Add on items- increase, decrease, no difference in value?

F

Fairview

Member
If you were shopping for another Model A, (as I am) what adjustments if any would you make in your offer if the potential purchase had these?

A) 12 volt conversion with alternator
B) overdrive (second lever in front of seat)
C) air conditioning (appears to be the Ken Davis system)

Assume these are on a decent 31 slant window town sedan.

Thanks for your guidance. I am not used to “features” and have always been a dead stock kind of guy.
 
The "A" sounds like a car that tours and for many miles.:cool: I would like to do some Model-A touring before I get to old. The 12 volt Alternator and over drive would be must haves for the car. Which ever body style it is. The A/C
I can do with out. What is your definition of "decent"? Mine is: mechanically sound with no issues, appearance wise needing some minor TLC. The car you are referring to sounds like a good "road" car you can pack the whole family in and go........:) Good luck!;)


Bob-A:D
 
Id say those are very nice additions to the car. One thing to check though, is the starter converted to 12 volts or is it a 6 v starter running on 12v? Id say the value of the overdrive and A/C would raise the value of the car by a couple thousand at least, maybe 3k??? That is if they are done right.
 
Have an experienced Model A person check the add ons to ensure they were done properly. If indeed they were you have a nice touring car that many people would love to own. I usually pay an experienced A mechanic $100 dollars to give entire car a cursory check. Peace of mind fee. Good luck!
 
It depends on who the buyer is. For a purist, who prefers their Model A to be as Henry built it, all those things would subtract from the price he'd pay because he'd had to rip them out to put it back to original. OTOH, if someone is looking for an overdrive A with AC, he may pay a premium for those things already intalled.
 
If I was seeking an A to buy .. 12v and alternator would not add any value. AC would not add any value. O/drive would increase the value for unless I was looking for an unmolested vehicle. As has been said ...all depends on what you're looking for
 
I think the 12v and Mitchell O/D would be a plus, not so much for A/C as I don'r think I would ever use it (besides looking out of place on a Model A).
 
The A.C. might be worth a little if the buyer has a copilot and if living where it is real hot in the summer - so would depend on the buyer and what extra they would be willing to pay.


Agree the Mitchel would be a plus since most who run a Mitchell have at least a HC head, and may have other motor mods, upgraded brakes, brake lights/turn signals. and other options
 
My A/C... :p
49749543258_7db697597b_z.jpg
 
Three minuses: -$300, -$400, -$500. Based on what is missing/ hacked/ drilled and needs replacement/ labor/ paint/ /wiring/ repair work to put it back to original. If that OD is behind a Mitchell trans subtract another $400.

The P.I.A. of removing and re-selling much of the non-original stuff is a wash with the work involved so I would consider it worthless. Your mileage (wants/ desires/ needs) may vary.

When I need 12V, AC and OD I leave the A's in the garage and get in my Explorer.
 
In today's world, none of those modifications subtract from the value of the car because if they were done correctly, no permanent changes were made.

VERY few people do judging anymore compared to the 70's & 80's. The conventions often hurt for cars to judge as I believe they have to meet a quota. At least, that's what I've been told. I remember at the High Country in '09 they had to ask people to sign up to be judged so they could have 25 cars.

Nobody is going to look in the car and say "oh my god you have an overdrive- YOU RUINED IT". and if they do.... well then tell them your opinion matters most since you're the one who bought it. When people ask if I have AC, I say yes. Then they ask if that was original, and I say no, but they sell kits to install them. Then most people say "cool" and keep walking.

If you're going to DRIVE the car, 12 volts, AC & Overdrive are all benefits. If you buy it and end up realizing you don't like the overdrive/AC/12 volts, you can take those accessories off and sell them. You'd likely get half of what those items are new, & that would also probably cover the "increased cost" of buying the car with those items, verses a similar car that is bone stock.

I'd rather have them and not need them, than buy a car and realize I need them later and spend thousands upgrading.
 
The value of AC would be dependent on the location potential buyers, up here in the north country it would probably be a deduct as it wouldn't be needed that much and would be one more thing to maintain, while down south it would likely be a valued addition for some buyers.

With that said I don't think I've ever seen a Model A with air conditioning.
 
Fairview said:
If you were shopping for another Model A, (as I am) what adjustments if any would you make in your offer if the potential purchase had these?

A) 12 volt conversion with alternator
B) overdrive (second lever in front of seat)
C) air conditioning (appears to be the Ken Davis system)

Assume these are on a decent 31 slant window town sedan.

Thanks for your guidance. I am not used to “features” and have always been a dead stock kind of guy.
Click to expand...


I think Jordan's advice above pretty much covers it very accurately. My question is more about what interests you the most about this particular Fordor? By your admittance, you said you preferred "dead stock" but evidently something about this particular Fordor has struck your fancy, so I am curious what it is.
 
The asking price is $18,400. I have not seen it in person, but have talked to the owner by phone. It was one of his dad’s cars, so details are a little vague.

It also has turn signals in the cowl lamps, and two extra gauges which I assume are temp and oil pressure. Looks like head gasket may be leaking.

Trying to post photos.
 
Australia has a reputation for being a warm, even hot place but I don't even know anybody with A/C in their A. 12v and O/D are very common though and that is largely due to the distances we travel. A trip of 100 miles is nothing out of the ordinary for many of us. I'd consider the 12v conversion of little value because it is so easy to do and doesn't cost much. The Mitchell on the other hand, is expensive and of value so I'd rate it a decent plus. Air cond - forget it!
 

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