Hot Rods ROADSTER LUST, IS THERE A CURE? YESSIR! SEE BELOW. (Update 6 Aug)

Every time that I see a 32 roadster I get all woozy and start wishing and hoping that I had another hair blower (even with no hair). Some people could care less. I get that.
Well a recent possibility has come up and I am reaching out for some pertinent opinions.

I don’t want to get in to the funds I have set aside for my 41 pickup’s paint and upholstery.
So I got the wild hair to sell the body off my old survivor 32 Tudor sedan, that’s definitely a beater, but a driving beater, with a solid body, complete with filled roof. Plop it it on your modern chassis and roll on.
Or finish it, chop it, and have your bitchin’ deuce sedan.

Then buy a new vintage style Brookville 32 roadster body, drop it on the running, plumbed, wired, tired up, flattie powered sedan chassis and bada-boom, a trad styled wind machine. It’s instant gratification.

Crazy? Probably, in the eyes of 50% of the folks reading this, who could give a flip about roadster and 32’s specifically.
Brilliant? Of course, in the eyes of the rest, and especially those that own one.

Please keep the responses pertinent as to:

comparative values (gennie survivor hotrod sedan vs. repro steel traditional roadster)
benefits if any (warm and dry vs. wet, cold and sunburnt)
and anything else that matters.
Or...... just sell the sedan outright and buy a ready to go roadster? (probably too expensive)
FWIW, I have a 40 coupe for the closed car days.

Anybody actually done this?. Or do I need to take a pill and go lay down?
Thanks!

 

You would be a long way from the first guy who ever pulled a sedan body off a hot rod chassis and put a roadster or coupe body on it.
I remember that a story goes that back in the 30's my dad got tired of his mom and younger siblings having to ride in a touring car in the winter and bad weather and went to the local wrecking yard and bought a Sedan body for 5.00 and swapped said sedan body onto the touring chassis.
Back years ago there was a story about a guy who swapped a roadster and closed car body back and forth on his hot rod depending on the season.

 

Sure the swap is possible, not even real difficult once the purchase is made.
The question you need to think about:
Do I actually drive my rod? I don't mean a weekly cruise night or ice cream run. Anybody could do that in a roadster on a good weather day.
I mean 400 miles a day for three to five days. For that, you need to be a real tough rodder to endure the weather, and likely with no A/C, even if you have a top.
If you don't travel like that, then maybe a roadster would be a good idea.
Roadster or sedan.
Are we talking about looks?
Are we talking about practicality?

Is it a garage queen or a high mile driver?

 

You mentioned not wanting to use funds you have set aside for your ‘41. So if you sell the sedan body will it cover the cost of the roadster body?

 

Pics of the sedan body please.

 

Thanks for the relative and sensible input, fellas!
@pprather I’ve done those long distance chingos in my old roadster. Wet, sunburnt, sore, tired, I’ve been there.
As I said, I now have a 40 for those from now on, if they ever happen.
The roadster would be short hauls, 100-200 mi.
Looks: Roadster wins IMO. Practicality: Goes to the sedan.

@Budget36. Sedan sale buys the roadster body even.

@brady1929 Go here: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...n-find-deuce-tudor-update-21-aug-2018.943947/

 

You only live once. Since you already have a rainy day car go for it. If you don’t it will always be stuck in the back of your head.jmho. Snowman ⛄️

 

DO IT, DO IT DO IT, none of the reasons not to won't matter a bit once you are blasting down the road topless!

 

The only cure for ”roadster lust” is a roadster.

 

Don’t do it. Find a way to build another chassis and you can have both.

 

Does the 41 truck need paint and upholstery as much as you need a roadster?

I'd be keeping the sedan, getting a roadster and enjoying both whilst honing skills in paint and trim.

And no, there is no cure for roadster lust if you've got it.

Chris

 

As Happydaze said, keep the sedan. Sell the 41 truck, since you already have a 40 coupe. The deuce tudor is more valuable than the truck, and a roadster needs a partner.

 

every once in a while, just stick your head out the side window at 70mph.
That should help cure ya

 

I'm sitting at my desk looking thru the glass top at pictures of 6 different 32 roadsters I've built . That does not include the Henry roadster sitting downstairs and the one I am currently working on. Plus 15 or so 32 package roadsters I built for customers. All this started 50 years ago when I built my first. I'm the wrong guy to answer your question.

 

I know the "roadster lust" problem. I didn't start building one until later in life. Brookville body, nice chassis, etc. Then health issues began and I decide to sell the project; which doesn't solve the "lust" problem. Began looking for a finished roadster and after a few months found one. Not as much fun and satisfaction as building your own but better than not having one. My advise would be to go for it while you are healthy and still able to build it. I doubt you will regret it.

