Saw an ad posted on Facebook. Guy has a working Gorgar for $1080 (down from his initial $1200). Seems like a good price, but the backglass is in pretty bad shape, and I think the backglass is a big part of Gorgar's appeal. I know you can still get replacement backglasses for $250 on Planetary. What do you guys think?

Its about a 4hr drive up the interstate for me to pickup, and this would be my first home pin. I'm just starting my collection and need a low-entry point. I'm thinking of offering the selller $900, for me to drive up and get the pin. $900 plus the $250 for the new BG, and we're at $1150 for a nice Gorgar with a new backglass. Does that sound reasonable?
Gorgar (resized).jpgGorgarBG (resized).jpgGorgarPF (resized).jpg

Yeah, similar distance from me, but I question whether it is $700 nicer.

Maybe I'll message him and see if he'll take some pics for me. A lot of off-pinside sellers don't seem to love taking more pictures (too much trouble I guess?).

I'm not super-concerned with actually owning a Gorgar, but since it's an early SS with gameplay I like, and even more-importantly with digital sounds that are actually bearable. I figured it would make a nice low-entry first pin, plus it does have that "Gorgar Speaks!" cache.

Thanks for the advice, I'll think it over. Right now I've sent a message to the $1080-seller asking for some pics of the circuit boards, and then based on his response, I'll go from there.

I really appreciate your input; however, I've been searching PS, CL, and FB for weeks, and I can't find any fully-working, SS pins for anywhere close to $800, let alone $600. I don't know if its price-inflation or what, but its been hard to find any SS pins, let alone fun ones, for a decent price.

This is what he sent me, he responded quick, but darn if it isn't a small image-file.
gorgar board (resized).jpeg

He sent me a video in much better quality. I pulled some screens from it. They're still a bit blurry in stillframe, cuz he kinda panned around the whole time, but
gives a lot more story than that first pic. Boards look pretty clean to me, but I'm no expert on Gorgars or on this era machine.
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Yeah, I did wonder about that. Must help cool the boards? Never heard of doing that before.

Oh, so is LED'ing these old backglasses a good way to help reduce flaking? As blasphemous as that concept might be.

Backglass aside, what else makes you think that one is nicer? Cabinet looks rough with damage/repainting, and its not 100% working. Playfields seem to be in similar good-condition.

Where can you find a Pharaoh for that kinda money? I've been searching ages and can't find any SS's that cheap. Like everyone says, location makes a big difference on price it seems. Only Pharaoh's I can find are kinda rough and listed for around $1700. Price guide has it closer to $2000

I've only played it on TPA, but it seemed decently fast to me. Maybe it depends how its setup, and how strong the flippers and bumpers are. Like a lot of games this era, every time I drain without hitting all my drops, I'm like "ahh, one more game! I almost had them all down!"

Yeah, I look at those poor pinsiders in the middle of Wyoming or Montana and all I can think is how hard it must be to find pins. I've at least got several medium-sized cities within 2 to 4 hours from me, so that helps. But I definitely don't see the quantity of machines that more urban areas see.

After considering everyone's advice (thanks btw!), I'm gonna offer the guy $800. If he takes it, then I guess I've got a drive ahead of me this weekend. If not, then I'll wait it out and keep searching. Because while I like Gorgar, its not completely my ideal pin, and I don't think it will be a big hit with my wife and daughter. And I really do want to get pins that they will like too. I don't want my pinball hobby to just be a man-thing!

Yeah, I kinda view this pin as a stepping stone though, so I'm okay if its not the biggest hit with them. Start off with an early SS, like gorgar, before moving on to sys11's and dmd's. And if I do end up getting this pin, I'd be sure the next one was a better family pin. But we'll see, seller hasn't got back to me yet.

We've been out many times. My wife really like TAF, and also Munsters, and Willy Wonka. She enjoyed the Stranger Things Virtual Pin too. My daughter, I'm not sure which has been her favorite yet. I'd love something like a Cyclone or a Mousin' Around for the family. I think they'd all like one of those.

FOLLOWUP: Crickets from the seller since I offered him $800 . I was friendly and polite, and I told him no hard feelings either way, so a simple "No Thanks" would have been nice. He had no reason not show a bit of courtesy. Ah well, that's how it goes sometimes I guess.

Just a quick update: Seller took down the Gorgar ad, so he musta sold it. Probably to someone a little closer I hope. No big deal though. Now I've got a line on a players Dr. Dude for $1500. And it looks like I'll only have to drive 3.5 hrs to get it instead of 4, so win win. Still not locked in yet, but I'm hopeful.