Guy wants $750 for a 48 F-1 with a busted frame. Would you do it?

I can't believe I'm the one who's asking this, but I get a little stupid when it comes to old cars that pop up unexpectedly and hope you can talk some sense.
A guy on craigs is parting out and selling 150 cars and trucks prior to crushing (sound familiar?) I asked if they had any older stuff and was told all he had was a 48 F-1. I can't get a picture out of him but it's described as complete, rusty but NOT rusted through, driving when parked a few years ago, all original, intact glass, all instrumentation present, all body panels there and black in color. He claims the frame is broken behind the cab.
Now, I love these monkey face trucks and even know where I can get a solid donor frame for free.

I'd love to get something like this and just throw it together to have an old pickup to bang around in while I'm building my Essex.

Am I fucking crazy or what? Is $750 outrageous for a complete 48 F-1 that I could probably get running with a few hours work)remember this is Maine where an unrotted old car is damn near unheard of)? I'm not looking to win any beauty contests with it and I suppose without pictures this thread is essentially worthless and probably why I'm struggling with this one. I can get the money if I pull a few strings.

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

 

Don't buy it unless you actually see it up close and personal - unless you have money you can afford to loose.

 

If you can get donor frame for free like you say then i don't see why it wouldn't be a good deal. But i'm biased

 

Get the money, Go look at it! If it's what you want getit if it's not what you think it should be you're only out your time and travel to look.

 

Go look at it and see. If it's a pile of crap, you're just buying a title for $750.

 

Only if it has a good title, otherwise its too much hassle, imho.

 

Why/how is the frame "busted" ?

If it's complete, with a clear title, might be ok.

 

I can't even get the guy to tell me where in Maine he is (after 6 back and forth emails) so who knows. I'm curious how the frame is busted myself. If it's rust, then that stands to reason it's rotted despite what he says.
As far as title goes, any vehicle over 15 years old only requires a bill of sale here in the sticks.

 

Correction, I just got another email and he's only an hour away. Hmmm.

 

Depends on how much time you want to spend on it rather than the essex. I got a 49 chevy pickup that had a 1/2 done v8 swap. I've spent a lot of time a quite a sum of money getting it to the point of starting it. All that time I could be working on my A. But like you I dig old trucks. If you have the extra time and money to divide yourself then go for it. Otherwise you may drag it home and then not do anything with it!

 

Think I'd be more interested in patching the frame than replacing it. A patch is a 1 or 2 day job and the replacement would be measured in months and thousands of $$ once you break the seal and start seeing things you don't want to put back.

good luck

 

If it ends up being a pile, you have an F-1 steering box, brakes, center crossmember, tranny (if it's a 3 speed), shock mounts, pedals and an engine that are all valuable in the hotrodding world. You would make money on it parting it out.

 

A common place for the frame to crack and then break all the way is at the front bed to frame mounting holes. The frames are designed to twist and the constant flexing leads to a crack on the top rail then the whole rail goes. Usually passenger side goes first. A sign the truck has been used quite a bit. I have had a couple that were broken all the way. Something you want to check on any f1 that you buy.
I would say it all depends, need to see it first. With a title is a plus and a donor frame even better.

 

Running when parked??? I've heard that before. Go check it out, never pass up an opportunity for a road trip....

 

Running when parked? Weren't they all? Sounds a little spendy. I've gotten F-1's from free to $300 in that condition. I would say without seeing it, unless theres $500 in the glove box $750 is too much.

 

I have to agree this far north a 48 anything is not that common unless you are real lucky. All cars and trucks are driven into the bone yard that is why they are there! Most of what I have found has enough rust you could build another vehicle with what falls off.

 

I'm not arguing with you, but I do think times are changing and the F-1's are getting pretty hot to restore and rod. I think the 2-300.00 F-1's are drying up and getting spendier.

 

Think I'd take $500. in $100 dollar bills with me and make that offer if it still looks good when you get there. He does not know that you have access to a free frame and even at that price, it's still far more than he would get from the crusher. Just my .02 for what it's worth.

 

I just paid $500.00 for a nice cab,hood and grill. No frame,box etc but it did come with the title.

 

You can always get your $$ back in parts. Mine was a rotted out turd when I got it and I paid $2500 for it in CT. Another way of looking at it, the guy might not be looking at the 'frame'. He might be looking at a bed crossmember or something. I mean seriously, these frames are heavy, if it's rotted, the whole rest of the truck must be garbage, or if it's broke, something reallly bad happened.

 

love the F-1! Do you have room for it ? will it be in the way? If you have to part it, do you have time for looky loo's and tire kickers, and have you got room to store parts ? Like kb2tha said offer him five bills if you want it leave yourself some room to haggle . food for thouhgt. Jim

 

Current Old Cars Price Guide value for a #6 condition (unrestorable parts car) '48 F-1 is $800

 

Well worth it, for even to part out, tailgate, bed, four fenders, two doors, two running boards. engine, if it is not frozen, may be a hidden treasure if it has no cracks, but in Maine it might.
Caveat, you check out the rust, which is the big iffy.

 

Go look at it, If it is in decent shape buy it. You will be able to recoupe your money easily if you need to part it out. My '51 F-1 had a cracked frame right behind the cab as well. It was a simple repair with welder and some 1/4' plate.

 

i would say go look and see and offer about $500-600.thanks

 

I'm with the others who say that a handfull of Large cash greenies will probably talk pretty loud for you and get the truck at your price.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

 

If you can get it for $600, you'll come out ok I think, AND you'll have saved it from becoming a bicycle in China.

 

Here is a frame shot on my 51 and its the same as yours. If the frame is cracked and not rusted out its a no brainer to weld and fix. I assume your going to restore it so the bed has to come off any way and access is no problem.

 

I have room for it and while I'm not exactly looking for another project, the thought of it becoming a bicycle in China to be sold back to us at WalMart makes me want to puke. I was planning on getting that frame/chassis for free for hot rod parts for the Essex anyway with nothing to do with the frame so it seems almost like a gimme.
Money is tight, but I might be able to swing it, and it would do a lot for my soul if I could tool around in an old beater until my Essex is roadworthy.
I wont know jack until I go see it for myself, but $500 sounds a lot more feasible than $750. Of course, in the past down in Gardner a wrecking yard owner was crushing EVERYTHING and refused to sell me rusted to shit dented to hell 46 Chevy coupe for a penny less than $800. You guessed it, he crushed it and got a fraction of his asking price rather than sell it cheaper.
We'll see what happens. Thanks guys.

 

Hell no....invest the $$$ in the Essex and get back to work on it.
Being an ex-Essex owner, maybe I'm a little biased.