Here's what I had saved from what Charles Goin had published earlier about the car levels. Lengthy but true. There is also a NADA guide somewhere here on the site, a search might pull it up. HTH, Jarrell
Level 0
MINT CONDITION, Absolutely perfect and totally original, a car with
0 miles and 0 dirt. This type of car probably does not exist. If it
does, its in Opels personal museum.
Value : ~$15,000
Level 1
A car at the 98-99% of perfect, this is a national show winner at
major car shows, NONE of the Opels at the OMC picnic last year
qualified, though there were 2 or 3 that were close enough to
qualify as level 1 for pricing purposes.
Value : $9,000-$7,000
Level 2 - (AKA HIGH value in NADA special interest car guide)
A car that for most purposes is perfect, it may have some
modifications (Will go into the modifications and effect on value at
the end of this). Wayne Tormans' or Gary Farias' cars fall into this
category. 99% of Opel restorations never come close to this level
of restoration. Its hard to tell a Level 1 from a Level 2 driving down
the road. OF course the catch is a level 1 would NEVER be driven
down the road.
Value: $7,000-$5,000**
($6400 in latest NADA special interest car guide)
** modifications affect class rating of a vehicle, BUT in special
interest cars the books and "experts" arent always on the mark
with this. The value guides and "expert" evaluations, are based on
a totally stock car, to make judging of the cars more equal. That
and MOST modifications are poorly done and dont meet a OEM or
professional fit and finish. BUT when they do, as is the case with
Wayne Tormans' electronically optioned GT (windows, etc, etc) or
a GT that has a 2.2l Opel engine modified by Bob Legere in it. The
values go UP. But at that point its all subjective and betwen the
owner and buyer. Case in point, lets use Waynes car again.
Body, Paint, interior, dash, lenses, etc. - 99% perfect
(level 2 bordering Level 1)
Value - $7,000
Custom modifications
(Power windows, door locks, rims, tires, etc. etc.)
Value adder - $4,000
My estimated value for Waynes car ~$11,000
Waynes BOOK value: $7,000
What Wayne would sell it for : $25,000
Its all subjective.
OK, now back into the cars that MOST of us Opel owners have
Level 3 (AKA Average by NADA Special Interest guide )
This is the car that most of us have pampered in our garages and
they make up 90% of local car shows. A level 2 driven daily for a
year without MAJOR detailing and pampering will be a level 3. This
is a car that has been restored by its owner and cared for greatly. It
may also be a totally perfect original car with fading paint. Its not a
show winner, but in a small local show it will be. Some wear in the
interior, paint is clean, rust-free, maybe the lenses are a bit faded.
Value: $5,000-$2,500
(NADA guide value: $4,750)
Level 4: (AKA Low in NADA Special Interest guide)
This car has oxidation in the paint, a few tears in the interior but is
a solid car, it more than likely has some rust in the quarter panels
BUT the floor pans and frame is rust-free. Car should have very little
bondo if any, if it has bondo, then the paint needs to be in better
shape.The lenses may have slight cracks. This car is typically a
car undergoing restoration, a well taken care of daily driver.
Value: $3,500-$1,500
(NADA Value of $3,200)
Level 5
This is where it gets tricky a car in this class and below shouldnt
even be thought of as a erstoration project. But there are a TON of
level 5 cars out there that have been restored from 5 to 4 possibly 3
and the owners have severly regretted it. This is the "running" GT
with a bad clutch, worn brakes, misses a but, has floor board rust,
broken side markers (or bondoed over). It looks as if it has
promise, but its really a parts car. LOTS of these GTs sell to new
owners that dont know much about GTs, they think the GT is super
rare and this will be the only one they will come across (Which as
we all know is the farthest thing from the truth, you just have to
look for them). This is also the RARE $3000 Opel GT we come
across in the trading post, whos owner has rocks in his head.
Value $1,500-$300 (Value depends greatly on condition of trim and
other parts on the car, if it has a performance engine, 5-speed, etc.)
Level 6
This is the one that even a novice would know is a basket case, its
a parts car with a lot of good parts. BUT dont be surprised to see it
be able to run under its own power (though not overly well).
Value $500-Take it out of my yard
Level 7
Didnt think this level existed? Well its the car in such bad shape
(rusted, broken up, etc.) that it doesnt have but one or two good
parts on it (Of course they are the ones you need for your car).
Value : $100 - You pay me to take it away
A few cardinal rules to finish this up with:
1) The Maximum increase in value after restoration equals one-half
of the money and NONE of the time invested.
2) Labor invested is worth exactly ZERO
3) Maintence and Repair costs are also worth exactly ZERO
4) To restore a car up a level usually costs double the difference
between the two levels. Thus to get a Level 2 GT from a Level 5 GT
costs you about $12,000 ($300 - $7000 X 2) The best way to go
about it is to buy a 4 and go to a 3 Sometimes this takes nothing
more than a nice paint job and some armor-all. OR finding a few
pieces here and there.
ITs best to invest about $3000 in a NICE level 3 or 4 GT. But look
alot and ask a lot of questions and most of all look for bondo and
rust.
Sincerely,
Charles Goin
