RW> Andrew and I went into San Antonio this morning to visit Harbor Freight,   
   RW> an import tool store. On the way back, we stopped at a place that takes   
   RW> old cars and rebuilds them, then asks thousands more for them than   
   RW> they're   
   RW> worth. The new-looking 1968 Camaro RS/SS-396, 4spd coupe identical to   
   RW> mine   
   RW> back in 1968 was priced at 10 times what I paid for mine. All I had to do   
   RW> was cover one zero with my hand and the price was magically tranformed   
   RW> to 'like new' in 1968 at $4350 ($43500)...   
      
   We have a Harbor Freight here, too.  I typically buy all my tools at Sears.  I   
   would love to have all the stuff in the tools/hardware section in Sears.     
      
   Makes you wish you still had your 68 Camaro, I'm sure.  There is a big   
   collector market for certain cars and they do pull in some big money.  I watch   
   Mecum Auctions all the time on TV and dream.     
      
   There area some vehicles that you don't need Jay Leno money to buy on that   
   show.  Mainly the late 70s and 80s vehicles that don't have the big collectors   
   on the market, yet.  I would have loved to bid on a few of them.   
      
   RW> Make sure that you buy a southerun car, one that isn't from Florida and   
   RW> no where near the Gulf coast. Texas cars, if they're found before the sun   
   RW> bakes the paint off of them are OK, but you'll find a lot of surface rust   
   RW> that has to be removed before you can paint it. Lots of dead roadhogs and   
   RW> former muscle cars sitting along side of barns, garages and in fields   
   RW> here.   
      
   What I have noticed is the cars that look good and run good - even with really   
   high miles, they are high priced.  I saw a 2004 Monte Carlo SS with 189k on it   
   for $4000-$5000.  I then saw one that the body was fine, but the motor was   
   blown that was listed for $1500.     
      
   I would rather get the $1500 one - and have a new motor for around the same   
   price when it was complete.   
      
   RW> 8^) They come in handy for hauling stuff, towing stuff and seeing over   
   RW> ordinary automobiles in heavy traffic...   
      
   That is exactly why we are planning on keeping the Durango even after my wife   
   gets another vehicle at some point.   
      
   RW> Nope. Texas requires a 'safety inspection' every year. The GMC was   
   RW> recently registered and inspected and is good until March of 2013, so   
   RW> won't need an inspection until then. A successfully passed inspection   
   RW> only   
   RW> costs $14, and you're allowed to take it home and do any needed repairs   
   RW> yourself if you want to and there is no charge for a re-inspection.   
   RW>    
   RW> When I did my own pre-inspection of the Z28 in April, I found that it   
   RW> needed a new windshield wiper to pass, so I bought one and put it on   
   RW> myself. Tires (plenty of tread from low mileage) were good from being   
   RW> stored in the garage, all lights and horn worked fine, so it was good to   
   RW> go.   
      
   It has been awhile since I bought anything used that needed to be inspected,   
   but I do believe you can do the repairs yourself.  Most people don't.   
   Typically they hit you for headlight allignments, windshield dings, and things   
   like that.    
      
   I would imagine that if I took my car tommorrow to a place that was very anal,   
   they would fail it - since it has a very small window ding in the corner.   
      
   We only have to get a car inspected when it changes hands to someone not in   
   the family.  After that, you can drive it forever with no inspection - other   
   than our every other year emissions test.  Basically, that is a "check engine   
   light" test.  Provided you don't have that light on and you have an exhaust   
   system, you will pass.   
      
   Years ago, my brother bought a 69 Chevelle that he was going to restore.  He   
   took it to a friend that did the inspection, since it would have never passed   
   since it had a hole in the floor from where he was going to move the shifter.   
   He got it passed..  Only problem was, when you smoked the tires - all the   
   rubber fumes came back into the car.  Couldn't have the windows rolled up when   
   you did that.  :)   
      
   - Mark   
      
   --- WWIVToss v.1.50    
    * Origin:  http://www.weather-station.org * Bel Air, MD -USA (1:261/1304.0)