I know what you said, but what about this deal...

PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE MAN STANDING BEHIND THE CURTAIN! YOU'LL BE SORRY IF YOU TRADE FOR WORK. -Strat.

 

I have a '59 ford that is at a friends shop getting painted going on 4 years that was a trade! Sell the sedan and pay your friend to build the coupe for you if you don't want to do it yourself.

 

Another thing to consider. This whole thing has come down pretty quickly and emotions are understandably a little high right now. Your being pushed and shoved emotionally in every direction. How about putting the whole thing aside for 1 month and let things settle before you make a decision. One month in a car build is a moment in time. Most projects that amount to anything are at least a year to a year and a half. Spend the time planning how you'd build both cars and dream about how you'd use them when finished. Just some old fashioned day dreaming. Consider the pros and the cons of each build along with the economic consequences. Be REALISTIC in your evaluation (as much as possible). Then after a few weeks sit down and make a final decision based on realistic planning not emotion. Total honesty is important on your part and if you are in the end the decision will be almost automatic. I think you'll find yourself "leaning" in one direction before the month is over, but let it slide until your path is really clear. There is nothing making you decide right now/today is there?


Frank

 

Even more solid advice. Don't let your buddy push you into doing something.

Now, I've done some labor for cars swapping, I have more cars than I will probably ever finish, so it worked out OK sometimes, and sometimes I got screwed, but either way you'll find yourself breathing down this guy's neck forever to get your car done. From my own personal experience, I wouldn't do it, it's only going to cause headaches.

And whatever you decide, please, PLEASE, don't give the guy the car before 100% of the debt and work is repaid in full. That's the most solid, well thought out advice that's been given, and everyone seems to agree on it. If he makes the deal and comes to get the car before your car is finished (or started, for that matter) you can be sure that your car is headed for a dusty corner never to get finished.

 

Alot of great advice, not sure you need to hear any more, but heres a small thought:

What you want your friend to do is labor, and only that

What you are giving up is a solid, rare coupe body with a title.

The $500 really means nothing either. And I'm not saying that cuz I'm rich, believe me I'm not even comfortable. But $500 either way means nothing to me in the grand scheme of things

Even though you don't at this time see a need to have the coupe, I flat out GUARANTEE that you will kick your onw ass at some point(probably in the very near future)if you get rid of the coupe.

Work is work, labor is labor, whatever. You can get those types of jobs done relatively easy from plenty of people. But a good solid coupe body is near impossible to find, yet alone with a title. And especially not for the deal you fell into.

And don't let your friend pressure you into anything. The bottom line is that it is your car, to make a decision that is in your best interest, not his. A true friend could not be angry at you for that.

Good luck in whatever you choose though

 

If it was a Ford then no way but it's not so do whatever you want. That Chevy will never be half as cool as a Ford. I'm sure 99.9% of the HAMB will disagree but I pretty much think most pre war Chevy's suck.

 

When you look back at whatever decision that you make, you'll have wished that you did something different, thats normal. The coupe that you have today will be worth a lot more in couple of years, specially with a title. These cars are just getting harder and harder to find, and you found one for almost nothing. That kind of deal won't come along again.

Do some work on the Model A, sell it and then build the coupe or keep em both.

 

Why don't you copy all the post, then do what you are probably going to do . I think no matter what any of us say you will trade. After a year ,when your car is still in your FRIENDS shop. read the post.

 

I think that if you do this deal you should have your head examined. If you want your friend to work on your car, pay him. Keep the coupe.

 

Yeah, but my coupe is awful nice. I think it was worth it.

They'll print more money, and there will always be someone who can weld stuff for ya... They don't make '32 Chevy coupes anymore.

 

Ditto to what was said about getting work done before giving up the other car. If that's the way you end up going.

The same goes for waiting to make a decision. There's always a reason why someone is pushing to make a deal go through, and it's rarely so he can be charitable to the other guy. Since your 'extra' car and your buddy's shop aren't going anywhere immediately, what's the rush? What would it change if you thought it over for six months?

Almost every time I've kicked myself for buying, it was when I bought fast, under pressure, or with questions unanswered.

Anymore, I really just don't move if I have questions about a purchase/trade. I keep shopping until I know what I'm doing and don't have to ask anyone! I feel I can afford to miss out on good deals a lot more than to pick up on bad ones!

I think the thing here really all boils down to money. Any car is replaceable (sp?); you just gotta' throw money at the situation. Which I rarely have - but this ain't about me. Before I made any decision, I'd want to be REAL sure of the honest cash value of both cars in question. And, the going labor rate at my buddy's shop. I wouldn't even begin thinking about trading until I knew what I was trading for what.

If I still wanted to trade the rare/unusual/cool car off to get work done on the more ordinary one (well, I probably wouldn't - but you're the one gotta' end up happy; not me), then I'd strike a deal that favored me, or walk.

One other thing: what everyone here says about money vs. friendship is something to think about. Strongly.

 

KEEP IT !!! It`s as easy as that : Keep it ... 500$ for that cool coupe is like a Gift nowadays ...
Hope Cole does not mind me stealing this pic from his zite ..
http://www.salinasboys.com/
KLAZ

 

I didn't read all the posts, so I'm sorry if this has been sugggested.

Have your buddy work on your car at YOUR shop.....when it's done, help him load the coupe on his trailer. This way you are totally protected if something goes bad. I don't see any other way it could work safely. Tell him to keep his money till your car is done. Both cars are protected, and you have control over the progress and quality of work being done. If he doesn't want to risk this, bail out.

 

Thanks for all of the input. One thing I know I'm going to do now is nothing, take the advice to sit on it for awhile and give it some thought. My feelings were with all of you on this about the find and it being a coupe, but one thing that was getting to me was "could I even fit into the thing" as I'm 6'2" and the last thing I want to do is put a ton of time and money into something that I can't drive, that's why I bought the sedan, because I know I can make something of that that I can drive. Well after all of this I went outside and climbed into the coupe and I believe that I can build that car so I can fit into it. So, now, after all the great advice I'm probably going to keep the coupe and sell the sedan and again the input you people gave me was exactly what I looking for, thanks!

 

For what it's worth, and reading all the responses you got, you've made the right decision. The knowledge base here never ceases to amaze me.

 

I'm probably going to keep the coupe and sell the sedan and again the input you people gave me was exactly what I looking for, thanks![/QUOTE]


Good choice. You have decided to keep your friend AND your coupe! My Dad had a '32 Chevy Roadster about 1940, he liked it a lot.

 

I agree!!

 

this post reminded me to ring two "friends" who owe me a couple of grand between them...

neither of the numbers are connected.

who would have thought? you made the right decision, don't trade. you're just trading a friend for a sour taste.