Projects Finishing a Kustom Merc on a budget?

Personally I don't think you can do what you want for that kind of cash on that merc. I got a paint quote on my c10, and this is Like 15 years ago, and the body was pretty straight on it, I believe my quote was 18? 19?

Even the car posted above.... It's cool, but "bag it yourself" is a lot of work. I dunno about that Chevy, but a shoebox needs a c notch frame in the rear, etc, so you're talking about a hell of a lot of work to bag a car... Not impossible surely, just depends how hard you want to work.

Imho for around 50 you can get a HELL of a nice finished car. I got my car finished and it's pretty damn nice, and was nowhere near that price.... Though I know you don't want another shoebox...

Be patient, keep your eyes looking, and you'll find something damn good for fity....

 

Thanks so much! I saw that one and most of the ones similar and have been penciling in all the mods and it still seems like I would reach north of $50k. This assumes I can’t do any of this work which is probably a good way to plan. For instance for that car I would assume a chop, and different rear window and convert from hard top to non hard top would run $10k professionally done. A new headliner and new glass another $5k then to bag and c-notch another $10k. To repaint the car (not sure you can just touch after a chop?) another $10k. That totals another $35k on top of the asking price of the car. I have another thread asking the same exact questions and I pencil in estimated costs for those 54 or 53 chevys and it seems I’m better finding something pretty much done and hammer on price a bit.

 

Thanks yeah it seems I just need to be patient!

I had what I think is one of the best chopped shoeboxes and I was still wanting a 53/54 haha. I’ve had thoughts to keep hounding the current owner of the chopped 53 4 door I sold and buy it back. It has a pearl dark blue paint job and nice interior and was chopped… I just got annoyed with the 4 door but wish I didn’t sell it reflecting back! I sold it for $14,500 six years ago.

 

Just a quick example of what fifty can get ya.... Didn't dive deep on this particular car FYI, just sayin....

 

thanks that’s a nice looking merc but it’s not bagged and I want something that will slam down.

 

Then you're in the 65-100 range for a finished car I'd think.... For a shoebox you can get what you want cheaper, no?

Maybe if you're patient and ready to jump like a duck on a junebug when you find one, you could get a bagged merc a little north of 50?

For me a new car is like getting married. The best part is looking at choices! Lol

 

I would bet you are way off thinking you can get a 53-54 Chevy chopped for $10k. With glass, trim, garnish you are at least double that at a minimum if you don't want a hack job.

 

I agree with K13, the cost of having a chop done, start to finish, including the glass, moldings, and headliner, is going to be extremely high. You'll get a much better dollar value by holding out to buy someone's already finished project.

Project cars are a lot of fun if you like to build project cars, but it's very rarely the cheapest way to get a finished product, which it seems like you're after. You don't buy a jigsaw puzzle because it's the cheapest way to get a picture of a barn.

53/54 Chevys generally are cheaper than 49-51 Mercs, I think if you hold out for a finished or near-finished car you really like, you'll be very glad you did.

Getting a little off of the topic at hand, but the chopped '54 from Monster Garage sold years ago for under 30K I think. Granted, that was a while ago, and I've heard that car was pretty rough. But it was also a piece of history that was worked on by many of the greatest names in custom cars. Don't know where it is now, or if it'll ever be for sale again, but IMO that'd be the one to own.

 

Those mercury have a LOT of stainless trim around the windows . To get that professionally chopped and straight you are talking big money for a nice job, and find someone with the skills and patience to do it. Plus all the interior garnish mouldings. Yikes.

 

@Lloyd's paint & glass
This guy sprays and sews.
Wonder if he will chime in on $$$$ figures

 

thanks no more shoeboxes for me haha! I figured I can’t get everything I want in a merc for $50k and this thread was just confirmation I should keep hunting for a 53/54 Chevy that’s chopped and bagged already.

 

Yeah I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s $20k for a professional job to include glass, garnish and stainless.

 

I totally agree with everything you said and I want a 53/54 more than I do a merc ignoring all the cost differences.

 

You might try contacting Mike Bello at Bellos Kustoms. Www.belloskustoms.com He is in San Diego. He should be able to give you a pretty accurate cost on what everything would cost. He might even have some leads on cars for sale. Getting pricing from guys a 1000 miles away in a state where costs are 1/10th of where you are pretty much useless.

 

Haha each time I've found a 53 or 54 listing I've reached out to him as that's likely the person I'd take it to but haven't gotten a reply. I'll have to try calling more times. Maybe I should volunteer to help him for free for some time and who knows if someone with a 53 or 54 reaches out to him and may be looking to sell theirs.

 

Full black paint would be about $10k in my shop. Depending on taste, full vinyl interior, basic pleat style, around $5k. Glass is around $1000. So around $16k

 

Thanks for chiming in
If I ever get close for interior on the 56, I’ll get in touch with ya

 

thanks that actually seems like it would be within my budget! Not sure how much actual body work the merc would need before paint and what that would cost. Garnish moulding and stainless trim could wait for later.

 

My price is complete. Start to finish, material and labor.

 

Oh nice, so what would I need to make sure I have in hand based on the photos of the car thus far? The car itself, the seats, headliner bows? Anything else?

Also I so remember you responding to a post I made a couple years ago when I was trying to fix the passenger side broken glass and a cracked quarter panel glass on the chopped 50' Shoebox. I ended up using your advice to find the right solution down here in San Diego. The car is sold but thanks anyways

 

That's about it.

 

Is your plan to V butt the windshield? French the glass?

 

I mean that would probably look cool, but I'm fine split window too.

 

Then you'd need the rubber. The stock gasket can be modified. Or use universal gasket. About like i use on heavy equipment glass.

 

There is an unmolested 51 Merc in the HAMB classified right now for $22,500 running and driving!

 

You have expressed this desire to get a custom, but don't have the big bucks or the knowledge/experience to get a partial done one across the finish line.
You are talkin' to a lot of guys that aren't able to go out and buy the car of their dreams either.

First, this guy that's selling has done a bunch already in your area. He would know what the costs are and who to use to finish. Ask him. Judge what he says with your own BS meter.

If you get serious, contact the references and double-check.

If he's really a good known builder and you really want a Chev, talk to him about one of them and see if one turns up. The most common advice is to buy the best one you can afford. The second is buy what really turns your gears.

Projects start kind of expensive, drop when apart, come back up in price at this point where it is modded and runs but isn't complete. Once it's finished, it's usually not as expensive as all the work in it except in known, pro built cars. It's the adage, the first 80% leaves the last 20% to do which will take another 80%. This one still needs 80%.

Ladies are not as impressed with cars as most of us would like to think. If you want to buy your way into attractiveness try clean, well-groomed, tasteful dress and polite with a whiff of success. A flashy old car is rad, bitchin' coolsville and reet. It's not a chick magnet.

 

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/listing/1953-chevrolet-bel-air-sherman-oaks-ca-2876631
https://ventura.craigslist.org/cto/d/ventura-dr-bel-air-sport-coupe-hardtop/7886479126.html
https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/d/goodyear-1953-chevy-belair-hardtop/7884601970.html
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1175691564247047/
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/2237347243365813/

I'm posting these to show what's out there. I am not saying they are great examples or priced right, just what's for sale right now.

 

WHAAAAAAAAAT, all those old movies lied to me ?!?!?! I'm crushed. Oh well, too late to change now..........plus all the money in the world couldn't help.

 

Thanks I just saw it.. too bad I have no skills to chop a car or do airbag suspension.