I'm looking to buy a 1955 chevy. I came apone it while driving with my dad. I did not talk to the seller though. But the signe said it was a '55 chevy. "runs good, drives good" I don't remember the miles but i would think its alot. The out side of the car is not the best. He/She wants $1,000-$2000. But i like.......Only problem is I not a REAL car guy. I like cars and I know some stuff. But what I want to know if the guy is a scamming me. I need to know if the Car is "Real" this there sertine things to look for or ask to see that I'm getting my moneys worth. Just some questions to ask. please help!? Thanks- Reverend Seth
your best bet is to find someone you can trust who is. I'm sure there is someone near you on this board who could help you out. Now you have to trust that they wont buy the car out from under you. $2000 is a steal for a running driving 55 Chevy. For a car in the condition you are wanting I'd think you'd be in the $7500 range for something nice. Best thing I can say is take some pictures and post them here. We can be the judge for you. to tell if the car is real, just touch it. If you can feel it... it's real (sorry, couldnt resist!)
Someone in Wisconsin needs to go look at this car with him ,It would take weeks to give you the basics on what to look for. My first advice is if you really want it ,jump in. You will lose a lot of money through out your life just make sure you learn each time. Best of luck.
first off, welcome to the H.A.M.B.. Is it 2 or 4 door. Need to know the model, what engine and trans and overall condition. 55's can be fairly complicated. I've been 3 years doing mine so I know alittle about them. Floors, rockers, underside bracing, inner wheelwells, bodymounts,trunk area etc. The rear quarters are sealed by a rubber strip between the inner and outer skin and you can tell if it has rust there from the line it will form on the quarter panel. If it seems fairly solid and even if it needs quite a bit of work for that price it's probably worth it. More information would make it easier to determine. Look around here and on ebay and see what there selling for and you'll know what I mean.Could be a steal
post some pictures . tell us a little more about it.... 2 door? 4 door? nomad? as 35pickup said , find a friend who does know his stuff check it out . the price does seam cheap for a running `55 chevy in any body style
Buy it and dig in. I learned as I went. My first car was a 60 Chevy that I got in the late 70's. It had rust, and needed work but I loved old cars and had mechanical skills so I bought tools, manuals, and magazines, and went from there. I have now been through well over 60 old cars.
I agree with the any body style but if it's gotten to the point of needing floors , bracings and body mounts and whatever else it may scare him away from it. If he's not a "car guy" I just want him to be prepared for what he might find. It's a good price to say the least and redoing a 55 is by all means worth it in the end providing it's not a complete mess. He does need to post some pics here so we can give better advice
Hey "Rev" from Squaresville, who's scamming who? Did you loose your spot on MySpace???? Check out this months issue of Hemmings.....
A running, driving '55 4-door sedan with a 235 is a $4500-$5500 car if it's presentable or close to it. If you're not even sure that the car is a '55 Chevy without the sign saying so, then it's time for some automotive education.
believe it or not there are a few wisconsin guys on the board that might offer help and take a look at it with you, but i'm not sure where squaresville is????
Yeah...just tell us where it is and um.. er... well, we'll go look at it and let you know. Isn't Squaresville just up the road from T****zoid City?
First off thanks guys for givin' me tips! I live in Manitowoc. The car though in near Loon Lake, which is north of Shawano Lake. My family has a cabon near there From what I remember. Its a two door, no paint, rust, rust holes, needs either new tires or the tires need air, the windows look fine, there is trim, motor specs and that tipe of stuff i dont know. The reason I think the price is low, is either the seller dose not knoe the value of the car or they just want to get rid of it. There were three other cars with the chevy. Sorry but I don't have pic of the car. Im a retard and didn't talk to the owner and didn't take pics, I should of though. The next Wont be three or four weeks. I'm going to see if my dad can go and get the owners name & number and take some photos. I'm the only one in my family that is in to cars. And the only one in the family besides my grandma who wants me to buy it. If any of you Wisconsin Car guys wants to drive up there, I know gas aint cheep. And Help me, I'll be in debet to you. Thanks again guys for helping out an aspiring "car guy"!!!
That sounds like a great deal to me. Simple rust patches won't be hard to learn if you don't have to do any major re-creation of structural pieces. It really helps a lot to have a mentor around when you're going into a project like that, for the first time. Someone who can guide you through the first time around, so you can learn to do it yourself.
I did fail to say I'm 17 and it would be my first car. My mom says I should buy a newer car. But I'm a "50's rockabilly" kindda guy. To drive in a new car wouldn't feel right. I don't plan to restore it or hot rod it up. I just want a 50's car, I can drive were ever when ever.
This will be your education... It WILL NOT BE EASY. IT WILL NOT be instant everyday..dependable transportation. It can be a great project. There are very..very few folks who do not have some idea of the worth of a 55 Chev 2DR..in RUNNING CONDITION. IF it drives on it's own power..doesn't look like it was Captain Nemo's on deck ride.. BUY IT..and learn..
Good luck Seth, Someone needs to help this fellow out and if theirs two or three other cars ,you might find something you like for yourself!
You're gonna spend lots of time under the hood, and lots more times stuck along the road, but welcome to the club!
If it was closer i'd be glad to help out and take a look....beware of that as a first car/daily.....go find a cheap heap of **** that will take you where you want to go....get the 55 and fix it up, work on it, get it reliable, then drive it from april till november. find a nice spot to store it till winter is over and get it back out. you don't want to drive it through the winter and make the body worse do you? just my .02 cents
It is a sad world we are in now. I noticed he edited his first post and the reason given was spelling. Was it because there were too many words spelled RIGHT.
If that car guy voice inside you is really screaming buy this car then thats what you need to do. How do you think all the "car guys" here became car guys, by doing thats how. You can read all the message boards, book, watch dvd's etc. but unless you get down and dirty and s****e you knuckles and bleed, curse and swear at it you'll never learn. You have to do to learn not read. Sure you don't want to buy something that is falling off the frame as your first project but if you can't get a knowledgeable person to go with you go check the car out yourself. See if it A: runs and B: drives. If you have those your half way there. Besides you'll only be shelling out a grand or two. I paid $3500 for basically a body and ch***is no engine or trans, no front clip but I got a good deal. Hey you'll be starting off with a 55 Chevy so you'll have the cool factor handled. Good luck with it if you decide to buy it.
That's funny as hell. Myself I went to skool four automekanix and came out wift a speeling dagreie!! You no I one tha speeling bee thing>>>>.