Jump to content

peezduk

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    18

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by peezduk

    Pierce Arrow

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    18 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

    I call cars like this the "fixer-upper fallacy." Why, with just a little elbow grease, I could have that car running and be enjoying myself behind the wheel.

     

    It doesn't work that way.

     

    Regardless of the merit of the "investment vs. return" argument, there's no denying that there are 15 or 20 $1000 jobs on a car like that, even if you're a great mechanic. Leave the cosmetics and interior alone and you're still going to be spending a ton of money on it, there's no way around it. Need a radiator? That's $1000+ worth of "can't do it yourself" work. Tires are another few thousand bucks--can't make your own. Exhaust system? Another $1000. Better add a wiring harness, too--yep, $1000. Maybe you're clever and can rebuild an obsolete carburetor, but what if it needs unobtainium pot metal parts? Can you get them? Make them? Cracked cylinder head? Bad babbit bearings? Transmission gears? What's a job you can handle and which one represents the point of no return?

     

    How well does it have to run to satisfy you? Is just limping around the yard belching smoke good enough or do you want to actually use it as a car? Making it run and making it run well are two very different things with two different levels of commitment.

     

    The fallacy is that we, as good amateur mechanics with knowledge and resources, should be able to make that car run and drive properly with some simple tinkering and patience. That's never the case. On an oddball car, the frustration of parts scarcity is a very real problem. There's an emotional toll that a car like this exacts and it can easily outlast you, I guarantee it. How long will you stay with it when it becomes clear that only a big pile of cash will get you across the finish line? How long will it be fun if you keep getting stranded in a broken car?

     

    Financial cost is but one aspect of the fixer-upper fallacy. A car like this with rare parts, unknown levels of breakage, and low desirability is always going to demand more than you expect in every way. I don't care how good you are, a car like this will fight you all the way until you surrender or spend so much that you have no choice but to bury yourself in it.

     

    It most certainly is not a few carburetor tweaks and fluid changes away from being ready to use. It will cause heartbreak and frustration before it gives you what you want, which may be never. That's a very high cost indeed.

     

     

    While I understand your aspect on a car like this, How many cars would have gone to the crusher or been street rodded if everyone looked at it from this angle. Is the fate of this one a hot rod or parts?? I Hope not. 

    touring car

    in What is it?

    Posted

    3 hours ago, TOM H. S. said:

    Hi peezduk, Sad to see this old relic in it's sorry state, but at least it still exists for a brave soul to rescue it from piles of trash. Could have been pushed over a cliff and then been 10 times worse. Sure hope someone can surgically remove it from the heap and use it for a display or school project. Best Wishes to all. Tom

    This is currently for sale north of where I live. I hope someone can at least save it for parts. I thinks its pretty cool, just have no place for it.  Yard Art maybe??

×
×
  • Create New...