Hot Rods How do you skin a cat?

Since the beginning of time man has had to figure out the most efficient way to spend the 24 hours in a day. Looking at how to take care of what NEEDS done vs having fun. As a dad of 4 kids ranging from 8 months to 18 (That's a story for another day), I am sure many of you can relate to juggling family life with our passions. It doesn't help that I have always gravitated towards "It just needs a little work, and that will get me what I want sooner than saving up or being choosey" lol. So after many a frustrated trek from the shop to the house, I am trying to wrap my head around the idea of setting a goal to own a clean-ish driver. That's where you all come in, I'm looking for some insight into the many different ways you've done it.


For the sake of this question let's say within the next few years I would like to end up with a pre-35 ford. Now with no more experience than I have with them the market seems to be all over the place, a "restored to somewhat original" Model A might be listed for $10k - $20k while a solid tub or body might be listed for half that on its own. That’s excluding anything with historical significance, survivors, or truly nice cars. I know there will be variation based on body style, and model with T's being generally more affordable.


I think my biggest consideration is wanting a solid body. I've rebuilt a couple of bikes and am currently in the middle of an F100. If I have learned anything so far, it is that I don't mind turning wrenches or fabricating, but a body man I am not. I could look for a roller that needs a power plant (I have a couple of Y blocks on a shelf, I’d love to have an excuse to build one), or a “restored” car that I wouldn’t feel horrible about cutting up and modifying. Or I could pick up a solid body and source rails or a chassis to put it all together. Wanting to end up with something I can run down the highway at 70 mph, smiles for miles, not a show car. Once I get to that point I am sure I will have all kinds or research to do, books to read, and mistakes to make to actually put it together, but for right now I am trying to figure out where to set my sights, how much to save, and how picky to be.


For those that have been there and done that, what should I avoid? What to look for? Where to spend vs do myself? What am I up against in this market where cars are like land, and the fact that they aren’t making anymore drives prices higher and higher?

Dreaming of a late 50's/early 60's build. Low, bold, and fun.

 

You no doubt will be overwhelmed with all kinds of input, but better you are asking the important questions now.
One opinion I usually give is "don't believe half (at least) what a seller tells you on a car".
Also, be clear with (yourself) as to what you really want, and if the finances at the moment don't support that then it might be wise to sit back and give it more thought.
I'm guilty of getting myself involved in more than one project and also trying to keep up with the "trend of the month", I can personally say these things will derail your expectations of a project going together in a linear way faster than anything.
I think it was Confucius that said...........
"The infatuation with cars thing will not be conducive to maintaining balance in your life", not something I have ever experienced.

 

I was going to recommend
The upholstery thread to end all threads
but I misunderstood the title.

 

Sorry man, I couldn't stop myself. HRP



I was married with twin girls and I worked two Jobs and a 3rd side job 2 afternoons a week, I was working about 12 hours a day and the side job usually ran 6 to 20 hours on weekends, It was easy to save money I was considerably younger and could keep the pace for several years, my full time job went to paying the expenses of raising the family, the part time job was saved and the side job was hot rod money.

As long as I can remember I kept the part time job along with my regular job, I learn that you can't build a hot rod with dreaming about it, I saved enough to build my 30 pickup in less than 6 months.

Hustling spare parts can add up also.

My car was just a beater, nothing fancy but was a lot of fun to build and drive. HRP

 

Buy the most complete and finished car of your style and flavor that you can afford. You will be time and money ahead in the long run.

 

Find things close enough to go see,an drive { I said drive*,an if you have a close buddy who know about right an wrong;knows engineering of hotrods=take him with you. Be dead sure it has a clear title****
Do not even go look if not.
Start by knowing all rods will need work,but driving gets you idea about how much { it's always going to take at lest 4X as much as you think! } No one sells one,that dose not need stuff,no matter what they say.
The closer it already is too your dream,the better,then make it your own ,a little at a time..
Sedans are far better for faimley,taking as many as you can a long,helps in so many ways.
Taking on a project car is not smart,if you have not already built a ton.

 

There’s a younger fella on the board from Saskatchewan that built a model A and then a 55 (believe his handle is: Fry). Check out his Model A build thread. Great example of a great little hot rod.

 

I originally suggested a Tudor to my wife for the simple fact of a back seat and room, but as I have shown her different styles and options, she gravitates to the coupes and roadsters, who am I to argue? Haha

 

As I recall in your opening thread, you have 4 kids, and your wife prefers coupes & roadsters, with 4 kids you need a coupe or roadster like a hole in the head, look at sedans or wait until the kids are grown to have a hot rod. HRP

 

You could start cat ranch in Lacon, take the profits and pay someone to build it!

 

I need a coupe or a roadster about as much as the 2 Harleys in the garage. At least one of them will likely be liquidated to help fund whatever this ends up being. In a perfect world I would buy a ready to go Tudor and then build a roadster or bucket on the side to cover all the bases.

 

Someone say TUDOR, this CARRYALL has room for your whole family.
This 66 Suburban could be in your shop and not in mine!

 

I already find that with various projects.

