Projects How bad was it when you started? / When to walk away???

I agree it looks burned. Also agree with Chris, that A sedan's are common and cheap-compared to coupes.
What's the price? Nice A sedan's go for 1500-2500 depending on region. How much cheaper is this body and how many man hours would you have to invest to make it whole?

It would be a different story if it was a 32-36 coupe shell.

 

Here's what I started with, went to St. Louis Missouri to pick up what I thought was a complete body. Didn't want to go all that way and come back without it, bought it thinking I would use it for parts. I ended up with parts from 10 different Model A's in the body.
Red

 

Some fun responses and photos here. I am AMAZED at the talent of car guys.

30 years ago, I would have taken this on in a heartbeat. Now, I am not so sure I need the heartache.

Here is the story on this car:

When I was 12 years old, this car sat abandoned out in a pasture near my home and I admired it for many years. No fire or flood that I am aware of, just left to rot.

Fast forward 35 years. I ask my brother about this old car as he still lives in the area.

He does a little homework and finds it is still owned by the same older gentleman, but at some point they stored it inside a lean-to style barn. The family kids threw rocks through the windows and climbed around on the car (It was complete with gl***, albeit minus the fabric roof when I had last seen it many years back).

The owner supposedly tells a story of being inside of that car on November 22, 1963 wiring in a radio. When he got the speaker working, he found himself sitting listening to the broadcast of John F Kennedy getting ******inated during the infamous motorcade.

Anyway, my brother goes to look at the car and finds it buried in soft wet dirt up over the running boards. I am not sure if the car was given to him or he had to pay a small amount, but it was nearly free.

The guys on the farm did some additional damage jerking the car out with a tractor before my brother could stop them.

The car is at his house and I could probably get it for next to nothing. I have the knowledge and tools to fix it. I have the time. I don't have the money to just go buy one.

I also have two 10 foot sticks for frame rails and a couple of good "A" crossmembers, along with a hot rod drivetrain that I have been saving for a Tudor project someday.

I have built more than my share of cars that cost more in the end than if I had started with a better car, but they simply would not have happened if I had saved for a better car...

But my 46 year old brain functions in a more pessimistic way than my 16 year old brain ever did... ANYTHING could be done when I was 16. I never thought of the reasons why NOT to back then!

It is amazing to see where others started though as I contemplate possibly working on this car. I am sure other builders need some encouragement as well.

I am not looking at being talked into or out of this project so much (I already know better, but still might do it!) But, I am seriously interested in what you started with and how bad it was. I think others are as well.

Post away!

Another couple of pics...

 

mine is missing the entire bottom, about 6" up
I like a challenge, and to push my limits.

each project is just a bunch of smaller projects, knock em out one at a time and the end result will be awesome

 

It all depends at how badly you want to save that car. I have done some back from the grave builds and have learned a tremendous amount in the process. Its also satisfying to show people that you can do it, because with this type of build, most the the guys who come by and look at it do not believe it will happen. Show them they are wrong!

 

Quit waisting time and just go get it,you can check to see what everyone posted when you get back.

 

There is bad and then there is BAD.That car looks BAD.Just think of all the time and work you would have in it just to make a usable starting point.You would do better using your time to save money and search for something better to start with,just the body even. Most of what I see there is not usable or worth trying to save.It would be better for parts,but tudor A models are not hard to find.I had a Model T coupe once that bad.I messed with it about a year before giving up.I kept finding parts for it off junk that were better than the 35 dollar car I had,so I found something less wasted.That is my 2 cents....

 

walk away........don't look back

 

Me too... I'm closer!

 

It has to do with (1) is this the car you want? (2) are you comfortable that you can save the car. Here are pictures of my 40 sedan, hope to start on it this spring.
[/IMG]

 

once you get it blasted, it will look like it has a future.

 

I had a friend whom unfortunatly p***ed in a accident but he fond a 38 willys coupe in the woods up here in rust country. It had no front clip and somebody started to turn it into a race car then chose to hotrod it and quit. I have never seen anything with cancer like that, just prior to his p***ing it was getting started and i am sure it would have been saved. Where it is now? I have no idea.