 

Aesthetics 1st, yes, some roadsters are sexy. I can even name a few 2 seater conv coupe types that are as well. I think it was the inimitable Gray Baskerville who said, "Roadster drivers get a 360 degree view of the world..." which is true I suppose. Personally, not for me. I love it, I get it, but it's like the misfit bratty nephew to me as in nice to see them leave. Yes, driven many an open car and many that make even a Deuce roadster seem reduced to a clapped out hippy bug. I could show some but why, we like hippies.

Value? I can hear it now "Oh this oughta be good..." and maybe maybe not. Henry steel vs Brookville. Wait, B'villes are made on some of Henry's old shit aren't they? One vs the other is a big dick contest taking lessons from 2 bidders who throw value out the window. If I had a well built Brook and someone said "...but it's not a Henry Ford..." my 1st question is "Hey can we go see yours?" Quality is quality, and that includes build quality as well as that of its components. In fact maybe I would prefer the new built to the old standard instead of 90yr old stuff if my goal was to traverse the highways at speed for a few hundred miles. I find the value of something old daily, and that's a cornerstone of my professional life, but sometimes the inner coziness of knowing it's a fresh start trumps the big dick contest. Don't worry, no pics will show up.

Tudor vs the rest. Got enough room in the 40 coupe for long rides (luggage, momma's stuff if she goes, tools and parts, the dog)? Tudor sedans have lots of room for 2 and all your shit. I like tudors, I also like coupes with their big trunks and sexy rear views but it's harder to have momma grab me a pop or the like from the trunk at speed.

At the end of the day if a roadster for you is more than the novelty it is to me all we can do is share an idea or 3. If you have the nut to get and finish a B'ville you sure don't need my or our brethren's blessing. However I'd be miffed if you embark on this and don't share the build. Ok, enuff of my twisted morning rant, best of luck however you go. BTW, that tudor looks nice and pissed off. I like it...

 

Is there a problem officer?

 

The only thing I’d change on the sedan is the oil.
It’s perfect.

Do I sell my merc junk and buy a prewar coupe (35-41). Do I just get the merc on the road and enjoy it?

who cares.

the only wrong answer is doing nothing

 

Old age.

 

Totally get what you’re going through, but my 32 affliction drove me to sell off some shit and get to building a Tudor (for the longer trips and to stay out of the weather) and a Roadster (to satisfy that itch that only a roadster can). This is my ‘having my cake and eating it too’ solution. Just dawned on me that this will also cut down on spare parts inventory, huh!
If I was in your situation and needing a quick roadster fix, as others have suggested, I’d probably search for a roadster body to put on your tudor chassis. Windshield, dash and a seat and you’d be set. Then build the tudor with a new chassis to be a little more freeway friendly as time/funds permit.

 

no body probably likes roadsters more than me I have had some thoughts of swaping the glass body on my roadster to a Brookville but have thought better of it. don't take the 2 door apart look's like a nice fun car. focus on your 40 truck. look for a running track T or bucket cheap that you can satisfy your roadster lust. hope to see you at stones river swap next week

 

The answer is yes.

 

Hahaa, on the contrary. You’re the right guy to answer his question.

 

Good input, guys!
@alchemy brought up another idea I had, but failed to mention: build a chassis for the roadster.
I actually have a set of ASC rails, all the crossmembers, dropped axle, flattie or SBC, trans, 40 rear end, front and rear springs. Just need a 32 firewall and gas tank.

The only problem is at 76 I don’t think I have another ground up build physically left in me.
I positively need to finish the pickup, which is on hold, waiting on the engine swap in the 40.

Could just sell the sedan complete and have Barillaro Bros. build me a chassis with the proceeds and parts on hand.

 

I live in the one of the wettest areas of the country and I can't get my fill of roadsters and ragtops. One of my favorite moments is driving home in the evening after a round of golf in the summer, temps in the 70's, top down, wind in my hair, long shadows, stereo blaring, huge shit eating grin on my face and the courtesy lights on under the dash ala Miami Vice. A twist of the tires, a Boston 8 track and I am transported back 40 years (I miss that mullet). They (drop heads not mullets) are not for everyone. Hard tops with dark tinted glass is a good idea for some of you Neanderthals!

Take my advice and build a roadster. No way, no way that you will regret the decision.

 

Is there a cure to roadster lust?

No. It can go into remission for years or even decades, but it's always with you.

 

Pick a shade of primer you like, spray a few coats on the Tudor. Sell it, buy a Roadster with the funds.

 

I’d be more interested or would feel the car is more desirable as is instead of primer

 

Bill, selling the sedan as a driver will bring you more cash, the have the guys do the chassis, for a roadster. HRP

 

Everybody's different. When I was 16 I bought a 56 Olds convertible. I lived in Central Oregon where there's not much rain but it's kinda cool. I couldn't wait to drop the top! Put the top down and went cruising on the old hiway from Redmond to Bend. Man, I caught a june bug in the side of the head, got stung by a bee on the ear and developed an ear ache from the wind. That was the end of rag-tops for me! Your mileage may vary.