Interesting Model A deal in Boston; maybe yes, maybe no...

There's an interesting A coupe up on CL here in Boston that I've been talking about with a few local HAMBers. It's a '31 Coupe with a title advertised for $1900 in Cohasset. My financial situation took a turn for the worse and flew south for the winter, so I'm out of the running. The ad seems weird (for good reason as it happens), so I decided to go check it out to get some info for others, and also because I have the afternoon off and I would rather do this than pretty much anything (I can talk about here). Anyone that might be interested in this deal will absolutely benefit from my scouting the scene even before the 1st phone call.

A. Car was sitting outside for a time so there's a lot of rust, dents, floor and wood gone.
B. Car is pretty complete, looks cool to me
C. If it were anywhere else I'm sure it would be a pass, but anything with a clear MA title here will make our ears prick up, and this one has that.
D. Good practice for welding sheet metal.



Here's the rub, and where it gets interesting to me: The sellers are a couple in their late 60's, super nice wife and sort of angry curmudgeon type guy, a bit off his rocker. (but hey, I'm way off mine, so what do I have to say about it). They need to sell their house (health stuff) and move to a condo. They built this house with at least 4000 to 6000 sq feet of garages below, (really!) because dude loves his stuff, and man he's got a lot of it; hovercraft, old cars, tools-tools-tools (junky ones.) Like any of us would be, he is NOT happy about parting with it. He will not sell this car at any price to anyone that wants to hot rod it, he's had offers of $3k or $4k, and has turned them down for this reason. His wife warned me not to mention the "H" word on the phone, and she tried to buffer me the whole time 'cause "hubby" was kinda weird, although there were a few moments he was nice and we talked a bit about woodworking. He's owned the car for 50 years, so he's attached. The 1st CL listing was like $4900, the current is $1900, if he answers the phone he says it's a misprint, but his wife assured me he would take the $1900. I would not lowball him if I were interested, he will definitely tell you to F-off and die. I bought an old Lincoln buzzbox from him, he wanted $125, I only had $114 in cash on me, he made me write a CHECK for eleven dollars.
As I was leaving, despite his wife's pleas NOT to, he was trying to cross cut some lumber free hand on an old tablesaw. The saw, not bolted onto it's stand, kicked back (of course), fell to the floor up side down still running, and was skittering all over the concrete floor, everyone went running. I had to sneak up behind it and pull the plug out from it's wiggling extension cord tail to get it to stop. (Miracle, but I believe he was uninjured), I put it back onto it's stand and strongly urged finding some nuts and bolts and secure it down before continuing.

So, if anyone is thinking this car might be for them, I would call until the wife answers, then say you are interested in the Coupe to RESTORE it, bring $1900 cash, (not one penny less or you will get thrown out). When you go see it, just be aware that the seller (dude) is having a hard time with his health, is having a hard time letting go of his stuff (essentially his whole self identity), and to treat him with respect and understanding. I am no expert on A's (although I would like to be one), so I can't tell you if this coupe is too far gone.

Is this rusty old '31 Model A Coupe with good paperwork worth $1900? I don't know, but it just might be to some of my baked-bean eatin, Red Sox-lovin', Tom Brady-forgivin' long-lost missing link fellow Bostonians. If it is, I hope this scouting mission helps you out.

 

..... best post I've read all month. That guy frekn' rules !! Thanks for the laughs, Clunker. Greatness.

 

Nothing time and money can't fix!

 

Buy it.

 

Bring $1900 and a trailer. Body & title alone are worth more than that.
Patronize him with a white lie and tell him you're going to restore it. Surprised he let you take pictures of it.
I love how some sellers specify they'll only sell a car if you build it the way they wished they would have.
Imagine buying a house on the condition you never make certain changes!? What a laugh.

 

You say to treat him with respect and understanding, and then also say to be deceitful and not to say it will be Hot Rodded.
Sucks that we have become comfortable with deception, and uncomfortable with the truth.

 

Haha. When I called I got the 4900.00 story. It's worth it with paperwork I'd say

 

I understand what kiwijeff said, but I realized a long time ago that when I sell something, it's not mine anymore, and the new owner can do whatever he pleases with it. I've bought cars and not told the owner what I had in mind, the less said, the better. Thanks for your heads-up on the car, hopefully someone can save it.
Remember the mature thread. If we're lucky, we'll all get old and act foolish when we have to sell our stuff.
EDIT...... if you come to look at any of my shit, and tell me you're gonna restore it back to stock, I won't sell it to you either.

 

Wish I were closer.

 

I don't know a lot about anything but I can see a few things.
If he had that car for 50 years he has forgotten that either
he or somebody else already was making it a Hot Rod.
It has the "hot rod headlites", juice brakes, a 40's kid type spot light,
and a sheet of probably galvanized tacked on the
roof to fill it! Just saying..........

 

Sums things up nicely.

