Folks Of Interest Another year and the Great Debate.

Well, here I am, another year on this earth. I can say that I am glad to be here, and glad to have found this place to come to get my fix on traditional goodness in life. The other outlets on the internet are so full of other crap and I am thankful that this place is the way it is. Thanks to Ryan and all the staff who keep this place going like it does, and thanks to all yall who make this place worth coming to.

I have recently been struggling with selling vehicle to pursue the dream of a 33/34 coupe. The financial aspect of these cars are quite a buy in for sure. I have toyed with selling the A coupe I have now to fund the roller purchase but may need more funds to make what I want. I can keep slinging parts and probably get where I want to be.... I had thought about selling both the 56 and 30 to make a huge jump forward to that goal... But I still enjoy both of these vehicles... I think the regret if I sold the 56 would haunt me forever, since she was the first hotrod build in my life and we just celebrated 15 years together. I guess we all struggle with these thoughts through the years. I can say I have sold some cars and trucks that I wish I hadn't, but they have paved way to where we are today, so for that I am thankful. I have learned that going back to a vehicle after you have had your time with it, is not nearly as good as you think it would be.

Background, I have wanted a hot banger car for years, and now having it I have found it as much fun as I thought it would be. I may just keep having fun and if the right project falls in my lap then at that point I will call it fate?

Thanks for riding along on this ride we call life... As I get older the more I feel in touch with this quote.

 

Even being handy gets more difficult!! I KNOW.

Ben

 

Do you know anyone who has one you can go for a ride in or drive it? I can't imagine NOT liking one but ya never know. That's step 1. Maybe the extra room of a 39-40 would suit as well? That's another approach, take steps. Get another that's not quite there (a 33-4 is a bigger ante) but still you can improve enough to raise the value some? What's worth more, a banger or 40 coupe? See where I'm going with this, don't go for instant gratification. Have fun moving on up. Shit, before long you'll be in a Packard 12! Just kidding, but you get the point, right?

 

DO what makes you happy. That's my yardstick. If keeping the A makes you happy do it. If selling the A gets you to another vehicle that will be a challenge then do it, IF that is what will make you happy. I like the challenge of building so at some point, not being made out of money, I'll have to consider selling my A roadster if I want to get into something else. For me the fun doesn't just come from the having but the doing also.

 

Follow your dream, and do it soon. Damn, life flies by.

 

Yeah, I like your train of thought here. Building blocks for sure. I have always liked the 40s also, another iconic hotrod also. Yeah, I need to find some cars build big boy friendly and go from there.

 

What does the A look like

 

I too still have a deep seated dream to have a 34 coupe. But after I sat in one I realized they sure aren’t very comfortable. Going from my 37 coupe to that car would be something I’d probably regret. Especially if it was chopped.
Just be sure if all the effort and expense is worth satisfying your fantasy.

 

'56 what, I don't know...but you having it for 15 yrs makes me think that it's keeper.
Sell the A, buy a project 33/34 coupe and accumulate parts, and devote time to it, until it becomes your reality...seems like an itch that needs to be scratched.

 

I always consider other people’s habits against what I am doing. Father Time ignores no one. I watch people get up at the crack of dawn and head out to a job to pay for a house they barely have time to enjoy. They may have it paid off in time to retire. Then they downsize and get a smaller space sometimes for a greater cost. People do similar things with their car hobbies. They just get to the point where they can enjoy them and desire something different and send that down the road and sometimes lament later. Most of my fleet is my old dailies that didn’t have enough value to trade at the time but are kind of cool now. I like most need to focus on what I have now and enjoy them more and maybe even wear a couple out.

 

I suggest the girlfriend get a better paying job?

Just my thoughts on keeping one of them & not sell both.
Having one you can jump in and take care of your hot rod fix ... you will be more patient while building the project car.

I do not have a driving vintage vehicle, so I get a bit hurried while putting my truck together ... make it safe & a fun driver.
Areas where I might take more time .... take out that dent? ... Nah adds character.... Interior? Throw a Mexican blanket over the seat.
I enjoy having the project, same time I want something to drive .....

Keep one of them, I vote the truck because you use it all the time.

 

I'm personally not a fan of getting rid of cars that drive in exchange for projects.

I am a fan of making sedans into coupes, and the 33-34 Ford sedan is probably the most ideal candidate for a sedan to coupe conversion. Sedan starting points aren't exactly dirt cheap, but they're cheaper than a coupe project, and very do-able if you've got some time and metalworking skills.

