How much would you pay for a real-deal, built-in-the-50s rod? A buddy of mine called today while I was at work. He works for a wrecker and drives the we-buy-junk-cars rollback. He asked me where to find the VIN on a '32 Ford... we talked for a bit and he was at a property where the owner was clearing out a bunch of junk cars, mostly 60s and 70s stuff. But there was this old coupe just dragged out of a garage after a long, long time. He said he thought it looked original but missing some stuff (he is not a hot rodder and didn't really recognize what he was looking at) and wondered if it might be worth anything. I told him to send me some pictures and here's what I got from him. I told him it was a Model A and from what I could tell (without noticing the chop) I reckoned it might be worth about $2000 as it sat. I wasn't even intending to make an offer, but... He was on speakerphone with the owner at the time... who thought I said $200... and I heard him say, "I'll take it!" Well, I didn't know what I was buying yet but I didn't have any more questions for him. Dropped what I was doing at the shop and jumped in my truck for a 30 minute drive to hand him his two bills... and yes, I told him what I really said and thought and he didn't care - it was more than the scrapyard offered and it was going to a good home. So after handing off the cash I walked over to look at the car and this is what $200 got me. Santa's real and I must have been a very good boy. I'll use this thread to document it as I dig into it in the next few days and figure out just what I'm going to do with it... but I already know this one is a keeper.
So-- what's here, and what to do with it? Aside from the broad conservation and repair work to what is already there... I'm missing some important stuff. From everything that's there, this car looks like a mid to late fifties build to me. I am NOT an expert by any means, but I see early Ford juice brakes in the front, 50-51-52 Buick tail lights, a 50s Ford brake master, a 40 Ford wheel and maybe column/box, and a lot of old school body work with a finely leaded chop and steel roof job. The interior says fifties and the rear end looks fifties Chev to me. I'm not sure if the frame is an A frame or a custom job. I didn't get under the car (it's very very muddy and wet) but if it is an A frame it has had a lot of work done - looks Z'd in the rear with some frame extensions for super long leaf spring and no front horns. I'm guessing this cat was running a fairly strong mill or at least wanted to look like he was. Me and @RMONTY have the running 8BA flatty that started my hot rod journey sitting on a stand. I have a 37 Ford transmission ready to go behind it. But it does have a hydraulic clutch pedal setup already in it, so maybe I should ditch the '37 and go T-5 or something... This car is really begging for an early Hemi, really nice 327 or Cad... but I just can't afford that right now and the flathead is already running. The seller says his dad has a warehouse in Fort Worth full of flathead stuff so maybe I can get my hands on some trick stuff to spruce my V8 up and make it worthy of this car? I have to get it moved to my shop within the next few days - and the rear end is currently unbolted from the car, with two missing wheels. It got dragged out of the shop (the dude was gonna scrap it ) and tore up the passenger side rear fender. I don't want to pull it up on a rollback that way, so I guess I'll run over there with a jack and some hardware and see if I can get the rear end stable enough to roll.
Here's the only other picture I got, looking at the rear end from the side. Wonder if anyone can tell anything interesting from the pic?
AHH Man, you SUCK! Just kidding, what a fantastic deal on that very, very cool old hot rod. Enjoy, and keep us posted.
I don't know if it broke in use or not. I feel like this car got robbed for the '32 shell that was probably on it & its drivetrain and the rear end was left unbolted. The cheater slicks got moved to the front to move it around with a jack under the rear and it sat up after that for who knows how long. It got dragged out to get it ready to load for the scrapyard just a few days ago and all that shit was left loose.
Wow what an awesome find/deal. Well done & I especially appreciate that you told him the amount you had said all the same. Well done
Are you referring to the parrel rear springs? I noticed the shackles hanging down on the Custom rear frame extensions in this photo. You'll have fun sorting tis out.
1. Great score! 2. Good on you for being up front with the seller. 3. Follow up on the warehouse of parts!!!! EDIT: and keep in touch with this seller who's 30 minutes away and may have neighbors who also want to clear out 'old junk"! 4. Get a couple 2x4s and build a cradle for the rear. That and a couple HF furniture dollys will help it be mobile with no further damage. 5. That buddy of yours should be rewarded such that he keeps you in his speed dial. 6. Document everything you can. That's history! Carefully clean after documenting, take measurements, figure stuff out before making changes. Speaking of documenting, get as much paperwork and history from the seller as you can. Even if it's "bought the place in 75, car's been there since before then" it's something. Whitewall recap slicks should help narrow the time frame, along with the interior. Treat each piece of paper inside like a clue, don't just air hose/vacuum and trash it.
Do the seats fold forward so you can get into the trunk area which appears to be just sheetmetal screwed down? What is that sitting on the LF fender? Looks like it belongs to the car. Oh, and is it narrow and short enough to fit on the flatbed?
https://www.truestreetcars.com/thre...rom-the-50s-70s-pics-and-weekly-update.15558/ https://dragstriplist.com/texas-f-o https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/old-drag-strips-texas-name-them.328966/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/houston-texas-drag-racing-circa-1961.1160055/ https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/famous-texas-tracks-cars-stories-and-speedshops.656268/ nice picture here. https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1964-drag-racing-picturs.281030/
I am equally jealous and relieved that these things don’t find me, because I desperately want it and absolutely do not need it… very cool car!
Woke up this morning & had to make sure yesterday wasn't some stupid dream... We are loading the car on a rollback later. Since the rear end is not installed I wanted to get the rear fenders off to avoid further damage, so I went over there on lunch to knock that out. As I was getting started, it began to rain, so I poked into the car to try and roll up the window... as I did, those most holy letters popped up to greet me. I spoke to the owner's son at length today and learned a lot of great stuff... here's a clue but for now I need to get back to work.
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