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

327Eric · Oct 30, 2014

have a little patience. I chased my 59 El Camino for 4 years. I had a lot of cool cars, but what I really wanted was a 59 Chevy. He is going through a lot of emotions right now, as he sees it come to life. Hard to own something so long and not be attached.

impala59 · Nov 1, 2014

Heavy Metal said: ↑

I have been lurking here and looking for a HAMB friendly project car for the last couple of years. I lost track of how many "project" cars I have looked at, nothing has struck me as what I want and has fit my budget (the budget more the issue than not finding what I want). Anyway, In the last month or so I have escalated my car search. I have a few extra $$ without wrecking the family budget and really want a new toy.

Thursday at work I was shooting the poop with another car guy, more of a muscle car guy. I know he has interest in any older cars, so I told him about a few I had recently looked at. When he figured out what I was looking at he told me his dad had a few cars he was maybe considering selling. That is where the conversation started to get exciting for me, he has a 50' Buick he was keeping in his garage for his dad and a 53' Merc in his backyard. I asked him a few questions about both, the Merc sounded right up my alley. He contacted his dad and made sure he was interested in possibly letting it go, he had already told me that all of the cars had a lot of sentimental value to both him and his dad, especially the Merc. I was not expecting to be invited over to look at it.

Today I got a peek. The car was covered in tarps, my friends dad was obviously emotional about removing them, he said he regretted parking a perfectly good car years ago and not doing anything with it. This would be the first time the tarps had been off since the car was parked. He did not know how many years ago, his son thought 4 or 5, he was thinking more like the late 90's. I had no idea if I should expect something I would run from in horror or a gem. Underneath the very weather worn tarps was a beautiful 53' Mercury Monterey 2-door hardtop. The more we peeled back the tarps the more I knew I wanted this car. He told me the full history of the car, what he had done to it over the years, where he had traveled with it and even stories of teaching his son to drive in it back in the 70's. We exchanged some great conversation while discussing the car. Car aside, I greatly enjoyed this man's conversation and company.

I knew I wanted it, figure it was going to be out of my $2k or so max project budget, I prepared to walk away disappointed because I could not afford it. So I asked how much he needed for it, he said he really did not know and asked me if I knew what it was worth. Based on the numerous cars and piles of crap I have looked at, I had a little idea of what I thought it was worth but really wanted to know what it was worth to him. We reminisced a little more and talked about the car some more. I told him what I had in mind for the car, he seemed to approve. I brought price up again, and what he told me left me unsure where to go with this. He said he was too old to mess with these cars anymore but was reluctant to sell them to just anybody. He made comments about a few of his other cars that he constantly received offers to buy on which he always turned down. He said he wanted all of his cars, this car in particular, to go somewhere where they would be taken care of and respected for what they were. He then told me that the money did not mean anything and the cars was mine for whatever I wanted to pay him. I did not know what to say. All he asked was that I come by and give him a ride in it a year or two from now when I had it in good condition.

So this is my conundrum, what do I offer this guy? I truly believe he would happily sell it to me for $50 but I do not want to take advantage of him. And I truly do not have much of a budget for this car and, even as nice as it is, it will still be a long term project for me because of the money part. What would you guys suggest I offer? $2k max, that is all I have for this at this time.

A little more about the car with emotions and cool history aside;

1953 Mercury Monterey 2 door HT. The body was perfectly straight, slight rust bubbles above the driver rear fender and behind the passenger rear fender, otherwise nice, nice, nice. No rust in the trunk, floors seem solid. He said the car did not have any rust on it when it was repainted years ago. All of the trim is in place and in good condition. I might want to have the bumpers re-chromed at some point but they look great for a daily driver/weekend cruiser. Very nice chrome reverse wheels, says he has the original wheels and caps in very good condition too. The car was repainted in the mid 70's, sort of metallic avocado color. Except for some peeling from contact with the tarps for years in a couple of places, it is a solid 20 footer. The interior was redone at the same time as the paint in the 70's. It looks nice, tasteful hot rod style pleats with colors fitting to the car, it is in serviceable but not great condition. The dash is immaculate, not cut, nothing missing. All of the glass is good. The car still has the original flathead and merc-o-matic trans. He said the engine and trans were rebuilt in the 70's. It is very clean under the hood, appears all original with nothing missing. It is said to run and drive perfect when he parked it years ago. He also offered that he had a bunch of extra parts to go with the car, both aftermarket and OE. The parts include a brand new set of performance heads that he could not remember the brand of. The car is not perfect by any means, but nice enough to where I could get it running and re-do the critical systems and enjoy it as I do additional upgrades.

My plans would be a mild 50's style hot rod. Disc brakes, power steering, maybe a modern four speed auto and taller gears for drive-ability. Keeping the flattie for sure, maybe some period correct speed goodies on it. Some wide whites, drop her a little in the rear, return the paint to original - a turquoise color with white top and enjoy the hell out of it.

Help me out guys, where do I go with this?
Click to expand...

