Projects 1953 Chev 2dr HDTP, What should I offer??

Hey I am looking at a new project, and I really don't know a lot about 50's chevs. The car I am looking at is a 1953 Bel Air 2dr Hardtop. It has been sitting for over 20+ years, so it is in need of a complete redo. Floors, rockers, trunk, all have rust, doors and skins are fallin off. engine is dissasembled with some pieces in the trunk. It is in pretty rough shape. What was the original engine in this car, was it a v8? Is sheet metal readily available for this project? What should my offer be?

Yes there are pics!!!

 

They were all I6 cars, V8 came in 55. If it has a good ***le I would go 500, 400 would make me happier.

 

I think 53 marked the first year for the 235 but it only came with a glide .I think in 53 if you got the 3spd. it came with the 216 .In 54 they all had 235 regardless of the transmission .As for the price hartops in those years (53-54) are more desirable on a whole than the sedan ,but noone wants to pay more for the hardtop regardless.I wouldnt give more than about $500 for it ,based on its condition ...

 

The engine that was in it was a v8, looked like aluminum pistons. Heads and intake were off of it. Is it a 350?

 

Certain hard top parts are hard to come by. It came with a I6 235

 

the engine that's in it looks like a rusted piece of s**** that was set in it to see how it fits or something. Could be a 350, could be something else, but you probably want to start with something in better condition. Same with the rest of the car...you're gonna have to learn a lot of new skills and spend a lot of time on this one. The hardtops were the nicest cars that Chevy made at that time, so it's a neat model of car, but the condition is pretty rough.

 

The project I currently have is about ready to be wrapped up, so I was looking at something... a little more challenging. I really like the 53-54 chevy's and saw this one so I needed some opinions.

 

It's a parts car IMO, $500.00 would be tops for that car here on the East Coast.

 

I'd offer $300.00 and go to no more than $400.00.

 

Is that moss on the wipers?

 

I say "Don't buy it." Save up a little more $$$ and buy one in better condition. It needs a total restoration and will probably turn into a money pit - especially if the frame, body mounts floors ,etc are rusted away.

 

I am with 19Fordy...from a ton of experience, a bunch of heartache and headaches and mostly $$$$$$.

 

If the gl*** is good you might be able to part those out for decent money. The front and back gl*** are kinda hard to come by.

 

The car really doesn't look that bad to me.
Floor pans are cheap for these cars.

 

Likely it's rusted as bad underneath as on top, so make an offer on it as a parts car - you couldn't afford to p*** it up if you have a place to keep it. The E-Z-Eye gl*** doesn't look hurt & is easily worth $500 alone if the w/s is undamaged. As said above, you'll be better off to find a solid '53 or '54 sport coupe body from inland.

 

Yes, actually what you see there is good old Washington gr***. That stuff grows everywhere!!

If I do end up getting it I will give you a call.

I crawled underneath her and from what I could see the frame looks good, most of the body mounts are still there. and the only real bad rust was the rockers on each side.


I see That EMS and Cars Inc have some sheet metal for this model.
Anyone use either one, and how was the quality?

 

I think everyone is right with their pricing.. That car would have to be dipped to get all the rust that has set into the frame and floor and inner panels. If you ever want it to be a nice decent car its going to take alot of work. More than if you were to save up 3k and buy a nice rust free one. $400 worth of car is exactly what your going to get if you buy that.
Anthony

 

I dunno, I'm not a chevy guy, but I do like mid 50s 2dr hardtops. And after seeing some folks going ga-ga over riverbank erosion project cars and others half-buried in a mountainside, I'd say this one ain't so bad. As said above, sheet metal's available and SBC engines are easier to find than toothless grins & s***ches at a hockey game. $300-$500 seems reasonable for a mid 50s 2dr hrdtop to me.

 

If you have your heart set on that 53 ,make sure you check the area between the trunk lid and bumper as well as the 1/4's .These cars are real prone to rust in these areas,and i have never seen one with rockers that rusty that wasnt worse in the other places.If it were me i would look for a better car to build .Im not trying to run it down ,but it would be cheaper in the long run .The back gl*** is worth some bucks ,but i would be surprised if that windshield isnt chipped or delaminated on the bottom ,if you cleaned it up and looked at it ...

 

Thanks for the input. I am interested in the car, because it is cheap to buy. I know there is a lot of work and time that I am going to have to put into it. I have seen better cars than this but they are in the 2-3 grand price range.
Anyone have one they can sell me for this price???

 

Is that a first generation Corvette engine mount across the front of the block? It's hard to tell in the picture, but if it is, I'd check the stamped code on the p***enger side front of the block. Even in scabby form, if it's a good early 'vette code, you may be able to sell the short block to a restorer and offset buying the car.

 

I agree with Heathen on the front motor mount. It does look to be from a solid axle Vette. The '63 license plate may indicate that this was an early conversion so it is possible that the engine is worth something to someone.

 

bunch of lowballers out there. I got $700.00 for a 49 fleetline shell with actually no parts left other than the frame, suspension, and body.

it's all about the floors and trunk. get a big screwdriver and see if you can stick it through the floor anywhere. that car with good floors is worth more than $500.00

 

and it's a HARDTOP!


you dont see those nearly as much.

 

The middle of that car is vitually the same as my Pontiac. All the gl*** and the doors swap. But I will tell you this - If the doors are shot, good ones are VERY hard to find! At least in a snowy area! That body is prone to rot the inner and outer rockers, the area in front of the rear wheels, below the trunk lid, and the entire floor. Thats why you can buy all that new.

 

I was wondering about the doors. They are rusted out, and the skins are separating from the frame. At least the striker panel, and hinge mounts are still solid.
I found quite a selection of parts the last couple hours, perusing the Internet

 

EVERY 49-54 i have ever come across..is always rusted in the lower door area...some more than others,,alot of it has to do with living in the rust belt,,,but that is a given,,,,,just like a 79-87 G body,,,they all have rust issues in those doors,,,

 

Some of you guys don't know what rust is. That is a very fixable car, too nice to be a parts car as far as I'm concerned. $500 was s**** price a few months ago, I doubt anyone would take that. It'd part out for a couple grand pretty easily.

Personally I think anything under a grand is a good deal if you want a '53 2 door hardtop. If it was a four door it'd be a $400 parts car but the hardtop is worth spending more time and money on.

Just be ready to spend some time and money on it if you do get it, it's not going to be a weekend project.

 

I'd say $500 top more like about $350 but I am cheap

 

It's all about how badly you want your dream car to come true and how much time, talent and money you have to make it happen.