I am in the amrket for a good deal on a early Ford (Rat rod body). I don't need a frame (gonna build my own out of tubes). How do I find a good body? I thought about driving down the freeway and looking in backyards, but I may get shot. I have been looking on Craigslist and e-bay, but can't find any good deals. How do you guys find your deals? Thanks Dima
You mean you can't find any deals on rat rods(z?) in Brentwood? What kind of a world do we live in?! What kind of tubes? I hope they're some kind of metal!
I just bought a 28/29/30/31 Model A via the HAMB "for sale" section... but just to warn you... if you find one too... it won't have a decklid... you see... they sell you the body for $1500... the doors for $350... and the decklid for one of your kidneys. If I had to start all over I'd look for a Fiero to put a V8 in and add a Ferrari kit car body to it. Good luck! (I've also heard of this other thing called ebay... but those cars are all missing their decklids as well.)
Word of mouth, talk to everyone. As far as finding a good deal that'll take time and effort. I usually run across deals when I'm not looking for them in particular and they are too good to p*** up, thats why I have too many projects.
How do you get shot driving down the freeway and looking in backyards?? How many backyards can you look into from the freeway?? Who would shoot you while you're speeding by at 70mph with binoculars out the window?
I actually found mine on collectorcartrader.com. Not really that great of a site for old tin, but I happened to come across my 56 for sale there. The guy who owned it was moving and couldn't take it with him, so we wound up swapping cars - I had a Camaro that ran, so he could drive it to where he was moving, and I got the Bel Air.
All my cars have found me I rarly go out and look they usuly find me get abanded near my house that type of thing so maybe you need to just wait and one will arive in your lap
Got a friend with a hot air balloon? Seriously, it works well! I've seen lots of cool stuff in backyards that way. (and cute babes)
Ha Ha...yeah, when you spot a car you want, just tie a note to a brick and drop it on the roof of the car or something...offer him chump change for it cuz now it needs more bodywork! (of course, getting shot at becomes a far bigger concern if you go the hot air balloon route and take to dropping things on people...but you could indeed find lots of cool stuff that way!!)
put tatoos and piercings all over your body and and walk down alleys. One of them will jump over a fence and try to eat your ***. Be sure to have an extra long wallet chain for them to choke on before reaching flesh.
OK, I can admit a pretty stupid question (or worded very poorly), and a stupid question deserves a stupid answer. I was wondering if there are certain places where the "older" style of ford can be found? As for getting shot (figure of speech). I have been building rockcrawlers for the past 15 or so years, so this is a little change of pace. I was hoping to find a place where I can keep an eye out for the "right" rod.
That is good to know, but why Is there something wrong with that? Is that not the proper terminology? Everything I have read for the past few years has been using that term. Dima
To us "Traditional Hot Rods" are how it was done around '65 and earlier. "Rat Rod" is a new term, cars with rusty exteriors and lousy, exposed welds, no floorboards, spiderwebs and skulls, and "Shock Value".
well when the word rat rod comes to mind i always think of a 16 year old emo kid who just heard his first rock and roll song and picked up a certain magazine from the rack at the supermarket. dont know why.
Seriously, lots of places to find projects. I've seen some good ones on the HAMB. Let your friends know what you're looking for. I got my (OT) truck that way, complete with engine in the bed for $200. I've found two cars on Ebay and one in the local paper. I bought an (OT) Fairlane from my brother. If you're in a hurry you'll pay too much or buy junk. But when a deal comes along, move right away. One thing I've learned the hard way is the body is always in worse shape than it appears. Always. Surface rust usually goes all the way through. Get someone to look at it with you if you're not a bodywork expert. In hindsight, I should have bought half as many cars and paid twice as much money. Too soon old too late smart.