Projects Need a little help with how much to offer for a project car

It's all good hitch, and I smell what you're steppin in. Doing this shit day in and day out I have a different perspective. Anything that needs work can indeed go south in a hurry relating to cost. I made my evaluations in 5min of searching. I could spend an hour or more and really get a feel for the value, but I didn't see any $2K cars that look like the O/P's pictures. It's a HT 53, not a sedan or 4dr, looks all there, not rotted into the ground, and when I add up the numbers I remove 10% or more off the top to eliminate the hard on factor. Most for sale are well into the $20Ks and some much higher. Is that this car? Not at all. Could it be? Fuckin eh right it could. Should we always expect the worse case? Maybe, maybe not. Just because I took the fenders off my Model A pickup doesn't mean it's a $2K truck now. It means it's easier to get em done and they're still as solid as they were when I bought it. My 61 bubble top is apart and had all new brake and suspension hardware installed 7-8yrs ago. Do I do it all over "just in case" or do I trust a good cleaning since it's been inside ever since and never had fluid in it? Maybe my optimistic outlook is reflected in my advice. Maybe you have good reason to border on being a buzzkill. Maybe the O/P lost the car to someone else already. It's a $5K car all day as it sits and I'll stick to that, and I'll stand pat at saying $2K is a steal. You like chocolate, I like vanilla, and we both like A pickups. Nuff said...

 

I guess until you talk to the owner and come up with a price it's still all speculation...and that's a good thing. Be realistic to the owner's thoughts of selling his car, but also don't let your heart over-ride the condition and cost of what lies ahead for you.
If you can strike a deal a with the owner there's a thread here that kinda resembles your story of an owner that sells a car to an honest guy that puts his cards on the table and wins....Also check out the really good advise from members here that know how to deal with the issues of a car that's been in slumber for many years..Here's the link: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/snoopy-model-a-hot-rod-survivor.942245/

 

If you're willing to pay 5k. Then it's worth 5k. Simple as that.

But just because something is worth something, doesn't mean someone will pay it. I've got a 67 GTO that is "worth" $10,000 on a piece of paper with "appraisal" written at the top....but I'll be damned if I can't get anyone to pay that when they knock on the door asking if it's for sale..

 

Interesting and touching story. Time for some gentle negotiating. I think the old guy really has to come up with a price first, otherwise you are negotiating against yourself. Tell him your budget is limited and you'll be putting everything you have into fixing the car up, so you need to figure out how much you have to work with. If he understands that the money is going into the car instead of his pocket, he may feel good about it.

 

First of all I want to wish you good luck, and I hope you get the car. Better you than somebody that wants to flip it, or part it out, or God knows what. It is a cool car, and I hope you can take it home with you.

Second, in my experience I have learned that when somebody says " I don't know what it's worth ", they really mean to say, " I know exactly what it is worth and I am hoping you're going to offer me more money than what it is actually worth".

My advise is to make him aware of your budget first and really try to get him to price the car. If he does't price the car, tell him what you can afford the pay and hope for the best. Hopefully it all works out.

-Charlie

 

Hoping this works out for you, waiting for an update.

 

I've got the popcorn going. Waiting to hear how it went.

 

yep....put Cokers on my first ride after I powder coated the rims......

Suggest to him you have $2000 to go and how close would that come to what he wants for it....still not to piss him off.....

 

No updates to speak of yet. The plan was to meet up with him yesterday to work out a price. He was not available when I was off work. I will give him a call this morning and try again to meet up. I prefer to negotiate in person but will do it over the phone if have to. I do not want to loose the opportunity to buy this car.

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Did you ever talk to your work buddy, his son, to feel him out on a price? Might be a good place to get a feel for what the old man is thinking.

 

Well...............................I bought it!

The gentleman insisted on getting it running before I picked it up. So I will round up a trailer and pick it up sometime in the next few days.

I am so excited, my first classic hot rod project since high school!

 

Good job now burn a tire.

 

CONGRATULATIONS !!!.................Great outcome.........

Ray

 

Congratulations. Be sure to take him for a cruise as soon as she is driveable.

 

congrats and......sooo are ya gonna say what you paid for it ?

 

Thanks for the congrats!

Paid $3k. I'm a little short on the cash but he is going to work with me on that.

Learned a little more about the car too. It is a 50th Anniversary edition, has a cool little emblem on the dash commerating such. I need to do a little research on this.

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Congrats, honestly thought the deal was going dead, once the gent thought about his car, and the ultimate thought of losing same car.
This gent is a friend to you, pretty up the car, keep the gent involved.
Don't know if this gent is as old (I mean mature) as me, but if I sold one of mine, I would ENJOY staying in contact with the NEW caretaker, if the new caretaker was a good guy .
I'm betting you'll be the good guy to this gent.

 

Congrats... I think the car is in good hands. Enjoy her!

 

WooHoo!!!
Start that build log soon!

 

Yes, she will be in good hands. And i can assure you I will keep him involved with the car, we talked about that today. He seemed very excited to stay in touch with the car and what I was doing with it. Told him I will start a build journal on my website to keep him updated

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Congrats but don't stiff the old guy on his ride, little motivation to get it up and going.

 

Congratulations! Well bought and well sold, good price for both seller and buyer.
The '52-'54 Mercs are one of the best-looking cars of the 50s, in my opinion. Looking forward to updates as your project gets underway!

 

You got a righteous ride at a righteous price. Glad for you.

 

The first law of project cars, budget be damned!!!!!! Glad you got it, now, get it on the road and take the old man for a ride. Should be sweet to get him in the car and listen to his memories.

 

Yayyyy! Been reading and rooting for you. Hope it always feels as good as it does for you now.

 

Sweeeeeet!!! Congrats to you!! What an upstanding gentleman that you bought it from that let you have it for a steal AND is going to make sure she runs for you as well. I've had my 52 for many years and still she sits. Too many things have gotten in the way. At least it's inside where time moves a little slower. Someday, I WILL get it going again. I was young and naïve and threw a later model motor in it and that was where it stalled.

 

Oh Yeah!

 

That is cool Heavy Metal! I really like the '53's, and being a hardtop makes it even better. Best of luck to you on your new baby

 

Good going, and it runs, even better. I always liked those cars.

 

Congrats!