I can't go into much detail, but this is something we just stumbled upon not that long ago. What's something like this worth? I'd like to work a deal for it, but I have a feeling the asking price will be too rich for my blood. Sorry for the picture quality... it was pitch black in this place. I wish I knew the car's history - you can kinda make out some old numbering/lettering on the door.
I have a guy that I deal with that buys old race cars. He just sold a couple so he is looking for more. If you are not interested I can forward on to him. It is worth whatever the guy selling it wants - espically to him. Hard to say real value however.
Best to not lose any sleep over that old piece of junk, better just give me the guy`s number so I can dispose of it properly!!
Sweet find brother ............good to see there's still some gold left in the garages out there!! Good luck and keep the rest of the HAMB family posted on it's progress!!
what and awsome find if you could posibly swing buying it you should. if you dont you WILL kick yourself later. good luck
Nice little "Coupester"..., I know of another (not as complete) that was just un-earthed in great shape...! I love "Treasure Hunting" and there are still awesome deals out there...! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open and you'd be "Surprised" what's still available...!
Unless it was Racer Browns first hot rod,(documented famous history) it's probably not worth much more than the price of it's parts. I love unmolested early hot rods, but if it's not a famous car, it's just a pile of parts. That pile of parts can add up to some money. Offer less than your max dollar and negotiate.
What a great car. It makes me happy. It's interesting to see a piece like this where you can look at the way things were actually done as opposed to what people tell you, what you think you've seen in magazines over the years, and what magazines are now telling you was right for back then. Take a close look at that thing...motor mounts made from angle iron(?), ugly ass shock towers that no self respecting traditional rodder of today would ever dream up - I know I couldn't bring myself to weld something like that to my car anyway. Crap bolted all over the firewall, but it somehow all works together and looks well built with some thought and pasion behind it I think. Not the now accepable recipe of traditional, but arguably BETTER with all of the odd little details. Not even a dropped axle on that car? I love it. I try to build in clean details and have a decent level of finish but cars like this rule too.
What's it worth? That's a tough question. Bare in mind that you can buy complete, running 'Rat Rods' (Hah!) for $6500-$10,000. That said, what's the history of that car worth to you? Do you really dig the fact that it's an OG rod? I get real into that stuff and generally pay too much for things for their history. It's worth $3500 to me, knowing that I'd have to spend some coin on a mechanical rebuild. I'm leaving cosmetics out of the equation, as I'd probably get the seats recovered, fix any rust holes, and that's it. Would be a shame to cover up that patina.
Yup,it's cool, has pleanty of patina, it's pleanty old, But what is it? I'm kinda surprized nobody has asked this yet. It kinda looks like a cut down coupe from the top of the doors. The belt line is not model A or 32 Ford. It looks kinda like a chevy to me. Nuntheless it is a great find and represents the era perfectly. You have to wonder how many are still out there.
If you don't ask, some buddy is going to show it to you again a year from now with that "Look what I drug home for $200.00." line a year from now. Find out or you'll be kicking yourself forever. My mother once had a friend with a 55 Chevy for sale. I figured I couldn't afford it. Anyway I asked her to see how much but I didn't push because I knew what the car was worth. Fresh Red & White paint and interior, new tires on polished slots, fresh 327 and rock crusher. The works. Mother tells me about a month later that her friend finally sold the old Chevy for $500 bucks! She got the car in her divorce and wanted the garage space to park her newer car.
