Projects Another "What would you offer" thread.....

Spotted a 1956 Chevy 210 2 door sedan today for sale. Car looks fairly solid best I could tell, right quarter has bondo swiped on it probably hiding rust out, tail panel below trunk lid has pits about in line with the trunk seams. I looked under best I could, couldn't really tell much about the floors. All the trim is there on the car, but grill had some minor bent places and probably some rust covered with silver paint. Interior is very worn original, threadbare and falling apart, missing one door panel. Dash was faded, stainless and chrome trim there but dull. Engine is a later model 350 hooked to original 3 speed on column. Nobody around, it was parked in front of a closed body shop, so I don't know how it runs. I figure it would be a complete teardown, maybe some new body panels or at least some patch panels, paint and a complete interior overhaul. A driving project, maybe.

According to the writing on the window, there is supposed to be two 4 door parts cars that go with it, unknown what they look like or if even anything is savable from them.

Asking price is $8500 or best offer. I know, pretty impossible to price one without a pic or looking at it, I forgot to take any pics while I was there. Doors were also locked, so I couldn't check things like steering play and brakes, but I'm looking at it from a standpoint that it needs everything refreshed or replaced, if it doesn't, then that's just money not spent in one area that can be used on it elsewhere.

So, what is a ballpark figure on a 56 210 2 door in this kind of shape? Or maybe better yet, what would you pay for a project that needs this much? I've always been a fan of tri-five Chevys, especially the lesser seen 56's, but I'm not so big a fan to get into something by paying too much then regretting it later. I don't just have to have it, but if I could get into it right, I would be interested. Good thing is most of what needs replacing is reproduced, bad thing is it will take time and dollars to make it what it could be. But if all that was done, it wouldn't be $8500, either.

So, what would you offer based on my description?

 

What color is it? Hows the :
Chrome
Stainless
Gl***
Gaps
Price sounds fair for a driver, but if it's getting a teardown maybe a little high.

 

Color is mostly gray primer. All gl*** is there and good. Side stainless is good, bumpers have some rust covered with silver paint. Door, trunk and hood gaps look good, but don't know if doors sag or not since it was locked. I did open hood, wiring is so so, engine is clean, didn't see any signs of oil leaks, has new alternator and aluminum radiator. It appears to be driven as is, has 15" radials with stock 56 caps [I think]. And a set of skirts on the rear that would be the first thing I'd take off. Original dash is uncut, AM radio still in it.

I'm thinking it's a little high too, but don't want to make too low an offer, you know how some people are, they get pissed if you do. I'll be going through there Thursday, so if it's there I snap a few pics if I don't forget it.

 

Let me be the first to say, need pitchers!

Oops, I see youre gonna get some

 

Yeah, I know. I was in kinda a hurry today and didn't think about it. Really didn't give it much thought until later in the day when I decided to look up some parts for it to get a feel of what it would cost for a few things. Still very much in an undecided state on it....

 

You know he want's as much as he can get and you know how much you can afford, if you make him a offer have the cash in your pocket, we all now cash talks.

Being the buyer I would point out all the negative things but also the positive aspects too.

If it was something I wanted I would offer him 3 grand if it runs, if you have to go higher you can make that decision at that time.HRP

 

Sounds pretty high to me for a car that needs that much done to it in my opinion. I don't know how much 56 Chevys have appreciated in price in Alabama since I bought mine, but personally I wouldn't give more than 3K like HRP said, going by your description. I don't think the 56 brings as much money as the 57 or even the 55.
I have found that usually parts cars have few parts on them that are better than the car you are building or else they wouldn't be parts cars.

 

Yeah, I wouldn't be afraid to make a sincere offer on it, the only offers that annoy me are the arrogant ones. The fact that it is a 2 door would keep me interested, and we can tell you are.

 

Asking 8500 will probably mean its gonna take at least 6500 and with 2 other parts cars, I would say hes in range to sell to someone.

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw2N4w5V7Y9omTcyXTkGfmnR&ust=1542599257645794

 

Just turned off the Mechum auction... I don't build my cars to make money but the low prices they were hammering for made me a little ill...Some of the sold prices wouldn't pay for the F ing chrome.

 

I'm guessing $10,000 to really make it a nice car, maybe more if stuff has to be farmed out.

 

https://chattanooga.craigslist.org/cto/d/1956-chevrolet-bel-air-2-door/6737633270.html

There are several listed in my FB marketplace that seem to be better than what you described

 

On the other "what's it worth thread"..the '57 Ford 4 dr 6 cyl, 3 spd car, the general consensus seems to be that at $2850, it's a good deal.
Now consider this '56 Chev 2 dr, running v8, valued by some at, or around $3K.
Defies logic in my book.
Even at say the $10K or so required to make it what you want, and at sellers full asking price of $8500, you're into a very desirable, now personalized to your taste car, that you'd be into for $18,500 at full asking price.
I'd buy that car for $6K or hopefully even less, and think I got a good deal.
Any examples of nice '56 Chev 2 dr's out there to post that are offered at $16K?

 

I agree. But we've yet to see pics of said '56 to be fair.

 

Alabama....is that one of those no ***le states?
If so that may hinder selling out of state.

 

$1500 is my thought not knowing the state of the engine.

 

Better do some homework, If all 3 of em were parts cars, they should be worth more than that.

 

$8500 for a car with unknown floor, trunk pans with already other rust issues is highway robbery. Prices in Alabama must be pretty cheap if you can turn that project into a nice car for only 10K. An interior, rechromed bumpers, and other trim, wheels, tires, brakes, cooling and paint would be at least 20K. No determination on worth can be made without knowing the condition of floor pans, trunk pan, body mounts, floor braces and inner and outer rockers. I wouldn't make any offer until all issues are known.

My last 56 BelAir 2 door post car project was an original 42,000 mile virtrually rust free car that took over 20K to get it to where I wanted it.

Gary

 

Depends on what one is going for, Yes perfection is gonna cost ya and a rougher car isnt the one to start with for that, but the rougher stuff thats in more of an affordable range for most of us still isnt cheap either even if we are willing to settle for a rougher driver quality

 

Bama is still mad I stole that 56 wagon out from under his nose.LOL

 

Got a big grin out of me on that one Anthony!

Here is a couple of pics of one in about the same shape, this is NOT the same car. I would say they are close, this one is a 6 and the back gl*** is gone, one I'm looking at is an 8 and all gl*** is good. The rust on the grille pieces looks to be about the same, bumpers about the same condition. This one is not drivable and they are asking $4900.

 

Yes, no ***le for antique cars here. One of the reasons I guess you can find them cheaper here.

 

Asking and getting are two very different things. This would be about $2,500 around here. An engine that is unknown is priced the same as no engine.

 

I think 8500 is high to me, but it's hard to tell w/no pics. Good thing is parts are available. Bad thing is chrome and parts aren't cheap. Parts cars might be a plus, Might be a guy getting rid of junk. I bet 6500 would buy it all I'd start at 5K and see what he did. As you know, the cost to build is going to be at least as much as the cost to acquire it. Good luck. p.s. I'm sure you know the front and rear windshields are interchangeable on 2 and 4 door sedans.

 

That one just needs a bath and some gl***
Zoom zoom

 

Pics as promised. I'm gonna call on it this weekend sometime.

 

That looks like a really solid car but I would want to know what the skirts are hiding. If it's as solid as it looks that is not a bad deal.

 

I like it
Some flake/lace on the roof
Mild drop, bellflower tips
Chrome steelies
Done

 

Isn't value dependent on what one's skill level and available facilities are?

The price of paint alone these days is somewhere in low orbit around Ur****.