I have one car that I'm pretty sure that's why I still have it, well, that and the fact that I want to drive the damn thing. It's a struggle that only special people understand.
Car pics too cool not to share
- Thread starter Squatch
- Start date
I have one car that I'm pretty sure that's why I still have it, well, that and the fact that I want to drive the damn thing. It's a struggle that only special people understand.
I'm struggling here, boys. Most of you know by now that I have an affinity for the '56 Ford. I have on numerous occasions announced that it is my favorite car ever, especially the 2-door hardtop version. I've owned several through the years, driving one from Washington state across country to New York back in '81. Anyways, I attended a large swap meet here a week back, and an elderly gentleman approached the booth where I was hanging with some buddies of mine, and asked me if I knew anyone who might be interested in buying his '56 Ford Fairlane 2-door sedan? Okay, now that he has my attention, he proceeds to pull out a stack of pictures of the car. It's nice. It's really nice. It's even the same colors as my hardtop project '56. I recognized the car, and asked him if he had bought it here (at the swap meet)? He had...last year. Paid $14,500 for it. Unfortunately, he suffered a mini-stroke, and now finds it difficult to deal with the manual steering and brakes. It's got an "allegedly" rebuilt 312 Y-block in it, backed by the Ford-O-Matic. He said it needs a headliner, but otherwise, the interior is very clean.
The gentleman said he'd like to get $10,000 for it. Said he just can't drive it anymore, and he hates to have it just sit. We talked about our love of the '56 Fords, swapping stories, and then he says to me that it's obvious that I know the cars, and that he would take a "reasonable offer" from me, instead.
Whooh.
I can afford to pick it up (meaning that I have the money, not that it's a smart thing to do). I could buy it now, thereby securing the car, and sell some other stuff off to replenish the bank account, or I could sell stuff off, and hope that he still has it when I eventually acquire the needed funds. Or I could just forget the whole thing. What pains me is the knowledge that I could sink $10K into my hardtop project, and still be nowhere near the condition of this car. Then again, I love working on cars, and generally prefer a shitter-car to a nice one. So many things to consider!
Here's a "pic of a pic" of the car. Opinions?
View attachment 529458
It's a beaut Clark. I mean Squatch. Its how bad do you really want it. I agree with the others, its nice to have one that's already running and you can enjoy it as you make it yours. Like others have said, you will probably pay more on your project one to get it where this one is now. Hard not to let a good car like that slip through your fingers. Buy it now and sell off some other ones. Just my 2 cents buddy.
OP
The gent gave me his phone number, and invited me to come take a closer look at it anytime I want. He and I seemed to really hit it off, and I have a feeling that he might be willing to work with me on acquiring it, like taking a deposit on it, for instance, while I work at selling off a few things to lessen the financial impact, and to create some space for it. How bad do I want it? Well, I'd sell not only a couple of project vehicles, but my NIB Dan Wesson Heirloom 2020 1911 .45 ACP to help finance it. That's saying something, right there.
Yes, that is saying something. You need to go over and talk to the man. Nice that he is so willing to work with you on this. I think it's a deal you can't turn down.
If it won't financially strain you in any way, I’d go ahead and buy it before it's gone, then start selling what you're going to sell.
That doesn't take up enough space to justify selling.
With all this talk about 56's , here's a 2dr. post from the other side of town.
OP
Hey! Someone customized that Ford to look like a '56 Chevy!
This is what they started their build from .
OP
That's the color combo of the '56 2-door hardtop I drove cross-country back in '81. Man, that brings back some memories.
Hey! Someone customized that Ford to look like a '56 Chevy!
And they did a damn good job. I almost thought it was a Chevy.
Save your money.
Seems I just went through this delima very recently.... Of course I decided to DRAIN my bank account and then drive 3,000 miles to bring this new to me project home...
I of course plan on robbing parts off this new Jeep to make mine a running & driving rig hopefully.
DUDE it's got a HEMI....
I have that same affection for my TJ.... IT's been a LONG project and DAMN there are times I should have just sold the thing or thrown a match into the garage and have a wiener roast...
Oh go buy the damn thing, and sell off the project. You'll kick yourself in the ass for the rest of your life if you don't. I'm still pissed about a pair of Victrolas that I passed up 40 years ago, where the HELL was my head that day?
OP
I believe that everything does (or doesn't) happen for a reason. Whether I end up with it or not, I'll accept it. Now having said that, I'm thinking that I might go visit the gentleman midweek, and take a closer look at the car. We can see where it goes from there. Sure is pretty, though, ain't it?
Go visit the guy, and really look it over. I’d be the most critical about the paint since it’s the hardest thing for us gearheads to do. If it’s nice, work out a deal for it and unload something to help pay for it.
Guaranteed you will find something to tinker with on it to satisfy that fixit craving.
Guaranteed you will find something to tinker with on it to satisfy that fixit craving.
OP
Yeah, there's always something that can use some tinkering. I remember seeing the car when it was for sale at the swap meet a year ago. All I really remember about my reaction to it was that at his asking price (I think it was $16,000 at the time), I would never be able to get my hardtop in that condition for the same money. I know that Wes (the older gent who owns it now) paid $14,5000 for it. If the car is as nice and solid as it presents, then he didn't do too bad at all. However, I've seen my fair share of "pretty projects". I had a '79 Cadillac Seville given to me back in 2016. It was a fairly sharp looking car. However, once I started really looking into it, I discovered that the shiny paint was hiding a lot of evils. It didn't take long for me to realize that the car was quickly becoming a money pit with no chance of a return on my investment. That's one of the very few cars that I've ever bailed on.
It is so true that a looker can be a nightmare or a cool car. Close up inspection is the only way to tell.
As a sidebar , I always thought a 79 Seville was a modern classic.
OP
Me, too. The '76-'79 Seville is a real looker, in my opinion. Did you know that they were based on the Nova (X-body platform)? I never realized that until I got involved with my '79. I always thought they were based on the Caprice. The things we learn, right?
Now, I know I'm going to take some flak for this, but I also really like the '80-'85 Seville...the "bustle back Cadillac". Though they could easily be overdone right from the factory, there were definitely some beautiful ones out there, IMHO.
No.
Oh, God no!
Yes!
I did know about the X - body connection for the 76 - 79 . The bustle back gen 2 cars were Much harder to love , only because of the examples you've presented. Here is one more mod that I can't stand , the carriage top , who thought that it was a good to have the look of a convertible top up , without the plusses of a rag top ?