Projects 51 chevy value... Looking to buy

It really depends on where you actually are. Mine was floor-less, engineless, seized everything, broken windshield and p***enger side gl*** and chock full of bondo. (Didn't know about the bondo until after I started working on it though).

3200 for a complete running car... not too bad up here.

 

If you're near to central Indiana, go to the James Dean Run this weekend. I know you'll find a better way to spend $3200.

 

He ain't givin nuttin away . My $.02 ......to high.

 

My 50 Pontiac 2 dr sedan came from Texas and had a really cobbled in 305 and TH200 but almost all the trim was there, along with all the little interior stuff that nickle and dimes you to death - I did have to make new floor pans (some 18 ga cold-roll and my trusty bead roller). It's been a lot of work but it's getting there. Just how soon you want to start driving it has a lot to do with what you want to buy. I paid $1500 for the sedan and got it delivered to SW New Mexico for $550. One thing to really remember, don't get something or do something that'll "get you by" thinking you'll fix it later - seems like that later seldom comes. Best of luck!

 

I'm sorry- I didn't see your followup post. Bad floors? That's a dealbreaker for me now. As I said, my floors were gone (missing) and while EMS panels are good, they're expensive.

If the floors are shot, check the rear 1/4 - they tend to rot closest to the doors. Get under the car with a flashlight and tap them. If they look solid, do the magnet trick. Check the sills and the floor subframe as well. Also have a good look at where the floors kick up to the trunk.

Non-running rusty chevy for 3200- is probably about 2 grand too much.

Post pics of all those places. I love my project, but really wish I had more experience before I started it.

 

Thats a great idea. Whats the date on that run?

 

It really comes down to what you're willing to pay, not what they want. Take what you want to pay, cash in hand, and wave it under their nose......smell that? They'll most likely take it; if they don't, leave them your phone number; they'll call. A few years ago, I bought a 51 Chevrolet Business Coupe, right here off the HAMB; it was in a little town south of Fort Worth. It was a baseline, plain Jane car, and that's what I wanted, but could'nt find anywhere. I also had to pay a grand getting it trucked up here, and I wound up paying more than what your guy is asking. But, I wanted the car, I got the car, and I was happy with the car. After tearing everything out of it, including the 35+years worth of rodent, snake, and chicken ****; giving the 216, 3-speed trans, and complete rear end all away, my nephew and I started the rebuild, from the ground up. I ultimately GAVE the car to my nephew just to get him interested in being a hot rodder. GIVING also meant the new .030 350 on the engine stand, the newly rebuilt and beefed up aluminum Powerglide and stall converter, and a newly rebuilt complete 56 Chevrolet rear end with 4.88 geared positraction. All new brakes, blocked the frontend up, overload shocks and traction bars in the rear, new fuel tank and sending unit, repaired the ONE bad floor pan, aluminum radiator, Ch***is Engineering mounts, big and little Cragar S/S rims and tires, one piece windshield, and the 96 Caprice Cop Car exhaust manifolds, and a thousand other things and parts. The nepew bought the new bucket seats from of all places, Amazon, and new interior door handles/window handles. Now, he got a really good deal I'd say! So, do you have a rich uncle (not that I'm rich)? And the point of my rambling? Like I said from the start, it's what you're willing to pay, not what they want. There are other cars out there just waiting, some cheaper, some not. Oh, by the way; turns out the 51 Bus Coupe is HAUNTED. The little old lady/church lady/school teacher (verified by paperwork found in the glove box), and who is long gone to the spirit world, obviously does'nt like what we've done with her car. Things go wrong that have no reason for going wrong; it'll just stop running with no warning, but start right back up; brand new parts will break or quit working (such as a Lokar throttle cable); and other things, noises, and smells that don't make any sense. I tell the nephew we need to put all her papers back in the glove box, along with a bible, but he keeps forgetting to bring them over. We've even joked about having an exorsism on the car. Any idea what THAT costs? Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Any updates?

 

I had been looking for over a year for a 49 to 54 Chevy, really wanted a hard top but they are tough to come by. I looked at alot of rot boxs that were way over priced. A couple weeks ago I stumbed across one on craigs list about 100 miles from me.
Best deal I have ever gotten on a old car, completely rust free had already been soda blasted and the under side, frame/floors ect primed & epoxied with 10 bolt Camero rear with dropped springs and shocks and 2" dropped up rights in front(Ch***is Enger)
wide whites body in primer small blk chevy TH350 all trim/int/gl*** from orig car packed in box's. This car is perfect, I guess what I am saying is there are nice ones out there if you wait and keep looking I spent alot of time and effort looking and finally found what I really wanted for alot less than what has been posted here. 2 weeks later it is chopped and on its way to being a whole car again.
They are out there just keep looking.