Most real convertabiles also have extra bracing on their frames especially on 4 door convertabiles to keep the body from sagging out and keep the jambs true. Some convertabiles are also heavier even without the steel roof because of this. I'm wondering how many bidders are under the impression its an authentic pace car-the letterwok is poor and amatuerish and of course the seller is decideably vague about it? (I'll be watching the feedback in about 2 weeks- should be interesting) My take on 4 doors is that basically, some cars can look good and others contrived and dumpy. Phaetons, Lincolns, and stationwagons and many humpbacks get away with it but thats because thats the way they were designed-to be 4 doors. The problem lies in the initial design of a car particularly in the 50's-many came from the drawing board as 2 doors and as hardtops no less. The need for praticality unfortunately made it necessary to take these otherwise, clean and horizontally flowing styles and add 2 more doors with 4 extra heavy vertical pillars in between. Simplicity in design is always the best, purest example and 4 doors can't convey that.
Possibly it's me, but I'd have no problem building a solid '40s-'60s 4 door if I like the bodystyle. I build cars to keep, so resale means **** to me. One of my top 10 cars was a '64 Pontiac Catalina 4 door sedan. I traded a broken Ford Toploader for it in '87 because the owner couldn't find a buyer, even at $300. 4 door stigma, I guess.. This one had a clean Georgia body, a stout 389, a $1000 rebuilt Slim Jim ****** but no ps, pb or any of that ****. I fixed her up mullet style with Buick Riv wheels, air shocks, cast iron 4bbl intake with a Holley, duals with gl***packs, blue dots and all of that ****. 4 door or not, I got more compliments on this car from citizens, let alone the Camaro crowd than I'd have ever imagined. I'd still own her if she hadn't burned a piston and I had to store her because we lost our garage/car lot. Long story, but the guy who stored her turned out to being an ***hole (he got his.. ) and she's jammed in a junkyard today. But I'd buy another one in a hot second if the right one came along. Jan
The zeros are wrong etc., etc.the 'M' etc. etc. I blew up the image and cropped it like the ebay picture but can't get it saved. Its ALL wrong. I say one thing though, It makes a good motif for the car to drive as is, but the seller's vagueness on the subject, perhaps intentional, might manage to scam somebody. Oh well,... buyer beware.
I think DirtyT's Merc is on eBay right now. I think Gl***guy did his Merc using a four door with two door doors and roof? If that's true, it looks fantastic.
it is. but well see if it sells. just cause there is no reserve and bids doesnt mean it will sell i dont really want to sell but i can only build one at a time and my new chevy is way nicer. O and 4 doors ****
I don't keep up with Merc prices every day. I can recall , when I was looking for mine, these general guidelines. 2 door Merc, does not run (equates to motor and running gear is junk, since you can't test drive it) = $5,000. runns and drives= $ 10,000 to $12,000 running with 12 volt, modern running gear = $15,000 to $20,000. For a 4 door you should lower the above prices accordingly, how much I don't know. Having a running car vs non running makes a big difference in how easy the car is to sell. The exception to this rule are convertibles, 2 door Mercs, 32 Roadsters and 3 windows, and few others I can't recall off hand. These don't have to be running because the bodys are so desirable and scarce.
i figured it would sale for about 30k, past that mark! my buddy picked up his merc for 25k in about the same condition, its a candaian Monarch which i think are alilttle harder to find. it made it all the way from Grand Rapids then the thermostat stuck, but you know California add 10k to it just for being here!!
Shouldn't you be able to find info on the original pace car? It's not like the got done running the race and said "Okay, let's strip off the lettering and get it back to the dealer down the street." Aren't those cars usually moth-balled, returned to the factory or something? They usually keep some kind of records about the cars that paced the race. If someone pays a ton of money thinking they've found a diamond this rare on ebay, they're gonna get cubic zirconium. Brad
The Jalopy Journal
