Vintage Cars: 1979 Oldsmobile 98 Regency, oldsmobile 98, range v8

Question
We are the original owners of this car which has 93,800 miles on it and has always been kept in excellent condition.  It runs well and we have used it as a second car while going through a bunch of newer cars - Buicks and Cadillacs.  Because of mine and my wife's advancing age, we are going to go to one car and will have to give up our Regency.  A cursory check of its value on the internet arrives at a maximum of abut $350.  My question - can this car be, as yet, called a "vintage" car and could it have additional value and how might one take advantage of that.  Thank you, Ron Klein, Wausau, WI

Answer
There isn't a lot to go on here, I assumed the car was a 4-door (most common version) with the mid-range V8 (several were available).  Color makes a difference with green or brown being bad and red or bright colors better usually.

But if this car is in very good shape, it should be worth more than $350.

Check out this web site for collector cars:

http://tinyurl.com/yub7g9

This is the NADA site (I did a shorter URL for space reasons, just copy and paste that URL into your browser.

Here it says your car is worth a lot more, but I don't think I would believe that totally.  

First, big cars from the 70's didn't get all that great of gas mileage.  With high gas prices, small cars are worth more, but to someone that didn't drive that much that needed good transportation, a car like yours is desireable.

Evaluating one over the internet is near impossible under good conditions(with lots of information) but with almost nothing to go on, I can't really give firm numbers, just advice.

IF the car has no or almost no rust, and everything works as it should, and it doesn't need any service that you can tell, AND if it is cosmetically in good shape. (Paint shiny, no peeling etc, and the interior is in good shape with no tears/worn spots) and no dents or obvious body work, then the car should be worth 2-3 or 4 times what you said.  

I have been searching and it is tough to find a decent $1000 car anymore.  Big old GM cars make great 3rd or starter cars.

I would not say this car has become any sort of classic.  But there are much newer cars that are "collectible" and somewhere you may find a buyer that loved the model car you have.  Doesn't really hurt that Oldsmobile is no more.  As an orphan car, the Oldmobile fans may be looking for a bit of history to hang onto.

So don't underprice the car, and I would recommend you spend just a few bucks and put an ad in Hemmings Motor News.

http://www.hemmings.com/

also, you could join an Oldsmobile club or two and advertise in their publications.  Just Google Oldsmobile club and find one that includes your car.  These are also advertised in Hemmings.

I would stay away from letting a dealer sell the car for you.  They usually want big commissions and won't work to sell your car as much as ones they own.  Get your car detailed by a pro if it isn't super clean already, (or clean it up yourself)and keep it clean if possible.   The $100 or so you spend on cleaning it up should come back to you double or more when you sell.  (don't forget to take out all your "stuff" from the glove box and trunk.  you might be surprised how quite a car gets when you get all your stuff out and it is like when you first drove it empty!).

My business web site has a great detailing tips section, check it out here:

http://www.dccarcare.com

Advertise your car in the local Trading Post type papers too.  You can put it in the classic car section if you want, certainly your car belongs there as much as lots of others I could take exception with.

The collector car market is at a high point right now, and due to crash in my estimation.  But as they say, a rising tide floats all boats, and all collector cars have gotten a price hike due to the hysteria around muscle cars.  But don't do like some people and assume you have a gold mine.  It is still a late 70's big car, and unless nearly showroom new, it will take someone special to pay four figures for it.  If it IS nearly showroom new, then that means you can hold out for a little more, but at right at 100,000 miles it would be hard to believe it was THAT new.   Still I have seen cars similar to yours, that make great buys and serve people well for many more years.  And parts should still be available.

Good luck.

Don