Found a '68 Roadster with 25K original (but undocumented) miles. 4 speed. Numbers matching, except for alt, distributor, radiator. Small stuff. No documentation. No options. 1 repaint in fair condition. Original top and interior. What's it worth?

What is the powertrain ? Block, etc. ?

All correct and original for a 327/300. How can I confirm the mileage with no documentation? Condition of pedals and original interior is very very good. I can see chalk marks on the frame as well.

Start with pulling the tank sticker. If it seems that original, it may still be up there.

Old tank was replaced. The car was sitting for a number of years and supposedly driven short distances and one of the original owners number of cars, thus the low mileage.

What's tough is since is was sitting on a carport for a number of years and for some amount of time weeds growing under it, the frame has some light surface rust on it but VERY solid frame still. I can see circular chalk marks on the frame behind the rear tires when viewing through the wheel wells. Is this a common type of inspection mark and location? Would I still see them clearly if the car had 125K miles on it?

The fake grain on the '68 steering wheel also looks unworn, but not sure how much plastic wears anyway.

Looks like all four original T3 headlights in front and has the original carb still on it. Original interior and top as well.

Any other things to look at to determine if it's really a low mileage car?

munkmunk said: ... and supposedly driven short distances ...

A 1/4 mile at a time...?!?!?

Years ago one of my cousins was looking for a Chevelle and saw an add in the paper for a really cherry one with super low miles. It turned out that the original owner had bought the car, 'touched it ever-so-slightly' for doing well on the drag racing curcuit (it was trailered to and fro), parked it for many years because of medical reasons and then decided to sell it. Not the car that Grandma drove to church and the grocery store, but a low miler anyway!

Naturally by the time he got over there to take a look at it it was sold.

munkmunk said: Found a '68 Roadster with 25K original (but undocumented) miles. 4 speed. Numbers matching, except for alt, distributor, radiator. Small stuff. No documentation. No options. 1 repaint in fair condition. Original top and interior. What's it worth?

I smell fish on this one, Steve. Watch your back.

How is the seller justifying all the new parts on a car that "Aunt Sally only drove to the grocery store and church"? 25,000 ORIGINAL miles - and Miss Daisy has already blown up the alternator, the distributor, the radiator AND the gas tank? If the odo says 25,000, then either it was disconnected for about twenty years or else most of those miles were put on every Saturday and Sunday . . . a quarter-mile at a time.

I can only guess at the mileage on my '72, because the odo stopped at 102k-plus in 1992 (three owners ago) and wasn't touched until I got into it this year. So, I ballpark mine at 130k miles. And until last December, my car still had the original radiator. And it still has the original fuel tank. Shoot, man, my 1989 GMC work truck with over 200,000 HARD miles on still has the original distributor and alternator and water pump etc., etc., etc.

Would I still buy the car? Sure, if it is one that I really want and the price actually matches the car. But for the ride you've described, there's no way I'd fork over the kind of cheese that a DOCUMENTED low mileage Shark commands.

IF it's driveable, tell 'em ten grand; take it or leave it. Passionate hobby notwithstanding, it's still a business transaction. If the seller wants the big money, he's got to PROVE his claim.

One man's opinion. You asked.

John

I agree with the others...it's only worth what you're willing to pay for it. The mileage is really not even an issue...it's a 30+ year old car regardless of the mileage and needs restored and likely an engine rebuild no matter what. If that's the original mileage, the engine may not need as thorough a rebuild as it might otherwise (maybe not an over-bore and new pistons, etc.), but it's still gonna cost dineros.

I would assume it needs a complete overhaul and base the asking price on that.

a documented 68 convertible with that low of miles would be worth 30,000-35,000, i should hope that this car would be worth AT least half of that, it is still a 68 convertible numbers matching as far as the engine and tranny go.

Yo, Jim! Are we sharing a brain or what? A thousand miles apart . . . and writing the same letter at the same time!

Must be the chrome bumpers

John