Projects 1953 Chev 2dr HDTP, What should I offer??

Did you buy it?

 

couldn't have said it better my self! if it has a front seat it's worth 200.

 

No joke. The top may be an issue, as it looks to be rotted out around the drip rails. I think the hood and fenders should interchange between cars(atleast thats how it is in ford). I don't know exactly how much that car is worth, but id say its more than $500, so long as the frame isnt rusted through or cracked. this is just IMO, of course.

 

I just traded a $1500 truck for this 54 about 2 weeks ago... It's got a crunched rear fender but it has the original engine/drivetrain and only took about a week to get running again. Id say the car you have there is in the $5-$600 range but the better question is how much does the guy want for it?
Does it have a ***le? anything left of the interior? is the frame solid?

There's guys here that have started with worse but do you have the talent/time/money to do it yourself?

 

Well, I had to work today, so I didn't get over there as planned. I talked to the guy and threw him an offer. I will be pickin it up this week. The roof is good, no major rust in drip rails. The only bad spot is where the trim covers up the area where the roof and body meet. Pretty common in a couple 53's I have seen.
Interior is all there. front drivers seat is worn, rear seat, headliner, door panels look good, just needs a good cleaning.

 

man. no the car can be fixed if youre good and have the time, but man these chevys seem to be around so much, you might be happier finding a local cl***ified ad old lady owned one in better shape. they certainly arnt going for '49 merc prices. but if you just want to grind on rust forever in your garage and need to get away from a wife, go for it for a cheap price tag.

 

If anyone is interested, here are a couple more photos.
While I was underneath it, I noticed that it did not have the ole torque tube rear end. Hopefully there is a posi underneath there.



The hood looks pretty bad!! Anyone got a good hood. I guess I could just roll without one.

 

ehhh p*** on it...

 

I think so too,I paid $1000 for this car 2 years ago,but floors and trunk are good,as well as underneath.I've been offered $3500,but these cars are very rare up here.

 

Well if you bought it and are happy that is what really matters, and we get follow another build. If the bumpers are one piece that is a plus, i was told West Coast cars got them while everyone else has the three piece ones. If the hood is shot maybe you should start looking for a '54 front clip, my first car on the road was a '54 and they look nicer to me than the '53's. Good luck, wear your work gloves and eye protection.

 

Can't tell for sure but the end of the axel shaft, (the part that shows in the center of the wheel looks like the ones from the 57-64 Pontiac rear end that I have.

 

hahahaha

 

I just sold a 54 HrdTop without any gl*** or engine/****** for 1000.00. The body was in better shape though. Here's a few pics...

 

Well, I finally got over there to talk to them, and it seems like my offer was not high enough. Someone had come in and offered more then what I wanted to pay....

So if anyone has a 53-54 2 hardtop, let me know.

 

Dont know what you offered, but I would have shown you the door if you offered what 1/2 these dudes told you to. If you relied on this thread for value I think you got duped. Its a 53 2 dr hardtop, not a 4 door...seriously folks...

 

I was looking for a base to start with.
I did not offer what they told me.
I looked in my wallet and it was the one talking!!

 

I'll say. If I had that car I'd ask $2500 and take the first $1500 minimum. More if that's a real Corvette block in it. $350? I can't even buy one out of a junkyard for $350 that's half rotted away. This isn't a 150 4dr sedan that's been hit hard in the *** end.

I had a '53 convertible a couple years ago that sold for $1500 on the first try on eBay. The only thing that held the front of the car, to the back of the car, was the torque tube - the frame was shot, the rockers were shot, the floors were shot - and the guys who bought it came from California all the way to New York for it, so add another $1500+ on top of the purchase price. A lot of those stainless parts are like hen's teeth - stuff like that just doesn't exist at any price in SoCal, apparently.

It ain't 1975 anymore -

 

I am picking up a 54 hard top in the next couple of weeks very complete but rusty original car I am paying $1500. All the trim is there need trunk lid & doors floors & more they are rebuildable if n***ary if we cant find the parts I will post pictures when we pick it up & yes it comes with a Washington ***le it was last driven I beleive in the lat 70s.