Only do the work if you plan to keep the car. The likelihood of recovering all you would put into it is very slim. Sounds like its time to take the hit and move on. So many cars, so little time.
If I'm selling a running, driving hotrod, I go through and detail it as best I can. I will touchup paint the engine bay as needed, and detail the trunk also. But I wont spend much on getting it ready to sell as the new owner might not even like the current paint, even if it is brand new!
Let the new guy put his mark on it. If it runs and drives, wash it, change the oil and put it up for sale.
I'm big on doing the right way when I am working/enjoying my hot rod. Wiring tidy and hidden, correct fuel lines and hoses, no loose panels, nice rims, not new. When the day comes, as it always does, to sell it, I don't have to do anything but put a sign on it. Keep it low budget but nice, no radical paint or color schemes. Keep it at the universal appeal level. They always sell quickly.
That's a tough one. The value takes a significant hit with no top upholstery and with the other "needs" the car has. But if you have to farm out the work, who's to say that it won't get locked up in purgatory for another 2 years and gain some more issues?
In todays market I believe it to be well worth the money to fix it before you sell. It makes the pool of potential buyers waaaaaaaaay bigger. even guys who build there own cars hate wiring and body work. It’s a tough bullet to bite but you’re gonna lose selling as is I believe
To me, a car that is complete and drivable is worth significantly more than a non-complete project. Even if the changes someone wants to make are preferential, it's just opens up a completely different market when someone can drive a car home.
Sell it as is if you are done with the car. A more affordable car for most people. More people would buy it and finish it the way they would want it done. And that might not be the way you would finish it. Or keep it and finish it.
As the former 'Wiring Guy', I can tell you hair-raising stories about wiring jobs I have done, dating back to 1957. After establishing sources for supplies, biggest concern was the 2-3 days a complete job would take. This was connected to the care for the car that was there, in the shop. Looky-Loos and curb nerds were a bother, they had my shop penned as the 'ongoing autorama and hot rod hospital'. I never had a car dented or damaged in my care. 2 months? I would have made him an offer he couldn't refuse...
I've always thought you car was beautiful. I would think you'd have no problem selling it. To me the top not being finished is not a big deal; it is a convertible after all. An unfinished top on a hardtop car would be a totally different story.
I think not having the top done, especially since it is chopped, will narrow down the list of prospective buyers quite a bit. The rest of the things it needs are not nearly as intimidating as the top would be to most guys. And there’s not a shop on every corner that can handle a chopped convertible top covering. It is a beautiful car with tons of potential.
If you do all of the necessary repairs, you may decide you like it too much to sell, then comes the dilemma of what other car to put up for sale. Of course a finished car will bring more money, but then comes the decision of what is more important, immediate sale, or unknown time frame/expense of a future sale. When I make a decision to sell, in my mind the car is already gone...sounds like you've already reached that decision, therefore, the sooner it's gone the better. Good luck with your sale, this exposure should bring in some interest.
Its a convertible. As long as the top bows fold down like they should, many might not ever need a new top. Finish or correct the wiring. No one wants screwed up wiring. A cracked steering wheel probably isn't going to be a deal breaker. Paint imperfections are sort of expected with an old car, as long as there isn't gapping rust holes, or nasty crash damage, the reduction in the value wouldn't cover the cost to repair it. Give someone a deal on it and move on. They will be happy, and you will be happy.
Sell it as is. Whenever you finish something to your taste you run the risk of it not matching the potential buyer's taste. Which will have a far greater impact on the sale or lack thereof.
Always a valid question when the time comes to sell, but we are in a really funky economy right now so the decision is even harder than ever. In your shoes I'd do everything I could to clean, prep and detail the car and get it running/functioning properly...and let the prospective buyer fuss about the cosmetics and the upholstery. I just don't think this is a good time, generally speaking, to sink more money into a car just to sell it. Just my $.02 worth.
I have to agree with the guys who have said, clean it up and sell it, because the next owner might want to change things. I've never had the opportunity to sell something like your car but, during the course of moving 22 times over 55 years, I have bought and sold several houses. The magazines my wife read and all of the realtors pushed remodeling the kitchens, bathrooms, and whatever else they could think of to get me to spend money. I refused and just made sure the house was clean when prospective buyers came in. If I happened to be there at the showing, I would always hear the "we need to change this and this and...". I got more of a return on the sales than I would have if I'd spent the money to change everything. You have a nice car there. Let the other guy do it his way and have some fun with it.
Yep, clean it up as best you can, make it run good and sell it as-is. Yeah, you'll take a hit but the new owner can decide what direction to go. At best, having the work done by others will be a break-even deal money-wise, more likely a loss.
You are better off selling as is where is. Spending money to complete it will raise your selling price, usually the amount you spent, if not less.
Just got a second look at the car. You best believe that without the encumbrances I have on my life; If i had disposable funds I would indeed take that baby as is.
The people with stupid money buy completed cars. By not finishing it you eliminate the big money people right off the bat. It may pay to put a top on it. Tough call.
People with stupid money don’t mind hiring the work done, and they usually have particular tastes. So sell as is and let them make the final design decisions. It’s a 39 Merc convert with lots of neat parts and style. It ain’t gonna be cheap even as it sits.
If you have quality leads for the repairs with estimates, that will improve the prospects of selling to “non-car guys and gals”.
The only thing that will net the best rate of return is a top. Does that mean spend 10 Gs to try and get 10? No. Be smart, basic, conservative. Probably what, white vinyl? Shouldn't be an arm and a leg. Maybe even a precut top that can be shortened on the bottom? You know what it needs, just a suggestion not knowing what it needs. Make it safe re the wiring. Soap and water clean returns the most. Some things scare average buyers and it could be more "...and who will I get to do..." (fill in the blanks). The rest is personal taste. Touch up what's reasonable. Again, don't drop thousands. Some airbrush repairs, cut n polish, just show it some love. THAT will show a lot more than we tend to give credit for. Not to be a hypocrite, the top is before, the bottom after: Top, tires, lots of wet sand and polish, a decent investment. This may be hamburgers vs filet mignon but the visual blast was a huge return on the investment. They all don't benefit like that. That was a late 80s restoration of a car that was mostly a "wallflower" in a big collection, then woken up. Still wasn't too far for the impact it made. Sometimes you go a little further
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