When to sell your first street rod Auburn

When I stopped racing in 1972 a street rod project seemed like a good idea. While looking around I saw an ad in Hemmings for a 1935 Auburn phaeton (convertible sedan) that was located in nearby North Hollywood. I added a big block Chevy engine, a Muncie trans and a Pontiac rear axle and the Auburn became my first street rod. Actually the car was deemed to be a resto-rod. My wife and I used the Auburn from 1973 to 1995. The car made numerous events including the L.A. Roadster Show ( every year). But then in the 1980s we started using the '32 3-window I had built more and eventually in 1995 the Auburn became a garage queen.
The question now becomes what do I do with it. We have lots of good memories with the Auburn. The car should be "redone" with 2007 technology, etc. But I have other street rods to use and am perhaps too old to start that project. Selling the car would give someone else the opportunity to redo the car. However so many of my friends lament over the cars they had sold years ago that I wonder if I would regret selling it. In the end I guess the best thing to do is to sell it. I listed it on Ebay and if it sells I may end up being sorry. So I still do not know when you should sell your first street rod.

 

Never. Any Kids? If you dont need the money, give it to one of them.

 

First, it's a streetrod. That being said, you should know the feeling this board has about them.
Enough said.
Second, the rareity of this car should dictate the plans for it. Perosnally, I am at a loss as to why someone would streetrod a 1935 Auburn at all.
I wish I had the mans to pruchase it, even if it's a stretrod.
r

 

Hey I just sold my 32 coupe.. May have been glass but it was a hot rod (street rods have air and leather and shit) This was the car I always wanted to do some day all brand new stuff and I had the chance to do it. I said id never sell it.. It left last thursday. Funny how things change and i had help with a heart attack. Im fine but after your dead and given another chance some things just dont dseem so important. Did I regret seeing it go down the road.. Hell no i was too busy looking at the check for 42.5k.. Even if it wasnt a glass car or a street rod like the other poster started to go off about its fucking money in the bank... I guess some people never sell anything but a profit is a profit and i decided as long as i can make a profit its down the road.. You built this car a long time ago and even if it could use updating your prolly gonna make some good money on it..
Dave

 

don,
i had made an attempt to put my car for sale...the first one i built.
i was quickly talked out of it by a friend of mine.
he said he sold his 32 5 window a long time ago but always regretted it and kept track of it.
now when the time came to try to buy it back. he had to buy the guy a 3 window to replace it...
he said, "dont ever sell your first car, it cost me ALOT to get mine back"

but i think since this isnt technically your "first" car that maybe it wont have the same feeling stirring
good luck with whatever happens
Zach

 

Well, I don't know about a "street rod Auburn", but I'll let you know my thoughts if I can actually convince myself to sell my '66 Mustang fastback for the early model A roadster I've been pining over.

 

... i think he can say Street Rod without being crucified here... the guy helped make hot rodding what it is.
besides. the 1970s were a long time ago and Auburns werent really fetching a whole lot of scratch, a guy with a decent paying job could afford one... as it goes, its only metal and drivetrain components... it can be put back to original.

im with some of the other guys... if you dont need the money, keep it. id sell all my junk if i had to but im going to try and make sure i wont. there is plenty of iron to build and not all of it is overpriced.

 

Store it a few months out of site, if you don't miss it in the garage after a while, sell it and move on. I have a car now that i'm not totally in love with, but wont sell simply because I sold another car years back that I thought I was tired of, then started missing it. Now I cant get it back.

bet if you did sell that Auburn it would be returned to stock though, provided parts could be found

 

""First, it's a streetrod. That being said, you should know the feeling this board has about them.
Enough said.""

speak for yourself. I like all sorts of cars. a post about an old Auburn belongs here more than one about where to get cheap dickies pants or what grease you put on your hair

as for selling your car... if you need the money for something else or could use the room do it. if not that car is better than money in the bank. it is worth more every year

 

My Father had one of those. Totally restored. Sold that one. Nice cars. Has a Auburn Boat Tail Speedster, 4 Door sedan (don't remeber the model) and is doing a L29 Cord currently. Why anyone would rod one is beyond me.

However the L29 Cord body would be a cool rod body if it wasn't so friggin' heavy.

 

"Why anyone would rod one is beyond me."

That is the point I was making. Geeze guys. This is a board for traditionally styled hot rods. Get over the street rod remark already.

I was suggesting that something like this Auburn should be returned to it's original condition in light of it's value.
Get a life.
r

 

If you are hesitant at all do not sell it. Been there-sold it-regrets!

 

Big block, four speed and upgraded rear end sound likes he has a terminalogy problem. I'd call that a hopped up Auburn! Hence Hot Rod.

