Customs '53 Chevy Purchase Advice

I ran across a decent '53 Chevy on a family trip over the 4th. We live in Alabama and the car is in Illinois. I got a few pics and was able to look at it a little bit. I didn't see any obvious Bondo work but did see some rust spots and potential water damage on the upholstery inside the car (see pics). They're asking $6000 for it and have connections that could send it this way so I don't have to drive the thing for 2 days to get it here. My wife and I took it for a test drive and it rode great. It's clearly not in mint condition, but I'm not looking for something in perfect condition. I'm fine with taking my time to bring it up to speed - as long as it can be driven throughout. Engine turned over without any problems. The car still has the original manual, all the original upholstery, headliner, dash, engine, transmission, etc. It has about 77,000 original miles on it. I'm not going to fly back up there to look at it again, so I have to make a decision based on my gut and on the feedback from those of you in this forum. So, what say ye?

-TM

 

JMHO but I think you can find something nicer, closer to home, for the same or similar money.

 

Here's the only advice I could give you...

If you're looking for a 4 door '53 Chevy, compare what else is out there for sale at that price and what condition they are in.

What you're likely response here will be..

"That's a $2500 car here"
"That's a $10K car here"
"Offer him $4600, see what he says"
My personal preference when buying a running vehicle is to spend the money on a clean, rust fee car as I can.
Things like upholstery, carpets, headliners, seats, can be done while the car is driven, sure, not cheap but compare the down time to fixing rust...rusted body mounts, etc.

 

I'm no body man, but from what you've showed, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a LOT more bondo else where.

 

I sold my 54 which was in better shape than that for I think around $4500. Interior was also all original in great shape for the age. Now this was probably 8-9 years ago. I haven't followed the market on these cars. I'd think you could find something closer for the money. (needed nothing when I sold it)

 

Did you pull back the carpet & look at the floor? There are rust blisters on the bottom of the doors and quarters, would cause one to think the floors are bad too. Last time it was painted they filled the rust with bondo, cheap & easy, looks bad in a couple of years. Your options: 1. Drive it for a couple of years, have fun & try to get your money out of it. 2. Slowly fix it up as time & money allow......... estimate $5000 for chrome. $5000 for metal work to replace rust...$5000 for paint... interior? Repro kit and labor might be $5k there too. We're not considering any mechanical problems that always happen with old cars. So you've got $26000 in a car worth $7500. It is a four door! A money guy will tell you to put the money in the bank for your kids education, but we're car guys. We like working on cars and nobody said this is a cheap hobby. So, if you don't go to the tavern every Friday & blow $100 and you don't buy a $5 latte every day, at the end of the year you've saved enough to get the chrome done. My 2 cents.... double your budget, get a nicer car that is a two door. You stand a better chance of getting your money back.

 

I wouldn't touch anything north of the Mason-Dixon line. That looks like some scary ****.

 

Yes. you did... you even photographed it---I´d try to find a better one, even if it´s a little more money. But I would not want to dig deeper ninto that one here... nasty surprises are in your future, if you decide to get this one....

 

I have been sort of looking for early 50's car also I would not want that car at all. keep looking for a nicer one and be patient, It will come along.

 

You just joined.
No offense, but if you knew those cars and their relative worth, and possible problems that are showing in the pics, this thread wouldn't exist.
There's a lot less steel in that car than you think there is, and a helluva lot of work to make it right.
I vote p***, and run.

 

Buy a 2 door if you can.

 

P***!

 

Run don"t walk!!!!!

 

A few in our area....haven't checked them out.
Yes I know some are higher, but look at the condition and think of how much to get yours into this shape.I was watching a few in the HAMB cl***ified that were under $10,000 that were nice

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/6191557066.html

https://fortmyers.craigslist.org/lee/cto/6149261141.html

https://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/6172740702.html

 

P*** on that car. It needs everything to make it nice. And I bet it is way more rusty then you think.

 

P***.

 

I'll offer an alternative view, partly because I'm a contrarian;

I'm guessing you want a running/driving project, not a basket case? And you aren't stuck on a 2 door vs. a 4 door? I'm also guessing that $7k is at the top of your budget? If you are here asking if that old chev is a good deal, then you are fairly new to all of this or you would already have a firm opinion.

Most people here would rather have a 2 door shell for less $$ so they can rod it themselves, they probably would want to do a lot of ch***is work and a drivetrain swap anyway, so the idea of a rusty 4 door Chevy isn't their cup o tea. They aren't afraid of welders or engine stands, that's fo' sho' but they are particular about what a cool car is to them and what's not.

I just did a quick CL search of your area, and there are some 2 door early 50's Chevies for less, but not one on the road really.

Something like this one in Atlanta might be better,



looks like someone has probably given it a lot of love recently, chances are they dealt with a lot of problems already as they were driving it. it's a 4 door, but still pretty cool and same $ as that Chevy. Flathead 8. Standard trans. There's a bunch more like that. I dig a mordor myself, why not swim against the current? You wanna drive around and fiddle with it, right? Learn about cars? Not spend a small fortune? If you are looking to make a profit selling it down the road, 4 doors usually puts the kibosh on that. If you are looking to cruise the freeway at 90 mph for hours at a time, try something after 1957 or so.

I might go for that Chev if I were you, tho, up here in New England we don't worry so much about rust. Rust free cars are rare, so when big chunks of bondo fall off we just put more on and keep driving the wheels off. (I do anyway), If an old car is registered and on the road at all, it's already a pretty rare bird. Cars that are only 10 years old have to be s****ped sometimes because of rusty frames. I've had a lot of old heaps, I used to JB weld quarters over the m***ive holes in frames then spray black goo on it to fool the inspectors as they ice picked the frames (when I was a stupid kid, now I use 1/2 dollars...)

Read more threads here. It is good knowledge. If you like old hot rods and old cars, there's no better place. If you have $7000 you should buy an old heap, that $ will just weigh you down.


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You can't see any mud, huh ... you may want to hang out here for a while & do some research ...
Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan ... all scary places for a car to come from.
6 grand for that one is about $5400 high ...

 

Um, yeah. You live in Alabama. Buy something local with little to no rust. I know all about cars from the rust belt. I will p*** on all of them from this area. My O.T. car is from Arizona, and my '56 effie is from So. Cal. Life's too short to replace every panel on a car.

 

x2

 

I'd be running away so fast that my feet would be kicking my own ***. Remember that for every bit of rust you see there is 10x more hiding behind it.

 

I think that car is rustier than you think and I would not buy that car. You can find that local on Craigslist for less money in my opinion. I see much nicer here in Florida for that and less. Keep looking.

 

listen to what others have said here DON'T DO IT - there's some nasty surprises lurking on that car...

Here's my 53 I picked up last year - was told it's a NC car:


Under that shiny blue paint is anywhere from 1/4" to 1/2" bondo

 

OUCH!! That is a nasty surprise.

Ray

 

Run don't walk away from that car! 2 years ago I bought a '49 Chevy two door coupe, running driving, 60,000 og miles, rust free car only paid 7000

 

Be patient..you can do better.

 

I normally don't like to give advise on what someone should, or should not, purchase. But I'm with the others on this one. And also, this is the best place for you to be. We will try our best to give you good advise, and hopefully may even help you fine a great, and fun driver. The idea of drive and work on it as you go, is a great idea. If you can find someone who has experience to go with you, when you check out a car, that would be great. Remember { LOVE is blind} ask me how I know . lol Good luck! Ron...

 

Too much too much

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Being a very impatient person when it comes to something I want, I do have to agree with this quote on this car.

 

Might wanna have your eyesight checked!