Sad Story...

[MrNewportCustom]

it now sits, uncovered, next to my cousins house in the rain, snow and freezing weather...a rusty, depressing sight...

Twenty years sitting outside? Before you even consider it, check the floors. Moisture will condense under any car sitting on dirt and/or grass, thus contributing heavily to floorboard rust. That's a very expensive and time-consuming problem.

Here are some good places for advice on anything Mopar: MoparStyle, Chrysler Performance West and your best bet, the Walter P. Chrysler Club.


Best of luck.
Lee

 

[David Conwill]

This tells me one thing: the gang in the high school parking lot talking FordChevyFordChevy 40+ years ago is the core of the hobby right to this day.

Some of them, plus the kids that wanted to be that gang but couldn't afford it, weren't allowed, or didn't have the talent. If you've ever read a Henry Gregor Felsen novel, you'll know the kids I'm talking about. Nowadays they can pay someone to do it for them - their cars are the ones with the shell that looks like a '30s Ford but the interior and engine compartment that looks like an '80s 'Vette. Usually painted a tasteful shade of aqua with pink "crayon" graphics on the side. We call 'em "Goldchainers."

-Dave

 

[SamMarlowPI]

ive always had my eye on that '55 Olds and ive wanted to save that car from a sure death for a loong time. the 10k made me scoff but now im pretty sure i can get it for a song...my cousin, who im sure thinks sentimental value brings up the price, is never going to restore it with 4 kids. he also has a '65 Mustang he wants to restore and an I6 cyl. hanging from an engine rack out in the snow and freezing weather also...so...we'll see.

 

[Twitch]

Sam- 55 Olds 88 2 dr. HT derelict is not worth 5 grand. Go to exactly here http://www.collectorcarmarket.com/menus/ccmprcs/55ol8888.htm and then click on condition guide. This car is #5 condition vehicle worth about 2K max. And if it is a 2 or 4 dr. sedan its' worth less. Forget the sentimental value. Check Ebay for some real world prices too.

 

[SamMarlowPI]

Sam- 55 Olds 88 2 dr. HT derelict is not worth 5 grand. Go to exactly here http://www.collectorcarmarket.com/menus/ccmprcs/55ol8888.htm and then click on condition guide. This car is #5 condition vehicle worth about 2K max. And if it is a 2 or 4 dr. sedan its' worth less. Forget the sentimental value. Check Ebay for some real world prices too.

i know. i spent all day yesterday looking up the value...fair condition is worth about 8k which i believe would have to be running along with a few other things and im pretty sure his isnt but it really isnt in terrible terrible condition either...so i believe its worth between 6k and 3k...but i need to examine it much closer...i dont even know if its an 88, super88 or 98...and its the Holiday model so its worth a little more...

 

[Chas]

their cars are the ones with the shell that looks like a '30s Ford but the interior and engine compartment that looks like an '80s 'Vette. Usually painted a tasteful shade of aqua with pink "crayon" graphics on the side. We call 'em "Goldchainers."-Dave

I call them "Trailer Queens". I also hate those stupid stuffed toys they hang off the windows of their cars, and those ridiulous huge "DO NOT TOUCH" signs they put on their windshields.

A-holes.

 

[SamMarlowPI]

I call them "Trailer Queens". I also hate those stupid stuffed toys they hang off the windows of their cars, and those ridiulous huge "DO NOT TOUCH" signs they put on their windshields.

A-holes.

yes, those are terrible. that is not art and the only reason they sell on barret-jackson for $50k or so is because that is how much the person spent putting it together. putting a little elbow grease and tlc into a classic car, even on a shoe string budget, can bring back a piece of history and keep it from looking like a HotWheels toy. no sense in the world today...

 

[Twitch]

Please realize that there are many people not as sensible as those here. They can't resist touching or leaning on or even opening the door of a vintage vehicle. My Packard is a car and not a piece of art but after some folks put a $6,000 paint job on their car they are certainly a bit paranoid.

I know you didn't mean anything by it but some venues allow kids on bikes- scraatch! and people have lost items or had parts removed if they don't sit watching their car all day. I try to avoid those places.

While my car is genuinely stock with much original, some people desire to drive more than the 3-500 miles per year I do. That is partly why they update mechanicals. In the Packard and mast anything older you must really be careful and think way ahead about stopping and changing lanes. The freeway is insane evene in cars that can attain normal speeds, they can't stop or manuever like newer vehicles.

Most of the early 30s cars and before had what we'd consider downright dangerous brakes, steering and chassis flexability and weak strength compared to even 50s cars. Many people that owned them can be quoted as saying "I got tired of driving around the block at 30MPH"

On one hand that's why almost no one chops tops or channels bodies over frames anymore. They like the stock look but with modern mechanicals[huh]

I am enjoying my car for what it is though I'd be very tempted if someone came along with a disc brake kit that would smoothly add on.