 

I originally suggested a 50s/60s family hauler due to room and more modern touches, and the lower price of entry, but quickly found that the style doesn't appeal to my better half

 

Well father of 4, we know how old the oldest child is, and we know how old the youngest child is. Where do the other 2 fit in?
You stated that you have shown your wife pictures of sedans, and coupes & roadsters and she likes the coupes & roadsters better. Does she plan to participate in the "car thing" with you, or is she seeking an excuse to "stay home with the kid(s)" and let you do your "car thing" by yourself? What happens when the wife and the child in the kids car seat doesn't fit into the coupe with you? Maybe she doesn't expect the new found hobby to be a functioning road piece until the 8 month old is out of the house?

I built our first rod in about 4 years, I chose a sedan so my youngest could join us as we actively participated in the "car thing" as a family (that included the build). She always liked the looks of the coupes and standard cab pickups better, but the sedan fit the needs of our family better. As our youngest grew older, and built his own rod, we switched over to the coupes and pickups she likes better. These days our youngest joins us in his 57 4 door station wagon (that his family helped build) along with his wife and kids. Something to consider.

As far as that first car? I tell everyone that enters the car hobby to buy a running, driving, titled, car they can work on. One that is in good enough condition they can improve it over the winters, and drive it through the summers. To do that, you need to be honest with your self on your abilities to work on the car yourself. There is always "how to" help here on the HAMB, but you have to do the wrenching yourself. When you go to look that car to possibly but, take a knowledgeable person with you that has the ability to tell you the ride you are looking at is a money pit, pile of junk, beyond your abilities, or not, and is one you know is telling you the truth.

I built my first rod when I was in my 30s and it was a real hard case, but I had 15 years of auto repair and 10 years of dirt track race car building under my belt before I started on the rod. Even with all that experience, it still had a pretty steep learning curve. My 1st rod! The kid helping is my youngest. I do not recommend starting out like this!
The finished product (looks better in the pic then it did in real life). We drove the car 7 years, and put 77,000 miles on it before we built the 1st pickup. This was a great starting point for the next guy. A proven road worthy car that the guy made his own, while he drove it.

 

At 74 with a lifetime of unfinished car projects, I wish I'd done things differently. If I could have made an extra $1,000. a month and put it aside and paid all the other monthly expenses, I'd have $48,000. in four years and a shot at buying something that was on the road.

 

The others are 15 and 13, all girls but the 13 year old. I think it will end up being a mixture of my hobby, and a family activity. She likes riding the bikes and road tripping. And not to exclude the older kids but by the time I actually get something going they will all likely be on the verge of grown and out of the house. I do agree that a back seat will be way more conducive to us enjoying it together.

 

Yep, 13 yo and 8 month old are a ways apart. Having a back seat would be really helpful, your wife won't have to choose, she can enjoy the ride and take the youngster along. Family hot rodding is more fun.

Our oldest child was 3 1/2 years older then her younger brother. By the time the sedan was on the road, she was 16 and had many other interests. She joined us a few times the first couple of years, but less and less every year after.

 

I think I’d look for a running and driving model A resto that is showing its age in your choice of body style, bearing in mind that some 4 doors have plenty of wood (I think). You could upgrade as you drive.

 

This is a pretty good deal if you ask me

 

Start by making sure what you find has a good title!!!!

 

Before spending a cent spend a few months of searching on the net and start collecting pics of what captures your eye and go from there. This should include completed cars and aspects of cars that speak to you.

Model 40 33,34 coupes are the most expensive and then onto 32s then As.

To keep it affordable I reckon its hard to beat a 30/31 A coupe with a hard chop on an A frame. If a roadster I have a lot of love for 28/29 As on 32 chassis or a T roadster on an A frame. BUT thats just me. Work out what you want and go for it. If you get smart you should be able to buy/sell your way into most of what you need.

As for prices my 2 cents are that they have peaked as less people enter the hobby and many more age out of it.

Make sure the title matches at least the body style of the car you buy. My coupe came with a sedan title.... I now know how to decipher Model 40 Titles.....

 

These guys are telling it like it is! Get a running, driveable car, not a 10 year project. I missed a lot of events building my Magnum Opus. Perfectionism keeps a guy on the outside looking in.

 

A 50's/60's car is a much easier entry to the hobby if you plan to do work yourself. They can do highway speeds without a bunch of chassis and drivetrain work, which means you're less likely to find something that was not fabricated or designed properly. You can always start there and have some family fun and build your ideal hot rod later when you've got more experience and understanding under your belt. Starting with something pre-35 is a lot steeper learning curve.

 

I was going to say the same thing, only take it a little further. I'd start with a '55-64 Ford. You'd like to end up w/ a Y-block, so it makes sense for a first (automotive) project to be a car that could have come with one. Buy it, go through the brakes and suspension and enjoy it all summer. Choose improvement projects that only take a couple of months, do them next winter, rinse and repeat. You'll pay less for one with the 223ci six, which will allow you to enjoy the car while you go through your Y-block. From '56, Ford offered optional seat belts, so the anchors may be in the floor. To make it a family cruiser, you'll need to be sure your child seat will work with lap belts or you'll find yourself with a big engineering challenge fitting 3-point belts.

 

Build a hotrod, take your Mrs out in it and give her a bit of a scare and then you can go cruise by yourself or with one or two of the kids.