Surviving examples 400A vs 68C

Maclab58

Maclab58

Well-known member
Curious, I own a 68C and have for 3 years now and I have never seen another one in person. I have been to numerous swap meets and attended the Texas tour this year and I was the only one, there were 4 examples of the 400A. Is the 68C more rare as a survivor? Just wondering.
 

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Dont we wish! I have a 68 C that would trade in a heartbeat for a 400A. In my area it is very, very uncommon to see a 400A. I will bet a 400 is worth 10 thousand more than my 68C. Wayne
 
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I think they are about the same as far as rarity. However, I cannot put numbers to it. I actually have several bodies of both and am re-wooding them slowly. I also make parts for both cars and the interest (albeit slow in both) seems to be about the same.
The A400 has some draw-backs and subject to more "fault-finding". The 68C is a really super little body style. The criticism basically there is that it is a two-seater and a rumble seat ain't good for nothing except show and running up the cost. Rumbles are also a bit dangerous IMHO
 
It is interesting as several people I have known have owned 68C's sold them and then bought another cause they missed it.

To some extent the 400A is the holy grail of restoration. Technically it was the highest end car of the day. So you tend to hear more about them. They also have many more unique parts that can not be found when compared to the 68C.

As far as safety, I grew up with in a rumble seat. Today it kind of scares me some. Kind of wish I had a 160 body (a 160C would be neat) cause I have 2 young boys.
 
I know of at atleast two examples in my town alone... There are more out there than you think.
 
Having owned both a 400-a and 68-a, I would take the cabriolet over the Conv Sedan any day of the week. I did drive a 160-b for 9 years and enjoyed it. When my two boys were young I drove a good old Tudor, no worries at all about what went on in the back seat, they could not fall out of the car!
 
Dennis Smith put together the production numbers by body number. Here is the link

http://www.mafca.com/downloads/Technical/Body_Numbers.pdf

the following data is of interest for the 160C, 1931 68B and A400

Approximate # Produced *

4589* 160-C Briggs 331 1931 S/W Deluxe Fordor Sedan (2W)
160-C Murray 1931 S/W Deluxe Fordor Sedan (2W) included 160-C Briggs

4959* 68-B Briggs 161 1931 Cabriolet 4,959

5072* 400-A Murray 400 1931 Convertible Sedan 5,072
 
I found and bought a 68C, it was a local car disassembled and stashed in a barn for years. Unfortunately it's missing most of those rare parts that are impossible to find unless you get them from Mr Underwood. I wanted to build a post war banger out of it until I found out how few there are of them out there so I listed it in the for sale section hoping someone might trade me a roadster or good coupe for it but have had no luck on trades. The parts that I'm missing could possibly be down there because the barn was full of old car parts, I could be over looking some.
 
Just because a vehicle has low production numbers does not necessarily make it desirable. A good example is the Edsel. I would gladly trade my 68C for a 400A Wayne
 
The most interesting 68C I've seen is an A-V8 that was seen at the Orange County Pancake Breakfast this year. Again, most of the difficult parts were missing but the rod application was superb for the slant windshield.












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The most interesting 68C I've seen is an A-V8 that was seen at the Orange County Pancake Breakfast this year. Again, most of the difficult parts were missing but the rod application was superb for the slant windshield.

Dont know if it was the same one Fred, but one sold on the bay in the last year for a very low sum from the northeast. Estate sale and it went for a pretty low price and looked real good.
 
I'm hoping to finish restoring my 68C in my lifetime. Fortunately, I have all of the critical parts but am lacking the ability to work on it in the summer heat. I'm pretty sure I'll end up with maybe the only one in the State.
I've seen 400As before and they are nice cars but the window frames are distracting when the top is down.
 
FWIW, there is a 68C that has been advertised in the classsifieds here for a while. The price does not seem unreasonable for what appears to be a mostly complete car.

Not mine mind you.
 
forever4 ...explain a little about distracting window frames when top is down ? you lost me on this one..sc?
 
Mr RafFORD: Post # 12 : "I've seen 400As before and they are nice cars but the window frames are distracting when the top is down."
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My sentiments exactly !
Whereas the 68-C has cleaner lines.
I somehow missed seeing the distracting window frames on the Slant Window Cabriolet, that brothers ForeEver4, post # 13.
 
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