Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1979 conv bug, old cars price guide, unsafe cars

Question
I am looking at buying a conv 1979 bug. The guy is asking 5500, is that a fair price? It is not fuel injected it has a carb. Does that affect the value? Thanks, Leah

Answer
That sounds very high to me, but to check for sure, go to your local library or book store and find a copy of the "OLD CARS PRICE GUIDE" and read up on how to assess the condition of an old car. When you know the condition (code #1 through #6), then you can look up and see what a fair market price is.

By the way, these are very unsafe cars - I sure wouldn't want anyone I care about driving a "bug".  There is no protection in a crash, there is no safety equipment to speak of (ABS, air bags, etc.) - why don't you look for a modern bug - for that price, you should be able to find a 5 year old one in decent shape if you shop around.

Dick