 

Funny you say that cause I was the opposite.As I get older I seem to think that everything is fixable. I always say "Wish I new then what I know now."

One think about building a car like this is where your located.Many see my junk.and it is what it is to them, Junk, but I am limited to what I can pick and choose from. A good $1000 body will cost me $2500 to get home so to us here in Newfoundland we tend to look at old iron different then say someone is southern California.

 

gender swap.

 

Here is what I started with and what it looked like after a year of Saturdays working on it. The truck was cheap as were the parts. The labor (mine) was free. If you're very enthusiastic about this car and you are willing to put the time into saving it, go for it. If your on the fence and your not sure if you want to spend alot of time, and I mean alot of time, repairing rust, I'd hold off and find a better car. Decent A's are cheap and easily had. Just my thoughts.

 

Desire to get it done, your skill level and a place to work on it is what you should think about. Also anything can be saved. I've saved stuff alot of people would have p***ed on, be realistic about time, money and ability.

 

Don't think I know when to give up. The first 6 inches of mine is new and above the windshield.

All comes down to time, money and the desire to own that car.

 

I picked these up this summer. I ended up selling them to good homes and I'm looking for a better body to start with. The one on the trailer looked good at quick glance....the whole body was paper thin or thinner. It collapsed when we moved it and the p*** side was held up by the running board bolted to the fender. Not much of the car was anygood for anything. The sub rails were not even attached anymore. The others were buildable for someone and they were a cheap start for the guys.

 

Haha welcome to Canada eh! Before I die , I would love to have a car that wasnt a rusted away piece of **** to start with. Your wagon sounds like the 57 Chev wagon I did about 10 yrs ago...I will have to get the pics scanned someday.

 

your location says midwest. In your area you shouldnt settle for swiss cheese. I would think you could find something pretty clean within a couple hours if you really wanted one. Out here in the SALT BELT its a little different where as the cheese is common and the value unfortunately increases. Unless its free or close to it or the asking price is worth the usable parts, I'd walk on

 

I gotta see some more pics of the shoebox wobbler, it might make mine look half decent!

 

If your Brother will give it to you for free or next to nothing, haul it home before it rots another 30 years. If it's too rough to build, sell it to a Ratrodder and put the cash toward finding a straight body.

 

Nothing wrong with a teardown and evaluation. If it's beyond your skills, clean it up with some wire brushes, paint it with Rustoleum, and sell it to a rat-rodder for enough money to buy a better start.

 

What he said!!!! No money to get, no money to spend for better? I know the feeling. Grab what you CAN get, clean it up, try to resell or fix or trade to get what you want. Quick example - some one wants a complete full fendered car, and has a cleaner sedan body alone. Say you want a fenderless car and want build your own ch***is. He sees your car as having more of what he wants and is willing to put up with more work and a trade is born! sounds a little contrived, but I've done this same thing a time or two myself. I'm not saying this is the case with you, but it does open up some possibilities. BUT, like everybody else has warned I will caution you on one thing. If you do decide to rebuild a rough car, make DAMN SURE it is a car you REALLY want. It is so easy to walk away from a project that is ******* you off, and it is a great way to make yourself feel defeated! Been there done that! Anybody from the Phoenix area reading this will remember "THE GREAT '59 EL CAMINO DEBACLE"from my recent past! (Take one clean appearing El Camino, realize how bad it is, replace every square inch below the belt line, find deep rust when removing top trim, loose mind, sell for 10 cents on the dollar, don't repeat)! Careful !

 

Swiss Cheese '36 5 window coupe!


Not really sure what to do with this mess (I bought the body, not the other ****). Just found this a week ago when this guy was clearing out his property . . .


While there is very little rust, the cowl is butchered along the drivers door cowl post, and the overall condition is much worse than the pictures show - holes EVERYWHERE!

 

Heres what i drug home,

And after several hours, what i have now,

Its what I could afford, so its what Im working on.

 

it all depends on your abilities and your love for the project. I would go for it and take lot of pictures so you can look back and see what youve accomplished

 

same year!
this was my first build.
I startd with the back half...free! the front half with doors $125.
would I do it again? Yes!!!!!!!!!
I called it therapy



did eveything in my shop even my first paint job
4 years later