I've been off the HAMB for a bit, but slowly getting back into the garage. I'm wrestling with a question as of late: When I bought my '28 AR Roadster it came with mint front fenders and super nice rear fenders. They were original to the car. When I say mint, they could be mistaken as NOS if it wasn't for the original black laquer on them. I'm never planning on using them for my roadster. I've been keeping them around since I have two boys (6 & 3). My logic is that I'll pick up a '28-'29 Model A p/u cab and let my oldest son use them if he wants to. If he has no interest when he is 15 then I'll sell at that time. Well, the more I think about it and the Poppa Bear in me takes over, I'm not sure I want him driving around in a Model A pick-up as his first car. I know guys are having issues with fit with even the best A/M fenders, so I'm sure they will sell for good money. At this time I wouldn't mind selling them either. Put the cash into my never ending project to get it on the road. I just don't want to regret making a rash decision today 7 years down the road. I'm really struggling with this decision. Sell them and put the cash to use today or keep them in hopes my son will either use them or the market will still be there 7 years down the road and sell them at that point. All opinions valued. Thanks all.
Well, since your not going to use them, you could look at it 2 ways. They will be worth more as time goes on or you use the money now. How bad do you need money now i guess is the question. As for the son, see how he grows,,he might be into the latest craze, what ever that might be at the time like most modern boys seem to be.
As cool as it is, don't think I'd saddle a teen with an A pickup as a first vehicle. That's a ton of responsibility above and beyond taking care of a normal car, and sets the teenager up to "trash it" even if they're being as careful as they know how. Nothing to do with safety and everything to do with driving a hundred year old car to places that teenagers go. What happens when those mint fenders get bumped at school or the movies? This may be a situation where gl*** offers a lot of benefit. Second vehicle, whole different ballgame. good luck!
Hhmmm, good point. I think I'd be pissed if those fenders got trashed and I couldn't really blame him either for I know well and good that is the deal with everyone's first car.
Only you can decide. I have this dilemma with antique camera stuff. Building a Model A is expensive, but if I sell some of the 1910's portrait lenses I have to be satisfied that it's going to be gone and I'll never be able to replace it again. I tend to sell the replaceable stuff first. Doesn't hurt so much. Me, I'd probably tuck those fenders in the rafters out of sight out of mind.
Like my dad told me when i thought about selling the real strait sunvisor I have for my '54... "why woudl you sell that? It's not costing you anything, you don't miss the money you spent on it years ago, you have a place to keep it, and you already have it. someday you'll kick yourself for getting rid of it. Do you really need the money that bad?" For me, the answer was no... some day I'll put it on the car.. haha
My take is if I have something I can't use, I'd rather get it to someone that will use it. Keeping those fenders in your garage maybe helps somebody who knows when, maybe not if they never end up being used. Selling them will help you with cash for your ride and help someone else get a part they need and will use. I'd almost rather give stuff away than store it away like a squirell with nuts if it will be used to put nice cars back on the road. Like I said, that's just my take on the parts storing thing. It's an entirely different story of course if you're putting away parts for a future build. Weed out prospective buyers and get them to the guy that will put them to the best use, the one with the coolest car.
if you need the money sell them, if you don't need the money keep them. Storre them in the rafters. I'm with Shifty on giving a teen a hotrod.
Yeah, there are times I have forgotten about them since they tucked away out of sight. They are sitting next to mint top ***embly. I don't need the money, I also want to be wise about either keeping them or selling when the time & money is right. Dang, this is hard...
If I had a set of origional Model A fenders that were in the shape you describe they wouldn't be going anywhere. I had some in the mid 70's and even then I refused to sell even after some rediculous offers. The rediculous offers then wouldn't buy a set of fibergl*** today. You truely have something that isn't replaceable. Keep them, better yet put them on your car, not EVERY hot rod has to go without fenders. Frank
Don't tempt me. You better bring your check book for I would only sell them for real, crazy money or trade for something cool like a Cyclone Q/C center, etc. They really are that nice.
I'd keep them. Who knows, a full fendered car might look good to you a few years from now and you'd already have the sheet metal. By the time your kids reach driving age, you'll want them in something with 3 point seat belts and air bags (or at least your wife will).
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