Will it devalue by customizing?

Hi guys! I'm Robert. This may seem like a stupid question to most but I'm getting mixed messages from everyone on whether to factory restore or repaint and dress up my 47' Ford Super Deluxe Coupe. She's in great shape and the only add-on I see is the Stromberg 97 carb which is giving me problems, but should I go facto or nicely customized? Thanks in advance.

 

Nothing has value as anything but its fundamental design, in this case, a car, until you find someone to buy it.

Then, it is worth what that buyer offers, and you accept.

To vague, and open-ended?

Post a detailed documentation of the current condition of the car, everything you plan to do to it, and comprehensive documentation of your skills.

In short, this may be an unanswerable question.

 

Sell it now and avoid the confusion!

 

Wrong website to talk about restoring it.

 

It would be more valuable to me, chopped and sectioned. But that's just me. I just noticed your new. So welcome to the old HAMB. The only opinion that really matters is yours. But I still say Chop , Section, and put her in the weeds!

 

How do you determine value??
Do you want a car
to take to car shows and worry about getting scratches and dings or do you find more value in building your car as you picture it and drive and enjoy it. Most people on here really are passionate about building their cars the way they want and then drive the wheels off and then do it again. If you ask on the sister site the Ford barn you will get encouraged to restore your coupe.
With out pictures great shape means different things to all of us. Here in the rusty north east great shape means that the frame and lower 8" are not rotted away.
Drive it the way it is for at least one season and then make it your own.
But as many people here say, With out pictures it never happened.
George


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Hi. The big deciding factor is what do you plan on doing with the car. If you choose to keep it forever and drive the wheels off it then it's value is just to you and not others.
If you plan on doing car shows if you customize then you will be thrown in with all the high dollar street rods for competition. If you leave it stock or nearly stock you will be competing with the antique cares of it's age.
On my 46 Chevy Coupe I chose to upgrade the engine to a later model 1957 Chevy six 235 cubic inch engine that I went thru and hot rodded it up a bunch. I changed the ring & pinion to a better ratio for the Hwy speeds we are faced with & it zips down the road quite well running with today's traffic.
When you look at my car it looks original except for the 2 chrome exhaust tips protruding below rear bumper.
Kind of like this way I get the best of both worlds - a bit of hot rod & a car that appears stock. Works great for me.
Jimmie

 

Rob, as others have mentioned, it depends on your definition of value. If your looking at it from a strictly monetary view, just look up some stock 47 Ford coupes for sale, then look up some with the same modifications your planning. A lot of these cars "can" be worth more modified than stock, but a big factor there is the quality of the mods and how well the mods flow with the car. If your looking at recouping your investment, sell it now. Not much chance of that stock or restored unless A) Your starting with an EXCEPTIONALLY clean car that doesn't need paint, upholestry, major mechanicals, etc, and/or B) your capable of doing all the work yourself! There are some that do make money at this (amateurs and pros alike), but for most of us it's a hobby and the enjoyment factor far out weighs the financial benefits / concerns.
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I bought this car to enjoy it and eventually sell.. maybe.. I'm a mechanic by trade, but I mainly build rock climbers, mud racers, etc. I have always had the hot rod itch and am fascinated with the mechanics involved for their time period. I'm having trouble uploading pics from this phone but I will keep trying. It's a daily driver with little to no rust and the upholstery/interior were well maintained. The paint is fair but fading. I guess what I am getting at is a concern for devaluing an all original numbers matching, minus the Strom 97 pushing it. So, I was wondering if I should polish it up and let her ride like she is / dress it up a little / or go balls out and make it nasty. The more value I can add, the better. I'm definitely going to drive her. No question.. whats the point in busting knuckles if you can't wrap them around the steering wheel.. I do plan to sell eventually, just wanting a bigger bang for my buck (respectfully speaking) and the enjoyment of working on a piece of history. I'm hooked. I want em all! Thanks for the help and I'll try to get the pictures uploaded.

 

Then I'd hot rod it, and just keep all the original parts to include in the sale later. You'll enjoy the car a lot more, and as long as you don't do any radical mods, it can always be put back stock

 

I'll have better pictures when I pull her out of the back of my garage.

 

Ford built 80,830 Super DeLuxe coupes so it's not like the car is rare.

A nice period old style hot rod with worn paint will be worth more than a original car. HRP

 

Modifications MAY add value to the vehicle when you go to sell; IF, AND ONLY IF, the prospective buyer has the same taste in modifications as you.

Generally speaking, modifications will reduce the universe of buyers. And if your tastes are radically different from most, you may lose the cost of the modifications, if you are able to sell at all.

On the other hand, reversible modifications to your taste personalize your vehicle, and make it more of a joy for you to drive.

Enjoy the car, then worry about selling it.

Jon.

 

let me help you. don't do anything to it just now.

look through these threads, then get back to us on what you decide to do with your car.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/46-48-ford-picture-thread.798516/

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/recreating-the-jesse-lopez-coupe.726708/

 

I believe that I'm going to pull the flathead for a future project and lay my 351 into her. I have some other ideas but definitely a mustang II suspension upgrade with Posies and a beefed up drivetrain. Not sure on which components I'll be using at the moment but I'm doing a complete frame off restoration. I have the shop and equipment with some mechanics, fabs and painters that a very capable to work with me on this. I can't thank you and the others enough for all your insight. I have found my new love in these old girls. Thanks again guys

 

Take this as just a tip. If you must go the M-II route, it's best not to discuss it on here. Just sayin'.

 

Use a dropped axle,leave the flathead in place and build a traditional hot rod. HRP

 

Then you say you're going to rip out and replace the entire drivetrain and suspension. Which part of these 'old girls' do you actually like?

 

so you decided to go the street rod direction. what a shame.

 

You may want to poke around on a Ford "purist" site, see what the value may be NOW, unmodified.
Then make a decision as to whether you want to modify or sell.
Car does look great.