need help on original 38 topolino

ok my dad has wanted a topolino for 50 years or more and finally got one about a year ago. he wants to do some serious body and motor modifications that he has had in his mind for many years, but it will destroy an all original car.

he has seen in hemmings and on net cars from a gutted rusty 46 junk shell for 10 k up to a 46 original rough needing resto for 40 k but nothing in the late 30s or early 40s year models.

the question is should he seek someone who wants an complete original topolino but cannot find one but may have gathered a decent shell and work out a trade? this way he can build his dream without destroying a rare clean non rusty car, or should he just go for it and build his dream car butchering a clean original?

i will attach a few i phone pics. i looked briefly and see no rust thru anywhere,just a little surface rust. looks like a quick repaint many years ago but NO rust thru anywhere. even got the original rubber mats in good shape.

any ideas are appreciated before he pulls out the plasma and starts his dream!

 

Though some from the "Cut Everything Up" crowd will disagree, cutting that car would be a crime against nature. Chop up a 40K car, maybe dump another 10-20 K into it and you will have a nice 25K car.

 

I love that thing.......AS IS! Interesting radiator/fan arrangement. DD

 

I would find it really hard to cut up a car in that condition, even though I confess to cutting up a Topolino many years ago, but it was just a shell...they still come up on Ebay sometimes, just shells and not out of the ballpark prices....

 

I agree with Carl. When was the last time you saw one of these in this condition? Save the car and find another one to build.

 

DO NOT cut on that car. Sell it. You could easily build 2 topos from just crusty shells for what you get out of it.

 

I just bought a fairly complete one, it is a roller with the original engine and a prime candidate for modification. I should have it picked up this week, I am not sure what our plans for it are at this time. Your Dad has a tough decision on his, with it's condition, however for most of us, it would not be usable as a stocker. Finding one with all of the sheet metal these days, can be difficult. I will make contact with you when I get mine, maybe we can share ideas on construction.

 

awsome car. keep the shell, sell everything else to a restorer. its going to be hard to find a better body than that one. The nicer the body the cheaper and easier the customizing will be

 

NICE CAR! Find a post on the Ford Banger monthly thread by BLUTO, he has a few of these and a LOT of knowledge, and always great advice. Bob

 

The hardtops are a lot more rare than the open top model as well. They are terrible drivers stock but very cool attention getters. Your dad should really give it a lot of thought. That's a rare find.

 

Cut the damn thing and quick, sell the stock parts to fund the Hemi..............................................

 

That's a really clean Topilino seems like a shame to cut it up.
Just my 2 cents!
KK

 

Don't cut it up! Build it like this one. This car is a original body and floors. Firewall cut to make room for the 350/350 drivetrain. Build a chassis and put the body on it.
This Topolino is for sale on ebay this week buy that one and keep the stocker stock.
Good luck with it.

 

I would restore that one you have and then sell it to fund another one. Just my two cents.

 

Look at this Thread before you cut that Topo. If you Dad is building a Rod maybe he should look at the link first. It is a body only !!! I am sure Cape Rod wouldn't mind a call.
Good Luck, Jeff

 

Check this Thread before you cut !!! Body only advertised by Cape Rod on the H.A.M.B. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=723186&highlight=topolino

This may be the route you want to take............................... Wjr

 

^^^^^^^^Carl said it best.........


Ray

 

that is a big no! sell it and build one from scratch.

 

Cut it up and let the restorers dick around with finding a rusty shell. Why start with a shit box? It sucks repairing a rusty car before doing any of the fun stuff. Believe me.

 

Don't they make fibreglass topolino bodies?

 

well if ya cut it up, it would be a crime.......buy the one listed on the hamb and sell the stocker,,,,,the moment will come of regret if ya cut that car up.....$3900 for a nice starter is a good price.....your stocker would pay for a bad ass topo....

 

Cut it up.

Flog off the rolling chassis and guards to a restorer, to appease your soul and build a street legal altered.

If you sell it off and buy a rusty hulk, then you will spend a big chunk of your life fixing it up to be as nice as the one you have in the shed already.

 

So what did you do?