Any recommendations for someone near Chicago to carefully look over a 50's car?

[Guest LuxDriver]

I'm considering a purchase and need a real ACE .. Who really knows metal/bodies and mechanical worthiness. Who would you trust to be your eyes in that area if you couldn't get there yourself? Need a true car guy.

[Guest LuxDriver]

I called AAG in Chicago, anyone ever use them?

[alsancle]

Depending on what you are looking at a marque expert may be more appropriate.   If it is run of the mill car,  any appraiser will take enough pictures for you.

[Guest LuxDriver]

It's a Gm car from mid 50's .. I know authenticity,I need someone who can feel investigate use magnets, etc to see about rust or bondo. I have about 30 pics of it.. I need deeper hands on help.. Thanks

[Guest AlCapone]

Contact a GM dealer and ask their body shop to delve into it for you. Likely cost you a couple hundred dollars for a verbal report. Wayne

[Guest LuxDriver]

Found a really nice guy at I-van, named Bill. Very friendly and takes his time with you..

[Guest Roj]

Pending on where the car is in Chicago, I would be willing to help you out.  PM me and I can give you my qualifications, but I have done it for about 20 years and judged restored cars for NCRS.

[Guest AlCapone]

Pending on where the car is in Chicago, I would be willing to help you out.  PM me and I can give you my qualifications, but I have done it for about 20 years and judged restored cars for NCRS.

You are indeed a kind and generous man ! Wayne

[Guest Roj]

Thank you, but this hobby is what its all about, helping each other. 

[Pomeroy41144]

I live in the Chicago area--where is the car at approximately? 

[Guest AlCapone]

Thank you, but this hobby is what its all about, helping each other.

You obviously practice what you preach ! You are indeed an. Asset to our hobby ! Wayne

[Guest LuxDriver]

Thanks sounds very kind of you indeed..

[Guest LuxDriver]

Still trying to work on the price for sale years no takers at the pricer trying to get a realistic figure . He wants $10,000 more than a restored one brought .. Albeit this one is much more original an authentic.. Needs body and full paintwork..

[Guest AlCapone]

Still trying to work on the price for sale years no takers at the pricer trying to get a realistic figure . He wants $10,000 more than a restored one brought .. Albeit this one is much more original an authentic.. Needs body and full paintwork..

Obviously time to move on or go inspect it with check book in hand ! 10k more than restored is ridiculous and unless you are loaded you would regret later that the seller made a fool of you. Just remember $10 k plus body and paint is 25 k. Move on ! Wayne

[Guest LuxDriver]

When I told the owner something like this I never got a reply..

[Taylormade]

It sounds like this guy is not a motivated seller. You said the car in question is "original and authentic," but that you intend to do a repaint. These days, preservation cars go for as much, if not more, than restored cars, but I don't know the actual condition of the car you're looking at. If mearly discussing the price turned this guy off, I'd look elsewhere.

[vermontboy]

Time to leave your business card with the price you are willing to pay written on the back and forget about it - chances are it will never happen.

[60FlatTop]

Owners are generally not open to learning experiences. I know I'm not. Come to me with a bunch of anecdotal value stories and I'll give you directions for the most scenic ride home.

 

About 30 years ago I developed a policy of pricing fair, not playing games, and.......... not reducing my price unless I get something in return. That came about 30 years ago when I had a 1968 Buick Electra in the front yard for sale. It was modestly priced and a local teacher stopped to look at it. He wondered if I could sell it for $100 less. I told him sure. I had recently put new tires on the front and the '71 Impala I just bought needed tires. I would swap the tires and reduce the price by $100. He left to think it over. He came back in about an hour with the full amount in cash. He must have called a couple of tire dealers.

Sparked with inspiration, I made that my policy; swap out tires, or a battery, maybe a rechromed part to justify the price reduction. Of course, if we decide to take a ride across the state tomorrow, it is not a question of which one will make it, it's which one will we take. Ask that seller where they drove last. Not licensed or insured? Well, you can't even get to the local meeting of the National Wild Turkey Federation!

