A moral delima, 32 three window and it's original frame

I just got a call from the owner of a steel 32 3 window that I purchased the frame from when he started the project last year.

The car was at a local rod shop near me. I stopped in one Saturday to say hi while I was in the area. I knew the coupe was at the shop and wanted to have a look at it.

The big talk around town was how much the dude had spent on the car and how nice it was. Well, it was real nice and all there, pulled out of a barn with the last license plate on the car from 1947! Yes, indeed a true barn find and a real beauty.

So as I'm looking at it they are in the process of removing the body from the frame and I ask what the plan is for the build. The shop owner tell me it's getting a new ch***is, and the typical "Streetrod" treatment (Yawn).

So I ask what up with the original frame. Now mind you it is complete with original front and rear suspension wire wheels including the spare and the steering with a nice steering wheel too. And of course it near perfect with no rust or anything wrong that I could see.

The shop owner tells me it's for sale and gives me a price. The price was right and I was back up there the next day with my trailer. Done deal. In fact it was the deal of the year if you know what I mean.

OK this is where the story gets good. The owner now realizes that the he wants to build this into a period correct car (yeah yippee) but wants to know if he can buy the original ch***is back. (ouch).

Well, I on the other hand have collected much of what I need to build a period correct 32 Ford myself. I have everything from the firewall forward and an engine and trans,wheels, ect. I have just been waiting to find a body. A steel roadster has been my focus, and a car very close to the restored Vic Edelbrock Sr. car is what I have envisioned all along.

So the Dilemma is do I sell the guy the ch***is back for the sake of the 3 window in question? I informed the guy that the ch***is was a smoking deal at the time and it's worth probably twice to three times what I paid for it a year ago, In fact I have been offered stupid money for it already, but I knew how hard it is to find a piece like this.

Tell me what some of you might do just to humor me. I'm gonna sleep on it.

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Water under the bridge does not travel but one way.......
I would lots rather have it than the new one myself,Maybe hell trade the new ch***is complete and give you what you gave for it -BOOT -too!

 

You know how hard it will be to replace it SOOO, tell him that you will gladly let him have that ch***is back for one just like it of equal or better condition....it`s only fair!

Or... YOU find a 32 ch***is that you are happy with and let him purchase it for you!

Better yet, tell him you understand that the body and frame really should be together, so he needs to sell you the body for the price of a gl*** replacement!!

 

Only one solution....tell him you will trade him for the body. ...honestly, sell it back if you get megabucks for it...the price it would take for anybody to get it from you. It's meaningless to worry about it going back under the original car....let's face it, it's a m*** produced frame and body....he can get one somewhere else. I think you appreciate it for what it is...he doesn't....Just jumping on the bandwagon with his peers....or the people he wants to impress.

 

I agree with ***dragger. Have him find you a nice replacement and trade plus some cash. His car will be worth a hell of a lot more with the orginal frame right? He ****ed up and he obviously knows it now. Unless you are ready to go right now with your project, see what he comes up with as a replacement.

 

I had to laugh(He didn't) I told him I wanted to call and see if he would give me the ***le since I had the numbers and I would just get him A new ***le.

I think I'm gonna get some interesting replys here.

 

His mistake for letting it go before the project was finished. He needs to find you, or himself a comparable ch***is.

 

Just so I understand things, this was a stock unrestored no history 3 window when it was draged out of a barn. If that is the case keep the ch***is, you got a good deal, he messed up. HOWEVER, if this had been a Hot Rod with a history, Bonneville, Dry Lakes etc. then I'd want to see the body and ch***is reunited. I bet that ch***is has a nice home now, maybe it wanted to have a roadster body to carry around all these years, and is glad to be rid of that 3 window.

 

I have heard stories like this, where something like the following happens:


You sell it back to the guy, not screwing him too bad.


He builds a nice "period correct" car.


Through no fault of his own (divorce, illness, bancruptcy) he has to sell the car.


Some goldchainer buys it for the body and billetizes it on a brand new high tech ch***is with independent front & rear suspension.


