My grandfather recently p***ed away, and I am trying to price some of his stock that he kept over the years. We came to realize that we had some original Ardun heads from 49-50, and have been trying to locate how much original heads go for. i know the replica conversion kits go for around 14K. Any ideas? Or prices? Bruj
How complete? Might want to send a PM to Matt Werksman (FoxValleyCustoms); he has some experience with this sort of thing.
the last time i saw a set of authentic Ardun heads for sale was about 3 years ago and they wanted 25k for em. yeah theyre cool as hell and definietly a piece of hot rod history but i could think of a lot better things to do with 25k
That's a shame you're gonna cash 'em in. Why not make the old man proud and build a fire-breathin' Ardun Hot Rod with 'em? He'll be smilin' ear to ear......guaranteed.
They probably sell for way more than they are worth. If they are complete undamaged originals they are worth more than what I have as equity in my house. I wouldn't want you to think you are going to retire on them but I'm gonna fathom that you can claim way more than a set of the repops easily 20-25k is probably a conservative guesstimate these days.
youre right PNB, deffinately wont retire but it would pay off a good chunk of something. complete and usable condition they are worth 20k-25k, remember there are 2 types that can fetch more than the other... early "ARDUN, New York" VC's and the later "ARDUN". photos will deffinately help
All I know is iI would sell my soul to the devil before I would come off of those. Well you could sell them for 20-25k and then buy another pair and build a *****IN' flattie' and damn near a complete rod.
well, the condition is unknown to me. im more of a computer guy. grandfather always kept his stuff close to his chest, and would never teach me anything about it. all i really know about them, is that there are 2 heads, and a complete engine, that he used in 1951, and set the record in 1951 in Bonneville. i know they are workable, but not what if anything would lower the value. thanks for the quick replies.
grandfather's name was Johnie Houston Adams, Jr. He went on to race Porsche's, and ran a Porsche repair shop in Houston, TX.
Brujah, take some pictures. You came to the right place for knowledge on Ardun heads. Don't dis***emble them, let a professional do that. An original set with dry lakes history might be worth something. Probably worth more as an entire car, ***uming it still exists too. But I would consider holding onto it instead of ditching it to pay bills.
wouldn't be to pay bills. honestly. they are just sitting there collecting dust. if i knew how to do it, or had the funds myself to do it, i would use them, and have me a bad *** hot rod. i just find it sad they are collecting dust, when they can be used for what they were intended. i will see what i can do about pictures.
Brujah- everyone can be taught how to use them. Alot of knowledge here on the HAMB and most are not afraid to teach newbies. Don't give up so easy, especially if you are not hurting for $. It would be the talk of the town to drive out with a set on your hot rod and plus you will meet some old farts that may have hung out with your grandpa and talk history all night long. Priceless stories!
so what else did grampa have ? if he was at bonneville in 51 that is a very interesting time in the history of Hot Rodding.. got any old photos? anything related to his bonneville days would be of interest to us here on the HAMB.
I agree w/ those that say to hang on to 'em, maybe build the rod, keep the history alive & within the family.
Jeff, Hang around here for a while, take advantage of the unequaled tech and history info available ... many members will offer really valuable help in constructing that rod. Keep in mind everyone here has a "Man, I wish I hadn'ta sold that" story - these will probably be the only Arduns you'll ever have a chance to own ...
If they were your Grandfathers, and he set a record at Bonneville with them AND you DON'T need the money, why would you part with them? In 1977 I bought a NOS set of ARDUN heads from the original buyer for $600.00 sight unseen over the phone and fliped them within an hour over the phone to a dealer for a then record $2,500. Then a few years later got tired of the V8-60 ARDUN equiped Midget engine and swaped it for $2,000. worth of repo 1932 Ford parts. GREAT deal at the time...................I'm sorry I did that now. You deside what you want to do with your piece of family history.
This guy just joined today. Acccording to his profile he has a new Dodge Charger, no old iron. He is also into investments. Are you adding this up? My take, as if anyone asked, he's just out to maximize the gold resulting from Gramps heads, he isn't now or will be getting his hands dirty on an old car. I suspect Gramps legacy will be a piece of high dollar property, that is until another more lucritive oportunity presents itself. I could be wrong, hope I am. Frank
build a car and come race with us in temple ! don`t be a ***** ! pm. me if you need help , not being a ***** ! I can show you how to put those to use ! and make your grandpa proud ! Casey. is there a belly tank in that garage ?
I'd like to make a few points if I may? (1) NO INTRO (2)If he was akin' about anything but Ardun Heads,well Nearly anything,He'd be gettin flamed about now. (3)He outta be gettin' his *** flamed anyway for even thinkin' about parting with something like that. (4) Why in the hell are you tryin' to price it for anyway?That's just,well wrong. (5) If there is enogh stuff layin around that you need to be lookin' for prices you need to be makin' a Hot Rod. (6) Let the Flames Light,,,,Are stupid or gay? Your Gpa is prolly rollin' over in his grave about now knowin' what you're up too. (7) There are prolly people around who would help you make a Hot Rod around some cool **** like that just to say they actually got to work on some **** like that.
So if your grandfather left you some item that had no meaning at all to you, and was worth a ton, and could use the money, what would you do? ***uming you had enough sentimental things and memories p***ed on to remember a loved one, there is nothing wrong with selling off some stuff that has no personal meaning. You guys are acting like because Ardun heads are rare, this guy is silly not to want to keep them. If he isnt a hot rodder, why would he care? To him they are possibly just greasy old boat anchors that he has to keep in a box in his garage, and not an hairloom to place on the mantle. Yea, maybe he's going about getting an "appraisale" the wrong way, he didnt post an intro, and maybe he's better off just going to an auction house like R-M auctions for something like this, but I personally see nothing wrong with him selling them. My grandfather has a large collection of leica cameras, which are VERY high end. Sure everyone in the family has a leica hand-me-down we use because its a great camera, and we didnt pay anything for it, but will I need all 7 $3000 cameras and 25 $2500 lenses he has when I inherit them? No. Some Leica Camera collector may think im crazy for selling them if/when the time comes, but what am I gonna do with them? Make photography my new hobby just because I have a great collection I inherited? I have no p***ion for photography, other than the ability to take pictures of cars and family. Whats a non hot rodder gonna do with a set of Ardun heads? Make a coffee table out of them? The guy probably has no interest in the heads, just like 99.9% of the worlds population, when it comes to Ardun heads. Hot rodders are born from p***ion, not just an inheritance of a rare part. Let them go to a lucky hot rodder, who just happens to have a good stash of money burning a hole in his pocket (maybe from selling off an inheriance he didnt have any feelings/use for!).
Whatever you decide to do with them, don't let them out of your sight. I would not take them to any shop to be inspected unless you are standing there within arms length the entire time. Never out of sight.
how does some guy who knows nothing about hot rods even know to ask about ardun heads? he must have known they have some value out of all the stufff " grandpa" had....then to fall into the place.......and ask about the value? yeah, right..
Maybe he is just "fishin"? I don't care about rods. I don't know the value, I don't care..........Any offers??????........OLDBEET
The heads were p***ed to my grandmother when grandfather died. My grandmother wanted to me to find out how much they are worth. My uncle used to be a mechanic as well, but has been retired and on disability for the past 10 years, so has been out of the scene for a while. I have come here at my grandmother's request to try to price these heads. Thank you to most of you for the kind words and what-have-you, and as to how i cam to H.A.M.B? GOOGLE.
I not sure how much they are really worth but they are very valuable Im sure. Could you put a pic or 2 of them up on here and are there any numbers stamped on them?
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