First Time Buyer

Alright, Im an 18 year old guy, in college. The minute I saw a 510, I counldn't turn away. My friends and family, tried to discourage me, but nothing worked. Im looking to find one in good condition, on the west coast, that I can work on, learn on, etc. I looked at one recently, and admit that I know nothing. $900 for a 4 door, 510, that had bad brakes, no wheels, and a engine in bad condition sounded a bit high. If anyone could give me some advice on kind/price/condition I should look for, I would love it. I cant get em out of my mind.:)

thanks

The #1 thing to look for when buying a 510 is the body. Check for rust bubbles, bondo, check for signs of previous accident repair jobs, check the frame rails and floor boards(don't be afraid to lift the carpet, etc.), look inside the trunk, inside the wheel wells, etc. If it looks solid, factor in all the other items like glass, interior items(cracks in dash, rubber door seals, etc.), electricals, etc. These cars are 30+ years old, so assume that you will be rebuilding/repairing/replacing the engine, brakes, clutch, etc. Then decide if that is the money you want to spend on this car. Fortunately there is a decent supply of parts out there still, and the rewards for a properly rebuilt 510 are high. These cars when PROPERLY built are ultimately driver's cars. The most typical characteristic of a 510 owner, is the motto: "Why just fix it if you can improve it". Do some research and see what options there are for improving almost every area of these cars(power, handling, etc.), keeping in mind the difference between cars built for the track and street. Here's a good site's links page: http://www.510again.com/links.html

Good Luck.

Thanks for the advice. I think that I will go and relook the 510 I was looking at. The frame looked good, but the rubber, seals, dash, and roof looked in very bad shape. It was up on blocks, but the owner had a replacement windshield, which he said was very hard to come by. I had in mind doing an engine swap, but Id have to find someone who new a bit more than I. Anyway, Thanks again.:)

Well prices are funny on these cars in my area I have seen:
800,900,1500 all in nice shape

sp I personaly would offer the seller 500 he or she will not sell it for I think. However if he doesnt take it rethink the situation cause depending where you live they are hard to find. It took me years to find mine well local anyway.

I totally agree -- check any major 510 website still up, that has classifieds... ive seen "straight" and non-bondoed up 510's in RUNNING condition for around $1500/obo -- im sure if you showed a passion for them to the owner and had $900 cash in your hand you might just be able to walk away with one! Good luck to you though! :smoka: