Found in a Grain Warehouse Attic

Scott H in Wheaton

Scott H in Wheaton

Well-known member
Hey guys, I've been around for awhile working on my 1936 pickup but this is my first venture into the Model A section...so go easy on me!

I was tracking down a lead on a replacement cab for my pickup. It looks better than mine so I made a deal with the guy. Then we get to talking about the other stuff he has for sale and a little bit about this cool old warehouse he has the parts and cars in. It turns out to be the leftovers from his dad's years of hoarding parts and cars and over the last year or so he and his mother have been selling off mostly everything. I thought it interesting he has several fiberglass bed sides and 3 fiberglass beds from the Chebby Cameo pickup.

Anyway, as we are talking and I asked what other Ford stuff he has left he mentions a '29 Model A, and says its 'upstairs'. I say "Whatchu mean UPSTAIRS?" He showed me a cool old wooden elevator platform. It has a HUGE concrete counterweight and the whole thing is raised and lower manually with rope, pulley, and gears.

So we go upstairs and find the car in the pictures below. My friend is looking for one of these and we'll be going back next week for him to look at it.

Please take a look and offer your observations and opinions. Guy is asking $8000. The old story "it ran when dad parked it here". My friend wants to leave the outside "as-is" up to a point, but wants to get it running and driving.
 

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I wish I could find my X -ray glasses I got from Bazooka bubble gum wrappers .

I could see inside barns and warehouses and find cars .

Great find on all .
 
Using just the pictures, I too would offer 6500 cash take it out today. Alot can happen since he parked it. If he had it running and stopping the 8 grand would be my upper limit.
 
Other than potential price, what do you guys see in the pictures? Does the engine look right? I think I can make out the generator and starter. It looks like the front seats have been re-done. The rear fender looks to have some surface rust on it, but I don't think its rotted through. Its gonna need some work on the roof..are those particularly challenging to do? I've reupholstered seats and replaced mid-60's headliners before so if its not any worse than that it would be great.
 
luckyal said:
JTW
How did you ever come up with 6500 to 6700 cash without knowing anything about it ? That is amazing.
Al
Click to expand...

Personally I think it boils down to seeing what is there and being experienced enough to understand what truly needs to be done. I see this as a car that honestly needs a total restoration to be anything more than a neighborhood cruiser or 'garage art'. It looks like many items are excessively worn to be safely used for anything else. Look at the front spring and see how it is sagging and leaning. Maybe optical illusion?? The radiator shell appears to be a reproduction and the front apron is missing. Rear bumpers look repro, the pop-out switch looks like one of those "Made in Spain" units that were too long and didn't work well. Looks like a Powerhouse lower water pipe, and the body aprons look like they do not have the hump?? Mismatched assemblage of a car using many 'Rick-pack' reproduction parts??? If so, what is the true value of that??

Bottom line, for anyone that wants to drive it and use it to go places, then it will need a new top, some major interior upgrades, probably some mechanical renewal and new tires/tubes. IMO, it really does not matter whether the car is this nice or whether it is much worse, the amount of restoration work is about the same. By this I mean, it really does not matter whether the present brake drums are worn just slightly oversized and still have some black paint on them, --or whether the drums are rusty and have deep grooves worn in them. In my view they are worth the same amount as they are essentially cores that need restoration (i.e.: drums replaced).

Look at the L/R fender. While it still has paint, it appears it has major issues in the bead area. Is it really any better than a swap meet fender that has surface rust all over it and a minor broken bead? The same mindset can be said for the engine. Even if this one runs but is worn out, --or whether it hasn't been started in years, the value placed on that engine should be the same. This is why I advise people not to get caught up in "patina" or by "barn find" looks.

The reality is very few people listen to that advise and falsely convince themselves this car is better than one sitting out in a field. Again, in reality both type cars are needing a full restoration and the costs of the restoration are roughly the same. The downside is this car will likely be sold for more money simply because of the "packaging" (i.e.: the patina). We all know in the world of sales, ..."packaging" is everything!! ;)

.
 
The old saying "there only original once" certainly holds true for this car! Price is too much. You don't know what mechanical problems it has. Do your homework. Then make an offer.
 
Take someone knowledgable like a local Model A club member with you. In my mind there may well be many issues not yet seen or even envisioned. What have the mice done, how severe is the rust ? You buy with your brain and not your heart ! Read Brents post as he is a very knowledgable person that knows of what he speaks. It may well be worth 6500 but it also may well be worth 4500 ( in my mind more likely ).
Good luck !
Al
 
I would not be too hot to trot on this one either. Look at the side view photo. See the big gap at the bottom narrowing upward between the hood and fire wall? Bent frame? Don't go there. $3500, and only if there is no water in the pan. This car needs everything. It's still sitting there because it's WAY overpriced. Not trying to bust your bubble, just some friendly advice from a guy who's been there and done that.
 
I agree with Mike. As soon as I saw the large hood gap and seats I knew this car was going to need a lot of restoration to be decent. Just based on these pictures I also had about the same price in mind as Mike posted. I've seen a few very nice Model A's in the past 3 years sell for $6000 to $8000, and they didn't need paint or upholstery.
 
I wouldn't pay half the asking price for that tudor . It wouldn't bring much more than $8000 if it was a restored driver. I allways find lots of problems after I get one home that I didn't notice before buying. Fixing up model A's isn't necessarily cheap. You could easily spend another eight thousand or more to restore it and then if you decided to sell it, you would be lucky if it brought ten thousand.
 
The car looks like a lot of fun but would need to be looked over really close. It is in a nice dry location now but in its past it has seen some serious moisture. That being said, with a homemade interior, a new roof, new tires, and some elbow grease you probably could have a really fun "around the neighborhood" car. Price is too high though. If it is what it looks like in the pics and runs OK with no major knocks, etc, maybe $5K tops? Really hard to say with just pics. With just the apparent parts/materials you will need it will run you well over $1000. If your looking for a fun project though, this definitely does look fun!
 
Well admittedly I should have known better. I bought a decent driver for $8000 just 11 years ago. I put another 8 grand in it and it still needs new glass,body and paint. I would be lucky to get $10,000 out of it. It is reliable as all hell and I have no regrets..........just sayin.
 
So reading all these armchair appraisals, is it fair to say this Tudor will likely bring much more than what an educated buyer should pay??

.
 
Brent Just a repeat of history ! Happens every day ! Many of us made comments whereas you provided sound rationale !
I guess that is one of the reasons I consider you to be the most knowledgable person on the Fordbarn site !
Regards, Al
 
Brent,I think that car will bring more than it should.One reason is that if a family man is looking for a toy,that car looks somewhat presentable to a wife.A car in a box,in 10 times the condition won't even get a second look,much less an OK by most wives.Some wives can be bought by the argument that it can be driven while I fix it up Location will have a lot to do with it too.Where I am that car would bring $8000.if it is what it looks to be.You would have to wade through 100 cheapskates and lowbawlers,but unless it is a desperate sale one buyer will come through.Very good chance it would be a street rodder here.They seem to have no problem stepping up to the plate.I had a 29 coupe barn car,rock solid,would need everything but rust and dent repair.Best offer from the A guys was $3500.A rodder bought it for over $8000.Steve Cicalonne once asked me why I kept fooling around with British bikes.He had restored a lot of bikes,and said the brit bike guys made the Model A guys look like drunken spenders.He said they were the cheapest A-holes in the world.When they got done subtracting for everything they wanted to redo you would have to pay them to haul it off.He was right,but I've been dealing with them all my life.With the internet I've run into a whole new crop of people.Just dozens of people that make offers sight unseen,insulting lowball offers for five cents on the dollar,and people telling me how bad the economy is so I should be giving my junk away.What I've had to do is just set a price,and that is it.I make it clear that if they want it that is the bottom dollar.I tell everyone that before they come over.I've sold things all my life,but some feel there is no difference between dickering and insulting.When I get folks tell me that they never pay the asking price,I just tell them don't waste their trip.I'm polite about it,but my price is my price.It has worked out very well,I should have done it years ago.
 
Tudors are as common as Small block GM V8's. I wouldn't pay more than $2000 for a car like this. It needs everything. As has been said here before...you can get a runner with fair upholstery and good paint for 6-8 grand.
 
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