Heavy Metal said: ↑

I have been lurking here and looking for a HAMB friendly project car for the last couple of years. I lost track of how many "project" cars I have looked at, nothing has struck me as what I want and has fit my budget (the budget more the issue than not finding what I want). Anyway, In the last month or so I have escalated my car search. I have a few extra $$ without wrecking the family budget and really want a new toy.

Thursday at work I was shooting the poop with another car guy, more of a muscle car guy. I know he has interest in any older cars, so I told him about a few I had recently looked at. When he figured out what I was looking at he told me his dad had a few cars he was maybe considering selling. That is where the conversation started to get exciting for me, he has a 50' Buick he was keeping in his garage for his dad and a 53' Merc in his backyard. I asked him a few questions about both, the Merc sounded right up my alley. He contacted his dad and made sure he was interested in possibly letting it go, he had already told me that all of the cars had a lot of sentimental value to both him and his dad, especially the Merc. I was not expecting to be invited over to look at it.

Today I got a peek. The car was covered in tarps, my friends dad was obviously emotional about removing them, he said he regretted parking a perfectly good car years ago and not doing anything with it. This would be the first time the tarps had been off since the car was parked. He did not know how many years ago, his son thought 4 or 5, he was thinking more like the late 90's. I had no idea if I should expect something I would run from in horror or a gem. Underneath the very weather worn tarps was a beautiful 53' Mercury Monterey 2-door hardtop. The more we peeled back the tarps the more I knew I wanted this car. He told me the full history of the car, what he had done to it over the years, where he had traveled with it and even stories of teaching his son to drive in it back in the 70's. We exchanged some great conversation while discussing the car. Car aside, I greatly enjoyed this man's conversation and company.

I knew I wanted it, figure it was going to be out of my $2k or so max project budget, I prepared to walk away disappointed because I could not afford it. So I asked how much he needed for it, he said he really did not know and asked me if I knew what it was worth. Based on the numerous cars and piles of crap I have looked at, I had a little idea of what I thought it was worth but really wanted to know what it was worth to him. We reminisced a little more and talked about the car some more. I told him what I had in mind for the car, he seemed to approve. I brought price up again, and what he told me left me unsure where to go with this. He said he was too old to mess with these cars anymore but was reluctant to sell them to just anybody. He made comments about a few of his other cars that he constantly received offers to buy on which he always turned down. He said he wanted all of his cars, this car in particular, to go somewhere where they would be taken care of and respected for what they were. He then told me that the money did not mean anything and the cars was mine for whatever I wanted to pay him. I did not know what to say. All he asked was that I come by and give him a ride in it a year or two from now when I had it in good condition.

So this is my conundrum, what do I offer this guy? I truly believe he would happily sell it to me for $50 but I do not want to take advantage of him. And I truly do not have much of a budget for this car and, even as nice as it is, it will still be a long term project for me because of the money part. What would you guys suggest I offer? $2k max, that is all I have for this at this time.

A little more about the car with emotions and cool history aside;

1953 Mercury Monterey 2 door HT. The body was perfectly straight, slight rust bubbles above the driver rear fender and behind the passenger rear fender, otherwise nice, nice, nice. No rust in the trunk, floors seem solid. He said the car did not have any rust on it when it was repainted years ago. All of the trim is in place and in good condition. I might want to have the bumpers re-chromed at some point but they look great for a daily driver/weekend cruiser. Very nice chrome reverse wheels, says he has the original wheels and caps in very good condition too. The car was repainted in the mid 70's, sort of metallic avocado color. Except for some peeling from contact with the tarps for years in a couple of places, it is a solid 20 footer. The interior was redone at the same time as the paint in the 70's. It looks nice, tasteful hot rod style pleats with colors fitting to the car, it is in serviceable but not great condition. The dash is immaculate, not cut, nothing missing. All of the glass is good. The car still has the original flathead and merc-o-matic trans. He said the engine and trans were rebuilt in the 70's. It is very clean under the hood, appears all original with nothing missing. It is said to run and drive perfect when he parked it years ago. He also offered that he had a bunch of extra parts to go with the car, both aftermarket and OE. The parts include a brand new set of performance heads that he could not remember the brand of. The car is not perfect by any means, but nice enough to where I could get it running and re-do the critical systems and enjoy it as I do additional upgrades.

My plans would be a mild 50's style hot rod. Disc brakes, power steering, maybe a modern four speed auto and taller gears for drive-ability. Keeping the flattie for sure, maybe some period correct speed goodies on it. Some wide whites, drop her a little in the rear, return the paint to original - a turquoise color with white top and enjoy the hell out of it.

Help me out guys, where do I go with this?
Click to expand...

ok guys..... Read the original post again....... The old guy is a car guy and is just playing around..... He knows what he has. ( turned down other offers on other cars he owns but wants to give you this merc for what ever you want to pay for it) that alone should of been a red flag. this thread was entertaining to read but its time to end it. to funny.

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

327Eric
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327Eric
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