Projects '57 T-Bird project

Looking to purchase a '57 T-Bird project to fix up for my wife. It has a drivetrain transplant (312 Y-block, Cruise-O-Matic> 289 4-V, C-4) but is otherwise original. Would an original evaluation price be fair for the modified car? I paid original fair-market price for my current driver that has a strong transplant and consider it a good buy. The T-Bird is pricier, so I need to make a good decision to stay out of the money pit. Always a **** shoot, even after close inspection. Just want to make a fair offer. Thanks!

Joe

 

Tough to evaluate. Resto-Mod can mean so much. The Bird seems to only have an engine/trans swap. Resto’s seem to get AC, disc brakes, digital dashes max sound systems, huge rims, rubber band tires and high dollar paint.
What does “otherwise original” mean. Stock never frame off, paint and interior, both tops, skirts, all instruments work, no rust..I’ve seen nice driver quality 57’s under 30 or less. I think so photo s and the asking price will help some.. good luck..

 

There's no Kelley's Blue Book for 60+-year-old vehicles. If you sprinkled 10 identical T-birds in 10 different states, they would sell for 14 different prices, thousands of dollars difference. Basically, it's a ****shoot.
The seller has asked everyone he knows for a "value" and to the man they have spit out sky-high numbers. So, if reality hasn't set in yet or what kind of storage space he has, etc., he's not going to be motivated. But you never know. He may want it gone by next week.
(If there's no ***le, it's just a parts car.)

 

If I pick it up, it will definitely get R&P steering and disc brakes for safety and handling improvements. New wheels and rubber but nothing crazy. Pearl White paint. Looking @ at least 10K there, on top of initial purchase price of 15K. Looks promising but I want to cover my ***ets.

Joe

 

Resto-mod is a vague term at best, one that I really don't like. Is it pretty much a stock T-Bird with 289 & C4? I guess the determining factors for me would be how well done it was, how good it runs and drives, and if it fit my budget. My wife loves '57 T-Birds, one of the few old cars she likes. If I found one I could afford and she liked it, I'd buy it.

 

The market for those cars is pretty soft here on the West Coast. Has your wife ever sat in one? They are not a very comfortable car.

 

Yep, KBB doesn't follow trends on vehicles they cover anyway, so I don't pay any mind. Usually get recent sells from Hagerty and watch current prices to determine value (for this month). Always a **** shoot. If the DJIA tanks, we're all smiles? IDK. Too much thinking drives me nuts

Joe

 

Same here. She's never been interested in any of my cars but she loves the '57 T-Bird. My hot rod Comet fits the bill for my pleasure. The car would be a cruiser for her.

Joe

 

I don't really deal with book values or Old cars pricing guide but in my estimation 15K for a legal, ***led, running, safety inspected 57 T-bird is worth the money and like I always say if you bought it and had to sell it the following week can you get your money back? Not seeing the car it sounds like you could. Good Luck.

Pat

 

Point well taken but something that could be rectified, I would think (another 1K). Keep throwing 'em at me, I may end up with a final build price

 

Seller is dropping a new gas tank in it now. If I can fire it up and put it on the lift for undercarriage inspection and it's as solid as the body....not there yet. I'm looking with eyes wide open.

Joe

 

Find all the "early bird" sales that you can and print out the low ones. (Not "asking prices". Those are useless.) This is to get him thinking and talking. Sometimes throwing down a low number can get the door slammed in your face. You want to engage him in a negotiation, but not insult his expectations.

 

I was on the "Corvette Forum" a couple of days ago (those guys are into "Resto-Mods" these days) and posted my opinion that a ten year old "Resto-Mod" is "Yesterdays News".

I got blasted (by a bunch of guys who specialize in "Resto-Mods").

 

How is the front crossmember ? I understand that could be a problem on the 1955-56 p***enger cars, but I don't know if the Thunderbird used the same crossmember.

 

Check dog legs, inner rockers and lower rear quarters for rust or lots of bondo.

 

I've been setting my **** in one for the last 24 years. I'm over 6 foot and think it's very comfortable.

 

I'd hardly call an old car that's had another old motor transmission swap done a resto-mod any more than a car that had been repainted sometime in it's life a restoration.

 

At least we know $15K Joe has said as a purchase price and he says $10k more for fixit including paint. 15 purchase for a 57 Bird for me means bring a trailer even in a soft market... Looks like we will wait and see...

 

Not into ****ering, Wiz. I'm a fair man, pay a fair price for an honest deal. If inspection p***es muster, it's a fair price, I believe.

Joe

 

That's a very valid opinion because the market is fickle. I'm into restoring to my tastes. If she doesn't like it, I could build a g***er LOL

Joe

 

Thanks for the tip, Nick! Going on the lift for inspection before I buy.

Joe

 

Has to p*** the magnet test

Joe

 

If I purchase, will receive more modifications. I dig the Fairlane!

Joe

 

We're on the same page brother Not an impulse buyer. If it happens, it's meant to be. If not, something better is down the road. I'll post in a couple months if I pick it up.

Joe

 

Gotta second that small ****pit comment. Back in the mid 70's our next door neighbour got one for his wife. Sold it shortly thereafter.......no room. A lot has to do with the large stock steering wheel.

 

Steering wheel not a deal breaker for a modified restoration. My wife is thin, 5'6" lady

Joe

 

Have you priced these things out recently. Seems kind of low. In the end you will have more money in it than it`s worth. That`s why we call this a hobby.

 

I worked at a resto shop for years that specialized in 55-57 Thunderbirds. Granted that's already close to 20 years ago, but at the time, we had a few engine swapped cars, and they brought less than a factory stock one did. But at $15K, if it's a driver for that price, that's not bad, depending on how the chrome and interior is. The guy I used to work for had a couple of '57's for sale last year around the same price, both were drivers with the original Y blocks but both had pretty poor paint and were not restored, just used driver cars with old paint.

The big thing with an early 'bird is does it have the soft top and what kind of shape is it in. The fibergl*** tops are a huge h***le to take on and off, if you have one of those, you either need to decide it's always going to have it's top on, or it's always going to be *******. Swapping it on and off is a pretty big h***le. We had customers who rigged up ratchet strap gantry systems in their garage just to deal with the hardtops.

The soft tops stow behind the seat when they're down and aren't hard to put back up when you're out on the road, but a nice soft top with a good cover can easily run you $4K. If it's got that, I think the asking price seems pretty good. If it doesn't, if it's hardtop only, or no top, then it would have to be awfully nice otherwise for me to pay that price for a car that has an engine swap and apparently needs paint.

 

it's more a combination of the large steering wheel, very low seat, flat leg position, and that wonderful wrap around windshield.

 

I have worked on one, the test drive wasn't comfortable for me. I do like the styling though.