1930 Ford Model A advice

Been a while since I've posted. I've been searching over the past year for a hotrod, specifically one for sale locally so I could inspect the car and test drive it in person before buying. Came across this one today, happened to be on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1930...QQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item3ca8422086#v4-37

Pictures kind of suck but I'm going to try and setup a time to go check the car out this week. For those more familiar with early model A's, is there anything in particular I should look out for? It looks to be in fairly decent shape.

 

depends what you want....you might want look at that one in person before you commit....

 

Mikemustang289,
As long as you're so close go take a good look at the car. If you haven't built a Model A or similar car bring someone that has experience. It's always what you don't know that ends up costing you money. I'm not judging the car or the builder, it's just the way it goes. Plenty of Model A builds on the HAMB to check out. Is the build completed, at least to the level of completeness and quality "you" like? Can you drive it...until you finish/change the things you don't like? I always told my sons that when ever you see a nice rod somebody put more money into it than it was worth... I've done it many times and I'm ok with it. . I have cars/project that I like and I'm planning on keeping for a long time. Good luck

 

It looks to me like the tie rods are hitting the radius rods, and make sure you set in it, has to be pretty tight in there . Best of luck.

 

You really want to check out different rods...like at least 4 built and running cars, before committing to one. There are many reasons why this one looks cool, but I wouldn't comment on it's driveablity (1) or it's value/build issues (2).

 

A couple things I'm concerned with.

I don't see a column or support for the wheel..

Check the welding on EVERYTHING, bring someone if you have to..

The chop looks weird. The quarter windows are higher than the door windows.

I would go over that front suspension with a fine tooth comb, I don't trust it from here..

Anyway it goes, you need to go put your eyes on that car. It's almost ten grand, and you do NOT want to get into something you can't use or sell. Good luck..

 

yeah, i don't know. seems a little cobbled together to me. the chop looks a little funky like dreddybear said too, i hadn't really noticed that. it is what it is though, a garage built hot rod. just go over it very carefully. if you don't feel confident enough to know exactly what to look for, take someone with you. there is a lot of engineering that has to go into building a car like that-if this guy is not into doing things correctly, you'd be the one suffering in the end. i would never buy this car without seeing it in person, i can tell you that much.

 

Think you might find this one interesting...'30 roadster for <6k!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...ewItemQQptZUS_Cars_Trucks?hash=item414b2361c4

 

This car looks mostly like a pickup load from the local metals yard and pull-a-part. What little vintage content is there appears to mostly be rough and hacked beyond any practical use. I think the bidding has already far exceeded the value of this car and the roadster that Pitman posted easily has twice the value.

 

My $.02:
Bring a magnet and check to see how much bondo's in the body.
See how the doors fit. The chop looks kinda funky. Make sure the doors close right and stay shut. Or figure what would be needed to fix them, especially if it's necessary to correct a bad chop.
The welds I could see looked about as good as I might do, i.e. not professional level. Check the structural welds very closely.
Check that the wheelbase is the same on both sides and that the frame seems straight. Is it a Model A frame? Boxed? No major cracks or rust?
Drive it.
Make sure you won't run into problems licensing or registering it in your state..i.e clear title, etc.
Look critically and be honest about what the car needs and how much it will cost to bring it to a level that is safe and that you're satisfied with.
How much of the work can you do yourself? Paying someone else to fix someone else's problems can get expensive real fast.
It's a buyer's market now so be critical and take your time.
Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Check his feedback

 

Yep. Run.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I do plan to at the very least inspect the car in person and drive it. This has been my biggest roadblock to finding the right car, it has been very hard to find something local. In the past year, I've only come across three cars locally that I was interested in enough to consider buying.

I'm hoping the car will go for somewhere around 10-12k, I really can't see spending more than that. There is not much to this car as it sits and still has some room for improvement. My only limitations are in fabrication. Building a car myself isn't really an option since I don't have the ability to weld or fabricate. Finding a running and driving project similar to this that is local has been my goal.

 

Check the title numbers against those stamped in the metal. Shouldn't appear to be cobbled up. Is the title a current one, or previously signed by somebody you can't shake hands with. Inquire profusely about anything that don't jive. Be very careful, because DMVs are getting better educated all of the time. Even though you might be buying it in Az and even if it has Az title, that would be a normal transfer that didn't require vin verification by authorities, sometime in the future you might want to sell it out of state. Make sure it would pass a look by prying DMV/Law enforcement eyes.

 

Sent you a PM, I'll try a post a pic here.

 

You would definitely have to take a good look at that car on ebay....it looks a bit odd...somebody's attempt at building a "rat rod" perhaps.....I would have a look at a bunch of cars....the key thing is DON'T SETTLE.

 

...hell, I kinda like it.

Just go look at it in person.

 

Dreamweavers coupe is 5 times a better car then that ebay pile.

 

Thx, Vap....mines for sale.

 

I kinda looked in the ads here,didn't see it.
Go ahead and tell us more...$$? features?

 

Dreamweaver, sent you a pm.

 

"The front is very is a unique setup looks like swords holding the suicide front beam."

I don't know, this makes it kind of tempting!

 

One big thing wrong with his eBay ad -- Model A coupes are anything but rare. Coupes and Tudors, taken together, account for roughly half of all Model A's ever built, more than two million total for those two body styles. Check out the Dreamweaver coupe for sale just up the road and across the river...
Fearless

 

Over channeled, over-z'd, poor chop - RUN AWAY!

 

I'm gonna take the advice of those in this thread and pass on the ebay car. The seller is being sketchy about the details and won't give me a clear answer about the title. Apparently it's in progress with the dmv?...whatever that means. Maybe me and Dreamweaver can work a deal. I just hate not being able to see the car in person before making a decision; maybe a daytrip is in order, we'll see what happens.

 

Mike,

Definetely drive up and see and drive my car if you are interested. I would never spend this kind of money and not have a first hand look.

Mine has its quirks as they all do but I'm real upfront in what I'm selling. Send me an email address and I'll send you a bunch of pics and a more detailed description, I think mine has a lot of value, but then its mine

 

X2 on Dreamweavers car. With that car I know what I'm looking at. It's has a cool stance and looks very solid.

 

Don't see any license plates, is it registered? If it is registered or licensed, what as? It looks like a lot of money for an unfinished car.

 

MIke, see http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426632

for my car.

 

Dreamweaver's car is sweet, and you have the benefit of being able to talk to him directly. You could know, and even be friends with the seller!

I always worry about any car being sold via eBay. It says to me that the builder or current owner is not part of a community where this car might have sold first. Or, and worse, he or she is, and there is a solid reason why it would never sell in that community. If it could be sold locally, it would have. It all smacks of trying to get rid of something.

A community provides a good number of things. These are not limited to: long-term group memory, a large body of knowledge to call on, and another set, or several more sets of eyes on you, to help keep you from doing anything stupid.

Who built it? Did he? It does not say, at all. Why?

I take real pride in my work, even it it pales in comparison to the fabrication gods here on the board. I back up every car I build, every part I make and install, or even just sold, regardless of who now owns it. I will even smile and nod when you tell everybody that you made my stuff (but I don't like it).

Oh, and I am stealing the rear lower shock mount idea.