 

Great write-up!....I'd buy more off CL if there were more descriptions like this...haha.....I'd say it's worth the parts and title for sure!

 

Great post and comments. You couldn't ask for better inside info if you plan on buying it.
I agree with the deception comments, probably be best not to go that route.
clunker you missed your calling, real estate broker or political campaign manager.

 

I would jump on that very soon before Mike Bowling sneaks in and swoops it up

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No way, hate politicians, never had a good real estate experience.

Here's what I left out, because my post was too long, and it was a bit sad;

When I was on the phone initially with the wife she kept saying how rusty and messed up the car was, I told that was OK, I'm making a hot rod. She said that her husband didn't want anyone to make a rat rod or hot rod out of it. I apologized, and told her that I didn't want to waste any more of her time. She interrupted me and said, "no, no, please come look at the car. It's OK, do what you want with it, just don't tell my husband, we NEED to sell it and all this stuff , we are selling our house, but the realtor told them that whenever buyers went to the basement and saw all this hoarded stuff they got turned off, so the house wasn't selling. Both her and her husband wanted to sell it all, but he was really attached to it, then right as he was about to sell something he would freak out and ruin the deal or find a reason to back out. She wanted me to come check out the Coupe. They needed to move.

Now I'm gonna give the husband the benefit of the doubt, because all signs pointed to the fact he was a good guy that was becoming mentally ill, (if not, my opinion changes). From the minute I got there the husband was pretty rude to both me and his wife, even though SHE was sweet and consoling to him.

Now, the wife showed me the rest of this huge house, and asked me again if I would buy the car. She again explained how they really, really needed to empty the garages and that she and her husband had already agreed to sell this car for $1900, and assured me that it would be OK to make a hot rod, just not to tell him. She thought he liked me and would sell the car finally.

Like I said, I no longer have any extra $ after some unexpected expenses, I was just looking.

I told her I could only buy it if it wouldn't adversely affect my family, I was waiting on a paycheck and I would think about it.

I was about to snap a photo of the hover craft from the 60's they were selling when the tablesaw flipped over. I assume she also needed to get him away from all the dangerous stuff, I know several older guys who have injured themselves as they lost it.

Now I'm middle aged, balding, pot bellied, probably heading for diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure and dementia. I laugh at myself all the time, and the ridiculousness all round us, I can't abide anyone who can't. I can only hope that people will like me enough as I get older to keep taking the piss out of me, and laugh with me as I unravel, otherwise just put a fork in me, 'cause I'll be done.

Now if you'll all write me into your ballots in November, I can guarantee that you'll all get free registrations and car insurance for cars made before 1964, no parking tickets EVER. It will be tremendous. Any motorcycle built before 1982 will automatically be exempt from speeding tickets AND the helmet law. Gas for said vehicles will never exceed 50 cents per gallon, and doughnuts will ALWAYS be free- all you can eat. The rest will just do what it's gonna do.

 

I called as well, weeks ago. She said she put the car up and it was a misprint and couldn't figure out hot to change the price.


This is a typical New England rot box which would make a fantastic hot rod. I've answered many ads on CL... Folks selling cars that they want to be restored... Don't sell it than, keep it. The harsh reality is.... If it was cared for it wouldn't be a total wreck and warrant a frame off resto or hot rod job.

Once a price is established and the deal is made. It's fair game, it's yours... Do what you want.

 

lol, if we write in "clunker" it will probably go to one of the other two.
You know you gotta go back and buy that car, right.

 

Some of us will be there at some point.....read the first post where you said you didn't really have the cash....hope you get it.....funny story on an ex buddy....there was a 53 Caddy coupe in my hood I'd been trying to buy.....the old man wouldn't come off his price.....one day the ex friend stopped by and the old lady said - give me what you got - I'll make up the rest ! The ex buddy took it home to flip.....he also sold an early 50's Military Jeep out from under me too.....I moved the tires/wheels off that old Jeep just today !

 

Ok, so.... myself and another well established hamb-er were the first to look at this car.
Clunker, you are very accurate with your story, but this car is beyond any form of restoration or hotrod! Sorry but it is. And the aggravation of getting it out of its firewood and trash vault would well make it a loss before you even get it on the trailer. This car lived less than 500 yards from the northern Atlantic Ocean for its entire existence. There is not 4 square inches of metal solid enough to look at with a tig welder...
I know the idea is to help others, make good deals, be a gentleman, and build hotrods, but this is not the car for this mindset.
Also, these are private people in a very private area. I'm sure the fact that their garage is in the state it's in is an embarrassment to them and the neighborhood. They thought they had a slam dunk sale and once they heard the truth from myself I think it sent them into a tailspin. We too did not even make an offer. We shook hands and left.

 

Ya, I kinda thought it was too far gone, I have never fabbed a pre war hot rod from scratch like a lot of you guys have so I wasn't really sure. Thanks.