Nice find. There's lots of stories in the big city. Here's mine. Back in the 70's I found a 35 chev coupe in an old barn sitting on a concrete floor. 56,000 actual miles. The guy priced it to me for $1,200.00 bucks. A week or so later I ran into a mutual friend (Tiquer) and he asked if I had found any old tin. Told him I'd found a 35 chev coupe in an old barn. He immediately told me where it was. Back then I had no bucks and was trying to raise the funds. Couple of weeks later I called the owner and he told me he sold it to my FRIEND for $900.00 . "He told me you were going to take a cutting torch to it and make a hot rod out of it so I sold it to him". Ask bftwcs. He worked for my FRIEND, and he told him the same story. He came by my house one time and tryied to trade for my grill and insert. He said his was good enough for a hot rod but mine was nicer and would look better in his car. I told him to hit the road. I would let it sit there and rust to the ground first. Go buy the car and DO NOT tell any of your friends where it is or THEY will be driving a nice old hot rod, not you. Tommy Mc
Thanks for all the advice, everyone!! I'm definitely hot on its trail... I want this thing bad! But the first hurdle is determining if the guy can even sell it... It's a long long story that I'll get into one of these days. I should know if its 'buyable' in a week or so, and once I know that, we can start working on a price. 'Til then I'm savin' my pennies! I've told my dad and two close friends of mine about it. If I can't get it, I'd be more than happy if either one of those three could. We've even talked about going in on it together...just so one of us has this slick @ss ride. Of course if for some reason that still doesn't work out, of course I'd share the wealth w/ my fellow HAMB'rs! I'll keep you guys updated as I learn more... cross your fingers!
I'm with others here that have questioned the true value of this piece. If you study it closely you find it's not a true roadster but some sort of chopped down coupe. Looking at the chassis I find a lot of questionable construction areas, all of which would have to be addressed before returning it to street duty. As far as the engine is concerned,if it has been sitting all of this time with antifreeze in it the heads are junk. If it's been sitting with water in it in that warehouse the block is cracked from freezing. Either way not a good situation. There is also the possibility the car was parked because the engine was "blown" which equals a loser also. The brakes would have to be completely gone through (new wheel cylinders,master cylinder and lines) and the carbs are only good for cores (count on $100/ea. minimum to restore them). The radiator could be history, at the very least it should be flushed and pressure checked. The wiring should be replaced or at least given a VERY critical inspection. I'm assuming the tires are past being used so there is another expense. I'll give the body a pass as no self- respecting HAMBr would want anything but a RAT ROD, right? All told what you would have when finished would be a curiousity from a bygone era that would be fun to drive and own but would be of questionable resale value. Frank
[ QUOTE ] I'm with others here that have questioned the true value of this piece. If you study it closely you find it's not a true roadster but some sort of chopped down coupe. Looking at the chassis I find a lot of questionable construction areas, all of which would have to be addressed before returning it to street duty. As far as the engine is concerned,if it has been sitting all of this time with antifreeze in it the heads are junk. If it's been sitting with water in it in that warehouse the block is cracked from freezing. Either way not a good situation. There is also the possibility the car was parked because the engine was "blown" which equals a loser also. The brakes would have to be completely gone through (new wheel cylinders,master cylinder and lines) and the carbs are only good for cores (count on $100/ea. minimum to restore them). The radiator could be history, at the very least it should be flushed and pressure checked. The wiring should be replaced or at least given a VERY critical inspection. I'm assuming the tires are past being used so there is another expense. I'll give the body a pass as no self- respecting HAMBr would want anything but a RAT ROD, right? All told what you would have when finished would be a curiousity from a bygone era that would be fun to drive and own but would be of questionable resale value. Frank [/ QUOTE ] Buzzkill
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I'm with others here that have questioned the true value of this piece. If you study it closely you find it's not a true roadster but some sort of chopped down coupe. Looking at the chassis I find a lot of questionable construction areas, all of which would have to be addressed before returning it to street duty. As far as the engine is concerned,if it has been sitting all of this time with antifreeze in it the heads are junk. If it's been sitting with water in it in that warehouse the block is cracked from freezing. Either way not a good situation. There is also the possibility the car was parked because the engine was "blown" which equals a loser also. The brakes would have to be completely gone through (new wheel cylinders,master cylinder and lines) and the carbs are only good for cores (count on $100/ea. minimum to restore them). The radiator could be history, at the very least it should be flushed and pressure checked. The wiring should be replaced or at least given a VERY critical inspection. I'm assuming the tires are past being used so there is another expense. I'll give the body a pass as no self- respecting HAMBr would want anything but a RAT ROD, right? All told what you would have when finished would be a curiousity from a bygone era that would be fun to drive and own but would be of questionable resale value. Frank [/ QUOTE ] Buzzkill [/ QUOTE ] Lol-- might be a buzzkill, but I think it's a good perspective to take on it. Good price negotiating points, anyway!
The Jalopy Journal
