A running driving car opens up the market immensely ... Especially California ... Even if its around the block driveable, people see something they can tinker with
I would definitely part it out or sell as is. If he got another body he would still have to sell the old one....and that's just counter productive.
I think I'd do the minimum work to make it a roller, load it on a trailer and head for the swap meet.
quote; See, he’s a (semi-retired) bodyman by trade. Now that he’s getting older, the reality has been creeping up that it’s time to move the abandoned project car onto a new owner. You didn't say if he wants to unload the 36 and give up on having an old car as a hobby all together or get something else? If he eventually will have another special interest car he should at least get the car together/presentable or even driving to reap the most $$$ out of it. I'd assume his original plan was to have the car running and to enjoy it. Help him do that rather than let him throw in the towel. I like someones reply of getting him out to a couple of shows to fuel his interest. Dumping the car; is this HIS idea or has the Wife, family, friends been telling him to bail? You didn't mention how old he is (55, 65, 75???). How far from "full retirement" is he? Sounds like all the hard work is done on the car and being a (hopefully soon to be retired) bodyman by trade gives him the skills and time to have it in paint for materials and his time. In retirement he may regret not having the car as a hobby and something to look forward to with all his time. And of course, he'll end up "giving the car away" and never be able to find a comparable project to replace it for the same $$$. Then drive the 36 to a few cruises/shows (even in primer) and look to fall in love with it/keep it or sell or trade up/down for something else.
The car has 4 things against it, so it won't sell for a bunch. Popularity of moredoors has come a long way lately with families making cruises, so find that very narrow market to sell it.
Plan B unless he wants to go though the effort to part it out which might yield more money in the long run. As mentioned its hard to sell parts/project as a package. Most people just don't have the vision unless it is in a roller state.
The low buck aproach would be to put together what he has, get it driveable, just up & down the alley would work. Get it to a swap meet or local parking lot show, get the word out and enjoy it for now. He may want to keep it after that.
I was thinking of this post this morning and decided to go look at pictures of ‘36 Fordor humpbacks on Google Images. They’re not bad looking cars stock, although they seem to have trouble making a nice street rod, and they’re almost a parody done up as a traditional rod or custom. To that end, I’d probably want to build a resto rod with what’s there - restored mohair interior (except a Limeworks column and a ‘40 Deluxe steering wheel - a lot stealthier than a Lokar floor shifter on an automatic) and exterior in a dark blue, green, or maroon; keep the V6, Maverick rear, and IFS: and put wide-fives with ‘36 caps and blackwall bias plies back on (Speedway makes adapters to go from the common 5 on 4.5" or 5 on 4.75" bolt circle to a wide-five rim). As somebody pointed out above, it would make a great cruiser or family car-show vehicle. Obviously that goes way beyond making it sellable, but assembling a roller with some suggestive wheels and tires could really make the potential come alive to buyers.
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