Quote Originally Posted by Glacier 73 View Post
Try and find a really good half decent van or ute for that matter that you dont have to pour 10k into panel and paint
most of them are rust buckets and they go for good dollars
Gene you are spot on in that thinking and I 100% agree, but until you see and suss it out it might be a $5,000 parts car! Or it might be a $15k pearler.

Seriously though, in as immaculate, original condition that one of these can be today (as a benchmark I use my HJ Prem which still has faults but it is in the condition of a well cared for 10 year old car) a HZ Sandman 308 van in Atlantis blue will struggle to top $25k-$30k. Take away the engine, has a modified box, add side windows, most likely will require some driveline, brakes, suspension work, paint isn't original (don't know what's underneath). I reckon if the rest of the car is as good as my Prem that all adds up to $15k. If the car can be used and driven as is without $1000's spent then maybe $17k. However my money would be on it needing a total freshen up, maybe even some paint which if it is straight can be done at home with air dried acrylic. A car like that to me drops to below $10k, but is still a good one to get if the body is really good as you can spend as much on body repairs as you can on paint.
Add rust and panel repairs in and i'd walk away at $5k, i'd rather buy someone's restored but not original car for $25k, it'll be cheaper in the end!