Hey Scottie;
So I a friend gave me his 98 Buick Park Avenue which has been parked for a 1.5 years. It was running fine when last parked. This is a base package Park Avenue with the 3800 Series II engine (Non Turbo). It's showing 143, 672 miles.
The question is, might it be worth investing in to restore.
Thanks. Jack
As a restoration of an old car? Probably not, at least not one you could fix up and sell for a good amount. Even though it's 23 years old now, there's not a whole lot about it that makes it collectible or worth anything other than as a beater if it runs and drives. It still has OBDII and all of the modern engine tech that newer cars have these days, just less sophisticated. Think Windows 95 vs Windows 10.
The engine in that car is pretty well made compared to today's GM products, though. The 3800 started out as a carburated V6 in the 1960s and was updated to fuel injection. A carbureted variation of it was the base engine for my 1979 Pontiac Catalina.
The weakest part of that car is going to be the automatic transmission. If it runs and drives okay, you could do wear and tear parts replacements, like shocks and struts if you get quality replacements. Check the tie rod bushings and things like that. Good things to learn how to repair and replace on your own that shops charge a fortune for.
If you want to restore it for yourself, have at it!
Great Engine should run to 300,000 or more if you take care of it.
