Hot Rods Original 1930 Chevy coupe value? HELP

I need some help from you Chevy guys on the value of an original 1930 Chevy 3-w coupe. The car is for sale, has been in this tiny garage since 1979. Car came from Nebraska and has a very nice rust-free body with rumble deck lid. Some dents in the front fenders, good running boards, nice rear fenders, stock gas tank, nice grill shell with re-cored radiator. Interior is not great but wood is real solid, solid floors. Car has all good gl*** and all handles, regulators, garnish and even the front w/s regulator that works. The dash is all stock with original gauges. It has the solid wheels not the wires, does have 4 new 19" tires bought three years ago. Drive train is stock with original 6 cyl engine that supposedly runs but needs a valve job. Has original headlights, tail lights, and bumpers. All sheet metal is in primer. Car will supposedly run and drive, does have brakes. Needs battery, has not run since 95. Has clear ***le.
Dont have any pictures yet. Would like an honest opinion on fair value to get perspective for trying to buy this car.

 

I recently sold my 32 5window for 15k..super clean original east coast car (hard to find rust free). It ran great, good original interior, solid wood throughout, all the door gaps and reveals were great...the prior owner had taken the fenders and such off and sprayed on a quick enamal back in the day..no body work tho just a fresh coat!!
I was told I gave it away..but i made out on it either way and it went to a good home!
Theres a few pics on my page..hope this helped, good luck.

 

So much ********. If it would run the seller would demonstrate it because that would make it worth more............................

 

these old Chevys always had blowen head gaskets. I picked a 1930 about 10 tens a go for 8 grand the car only 23,000 miles

 

CORNDOG...It hasn't ran in 15 yrs. but $15.000.00 won't buy much in coupe's these day's. now if you plan to keep the 6 cylinder mill, and your a good enough mechanic to make that dog wakeup and bark! hell brother it's a steal...POP.

 

Barn find chevy coupe. It came with a 4 banger not a 6. If it don't run $4,500.00 tops if it runs up to $6,500.00 no more. I got a line on a 29 model A stock coupe, with a stock lid, and a rumble lid for $6500.00 And I can drive it home.

 

I agree on your ballpark price estimates Ghost; A running 4 banger chivvy motor is worth more than a 6. In the past eighty years somebody could have swapped the motor, but '30 came with a 6.

 

Why would a guy buy 4 new tires 3 years ago and not have the car out and running. Maybe where you live people put new tires on cars that just sit in a garage with no intention of driving but that doesn't happen around here. I suspect he had intentions of driving it, put the new tires on and then discovered something wrong with the engine or drivetrain. As it's a chevy I think the price is a little high but maybe Holeshot will finance it for you and if it doesn't pan out he can take the project on.

Frank

 

a little inspiration for you to consider... Pete's old car

 

Can't resist. I'd LOVE to have a 4-banger chivvy motor for my model A project

.......still lookin'

 

You are so right about the six being the engine starting in 29. I guess I have been playing with 27s and 28s for so long oops.

 

If he won't give u a price, offer him $2500 as is and you won't get hurt.

 

Got a local who wanted 12 grand for a '28 with a bad motor, the rest was good though. He still has it if that tells you anything.
Jim

 

How about $6500... here are a couple pictures of the car.

 

No reason $6500 wouldn't fly for that car! The most important thing about early GM cars is the condition of the complete wood structure that holds the entire body together and supports it. Yes, it can be replaced by steel tubing but good wood is good wood. This car looks like it may be in pretty fair shape, wood wise. The doors don't sag much and the sheet metal looks like it sits square and unbowed.

 

The car looks to be pretty straight and in fair condition like pasadenahotrod said, if the wood structure is good u will save yourself a boat load of work. My buddy changing his 34 over to steel now, good bit of time involved. 6500 seems fair but times are tight now too, good luck hope to see a build on here of it!

 

Fair price ... you got a good deal ... if you put a in chevy drive train it will be all chevrolet ... Got to lose the fenders though ...

 

Corndog- could you show a pic of the dash? That looks more like a '29 to me... but I'm not that great at telling the difference externally. A pic of the dash would give it away immediately.

Nice find by the way- one of my favorite bodies (after the roadster)!

 

I was thinking the same thing,but I am no Chevy expert.

 

... I'll give you my right kidney for it, if it's a '29...

 

The grille emblem looks like a 29?

 

Okay, my left kidney for it if it's a '30 and my right if it's a '29.

 

Looks like a '30 to me. Job # on cowl tag would tell the tale.
Wheels on '29 were 20 inch, those look like 19 inch (1930)due to their proportion in the fender.

Look at the rear brake drums, the '29 had external bands, '30 had enclosed "normal' looking drums.
Gas gauge on '29 was back at the tank on the right side, a sight gauge, on '30 it was on the dash board.

The carb air cleaner is like '30, the '29 was different, of course that could have been changed over along the way........................

Front brake(left) appears to have the aluminum housing for the cable attachment,(1930), the '29 had a cast iron leaver.

 

Sound's like a good BUY to me. GO FOR IT. Lot's of wood in those Chevy's.

 

Job Numbers on aluminum cowl tag;
1929 Standard Coupe 8880, Sport Coupe 8840.
1930 Standard Coupe 30557, Sport Coupe 30558.

 

With a clear ***le, and driveable, that's top dollar................. Problem is the wood in the body that literally folds up when the wood fails. A lot of work. That 'nail strip' covers a gap, the body sheetmetal is in three pieces back there. The wood will be bad, nails will be loose, the gap at bottom of door indicates to me that the wood is all loose. It's a major job to repair.

 

I think $6500 is a bit much. It's very likely to have a cracked head. It's been my unfortunate experience that '29 and '30 heads crack easily and often. I cracked my head last summer coming home from Maine. Both spare motors I have turned out to have cracked heads. All 3 beyond repair. You will have to look far and wide to find a good one. Join the VCCA. While they don't particularly care for hot rodders, they can be enormously helpful finding parts etc. Of course none of this matters if your considering an engine transplant...Good luck.

 

The ***le says it is a 1930 and the gas gauge is on the dash. The w/s rolls up about an inch or so in front. Some of the wood has been replaced in an "amature" fashion, but the sheet metal is very nice. It has a new battery under the floor and clean anti-freeze in the radiator. I dont think the previous owner was b-s-ing me about it running. I think he was ready to be done with the car. I ended up buying it for a very fair price. Plus...are you ready for this? It came with a second 1930 Chevy 2-dr sedan that was in a shed out back. I have the coupe home now but I will have to wait until spring to get the sedan as too much stuff is stored around and upon it. The sedan is all original also but the original engine is out of the car and sitting on the floor. I am pretty sure I am going to sell the coupe and build the sedan since I already have a coupe and a truck. Here are pictures of the dash that someone asked for.

 

Sounds good for 2 cars! Good find. Best of luck with the build and how about pics of the 2dr sedan....

 

Great. Getting 2 for a fair price is very nice. As for selling the coupe, post it on the VCCA site and you'll have an easy time selling it. Look forward to seeing the sedan (I believe it's called a "coach")!