I'm glad you met them and understand the situation. I feel bad for them, with the guy's illness this is a really bad scenario for these people.

These treks are always worth it, I love the human drama.

Sucks though that I've become a pariah "comfortable with deception, and uncomfortable with the truth"....oh well....That's kinda sexy though, in a crime novel sorta way, maybe I can work that angle....

 

There is a lot here beyond the car stuff.
I have seen other situations like this.
Many tend to hold on to "stuff" like
they will live forever. Having stuff for thier next
3 projects works when they are in their 40's or
even 50's, but not so much after that. Then things
start being a burden and even though we continue to plan
we forget our limitation, and many times don't
think of the burden we may put on our loved ones and kids.
The other thing that happens is that those who have
to deal with the leavings many times are not knowledgable
of the value of the "stuff", so they may loose out on the
value we knew was there. One example comes to mind.
A guy Who found out that I buy and sell old Hot Rod stuff
called and asked me to come and buy some of his parts.
He was a great guy, told his stories, I told mine and we hit it off.
He said to me "You should buy all this stuff because if I die,
my wife is just going to give it all away! At least I'll get some money
out of it and it will please her too."
I understand completely the need to feel accomplishment
that a guy gets from building cars, but later in life it sometimes
makes more sense to keep inventory down and let the internet
be your friend. It is much easier to put out requests for parts places
like here, the Barn and others, to find what you really need
rather than holding on to stuff you may need for a car
you dont even have yet!
Also, ther are lots of guys out there in the same situations
that are willing to part with some of their stuff so you can
continue building your stuff!
Just my $.02

 

Ha ha. Amen to that.

 

Some day (sooner than I realize) my wife will probably be "helping" me sell my stuff in the same way.

 

Does anyone know what happened to this car?

 

Or maybe no time or enough money can fix it!

 

I'll keep this going.....
Decent model A's are everywhere!
Here is one 4 miles down the road
from me at of all things, a vintage Corvette shop!
It runs, drives and stops already.
The body is decent and looks like floor work
is already done. I didn't even go look at it
cause I'm broke, but he is only ASKING $7900.
It's 10 times better than the thread car, and there
is probably some negotiating room.
Nothing in it for me.
The link is on Craigslist Hudson Valley NY.

post id: 6304145967

 

Awesome deal on that A bone!,..someone grab it.

 

It doesn't take long, outside, close to the ocean to destroy an A,I built one that sat under a tree in Hyannis for 22 years, after blasting it she wasn't that bad,

img049 by harpo1313 posted Feb 16, 2010 at 10:40 PM

only thing that saved it was the tree, but this one pictured above is toast exept for parts

 

I saw that one on CL, looks good.

I'm the OP of this thread, that clapped out Coupe disappeared from CL, never saw it again. They would have taken $1500 probably at the point when I went to see it, I sorta almost had $1500 at the time, but some family expenses came up and we were shit-ass broke again (like always). Even if it was a pile, it had a title and would have been fun to mess with and learn on. I've no interest at all in a painted slick rod.

I am the only one working, I suck at making money, my wife and I have 2 little kids so it's hard to put any money away at all, but I would like an "A" 4 or 2 door Sedan (so we all can fit), or Coupe, or Roadster to mess with and make an F-ed up rusty traditional-leaning "Mad Max" hot rod out of, I kinda want a running A to use as a jalopy for awhile 1st, but it's gotta have paperwork so's I can drive it around.

I am a CL junky, and it's fun to just keep up on what's available even though I never make any progress towards saving any $$$$ to buy anything, (hoping to barter or trade some day).

Every couple months there seems to be a really killer deal around New England for around $7k. We define "rust belt" here, so when a car ISN'T rusting into the ground, it's killer.


These were some in the past year that got my attention:






This one was, I think $7900. AV8, cool stance, exactly what I want, exactly what I would build:








This was a running, registered, survivor roadster. Kinda beat up, sounded awesome. $7k. Ad disappeared in 2 days:







I would dig a convertible, it's usually cold around here, would be nice to have a heater and drive year round. Let the kids shiver in the rumble seat, ingrates....







Engine block was cracked, but aside from that mint.







This one came with an entire parts car. Ad disappeared in a day. I think $6k:






This one's up now. Runs perfectly. I have all of $200 to my name, should I call and make that offer? Ha!







Now you think that a clapped out pos body with no interior, chassis, or title would be cheap compared to all those, right? Wrong. Up here even a rusty pos "body only" will be $5k, any pile resembling a car $6k, so it makes more sense to me to get something like those that I posted above, clean metal for a chop, I don't have the skills to build a car from pieces like a lot of you jamokes. I have no car-friends here, (except you jamokes), so I'm not part of a network of guys where a deal I can afford will present itself. All just part of being a lone wolf I guess.

But since 1/2 the fun is in the hunt I'm in a good place. Got my Caddy and old motorcycles to work on an drive in the meantime, so Life is good!


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