Looked at a 29 Special coupe

Thanks guys! I'm in the State of PA. When you register a vehicle from out of state-you must verify the serial#. The number on the title/registration card must match the # on the car/engine block. The serial# on this car is A3124311 with the stars at both ends. That number came off the block. The current owner says he has the registration cards showing the same serial #. When I looked at the car, I forgot to ask him to see the reg. card. NY State doesn't have titles on cars that old. When I got home I asked him to scan & email both sides of the card to verify serial # on card. As of 8:00 AM this morning-no email. Plus I asked why he didn't have a plate on the car and no reg. sticker on the windshield. He told me he didn't plan on driving it around but needed reg. for insurance. I'm getting a little leary as if those #'s don't match I won't be able to get it registered in PA. & I told the guy that. I'll keep everyone posted. Thanks again!
 
I remember Otis Chandler being chastised for paying $185K for an old Harley (what was then the highest price ever for a motorcycle)
His response?
"I have the money, I want it; should I wait 'til I'm 80, when it'll be worth more?"

Otis died at 80 years.
 
Good news! The guy finally got me the copy of the registration card and the s/n on the card matches the s/n on the block. I think I'm going to head back to take one last look at a couple of things I overlooked. Thanks again for all of your input! Smitty
 
As Glen Blue sez, "IF YOU GONNA' PLAY, YOU GOTTA' PAY"---And remember, most any car you buy will need some work & expense.
Bill W.
 
Hi Smitty,

FWIW: Just One (1) New York "No Title" Experience.

I bought my 1930 Town Sedan from a very nice gentleman in Texas who had just moved to Texas from New York. His car had "no title"; but had a New York Registration Certificate (RC) that was already over 20 years old.

I had already learned to "never-ever" trust some of the outright low-life local DMV bum officials who cannot wait to find reasons to deny vintage title transfers & to show who is Boss.

Anyway, to try to avoid any possible problems, I had asked the former owner to mail me a copy of the NY Registration Certificate which I brought to my local DMV with photos of his car.

This different, extremely nice smiling DMV lady went on the Internet, verified that NY had RC's & no titles & she said she "loved" the photo of the car & would gladly issue a title "if" she could get a ride in the car when I received it.

I had absolutely no problem with her or the title; but when I went back to give her a ride a couple of months later, she had retired & left DMV.

Very Serious Moral of this Story:

First: Search & try to find a very nice, local DMV person & show them a "photo" of the car & a copy of the NY RC; & most importantly no details about motor number body numbers or "any" details -- play like you never even finished Kindergarten.

Second: If he/she gives you that mean grumpy Scrooge-Crocodile-Look, just immediately leave, & try a different DMV office that has a DMV official with a Smiley Face; however, always return to this same Smiley Face ..... the Smiley Faces are out there ... but they are getting more difficult to find these days. Works every time!!!!!!

Hope this helps.
 
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I think if you come with cash in hand $13800 I think the guy may take it.. It is a really nice car and you will enjoy the car as I do mine..Mike
 
H.L.
Thanks for the advice. I've double checked everything with my gal at the AAA office here in Pa. She said everything is a go. I even verified through the NY State DMV that this car is currently registered. I am going to look at it 1 more time with cash in hand and a U Haul car transport on hold. If I do get the car, you folks will probably wish I bought a Studebaker! I can be a real PITA. Thanks, Smitty
 
if you go for it good luck with it.
i read your post wrong earlier i missed where you stated NY does not have titles.. thats why i deleted what i wrote earlier
 
I would pay 12500. for that car if I wanted it, but what's a few thousand between friends........?
 
smittykid said:
H.L.
Thanks for the advice. I've double checked everything with my gal at the AAA office here in Pa. She said everything is a go. I even verified through the NY State DMV that this car is currently registered. I am going to look at it 1 more time with cash in hand and a U Haul car transport on hold. If I do get the car, you folks will probably wish I bought a Studebaker! I can be a real PITA. Thanks, Smitty
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Now you talkin' :D

You'll enjoy it, even if you later feel you paid too much. I'd rather have something that I later felt I paid too much for, than to have missed what could have been a really good deal. When I went to look at the 1950 Studebaker, the first two things I saw threw up red flags, so even though the rest of the car looked good, I went home to think it over. I knew at $5,100 I'd never loose money on the car, so I went back the next day and bought it. I was very lucky no one else came to buy it before I got back. Once I got it home and gave it a thorough going over, I realized what a good deal I had really gotten. Those first two things I saw wrong just happened to be the only bad things, and both can easily be taken care of.:D
 
Sounds like +/- a few thousand.... I purchased my Model A this past March, I am very happy with it... It's not perfect but I saw lots of worse cars for what I paid... If the engine is as good as the outward appearance, pay the man fast...
 
Looks pretty good, much the same as mine (Avatar). I did mine over in 1981 and it has been enjoyed ever since. Mine is Mountain brown, looks like that one is also. The special coupes are relatively rare and solidly built. The belt molding was painted steel and are difficult to find, most have been restored with vinyl welting in place of steel. If you like a coupe buy it, you won't go wrong at the price.
 
Looks good to me. Paid less for mine but it needs some paint work and is getting a new engine this week. Offer a little less and see what happens.
 
Cool you will love it. I love my 29 special coupe but mine is a survivor that i am the 3rd owner of. drive it every chance you get. That is the fun part.
We don't take anything with us.
 
Keep in mind they were only made for a half year in 28 and a half year in 29 which means they are kind of hard to find in good condition with onle 6 months of production of each year.
 
Good move 29spcoupe. H.L. hit it right on the head- of you like it, get it. I thought that I'd paid at the top for my 29 CCPU, but when I got it home and really began to look at it I realized it was a gem. Looks like yours is too. Good luck with it. Ned
 
smittykid said:
I finally got to look at this 29 Special Coupe. The paint is real nice on the car except for a couple of spots on the radiator apron and on the back where it's a little buggered up (not bad) from someone closing the rumble seat with the handle in the wrong position. The interior is real nice except for some moth holes in the top of the seat back. Everything else is great. Drove it, all seems fine. All lights work as does horn & emg. brake. It has an exhaust leak around the donut, but his mechanic told him the collar just needs tightened. Right now he said is bottom line on the car is $14,800. I forgot got to snap a pic of the engine bay. I would say it is "fair" at best. What do you guys think? Thanks, Smitty
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If you like it and can pay the price -- buy it. It is a toy not a life support.
 
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