Where did you find your project?

I'm a youngin' looking to build his first hot rod. The only problem is that I can't find a vehicle! Local papers are pretty much worthless. The local hot rod scene is pretty much non-existent. eBay seems to have nothing but over-priced junk, all ready built hot rods, and restorations. I'd like to build a Model A coupe, but now I think I'll just take what I can get.

If you guys have some resources to find good projects, I'd like to hear them!

Thanks,

HotRod_Joe

 

You have to to do footwork. Ask around some shops, hell ask anyone. Go to swap meets. Check online, craigslist, old car trader, auto trader. Make contacts and ask around. Go to shows and ask folks where they got their car and if they no anybody with a vehicle/project/pile of parts they want to part with.

 

I got my car from a guy who was an old friend if my bother-in-law's Dad. Sometimes you just have to go out and talk to people at local shows or shops and eventually you'll find someone who has knows someone else who has something for sale.

 

found mine in a barn 5 min. from my house i was looking at a different car and bought both for 4000

 

im not sure if you are lookin hard enough or just lookin for wally world prices but there are rides out there dude.. good luck man..

 

Im always looking in peoples back yards as I'm driving around .... I found a couple of my Impalas that way!!

 

Found my current ride in the Auto Trader book that comes out every week .

 

I wasn't even lookin when mine jumped off the pages of the old car trader at me....

 

First you need to set a realistic price range and then find a body style that is in that price range, then it becomes much easier to find a project. Sometimes if you really know what you are doing you can get a good deal, my 29 model a sedan only cost me $250 but I collected all of the parts to make the car and at the time I wasn't even looking for a sedan just a solid rear half of the body sort of fell in my lap when a guy parting out his restored car because it was involved in a bad car accident destroying most of the front of the car, he sold it to me for $100 dollars and I later found a solid pair of doors and then I bought a cowl with a bunch of other parts and next thing I knew I had a complete body and I had bought a frame ten years earlier because it was in such nice shape and I knew at some point in my life I would build a model A.

 

I found mine 2 miles from home,in an elderly friends backyard. He is a member of an antique club. The HAMB's classifieds are full of projects,and often the best way to get started,is to buy a partially built project,and put your personal touches on the finished product.

 

get there early and bring cash, open your mind and expand your horizons, that old song "if you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with!" those four letter F words (Ford) cost more, start searching for anything 26-34 and you'll save some of your start up cash and find more stuff.

 

I still haven't drug this one off a local ranch. I found my 52 pontiac hardtop from word of mouth, a friend knew a rancher who was pulling a few at a time off local ranches. I'd start driving some indiana section roads and asking the farmers and ranchers you run into.



s.

 

How about someone who works on houses, like cable guys..
my buddy works for a cable company and always finds old cars .
Good luck.

 

I found mine on e-bay. took me almost a year to find the mine. The deals aren't gonna jump at you. Be patient and beat some bushes. I had a complete drivetrain, wheels, and other odds and ends first.

Make some friends and join the local clubs, you'll get where you're going.

 

I spend alot of time in the weeds...

 

i found mine here on the hamb

 

I like Salt City Custom's advice, start collecting parts, any and all parts you can find fleamarket and eBaying them will get you some mad money and instant connections that hopefully will lead to a car or project. Don't start spending money on a car you don't like just because it was the first thing to come along.

 

I too found mine on e-bay,I started typing in just years under the description, then set it to nearest first.I paid $400 for a complete 50 shoebox(4dr),8BA and all.That was about 10 miles away.They're out there, when you don't look is when you find the deals,when you look too hard is when its impossible to find one.

 

I have a friend that used to work for one of the local utilities in the 'right of way enforcement' division. He used to find all kinds of stuff. You might ask around with those groups.

 

you want steel or glass?

 

I got one truck off Ebay legitimately, and one off Ebay by contacting the seller after the truck didn't sell, one truck and one donor car off the HAMB. I like to watch ebay auctions and then see how much money will buy them when they don't sell. I got a drive on alignment rack for $400 that way.
CHAZ

 

Found my 31 in indiana auto rv. Like others said there are still cars to be found. Check all auto adds and keep looking stay at it. Talk to people one will come your way. Set a max price you want to spend and when a good by comes your way be ready to grab it. Also check out Kalamazoo michigan show in the fall. Usually good buys at this meet.

 

I found mine in the outback of Australia.

But one very effective way I have used to beat the local bushes is the small town or country newspapers Penny saver or similar weekly publications that are distributed through several counties sometimes delivered door to door but most often available for free at local stores. Cost to run an ad is cheap and the coverage is great.

The old timers tend to read them cover to cover unlike the daily paper in larger towns. Run something along the lines of.
"looking for an old car to work on 1930s-40s will consider anything and any condition even ditch fill but have a budget so I do not want a show car but would prefer a two door"

If you get a call on something you do not want in the long run but the price is right buy it and resell it here on the HAMB and use the proceeds to buy what you want. Beat the bushes and buy and sell a few times to build up the cash reserves. If you are not sure bring your digital camera and ask this gang for thier opions and disreguard about half of them.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...0&ct=result&cd=1&q=pennysaver+indiana&spell=1

 

When i was in Boy Scouts, we would go camping at my Scoutmaster's farm. We went for a hike around his farm and i spotted the coupe there. Years later when i got the idea of buiding a car, that was the first thing i thought of. Called him up and he said "Come get it!"
Ratty55

 

Found mine picking up a trailer hitch for my sons pick up. Just sitting in the side yard. Had to have it!!!!

 

I found mine in the old car trader like the big 5 dollar one. I read it cover to cover and saw prob. the smallest add in there with exactly what i was looking for. called the guy struck a deal and drove out to check it out the next weekend. What you have to do is read read and read some more and find the exact car you want. cuz you cant buy one or find a deal if you dont know what you want.

 

I always wanted a 34 Ford coupe, so I would mention that in every car conversation I had. This networking paid off, because in one of those conversations, the guy knew someone with a 34 coupe. It was not for sale then, but after meeting the owner and leaving my name and number, a year later he called, needing to sell it to get on with another project. There it is to the left.

 

I always did craigslist searches for years (instead of make/model) ranges I'm interested in.

That's how I managed to find "1957 Chyrsler Newyorker 2dr sedan"

I've been looking for a '57-58 Chrysler or DeSoto 2dr HT for... forEVER.

It wasn't dirt cheap but it's rock solid and I'm damned happy with it.

Keep your ear to the ground, bug everybody about what you want, and have cash in your pocket. You'll find it.

 

I asked a County Assesor if he knew of anyone that had a Model T, he told me, I drove over and found a Model A tudor and three Ts all for sale. I only wanted the 26 Coupe and paid $1,000 for it, had both doors, deck lid, garnish moldings, motor and frame. Got a finders fee of $1,000 for the other three cars.

Also I go out Pheasant Hunting in South Dakota and bring back cars or parts. I've brought back two 26 T coupes and lots of sheet metal.

Just go out and find an old indepent garage and find the oldest guy there and start asking questions. Last year after delivering a T tudor to a guy I did this very thing, it was in a small town north of Madison Wisconsin, came across another T tudor and a cherry 46ish Dodge coupe.

They are still out there......... GO LOOKING for yourself.

PM me if your willing to come up to Southern Minnesota and I'll put you on some HOT leads.

All of the attached cars can be bought!!!!!!!!

 

wake up early and go to where all the old people eat breakfast. Shoot the shit and you will find stuff.