Jump to content

1912Staver

Members
  • Posts

    4,798
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by 1912Staver

  1. I was trying to get a frame shipped a month or so ago. Actually a frame plus a bunch of parts packaged up inside, but a LOT smaller { like 1/2 the footprint } and no heavier than one from one of these full sized Fords. A very small sports car chassis. New York State to Washington State. All the quotes were $3500 +. More than the frame and parts were going to cost. The shipping cost made the whole deal uneconomical by a good margin.
  2. Too bad about the frame. For some reason these cars are often very rusty in the rear section of the frame. I am not sure if it is the design that is at fault or perhaps the type of steel that was used. Both Ford and GM have this problem , mid 1960's . But it seems more common on these full size Fords.
  3. Those look like 20 x 5 inch rims. I would expect 6.00 or 6.50 x 20 would be a good fit. Probably about the same as what many people use on Model AA Ford trucks.
  4. From what I have seen , the more desirable the car is the more demand for top quality parts. The limited production sports cars I am involved with seem to have strong enough owner demand on parts quality that the parts on the market are at least O.E.M. quality . Unfortunately in many cases they are priced out of my reach and i am forced to seek out other peoples cast offs and re - hab them myself. But for example the main 1960's - 1970's TVR parts outfit these days expands their range almost monthly. And from what I have seen use the same philosophy you are using, it has to be good enough to use on your own vehicle, not just be cheap and ready to ship. The other TVR outfit caters to vintage racers and their quality is so much better than what came from the factory in the 1960's. But at a price where I can't even afford a suspension A arm let alone anything major. The Ford , Chevy , Dodge market does seem to be very price sensitive. Been working on my 1970's F 250 lately. Parts are often remarkably cheap, but yes, chineesium. Still on a truck things are pretty overbuilt so not so much a factor as cheap, low quality parts on a sports car. My wife and I both drove Volvo 240's in the 1990's and early 2000's. I tried the aftermarket parts a few times as O.E.M. stuff from the dealer was pricy. But the quality just wasn't there and I quickly went back to genuine Volvo parts. Like you say, you get what you pay for.
  5. I see things from a slightly different point of view regarding offshoring . There has always been a parallel market for cheaper " second rate " goods. Early post war era there was lots of low quality " made in { occupied } Japan " or " made in West Germany " goods on the market. Often almost as good as " made in U.S.A. " but generally quite a bit cheaper. As cost of living rose and income for many didn't quite keep up the market share of these second rate goods increased. Eventually the wholesalers and chain retailers started to source things in china. Profit margins rose, and owners / shareholders were ecstatic. I really don't think consumers demanded low quality goods. Just that their shrinking disposable income gave many no real choice. Share holder return over any other consideration just made things that much worse.
  6. That seems like a very reasonable asking price for a high quality car like this. And what is actually quite a straight forward project . Hopefully the right person takes interest and returns this Cadillac to the road.
  7. There was a McLaughlin in the late teens that was 99% a Oakland 6 . It was sold as a smaller, cheaper car once the 4 Cyl model was dropped by Buick. But that one was OHV.
  8. Probably anything from 6.50 - 7.50 would work. What is available these days ? Do you have the rims ? How wide are they ?
  9. My point exactly. That $15,000.00 U.S. price 1915 T becomes more like $25,000.00 + Canadian $ depending on how far away it is. Entry level 1950's cars start at around $5,000.00 Canadian. So the basic, entry level HCCA car is actually more like 5 times the price of a " starter " 1950's car. And that is not even thinking about the cost of the truck and trailer most brass T owners are eventually going to need if touring is part of the plan. Almost all 1950's cars can be used without a truck and trailer.
