My only New Years resolution is to semi organize a big box of photos taken over the years of my vehicles and projects over the past 60 years. I drug out these 2 photos. My first car/hotrod/Model A was purchased in 1965 when I graduated High School as a non-running incomplete project. Towed it home with my dad at the end of a rope about 20 miles. It had a 265 Chevy, 3 speed Chev trans with Hurst Yo-Yo shifter. and a 57 Chev rear installed. Over the summer I got it running and drove it to college for 2 years. Over that two years I repaired and painted the body, and swapped in a 270 HP Corvette engine and 4 speed. My notes on the back of the first photo stated that I paid $240. for the car and sold it 2 years later for $750! This was in the Cleveland Ohio area. If anyone here has a clue as to what ever became of this A please let me know.
A dozen years ago I bought the remains of an A coupe body in that color. Let’s just say that I hope it wasn’t your car.
Like your car but I got a question. Was your Model A the "non-running incomplete project", or were you a "non-running incomplete project"? Not trying to be a smart***, you understand? When I graduated high school, I was definitely an incomplete project.
Probably not many 36 year old cars left out there anymore that anybody would want, especially for $240.
In 1961 my friend bought this 40 Ford from original owner insurance company for $100. He repaired it with junk yard parts and I bought it in 1963 for $400 and spent the next 24 years restoring it to original. Then, gave it a new look (last photo). I am lucky enough to still have it 60 years later.
AlanP561 Your right, as evidence by my diction and editing skills. Thankfully my automotive projects get finished. 19Forty Your a lucky man, and to be admired for keeping a car for 60 years. Great looking ride.
about 58 years ago, my dad and I looked at a really nice 39 Ford Woody. think it had a 48 flathead in it and chrome reverse, white wall tires with baby moons. sound is sweet with that dual exhaust. $750 was the asking price. My dad was in the mood to buy used car for the family to ride around in and I tried to talk him into the woody... I even offered to chip in my savings and paper route money to help out pay for it. instead he bought a 1956 Pontiac Safari. (which was pretty cool too).
Actually , even then , you stole it ! About the same time I paid $500 for a '55 chev 2 door sedan with a 265 2 bbl , 3 speed with of ,typical rusted eyebrows & qtr wheel openings with 80k miles on it !
This is why I can't bring myself to pay such high prices for cars I think are only worth a tenth of what people want for them. In 1973 I bought a really nice 57 Chevy Bel Air 2 door post for $100 that was every bit as nice as the 56 Chevy I sold for $22,000. Even though I was only making four bucks an hour, that difference still seems like too much. I sold a 59 Vette for $3600 that was nice except for the usual cracks above the front wheels. Now one like that is closer to 40K. I guess I have the old man's syndrome...."back in my day...."
The spring of 63 I bought a running driving 40 Ford cpe w/8BA for $125. In summer of 65 I bought a clean 55 Chev 2dr, 283, Hurst, no rust from Tenn. for $150 from a local Chevy dealer
About 1975 a neighbor had a 50 merc (2 door) for sale for 100$, bought it and pulled the motor for his school bus/camper. It was a real clean car but way to much money for a non running old car, not one of my better decisions.
Bought this 50 Ford Crestliner for $50 in '64. Yanked the cracked engine out of it and built a '53 Merc motor for it. [Father/son project] The 4 bbl intake and carb I bought from a buddy for $15. Ran great
1976...bought a basket case '32 5 window for $400. Cost me a tank of gas and pizza for my buddies to load it and bring it home. Sold it a few months later for $750...felt like I was on top of the world! 1978 I decide to p*** on a channelled 1932 Ford roadster, 394 Olds, a forest of carbs on top, lots of chrome on motor and front suspension, 3 spd toploader, banjo rear, tuck and roll interior, maroon paint...too rich for my blood at $2500. I'd like to revisit that decision!
That $240 for a 35 year old economy car was about 10% of the price of a new compact car at the time. That’s about the same as if my grandson was to pay $2800 for a non running 89 Ford ******. I would probably tell him that’s a dumb purchase .
In 1967 I bought a 55 Chevy Belair hardtop for $35 from a car lot in Charlotte. NC. Put two tires and front brake drums on it and drove it home. No rust anywhere. Six Cylinder automatic car. Interior was rough. Sold it about 6 months later for $150. I thought I hit a home run.
Around 1960 I went into the local grocery store. I bought a bottle of Coca-Cola and a Snickers bar, both were 5¢ each. Now, that would cost me about $3. I know,off topic, but shows how little our currency is worth.
In 1964 I bought the ‘31 in the avatar pic for $400. Hopped up B engine, 4” dropped axle with hydraulic brakes, Dove grey paint, nice original interior.
Being a younger fella, back in 1980 NZ , my then 18 yr old girlfriend brought a 56 4D Belair, $3.000, 350, powerglide , lake pipes, rough as beater, ( slim pickings in NZ on young fellas wages) , my now wife, still has the same car but much nicer, raised our 2 sons in it and still drives it today, the memories are the value,
I bought my first car in 1970. I worked all summer mowing yards to buy the car for $50.00, a new Holley 2bbl for $23.00 and a set of rebuilt spark plugs at Pep Boys for $3.00 . Got it running, it had been sitting a couple of years.... ran like a clock. 1956 Merc 9 p***enger wagon.
In 1959 I bought a 1940 Ford Coupe with a rebuilt 1948 Merc engine for $40.00. The car was in good shape. I would really like to have that car today!
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