 

[Johnny B]

Yeah, car hoarders/collectors disgust me. Buy all these really beautiful autos from when a car actually was worth driving and then let the rot away without driving them or letting anyone else enjoy them.

God and Ford intended cars to be driven until they can no longer do so, not sit in some garage or shadow and die

 

[SamMarlowPI]

Yeah, car hoarders/collectors disgust me. Buy all these really beautiful autos from when a car actually was worth driving and then let the rot away without driving them or letting anyone else enjoy them.

God and Ford intended cars to be driven until they can no longer do so, not sit in some garage or shadow and die

they sit on em and expect them to gain value...they rot just as fast and aint worth a penny when they want to sell...

 

[Johnny B]

I ran into that when looking for my Edsel a couple years ago. One guy I went to look at had what may have been an Edsel, probably was around the time Kenndey got shot. It sat in a field for about 4 decades and had more racoon corpses than actual interior and he wanted 2,500 for it, because "Well shit, it's an Edsel!".

I'm sure it's still sitting there today

 

[SamMarlowPI]

probably...i mentioned it before, in Sacramento, CA there is a big lot with like 30 or 40 edsels sitting out in the elements...terrible shame...

 

[Johnny B]

Yeah, I've heard of that guy. "The Edsel Graveyard", he just brings them in from all over. It really chaps my nuts because there were so few that were built in the first place, and I'm sure half of the ones he towed in at least had a shot at being rebuilt before becoming three ton lawn ornaments

 

[SamMarlowPI]

Yeah, I've heard of that guy. "The Edsel Graveyard", he just brings them in from all over. It really chaps my nuts because there were so few that were built in the first place, and I'm sure half of the ones he towed in at least had a shot at being rebuilt before becoming three ton lawn ornaments

it sucks. i think ill just steal a '58 right out of his yard...lol

 

[Twitch]

That would be OK if they were at least parting them out to Edsel owners with cars on the road or soon to be.

 

[SamMarlowPI]

i dont even think they're doing that...

 

[kpreed]

Not many cars I have had where I would do a eight in place of a six (most cars are not made for the extra and not safes), but a car with a sick motor was never a problem.
I had a 1958 Edsel Ranger 2-Dr.(pink) with a frozen motor and missing many, many parts. I put in a 1968 Ford 390 with an auto from a wreaked (totaled) Ranchero I had around and made a good road car out of it. They are a fun car to own, but I found a bunch of makes are better to have and cheaper, then an Edsel. Of course your mileage may vary.:eatpop:

 

[Twitch]

At any rate Edsels are still plentiful at very reasonable prices.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Comin' late here... have some catchin' up to do.

Back to Plymouth:

The Chrysler family has always maintained a good name throughout it's history before 1960. From the early 30's to the late 40's, Chrysler, De Soto, Dodge and Plymouth had some of the best engineering of the low-price field.

Chrysler was a head of it's time with hydraulic breaks as early as 1930! Also, Chrysler at that time was really tryin' to compete with the higher end cars like Cadillac, Lincoln, and even Duesenberg! I've seen some early 30's Chryslers that really take the cake! Buy the end of the Air Flow run (1937) Chrysler grill design lack something for me but, the rest of the family carried on a beautiful style! The '37, '38 and '39 De Soto's were amazing! Dodge looked much like Chrysler's did in those years with the only redemption being the '39 model year. Chrysler and Dodge had amazing streamlining in '39! Plymouth was pretty sharp lookin' in '37, '38 not so much but, '39 is one of my favorite years for Plymouth!

Ford's and Chevy's... well, I'm not sure why they're as pop as they are... but, they were in the low-price field... and Plymouth offered a good competition! Also Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler by '41 had Fluid Drive!

Now, if a '41 Plymouth is desired, that I have to say is a smart choice! I've heard from many '41 Plymouth owners who swear by them! Good cars, easy on gas and oil (good meaning for cars of this age) and parts are easy to get to keep it running. The flat head 6 on all Chrysler products is the most reliable motor you'll ever find! Keep it up and it will keep you goin'! A truly remarkable piece of engineering for a common man's car.

Keepin' a car stock these days isn't a bad thing in my mind... at most car shows I see maybe only one or two stock autos... including my '46. If I never see another "black satin" red rimmed car again, it would be too soon! The whole "Rockabilly" scene goes that way... it's so un-creative. Keep the car stock I say, maybe tweak the motor a little, ad another carb, split the manifold and get some extra ponies takin' ya down the street... but, reconsider lowering it any amount. You will effect the car's overall ride, and suspension... and not in a good way. Hit a bump, those tires will hit the top of the fender... inside.

Not tellin' anyone what to do, but, just givin' some facts about lowering cars or altering their stock condition.

 

[SamMarlowPI]