  10. Broad strokes yes, but absolutely with merit. I think there is a much larger force at work driving the cheaper, cheaper trend. Certainly here in Canada , and probably to at least some degree in the U.S. the " middle class " { really the majority of old car owners by vehicle numbers at least } simply have a shrinking disposable income. People like myself started in the hobby decades ago, when it was actually reasonably affordable as long as you realized the " blue chip " cars were out of reach. But year by year costs to participate rose faster than disposable income. Over the last 40 years the gap has become substantial. Therefore the demand for cheaper and cheaper parts. Also even going back to the start of my involvement when there was still a lot of N.O.S. parts around for Ford at least, there was even then cheaper offshore parts offered by many Ford suppliers. Usually so-so quality and fit, but it kept things moving along. Often stated as made in Argentina back in the late 1960's / early 1970's. I expect the venders over time read the tea leaves and realized they could sell 10 so - so examples of a given part for every example of a first class , " Made in U.S.A. " reproduction part. And probably a similar profit regardless on which example was sold. Just part of running a successful business. It's either that or take up collecting clocks in many average income households. Likewise broad strokes in my outlook, but it just reflects my observations over 50 years of involvement.
  11. Just my local perspective, boomers in my area are far more likely to be involved with street rods or some other variation of modified old car than stock condition old cars. Gen x ers and milennials tend toward JDM or North American market versions of popular JDM cars , plus 4WD trucks of all makes. Lots of exceptions however. Probably 20 % or more of local car hobby people don't fit the stereotypes and are involved with some other variation. Wayne, I guess my local market is as usual quite inflated. A decent 1914 or 15 T is usually triple the price at least of what a basic, driver condition early 1950's car sells for around here. A brass T only seems to hit the open market once every year or two in this area, and prices seem to stay high. Even black T's are rarely a bargain in these parts. And the alternative of bringing one in from the U.S. gets quite expensive by the time all the dust settles. In contrast there is always a good number of 1950's cars available and with some shopping around at quite low prices in some cases. Off brands , so - so body styles. Supply and demand
  12. I agree with what you are saying to a point. Lots of HCCA cars that will run the wheels off a 1920 or older Buick 6 however. { bear in mind Buick offered a 6 1914 onward } My only point is that by keeping the cut off at 1915 the initial buy in is just too high for many. Any 1920 or older car is going to have a very limited performance envelope. The better 1914 - 1915 cars are just as fast as many / most 1920 cars. The one and two cyl. guys are in a league of their own.
  13. I have been of the mind that the HCCA is doing itself no favors by sticking to the 1915 cut off. It's been my belief for years now they should officially extend up to 1920. Membership is shrinking. Other than T's and a few other quite low H.P. cars there are very few " affordable " HCCA cars available to younger people and those of us with only average means. Somewhere around 35-50 K is what I usually see for what I would call a reasonably ordinary , but decent road usable HCCA car. And that's just too much for many household budgets. Opening things up to 1920 would bring many affordable cars into HCCA use. I gave up about 5 years ago and let my membership lapse.
  14. I don't think the Canadian production is significant to anyone other than a small segment of Canadian collectors. 99.9 % of the desirability and market place value is the fact it is a 1936 Roadster. Canadian or U.S. production is treated equally on a car like this. Probably not the rarest in actual numbers , but to most people the most desirable body style available in the early V8 years. 1932 - 1936. Any of the Ford roadsters from this production span have a huge following.
  15. I agree with Xander. Low production numbers and survivors. Very desirable body style. I personally slightly prefer 35's , but 36's are just as popular in the marketplace. 4 1/2 star car { out of five } Fords and other middle class and lower cars at least. By 36 I don't think there is anything but very small detail differences between a U.S. production car and one produced in Canada.
  16. A Morgan is a much better car, except the chassis frame and steering is inferior to what MG had progressed to by the TD era. TD's has a very robust , but unfortunately quite heavy frame. Morgan's had a rather lightweight frame { to the point of being quite flimsy } that usually does not stand up over time. At least replacement frames are reasonable in price to buy. Shipping adds considerably to the cost depending on where you live. Not heavy, just bulky. MG uses a really very good rack and pinion set up. Same steering with detail changes used right up to the last of the MGB's. Top notch. Morgan's use a worm and peg steering box . { late model Morgan's use a R and P, but those cars are extremely pricy compared to a typical TD } Not great even when new. Parts are expensive and hard to source. Big problem with a TD is that it is heavy and very underpowered. Morgan's are lighter and depending on what version engine much quicker than a TD. Morgan's are also a lot more expensive than TD's , but most would agree the extra cost is worth it. A $3,500.00 Morgan comes home in a supermarket shopping buggy.