You go to a swap meet and there is the gold chainer trying to sell the ch***is for 5 times what you sold it to the original owner.

 

Hey man, a done deal is a done deal. He and his builder just messed up big time in my opinion. The only thing I'd sleep on would be finding a body to put on your nice original frame!! Don't let him try to put you on a guilt trip either!!
If this were a friend or family then I think maybe it would warrant serious consideration.
Good luck,

 

**** um... it's yours now.

make sure you get that ***le off him too

 

you should ask FULL market value,plus $100 for the insult.

 

a fool and his money are soon parted, in this case his ch***is

 

On the other side of the coin...

I'd sell it back to him... maybe make a few bucks (but not outrageous). Maybe he'll be grateful and later on down the line he'll find you again and say "Hey I found this complete 32 5-window in a barn.... here you go". Or find a repop 32 ch***is for you.

I just find that when you do good deeds, they come back to you. I've done this a few times and later on things come back and go my way and I'm like "cool!" Here is a prime example. I was working at a buddy's house and there was this 59 4-door Impala parked about 3 blocks away. Went to visit him. Guy turns out to be really cool and we get to talking. He needs a new heater core (and it's November!) So I know how to fix these things and I rebuilt it for him for a cost of 25 cents (That's how much it cost for the O-ring gasket). He gives me a rebuilt PS-Gen. A month later he calls me and says "This lady stopped me in my car and offered me a few 59 cars and lots of parts. I can't get them so I thought about you." I got a 59 4-door hardtop Impala, a 59 El Camino, and about 5 truck loads of parts and fenders etc... and some NOS stuff... all for $600. That's what I'm talking about!!!

Travis

 

Tell him sorry but you cant afford to sell it back to him because you got to good of a deal. If he is willing to give you more than you think it's worth or a suitable replacement then let him have it back. I would personally keep it just because you dont run across a deal like that everyday (at least I dont).

 

In 6 months when the "rat rod" fad ends, he'll rebuild that car again, throw out YOUR frame and then neither one of you will have it...and it won't bother him.

 

Rudy,
IMHO the real question is how much YOU want that specific ch***is. If you bought it for a project that YOU want to do then keep it. If you just bought it for a "build and sell" money making project then that's another story. If you can make your money now then sell it.
Another thing to consider ...does he (or Tommy and Frank) have anything to trade that you might want?? Everybody knows what a nice guy you are ... just don't get taken advantage of and do something you will regret later.

 

Sorry about his luck. Good for you. It's not your fault he had his head up his *** when he sold you the ch***is. You got a good deal from a 1-800 goldchainer who at the time had absolutely no problem separating the ch***is and body from a great old barn find. he ****ed up, his loss.
Build your car on his original ch***is just the way you want to and don't even look back.
You say the car has no history so don't lose another minutes sleep over it. tell him to go and find another original frame that yours is not for sale. You had a vision when you bought it (unlike him) and you have to stick to it.
I hate it when these weasels find these old cars and without a thought destroy whatever character the car had by doing exactly what this clown did. He just should have built a kitcar.

 

Hell, you been talkin' bout that ch***is with a *****le in your eye for almost a year now...it's obvious that it means alot to YOU, and that you have a good, solid plan to put it to use.

From your story, it sounds like the guy dumped it cheap...then someone told him how cool it would be to build a "period correct" rod, and he swayed with the wind, wanting it back.

Well, as we all know, most "period" rods were pieced together from several cars in an effort to ***emble a lightweight jalopy to go fast...it's about as far from full resto as you can get, so having the original or "numbers matching" frame isn't really an issue if he just wants a hot rod, right?

(He'd be better off to find another...if he doesn't change his mind again before he locates it!)

Your call, Rudy...but from our conversations over the Summer and such, I really picked up on your enthusiasm for this project, and anyone can tell that you appreciate what you have. If the other guy shared your conviction and desire, he wouldn't have sold you the ch***is to begin with. I think the right man owns it now!

 

Are you real good friends with the rod shop that it is at?
Is it going to affect you friendship? No forget it keep the stuff.

 

Rudy, I’m not sure how much time you have in the ch***is, but If he wants it back tell him he can have it for a replacement done up by Franks, the way you want it. It would be different if this guy was a friend and someone you hung out with. He needs to make it worth while to you. Just because this guy changed his mind about the direction of his project doesn’t mean it should all fall on you. I mean he didn't see the value of keeping the original frame to begin with, so to bad.

 

Good point Gus. Actually I was thinking last night about seeing what they built him for a ch***is, Franks do put togeather some nice stuff. WhenI asked him about the suspension he kind made reference to wanting that back too.

So ultmatly if I could get a new ch***is done up with a 9 nine inch rear wiht ladder bars, and a nicely done front with hairpins and a I beam and maybe even the barakes in trade that would be a deal too.

Hell through a gl*** 3 window body on it put the Firebreathing 350 in it and.....damn I better stop thinking so hard

 

Is there any guarantee that he won't resell it for market value? Did the light bulb go on that he didn't get enough for it?

I may be unlucky but nobody has ever given me a "REDO" on the mistakes I've made in life. A week or two later...I might concider it, but a year later after you've made a cash and an emotional investment into it...sorry Charlie!

 

Rudy,I have been in the same delima,,,only I was the idiot that sold a cherry original frame and firewall out frome under a 32 tudor sedan.

after I bought a TCI frame and *****ing firewall I knew I had screwed up,,,,,,,,,not knocking the TCI stuff,it's well made,,,but the car lost something in the ch***is swap.

And the firewall looked like ****!

I got on the phone and tried to buy the ch***is back,,,,even offered more than he had paid me,,

He too was building a roadster,,,,no sale!

After I had the car almost done and was still not happy with it ,,,I sold it.

Foward to the guy that bought the original frame from me, he sold the frame and the rough roadster body about a month after I talked to him about buying it back.

It's your frame now ,,,do what you want to do!,,, HRP

 

Now you're thinkin....Everything does have its price...Just figure out what yours is, and stick to it. The guy can obviously afford it. You deserve to score in this round...."Workin man vs Checkbook guy"

 

Well, I would tell him your side of the story about collecting all the parts for that special roadster project and see what he's thinking. He just might offer you more then you think, it's gonna cost you nothing to hear him out.. If you don't like his answer just say "no thanks".. I would give him the chance to Step-up, because I'm sure he did when he bought the 3w... This way both parties could walk away happy with no hard feelings..

 

sometimes it is about karma, i wouldn't want to be in this situation, because if you keep it, YOU'LL be the "**** who ripped me off for my original frame, etc...", or if you sell it back to him, you've wasted a year of your time and effort. i think trading something of equal value is the best route, 'cause money won't stay on the garage floor for long mf

 

I'd give the guy a chance to buy it back, with a good profit made. You and he both know you got a good deal the first time around, tell him how much you need the ch***is and how hard they are to find, yada, yada, yada, but this is what it takes to buy it back.

Give him a take it or leave it figure, but make it high enough to make you happy, no regrets.

He either buys it or you still have a cool ch***is.

Sure he f'd up, you know it and he knows it. He ought ot also know it's gonna cost him!

-slacker

 

Price out a brand new spanking frame and ***emblies.
Send the bill to him and trade it off. Otherwise tell him to **** off. If he's really serious about keeping the car with all the original components he'll pay it. Otherwise, if you give him a deal and feel guilty about keeping it. he'll end up selling it for a profit and you'll be stuck with nothing but memories.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Now you're thinkin....Everything does have its price...Just figure out what yours is, and stick to it. The guy can obviously afford it. You deserve to score in this round...."Workin man vs Checkbook guy"

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That is one way that I am seeing this. He can defenatly afford to buy it back for almost any figure I put on it.

I know for sure he does not intend to buy it back and resell because he found out they sell for 3 plus times what I paid for it last year. He really wants the vin back on the car.

I Do stand to gain big time if he does get it back. The last ch***is comprable to this one sold for over 5 grand on e-bay.

Time to make some phone calls