New guy looking for FC advice

[jdfc]

Hi everyone, I’m new around here but have been reading and learning from the many knowledgeable forum members for a while.  I have loved Holden’s all my life and wagons especially, to me they always seem to have that bit more character, and more practical.  The FC has always been my favourite model, therefore I NEED an FC Wagon.  I have never owned a car more than 20 years old and have limited mechanical knowledge but am willing to learn.  Basically I’m looking for advice on purchasing an original FC wagon.  I would like the car to be as original as possible and in good condition.  I don’t mind putting in a bit of work to get something on the road in nice original condition.  I know I wouldn’t be up to the challenge of restoring something from the ground up though.  A few questions…. 
What would be the average price of a nice original FC wagon and do they come up often for sale?
What are the main things to look out for when considering one for purchase?
What are considered to be acceptable mod’s but still keeping the originality of the car?  I know many cars have been converted to HR front ends and have the brakes upgraded, new floor pans ect.
Any help, thoughts or insights would be greatly appreciated.
Oh yeah, if there are any FE-FC events coming up in Vic I’d love to tag along to check out the cars, meet folks and learn more.
Cheers.

[RET]

This is some discussion culled from another thread. It was intended to become an FAQ, and has just never quite got there...

I am thinking of buying a FC , and would appreciate any info on what i should look for or look out for and a ballpark figure of what they are worth as i have seen cars from $1000  to over $20,000. The car i am interested in is a Station wagon in good standard condition but unregistered.
Thanks, ...

I sent him the following response:

Obviously structural rust is a major issue in a 50 year old car. The subframe and sills area are something of a weakness in this area. Pay particular attention to the area where the two meet, under the front doors. Wagons are also prone to rust in the rear beaver section and behind the back wheels in the quarter panels, although these aren't structural areas.

All other things being equal, a car with a good condition interior is worth substantially more than one without, simply because the original materials are virtually unobtainable these days. You mentioned that the car is in standard condition, which hopefully means it hasn't been modified in any way. A car that has been modified and left unregistered will require far more stringent engineering than happened in the 'good old days', so you need to be careful buying an older 'hottie'. Not that there's anything wrong with souping them up, our club caters to both stock and modified. It's just an added risk when buying a modified car, even one currently registered interstate, because rules vary so much.

A stockie on the other hand has to meet only the minimum pink slip rules.

As far as worth is concerned, like anything second hand, it's worth what someone will pay for it. A solid, registered FE or FC wagon is unlikely to sell for less than $6K. On the other hand, it would need to be well restored (or immaculately original) to be worth more than $14K. From what you've told me, I'd imagine it would be worth between $5000 and $8000, but without actually seeing it, that's really a stab in the dark. It could be worth dramatically less or substantially more.

Having said all that, my advice to you is to buy the best car you can. Consider this: a quality paint job costs more than $10000, a retrim at least $2500, even getting everything rechromed will cost between $2K and $3K. You won't get a grey motor reconditioned for less than $2500. A full restoration can easily cost as much as a new car. So you want to start as far ahead of the game as you can: it will almost always cost you more than $2000 to bring a $5000 car up to the level of a $7000 one. And so on. Restoration (or modification) is a balancing act between how much time, skill and money you've got.

I hope that's some help to you. Check out the forum area of our website, where there are lots of listings of cars that have been sold (or currently for sale) that might help you with getting a feel for worth.

Holden Together,

Richard Thomas
President
FE-FC Holden Car Club of NSW inc

[mcl1959]

jdfc, seems wagons are popular at the moment, quite a few people on the forum chasing exactly what you are looking for.
Have you seen the red and white one on ebay with the stripe kit? (search fc station sedan)
This is typically what you would expect from a decent wagon requiring little work to get it on the road.
This particular car has been on ebay before so I'm not sure whether it never sold or the new owner is selling again.
$5000 to $7000 is a fair price for this type of car so the $7000 tag on this one is at the top of the range considering it needs a little rust repair.
Have a look at the 2 tone green wagon also on ebay to see what $1500 will get you! (search fc wagon)
FC wagons don't come up often but certainly more often than FE wagons do! - Being in a club and "in the right place at the right time" can bring benefits in terms of seeing cars which never make it to mainstream advertising.

The main thing to look for when purchasing an FC is rust - try and buy a car with as little rust as possible.

Acceptable mods is a question only the owner can answer. Some in our club drive totally stock cars and wouldn't have it any other way, others drive vastly modified cars and conclude that as long as the body looks stock it is still pretty much original. Shows are the only places where a cars originality is studied so that it can be correctly classified for judging.
Personal choice is what I recommend.

A small point, new floor pans would not be classified as a modification - this is restoration.

The Victorian club state titles are coming up soon and I would recommend you come along to our February meeting (2nd Tuesday of the month at the Bentleigh club in Yawla street Bentleigh at 8pm)

Hope this is of some guidance

Ken

[jdfc]

Great advice, thanks so much!
So, anyone wanna sell me their wagon? 

cheers

[Dads.ute.started.it]

Hi jdfc and fe-fc member's, I am the one with the red/white wagon with the stripe kit (that was on ebay) I purchased her from Vic some 12 month's ago, couldn't complete her (work reason's), so I placed it on ebay a couple of month's ago, it didn't sell.

I posted and asked for some help from the fefc club and the response was terrific, one of your members took it on and did a lot of work on her however he couldn't complete it as he was transfered out of Sydney for work reasons.

As we are moving interstate next week, we needed to sell the wagon - so on ebay it went again.  It sold tonight (or so we thought) the winning bidder can't pay or pick up for at least 3 week's and we have agreed to cancel the sale - so yes I still have a Wagon for sale.

When we purchased it, it had a red motor, alternator, altered front radiator panel - cut out to fit larger radiator, this has all been restored to original (grey motor new panel etc). 

To complete it need's a regulator, door rubbers fitted (supplied with car) minor rust under both headlight's and on top of door sills fixed.
A windscreen and new rubber's supplied with the sale (as the existing windscreen has chips).

If anyone is interested please contact me ASAP.  I don't wish to take it to Qld due to logistical/cost reasons and have nowhere to store it in Sydney. 

John

[mcl1959]

I honestly believe that this is a very good option for people wanting a car with not too much work to do - you wont find many come up that are so close to finished at a reasonable price.

Ken