1975 Firebird - Formula

I'm in need of some help. I have a 1975 Firebird - Formula. I read the article about the woman who had the yellow one. Mine is maroon with a hard top and honeycomb wheels. It is completely original and has 133K miles on the 350 engine. Runs like a dream (gets started once every week at minimum) and the interior is showroom ready. My parents bought it in 1977 and it has been garage kept it's entire life, but the paint is oxidized (although you can get it to shine).

I would like to see it purchased by someone who will take good care of it and show it. I had it appraised 4 yrs ago and it appraised at $12K. My problem is where is a reputable place to list it and what is a price that will ensure it goes to someone who'll appreciate it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  

Sounds like a nice car.Are you really sure you want to give it up?
  Right now, with the slightly lower economy,it might be worth it to wait a year or two.That being said,a vehicle does not nessarily sell for its 'appraised value',but it's a good price to start with.Has it been checked over by a mechanic(brakes,brake lines,etc)You've probably had this checked out all ready.The Auto Trader or E Bay on the internet works pretty well.

  take care
 good luck  

If you want to sell to a responsible buyer, the best bet is to advertise thru a local car club or Hemmings, typically these methods will lead to more serious/mature buyers. There is never any guarantee though, 10 years ago I sold my pride and joy Camaro (upon the arrival of my 1st son...the new pride and joy) to a guy in his late 30's expecting him to be beyond the "Dukes of Hazzard" stage. Within a few weeks the reports started filtering in. Kicked out of the local drag strip for doing doughnuts in the pits while obviously impaired, showing off at the waterfront doing burnouts for the teenagers, smacked a curb (bending a rim/spindle and control arm) while doing donuts in the rain, doing 80+mph in a 35mph zone in town at 4pm on a weekday, you get the idea. Stupid people are everywhere, if you don't want to watch someone destroy the car you have two choices: Keep it and keep it safe or sell it as far from home as possible and hope for the best.
Oh, by the way, the other guy is right, insurance appraisals are notoriously high so you can afford to buy a car at least as nice as what you have in the case of a write-off or stolen car. Compare prices in Auto Trader/hemmings etc. to get an idea what you can sell for.
Steve  
A little help... 'cause we don't all have to learn the hard way!

Honestly, if you can keep the car you should - you will wish you had it back for the rest of your life.  

If you must sell try to sell it out of town or you may hear that some drunk was doing donuts and other dumb stuff with it. Old Car Weekly is another good place to find a fair market value, on eof there services, and they have an adds section.  

The people that read Hemmings and Old Car Weekly are a little more likely than some to take care of the car.  

My wife rues the day she traded in her baby blue 1978 Skybird on a "sensible" car.
The next time we saw it in a mall parking lot it was like it had suffered child abuse. She cried. Hold on to it.  

I wish I had not wrecked my 75 T/A about 24 years ago. I loved that car. Then I got a 77 Formula and it rusted so bad I couldnt' fix it resonably. Then I got my 68 that was actually in worse shape than the 77. Got it in 92, started racing it in 96 and still race it as often as possible. It made it thru a marriage, buying a house, adopting my wife's son, having a second child, a divorce and the beginning of a second marriage. Current wife is great, we went to Oklahoma a couple of years ago and got her a 71 Camaro that is just a tick slower than my FB. do you really think I would build her car faster than mine?

Check out our web site   www.cambirdracing.com   sign the guest book while your at it.  

I wish that "what went around, would come back around".It can if you want it back, for 4 times the price you origally paid!!!
  karl