Hi all. I have recently been given the chance to pick up an already started project. It is a 1928 Model A that the gentleman has already begun chopping the roof on. He claims it has all the bits to have a body and frame, no suspension or drivetrain. What kind of nightmares have you all run into when considering a purchase like this? Keep in mind, I have not seen the car in person, or the complete collection of parts. I will be heading out to see it in a couple of weeks. Also, what do you think a fair price for a basket case such as this would be?
I just paid 2500 for a 54 Ford F100 project truck that my step son took apart 2 years ago & lost intrest in. I'd say the worst part is trying figure out what kind of missing/lost brackets go where for mounting fenders, dash, grill, etc. It was mostly torched apart. 45 years of working on cars & I keep telling myself I won't work on anymore rusty Wi. cars or someone elses incomplete project. If he started chopping the top, does he have all the inner window frames ? Brookville should have anything else you need. Have fun.
i would not give a whole lot for it. Model A's are reasonable to begin with. This one looks to cut up more than needed and had no bracing put in before starting so it has bound to shifted around out of alignment. Why did he cut the complete roof off? Good luck getting it back in shape? If it is not at a giveaway price I would pass.
The MIG welds haven't had the Bondo smeared over them so you are in luck. At $750. it should be on a trailer on its way to your house.
That is well worth $750, even if the chop is messed up a bit. If the decklid is solid it's worth $400 right there. Hopefully there's a cowl somewhere there too?
That's a strange way to chop a top! It might turn into a roadster It sounds like a good deal if you want a lot of work, you could probably part it out and do pretty well at $750
I am honestly not sure what he has all done to it. All I know is basically what you see in the photos. Now that Squirrel has mentioned it tho, a roadster with a chopped windshield and a Carson top might not be a bad idea........
The roof is the way it is because it's a Special Coupe (you can do your own data search). These had more wood structure in the roof turret than the normal coupe. One example among many that can bite you on a blown apart project specific to this model is the belt molding that goes around the base of the turret back. If this car has a good one, and it's retainer, then you're really getting a good deal at $750, even if you just bought it to part out. As mentioned above, deck lid has good value. So do the doors and quarters (even with a few bullet holes), not to mention whatever else is included. Also as mentioned, cutting one of these up without pre-bracing makes it more difficult, though with this particular model being more wood structured, it would have been an issue most likely anyway. Marking out those doors accurately after the fact., to match the quarter windows, will be more effort now, but with good workmanship and time not impossible.
From what he tells me, he has two cowls that go with it. He didn't have pictures of all the other bits that he had collected.
Yup, I should have looked closer...it looked at first glance like the center of the roof around the back glass was unbolted, but the quarters definitely are the sport coupe. It might be brought back to life....with some work. It's a good deal for someone who wants and is able to do that work
Sounds like you are getting your moneys worth at $750, even if you had to part it out you would probably make money.
...When somebody saids "best offer" it means 20% off at least...sounds like he really wants to get rid of it...
guess you are the only one that knows about it since will be weeks before you get to look at it. hope it is not a long distance from you. if so, you should take an enclosed trailer or a truckers tarp to cover it to keep from blowing off trailer. have fun.
I bought a project '30 sedan which I am currently working on. Definitely know the direction your going in and if all his parts will work for your vision. I did not and I basically paid a lot of money for a body that wasn't even in the best of condition. I had to replace the frame, brakes, rear end needs to be shortened, on and on. Just my 2 cents... I do agree with the others on the price. A lot better than the $4K I dropped for a body.
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