76 Pontiac Gran Prix with a 400 or 455 V8 that's pretty easy to find. If it has to be a 1969 model with a 428 and a 4-speed, or a 1971 Hurst SSJ with a moonroof, that's going to be much harder to find and much more expensive! If you can live with a 340 or a 383 'Cuda or Challenger it will be much easier and cheaper than if you "gotta have" a 440 or a 440 Six-Pack. A Hemi-hope for a powerball win. And recognize a steal when you see it. I missed it, but a neighbor of mine recently sold a 1977 L82 / 4-speed Corvette for $3,000!!  The paint was faded, but the interior was perfect, and it ran like a top. A paint job and a set of tires and this car was ready to go. It was that nice. The guy could have easily got 7 or 8 grand for it-but he didn't want to wait and go through 50 tire kickers to get a real buyer. Another guy I know bought a '67 T-Bird for $1,000. It needs to be restored-but the body is clean and remarkably dent and rust free. The 390 needs to be freshened and it needs paint and interior work, but I bet he won't have 10 grand in it when he's done.  So don't despair and be reasonable in your expectations. Mastermind