the car is all original except the quarter and the inner fender so why is it so hard to put a value on it. .... it is a nice car just needs some tlc.
In my opinion, that's exactly why it's hard to put a value on. It's not a fully restored show poodle, and it's not a basket case project car.
It is currently a decent clean driving car. With, as you say, a little TLC...it could be a nice driver for somebody.
However, most people who have money to spend on a collector car wouldn't be happy with a "decent driver" for top dollar. Most would want to restore it back to original. It's not a survivor.
Case in point. If a fully restored example of this car is $75K-$80K and a complete project of this car would be $10K-$15K....then where does this car lie ?
If you asked and sold the car for $25K there might be room for someone to restore it back to show standards in the original colour and possibly break even on their investment.
If you asked and sold the car for $40K there would be no chance of a restoration with being in way over your head, you would have to be happy with the car the way it is...any money spent wuld be a loss.
If a person that spends $40K+ on a car and can be happy with a decent driver in the wrong colour, then you're considered lucky to find that buyer.
This car has a very similar situation as the purple one in Australia that the owner thinks is a survivor.....hard to get top buck for a car needing work.
Personally, I would rather buy that cheaper project, then a done car. At least restoring a car you know what you're getting.
Someone buying this car has no idea what's under the paint, or what's done to the motor/tranny/rear end, brakes suspension, etc...