Description:
With over $30, 000 in mechanicals spent over the past three years at prestigious Robison's (Springfield, MA), this car has performed at a level requisite to pleasure driving averaging 150 miles weekly (non-winter) over winding, hilly two-lane highways and interstates. The most extensive work, of premium quality, has been done on suspension, steering, brakes, transmission, and engine. This car handles fabulously, to be sure.
Rustfree, its paint (claret color) is attractive but not flawless; the interior is mostly very good-to-excellent: the front seats, though not all that bad (yes, there are cracks), need attention, as does the coating of the woodwork (you'll see much, much worse). The interior could be brought to show condition for under $10, 000, and if you wanted to do the same for the exterior, it depends on how much you wish to spend for a spray.
Mechanically, Robison believes the radiator will eventually need attention; there's more refinement needed on one of the braking systems, and the AC would cost about $1500 to reconnect in good working order; we believe that the harmonic balancer is somewhat out-of-kilter, producing a vibration around 55 mph. By the way, a new set of Avon tires ($1, 200) was just installed to address the vibration issue (which, alas, is still there, but not egregiously).
A word to interested parties: this is a 35-year old vehicle, which, though of highest-end quality and truly attractive, has and will have repair issues that need to be budgeted. Forgive my petulance, but please don't expect a ten-point show car for this price., and please don't contact me to nit-pick. When you consider the competition, remember that the greatest expense is in the mechanicals, and I've already directed over $30, 000 addressing these over the past three years (my wife says No more! -- the restoration of domestic tranquility accounts for the primary reason I am selling, along with the fact that new professional circumstances has me driving at least 400 mile weekly, and I can't consider additional time behind the wheel relaxing, as formerly obtained).
Pricewise, I am losing everything I've put into it, and then some, as I paid $12, 500 for it in Hadley, Mass. ( I am in Troy, NY, btw) I would be surprised a '77 Shadow significantly excelling this one at this price
update: 2016-05-20