 

I looked at your ad. Those questions would be enough for me to keep it. If you really need the money, then sell it. But I wouldn't let it go to any of the questioners. It really isn't eating anything sitting.

 

The only reason I can see to sell a hotrod is if you need the money to build the next one!

 

That is the absolute worst thing that could happen to this car. To turn it into a modern fuel injected digital dash streetrod would be aweful.

Is this a real deal Auburn, or one of those repro ones they made in the late 60's/70's? If it's a real one, then I think you should sell it to someone who will restore it back to stock.

If you're just letting it sit because you have other cars you like to drive better, then let this one go. It shouldn't just be sitting unloved and it definitely doesn't need to be "redone with 2007 technology"

 

Only the speedsters were reproduced. Not the phaetons like this one. As this car is a 653, it it originally came with a 6 banger. The chassis and hood were shorter since the engine was smaller then the straight 8 found in the 853. If this was a 853, I would be interesting to drop this engine back in it:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=184063&highlight=alsancle

Since it originally came with a 6 instead of the 8, it is not of super high value if it were stock (although unrestored supercharged ones go for 50-60k)

 

I think it is a bitch'n hot rod. Unless there is a pressing financial need, I would keep it. Restore it back to stock? You've gotta be shitting me. The car has been driven the way it is for long enough to have its own pedigree. Besides, you never know when you may want to tune it up and go looking for "real hot rodders" that need the attitude adjustment that comes from being smoked by a man of satisfactory experience level in a "street rod."

 

that thing is sweet keep it.........or trade me

 

Get it running and drive it.If it's still fun,you've answered your own question. It's a unique car,go spank some new junk with that big block 4-speed!!

 

that car kicks ass just the way it is. It doesn't need to be updated OR restored back to stock.

Someone else remarked about the car being a hot rod for so long that it has its own pedigree-- I agree, and to elaborate--
my boss has a '34 Vicky that he built as a "street rod" in '71, and it remains virtually unchanged today. I often "explore" that car just as an example of how a TRADITIONAL HOT ROD was built for real, at that time. Your Auburn IS a part of traditional hot rodding history, whether you realize it or not, and should remain such.

I say keep it. Sell the foofy, more comfortable, more modern "street rod" and keep the car with soul. It ain't about being comfortable, it's about being COOL!!

 

I have to say when you built that car and I and my friends saw it in the magazines we were all the most jealous sob's in Texas and possibly the USA. 34 Ford Tub, who cared any more, somebody took
real Classic and made a fien road car out of it with available parts and still retained the great looks. The Restorod title may seem funky today but for the big heavyweight cars with outrageous styling and real Class, it is really the only and best way to go. Timeless styling needs no flames, chopped tops, or hiboy fenderless jazz.
If you decide to sell it, enjoy the memories, we all do here!
Great job!

 

If you think you might miss it... you probably will.

Almost every time I talk about cars-gone-by with my dad, he's bitching about the ones that he let get away, and couldn't replace now. 320 Roadmaster/Model A, 300SL, Duntov-cammed 283 Hollywood Graham, and a '39 LaSalle opera coupe.

For my part, I had a '70 Roadrunner I let go, and my first Strat, and my Champ amplifier...

BTW, to all the nay-sayers who are getting all 'resto' about this car, here's a story. There's a guy who lived down in DesMoines who had a lot of nice cars. Real high roller; threw a party every year for all his restorer friends. One year he unveils his newly restored 851, and asks everyone present to fill out a ballot with an appraisal of the car. Then he fires it up, opens the hood, and it turns out the car is all high-end (early '80's) street rod drivetrain; A/C and modern radio snuck in that you can't see, etc. After the demo, he asks everyone to re-appraise the car. It gained value.

-bill

 

Don,

May I firstly extend my heartfelt apologies for the words of my abrupt colleague, As I'm sure that they do not know to whom they are "bagging".

Please, guys, do a search on a FNG's posts, take some time to find out who they are, before you bag them over stuff they did, whilst some of you were in diapers.

Is there a good time to sell a car - yes and no - Confusing isn't it.

Is it time to let it go, realise the $, and gain the room in the garage again - is the answer is yes - sell it.

Does the thought of selling it fill you with regrets, or how will it make you feel seeing it drive off down the read - will you miss it too much .... and the questions continue - well its too soon to sell it.

I sold my first old car 12 or so years ago, I see it now and then, know the new owner, and see it as a long lost friend. Do I miss it? Yes. Would I like it back - yes, but I wasn't prepared to work on it anymore - I was over it, so now view it with a nostalgic eye, and the thoughts of working on it again make me shudder. I was ready.

You've made the first decision to sell it, and when the $ come in from its sale - you and your good lady will enjoy what that will bring more than having a car you never use. Listing it was the easy step, saying good-bye...... well thats another thing

My 2c worth.