Bernie

[Guest LuxDriver]

The car is rare and convertible. The interior while original, in some places needs attention but it's 90% nice. The paint is fairly poor,cracked all over and the quarter has "issues" that are a big question mark. It needs to be all stripped and see what's really happenings there and maybe else where. It's been for sale three years..when I brought that to the owner's attention, and my concerns about the body, I also sent along auction averages and charts for the last 10 yrs for this model. Basically like Real Estate (which I know well) if it's Desireable and still for sale this long.. it's the price first, then condition or issues..perhaps In this case both.

Like some home owners they get a price in their head which may not be reality based,but they hold to it and it lingers on the market for years..Recently in fact, I went to see a home that owners wanted to sell. Of course I did the comps ( like with like ,within a year ,and a mile that sold! ) brought them with me and got the tour of the home which hadn't had any updates since 1960. After being a Realtor 18 yrs I get the feel for what number range a house will sell at. So after the homes review, I asked if the owner had a price in mind? He said,"Why yes ..$5.5 million"..startled by the number.. I asked him how he arrived at that figure? He told me ."Well there are 5 heirs, and we each want $1.1 ! " I started explaining that's not how it's done professionally,that I have to have real proof of the value with what's sold around the subject property. My comps told me below 2 million was the right range..and I showed that paperwork to him.. Suggested he get a professional appraisal. The heirs never agreed on a price, and the house is still sitting empty for several years now!

[Guest BillP]

Back to this car...

 

Do what you want, but I never buy a car sight unseen. I then profit from my own vision, or lack thereof. A plane ticket or road trip is small beans compared to buying a mistake.

 

If you want this one or one like it, there has been a lot of advice here over the years to say that one should buy the best car you can afford. If you want a hobby to go out in the garage and putter with, get a car with needs. If you want something to use and enjoy, step up and get a good one.

 

And do your own inspection.

[60FlatTop]

I am kind of cautious. I never bought a car sight unseen from farther away that Seattle, 2700 miles from here.

 

Oh, two of the cars in my signature were sight unseen, the ones I drive the most.

Bernie

Edited August 1, 2015 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[poci1957]

I am in central IL and an experienced 1950s GM and convertible guy.  If the car is in the Decatur/Springfield/Bloomington/Champaign area I might take a look for you, you can message me at poci1957@aol.com if interested

[Guest Roj]

Back to this car...

 

Do what you want, but I never buy a car sight unseen. I then profit from my own vision, or lack thereof. A plane ticket or road trip is small beans compared to buying a mistake.

 

If you want this one or one like it, there has been a lot of advice here over the years to say that one should buy the best car you can afford. If you want a hobby to go out in the garage and putter with, get a car with needs. If you want something to use and enjoy, step up and get a good one.

 

And do your own inspection.

Agreed, if the owner won't budge, wait for a while and there will be another gem out there.  Enjoy the hobby, it a GREAT one.

[Guest AlCapone]

What has happened in the last ten days? Has it been inspected ? Have you or the seller made an offer ? Have you gone to see it ? Have you abandoned the idea Timing is crucial. ?

[60FlatTop]

It's been almost 10 days since I looked at that Seagraves pumper. AADD (Automotive Attention Deficit Disorder) is beginning to take over.

Bernie

[Guest Roj]

I am still willing to go and look at this car for you if you need me too, if your having second thoughts because of the seller, move on, there will be another out there on the horizon.  That is how I found this car, just on the horizon.

[Ed Luddy]

Good advice here! As you have not said what the car is other than a 50's GM convertible I would hazard a guess that there will be a few more of them for sale somewhere across the USA or up here in Canada.

 As everyone said, buying and restoring a 50's GM 'vert is a costly venture and more often than not doesn't return the expected result. The time lost and frustration involved is never to be recouped. Pay the money for a original NOT needing resto, or buy a resto'd and turn the key to start enjoying a car!

[John_S_in_Penna]

Mr. Luxdriver, since your other threads were

asking about buying a car to fix up and resell

at a profit, is that what you want to do with this

1950's convertible?