I had a '33 5W going from a rough 4 door sedan, I think I had about 80 hours in it by this point (roof was still pretty wonky but it was workable, I had doors), ended up selling it to acquire a better '34 4 door starting point (see it on the left, that one has a frame!), but it was a way to get into one without having to spend $20K up front for a project. Something to consider.

 

I avoid the dilemma by mostly buying and doing very little selling.

 

56 Dodge pickup. and I think you did hit the nail on the head for thinking its a keeper.

Yeah the 56 here was saved from the crusher, and wasn't worth much to begin with but now has gained some value I guess. I am right with you though, Death always wins. The grind folks get into is taxing on the soul for sure. The quicker you wear it out the quicker you can rebuild and make em better.

Loving the input guys, making my birthday better and better knowing I am not alone.

 

Great work man... Yeah I need to put my big ass in one of these and see how the fit is...

 

Yeah, I think the truck is my keeper and maybe will pass it down one day to the kids. I do agree one to scratch the itch is key to building and driving. I am a fan of the mexican blanket seat covers...

 

Well ya only live once.
If ya dig the truck more than the A and selling the A will get ya closer to a dream, then wave goodbye to the A

 

A sedan to coupe candidate?

 

So, the New Year's resolution is to be more decisive and proactive....... but now you're not so sure???

..........and it's only mid January.

 

You always need a running old car. So keep the truck since you like it the most. Sell the A so you have cash immediately available when the dream 34 coupe body is found. You don't want to be waiting on getting the funds together then because someone else will buy it out from under you. Just make sure you actually SAVE the A coupe sale money and don't squander it away on other parts/tools/life.

 

As you know Im fond of your Model A having a similar one, thanks again for the inspiration and like you love driving the banger but I love my 34 more It looks like my Model A is sold anyway with some of the money going into a property and the rest funding work on my 34. The next owner will love it as I have. I do enjoy passing on that love.

Ive been seeing a few Model 40 5W bodies trading at between $13-25K lately on some of the FB groups. All would make a great start for a build. If you could find the right guy your Model A will bring good money and should be close to getting you a body.

You have the skills to pull off the rest! Do it!

If you are going to cobble together one I would start with a rough tudor and go the 3 window route rather than a 4 door sedan and a 5W.

 

Not a bad price on the 4 door above that Anthony posted. Especially if there's a title and/or a grille in there with it somewhere. A couple of repop roadster quarters and a trunklid and a bunch of cutting and welding and you've got yourself a very complete '34 5W project.

If you fit nicely in the A you'll fit in a 33/34, they're cavernous compared to a Model A coupe, and the sweeping door openings with suicide hinges make getting your feet past the cowl a lot easier than the A.

 

I'm one of those guys who builds it then keeps it, sellers remorse can last a lifetime.

 

I too wanted a 33-34 coupe but a finished car was way too expensive for me. I knew if I stuck to my dream and was willing to work, I WOULD make it happen. Swapped a running 53 Stude coupe for a nice rolling chassis. & days later my buddy and bodyman swung by my house to show me his new 34 coupe body. Man, it was rough but I finally beat him down on price and bought it. We worked on the body Tuesday and Friday nights after hours. I let everyone I knew I needed 33-34 parts. After 8 years [I know, right?] I was able to bring it home to build the chassis, motor/trans etc. I had some times where I thought about giving up and buying something a little lower on my "list" but I was in my 60s by now and I was gonna finish thing or die trying.
I can't tell you how much fun this car is!! Stop for gas and everybody there wants to know everything about it!
Do it, man! You'll hate yourself if you don't. [ATTACH/ATTACH]

 

You could always keep the A and put a '34 body on it.

 

Having been without a running "Old" car for way too long I have to say no matter what keep the 56 Dodge. The A might be a " marked that one off the list now on to what I really want but there may be that guy with the makings of a 34 Coupe feeling a bit overwhelmed (sP?) who would really like a little running and driving Model A coupe with a banger that he could drive and make his own a bit at a time or just drive and grin.
Funny thing is that every vehicle we own now qualify as "classic" in this state by virtue of age but six of them don't meet the "old " criteria to my way of thinking.

 

grass isnt always greener on the other side...build a 3 window mopar instead....49-52 are still around...

 

I am not auto monogamous. So many cars, so little time. Sell the A and build you a new car that keeps you motivated. For me, I enjoy building even more than driving. What do you enjoy most?

 

I only own one car that will never be sold. The rest are migratory.......when I lose interest they go south.

 

Finding, saving, building, driving, and dialing things in to be perfect. The driving is the victory lap per say and seeing everything you calculated, scrounged, and fixed come together as 1 and live life again going down the road is where its at for me.