Any comments on Picker's Model A buy

29restorod

29restorod

Senior Member
My wife and I watched Pickers very intently last night. We were anxious to see how my 29 buy,compared to theirs. I feel Frank got an eceptionally good deal. I do not agree with his so called expert friend,on the value of the car. My price would have been closer to 9K not running,and 10-11 running,unless there was something wrong that we could not see. Also what about Franks comment about 30-31's being faster? I have been following Model A prices very closely for the last 4 years.
 
In 1928 Ford was advertising the cars running 60 MPH (or 65) and insisting the dealers show the customers the car could do this.

See the 1928 service letter reprints.

I know the stock 1930-31 cars properly restored will run the factory speeds all day long.
 
i think it was a great deal too, paid 5000 for a 1931 coupe late, not running. but shes solid and i did get it unstuck..
 
Why would he pay $ 950.00 to have it flat bedded home when he followed it with the van??

If he has to rebuild the motor or other mechanical work and get it repainted I think he will have more into it then it is worth?? Wonder what the gas tank looks like after sitting for 30 years with old gas.
 
Bill in NJ said:
Why would he pay $ 950.00 to have it flat bedded home when he followed it with the van??
Click to expand...


The show has been on for what 3 years now? Have you EVER seen them wrap anything they buy for safe passage back to Iowa? People would be killed if they tried to tow something on a trailer.
 
Dang! You guys busted my bubble again. I thought these guys were absolute geniuses on any subject. It was fascinating how they could dive into a pile of junk and come with a turd and say If this is what I think it is it could be the Holy Grail! of turds. They must use the same writers as the guys on The pawn shop. Still think frank got a good deal.
 
I started to lose all faith in this show when they were pickin Hobo Jack's place and he paid 8 or 9 thousand for the "unknown" motorcycle engine.

I hate how they go through these places and cast aside stuff I'd want. I saw one episode where in the random filler footage Mike picked up a sidebowl carb and put it back in a box.

-Tim
 
One thing I can not figure out, are Frank and Mike working together,or as seperate dealers? Mike acts like Frank is spending his money,and Frank acts like its his own money. Another thing that I wonder about is,them walking away from a huge hoard of good stuff with only a few items. Why not buy until you run out of money? At some time these two guys must have done this on their own, before the TV program.
 
I have wondered also. The only way to make money on doing stuff like this is to buy in large lots, then sort out the junk from the good stuff. I have been salvaging antique car parts for about 20 years. The best money makers take several trailer loads at a good price to make money. buying individual parts or small lots far from home never seem to do any better than break even. Tax right offs for gas and other expences is normally about the only profit on small lots that require some traveling. Rod
 
It is a TV show. It is a TV show. It is a TV show.


The money is made from the sale of the show not the items that buy and sell. Like other "reality" shows the format is adjusted to get the maximum amount of viewers. It is not a day in the life of an American Picker. I would guess that everything is scripted and items are selected in advance.

There is no reality in most reality shows.

As Pointed out by Brent;
"Most of it is pre-planned with Mike & Frank riding around in a large motorcoach, the items are pre-picked and the prices agreed upon before it goes to taping. To me, these shows are just like common sense which ain't to common, ....reality TV is not really reality."


Bob
 
I first found out about them a few years before they had a TV show. Mike had posted youtube videos of him digging through old barns and stuff hunting for old motorcycles. Yes, he used to do this before it was a TV show. Not sure if these videos were intended as "pilots" to try and get a deal with someone or if someone found these and decided to make a show about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnT1lNlVsjs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H2O4yG5cDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2rZdXfjiXU

-Tim
 
Actual "Reality" is really pretty boring. It has to be spiced up, to make people want to watch. Which, they have done, rather successfully.
When they visited Daytona Beach and bought a stripper club, window neon sign, it was in the local paper, that an advance team was in, about two weeks before Frank and Mike came in. It was the first time that the owner met Frank and Mike.
Frank found a stash of money in the junk and that was real ! The fellow used to hide his nightly receipts, in the back room, after closing. Seemingly, he had forgotten about one.
MIKE :)
 
I met them in a local antique shop in 2006, so I know they did it before the show. They were interested in a sign I had, til I told them condition and price. I left no room for them to profit and really was not super interested in selling it anyway. Selling it for less then its value although it would still be a good profit was out of the question for me with the sign. Keep in mind it was a part of the local history much like my Delivery Sedan. Rod

picture.php
 
As Bob said, It's A TV Show! nothing is really real about it. I have heard that they will "salt in" some items in advance, to "discover" when they show up with the cameras. I don't watch anymore, it just bugs me too much.
 
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