  17. I believe you are in the one Province where there are Titles. Yes things do vary quite a bit from Province to Province, but not as much as what I am seeing with U.S. States.
  18. With most of the BAT auctions I follow it seems the seller did very well. But not always I guess.
  19. TR 7's are starting to climb a bit in value, but most have been parted out or scraped years ago. Low survival rate .TR 8's have always had a loyal following. Decent ones are becoming quite expensive.
  20. That looks like a great deal, but it is just Buick's small car for 1915. Roughly a competitor to a Model T. You wouldn't get a Brass T this cheap and the Buick is probably a better car.
  21. I had one of those back in the later 1980's. But not nearly as nice as this one. One truck I owned that really did drive like a truck. Or a School Bus . My 1966 Mercury { Canadian ford } 1/2 ton was way more civilized out on the road. I think I paid $650.00 for the IHC.
  22. It has the makings of a very desirable Brass Era car. Hard to say if the bodywork is 100% original or not. A person would have to do a very careful in person inspection, preferably along with someone with a good depth of knowledge about early teens Pierce's. But my gut tells me that's a somewhat optimistic price. On the other hand cars like this rarely come on the market so who knows ?
  23. I agree 100 % TTR. But the catch 22 for me is the addition I have to make to your list of exceptions " something extremely unique, rare and valuable " That would be the addition of affordable on a pretty slim , retired guy budget. In my case I like cars that almost fall into your category except the examples I can afford are run down, derelict, crashed , burned, partially parted out specimens of very off the mainstream sports cars. Early Lotus, TVR , Morgan , Elva and a host of others. And so many times if I find one the paperwork vanished decades ago. I grew up with these cars and owned a number of them in my youth. Then the early 1980's recession hit my area particularly hard and the vast majority of them ended up Stateside or back in the U.K. or Western Europe. With the current cost of living situation in Western Canada these days each year a few more of what's left of the local car inventory also leave. As people age out of ownership the local pool of people with the interest and means to take over ownership shrinks faster than the rate at which cars become available and Bring a Trailer etc. makes another out of the area sale. If I could afford to just buy a decent one with no problems I would. But we all face our own challenges in life and mine is the impossibility of just going out and paying the going rate for a no problem example. A couple of cars and several vintage British motorcycles I have been piecing together for decades . 1963 TVR Grantura MK3, 1959 Buckler MK 15. 1949 Triumph Trophy 500, 1954 BSA Gold Star 500, 1953 BSA Super Flash. If I am lucky I might even get to drive / ride one in my lifetime. Most of the fragments / hulks I find are in the U.S. , I look endlessly on all the club and one make forums. That is where the whole title hurdle comes into play. Years ago it was not a problem. These days it is almost always a deal breaker. Nearly all of these cars will eventually have their paperwork problems solved. Huge amount of interest and relatively few cars to go around. But I don't have any U.S. property to store them on while I wind through the various ways to re establish a title. I have often thought of buying a small place next door in Washington State for that purpose, but property has really shot up there over the last 20 years. Nearest place where things are still dirt cheap is South Eastern Oregon, but that is quite a long way away. How many hoops do you jump through before you just throw in the towel ?
  24. I don't think that over the course of the 38 years my wife and I have been together I have had a single vehicle that I could answer yes to on question 11. All my cars tend to be one person cars. My wife has driven a few of my cars from time to time, but always as last resort.
  25. I am only slightly rural, small acreages and hobby farms with about 20% actual working farms. But within commuting distance to the city. Prices and taxes are both eye popping. If I hadn't bought a place near here almost 30 years ago I would never be able to live around here. The U.S. is very attractive to me. My family history goes back to Ohio, but they left in about 1910 to homestead in Canada. At times I wish they never did.
×
×
  • Create New...