I spent the afternoon getting stung and scratched while I poked through an old hot rodder's yard. It is sad to see cars that have sat on the ground so long that if you yanked them out they'd leave the floor in the dirt. First two pics are a 40 Tudor which still has the drivetrain, the car on the trailer is a 40, I think the other is a 41. My favorite but also the worst of the bunch was the 40 panel with no floors or hood or left front fender. They seemed like cheap old cars but all the rust was pitted, trim missing. I suppose you buy them like this for a couple grand or step up and buy a complete un-restored old car for 10 or 15k to begin? Oh and a one-piece Henry J front clip. Lots of dragstrip memories with that.
You are looking at it in the wrong light. If he hadn't kept these They probablly would have been crushed long long ago.... Rust can be fixed they look like treasure to me.
I agree. These are 70 plus year old cars. They are going to have rust. Most. Will need new floors. At least they are around and fixable. Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
Mastergun, you are 100 percent right about the crushing part. Guy is in a wheelchair and does have some realization that he will never build these. I listened to his stories most of the afternoon and tried to talk myself into buying at least the first 40. It is beyond my skills but it needs a home. Impossible not to look at these and think of their histories and what they've been through. Same guy had 30 more cars and trucks, almost all Ford. My number one favorite was a 59 Mercury wagon HARDTOP that I absolutely love but again, it has been sitting for decades and now it has rotted even around the windshield. But what a car! Two tone green and all kinda chrome.
My problem is a combination of being spoiled relative to rust here in the South and being chicken since these cars are beyond my skills to fix. The good thing is that at least there are parts available for 40s.
Skidmarks, he kinda did. The 40 by the tree that I took two pictures of was the one I was most interested in. He told me 2400 bucks, no ***le. I don't think it's too tough to get one here in South Carolina. I didn't press him for figures on most of the others because I didn't want to be a pest if I wasn't sure that I was serious. He gave me two more figures that might give you an idea of his pricing compared to you thinking. He has 2 steel front fenders and 2 rear quarters for a Henry J (not the front clip in the pic). He mentioned that he had peiced them to a guy for 1200 for the 4 and never heard back. He also has a 63 Galaxie convertible with a 6 cylinder and a bench seat; not the most desirable combo out there. Needs a top but has a ***le and is supposed to run. Body seeemed ok and the car looked complete from my cursory examination. He asked me 3500 for that. The reason I mention these is that I figured ANY 40 Ford would be worth that sort of money but I only know EBAY prices, not real world HAMB prices. I have a friend who lives across country and he has sent me pics of $4 and 5K old cars there that would go to a crusher here. So pricing is not my area of expertise. PM me if you get serious and I could take more pics or something. I enjoyed rooting around and was particularly pleased not to see any snakes after me out there.
If you like the 40 delivery and can afford it,get it and take a cl*** at a local college and take your time fixing it up.You could also pay someone to fab what you don't want to do.That is what i do.
Those cars are great hot rod material. Pretty solid from what I`m used to repairing up here in CT. The prices are fair as well. Were are you going to find more? They arent out there like they used to be ,plus those arent that bad. You have to learn some day,why not now.
junkhead; the eternal car guy's conflict of "You can't save them all" versus "They ain't making any more!"
"complete un restored car for 10-15k" where on earth are you finding 40 ford coupes that cheap? Id be scrambling to snag it for sure
There could be guys down here is Charleston that might be interested in saving or reusing that stuff. Is there any more information that can be given out on how it can be purchased? Is there anything older than the '40s?
k5hart; if your profile pic is any indication of what you are interested in you definitely want to see these cars. PM me and I'll send you my phone number. Since you live in SC you'll understand that this old guy is not the sort where four strangers can pull up at his house and start shopping. None of these are advertised for sale and I was introduced by a mutual friend who knew I liked old cars. If you are serious we can come up with a plan but it will take some finesse to get past the dogs and the owner's big scary-looking sons and the rest of it. Like I say, if you live in South Carolina you'll understand. These are pure country people. That or just send me about 8 grand and I'll go buy all four or five and you can figure out how to get them moved I'll take the 59 Mercury wagon as a commission.
Thanks for the walk in the woods. Yep, some of those cars are keepers for those prices. I'd love to have the 1940 Ford panel truck too. For you 39-40 Ford lovers, I have a very nice 1939 Ford deluxe coupe with 283.powerglide and 57 Chevy rear with springs. 54 Chevy front brakes. Sadly I parked it over 35+ years ago in my Illinois garage. Started it and hauled it on a trailer to Florida in 1994. Hasn't been started or moved since. Ran very good until the tri-five Chevy radiator top tank broke and I parked it till LATER. **** happens Dry rot has killed the brakes, radiator hoses, and carb spacer. Body and dash near mint. Only things not stock other than running gear is shaved trunk, 75 Ford red, Dodge bucket power seats, and rear bench seat in black vinyl. Plus 14" Fenton mags and 100 miles on bias tires over 35 years old. $25,000 firm is why it still sits in my garage. I don't advertise but mention it at times like this because i will never finish it. No pictures because it is covered in a shed.
Mashed, I literally laughed out loud at your profile pic. Do you suppose that he had to wear those pants for the rest of the race or did they let him go home and put clean ones on?
I use rust to my advantage. Around here, the sun eats away all plastic and turns rubber to stone, but rust (beyond surface rust) is virtually non existant. Because of that, Ive learned to make patch panels and buy cars CHEAP because the other spoiled car guys walk away. I had a 63 buick for sale that had sat for years and had VERY MILD bubbling under the bottom seam of the door. I actually had a guy tell me I should s**** it because "it was all rusted out"
Damn, you guys have me feeling guilty that I wasn't more concerned about them returning to their base elements. Why don't I go this weekend and buy the first 40 tudor and get it home and on solid ground with better pics and a clearer idea of what all is there. If someone here wants it they can have it for what I paid and and if you don't, I'll either get fired up to start on it or stick it on Ebay. From what y'all are saying it will be tough to lose money from $2400 (plus the tow). Well, I certainly won't lose MORE than 2400 :/
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