60FlatTop

I have a rental storage unit that I would like to clear out this year. It's heavy, bulky, and hard to ship. There is a NOS Right Front Fender for a Silver Cloud I. And a NOS right rear door for a Cloud I long wheelbase SS saloon. The fender is $2800; door $1200. I have four good, complete, take-off doors from a Silver Shadow, heavy, with motors and glass. Let's say $1,000 for the set. There is a set of splash aprons for a 4 1/4 Litre Bentley, about 1937, for $2,000. And a pair of Shadow seat tracks and some other stuff. If you have a rusty Cloud I the fender is a good deal. It may be the only NOS one out there. If you service these cars and do bodywork I'll make you a deal on the lot or multiple pieces. Shipping will be a big PIA. You pick up and I will recognize the value. Buy a bunch and I'll make an excuse to deliver it, maybe Atlantic City in February, or just about anyplace warmer than western New York. Need an 1890 Cutler roll top desk. I'm paying storage on one of those, as well, in another storage unit. The units cost me $120 per month, there's your leverage. It is 2016. I am shifting focus to my other business. As much as I hate to sell cars off season, I may even sell the Packard, Park Ave convert, and Impala SS. That may be the new year talking, but who knows. Accepting trades of airfare and accommodations in Grand Cayman first week of February or Palm Springs first week of March. Buy through this ad and I'll share some with the AACA Library and the Buick Heritage Alliance. Beat me up on the prices too bad and I'll tell then why I can't give much. Thanks for looking and tell your RROC friends. Bernie 585-797-7421

Be sure to check for wear on the bottom side of the valve rocker arm shafts. It's a high wear area and a lot of lifters have been replaced because of misdiagnosed rocker shaft wear. Bernie

Back to the original question, I think it really depends on the way one is going to display the item. In a picture frame with the title and VIN plate on a nice matted background it's probably OK. If the VIN plate is screwed to a car and the title is folded in a wallet or glove box, probably not. It's kind of like a New York State thing called the LLC Loophole (Google it) where politicians get large multiple donations and claim not to have a clue where the money came from. Since I was 6 or 7 years old I've had a pretty good idea if what I was doing was right or wrong. It didn't take me very long to figure out if I thought I was doing something wrong and asked about it.... I was. At some point I knew it was better just to do and not ask. It's easier that way. Bernie

I was raised in a culture that put a lot of emphasis on asking for forgiveness. It's worked out pretty good for me. "Nel nome del Padre, e del Figlio, e dello Spirito Santo." And practicing a real innocent look in the bathroom mirror every morning. Bernie

Sometimes the laws are very restrictive to honest people. Others, not so much.

I've always liked modified cars, but I always bought Buicks or Cadillacs. Not the other brands that would need to be upgraded. Bernie

I guess I was pretty young when I learned there were gray areas around the law. My Grandfather who ran the tire shop and car lot was a big influence in those matters. I remember after my Grandmother died he had business cards printed that read "affiliate of MGM Studios". I told him that was illegal. He said "The first time I paid to watch a movie I became affiliated with MGM Studios." He had a point. As to those gray areas; the older I get, the grayer I get. Bernie

Well, it ain't socket science. Bernie

So they don't support it. I can't recall needing their support. Once Bill Gates taught us to turn it off and restart anything that didn't work things have been pretty good. Anyone been to the doctor, dentist, or optician lately? No kidding, they are running DOS and windows 95. I had to laugh a while back. I got an eye exam and the Dr. told me all about his new Corvette. I cashed out at the receptionist and caught a glimpse of the monitor screen. "? Is that a Windows 95 program?" I asked. She just grimaced and rolled her eyes. Cardiologist is the same; and I remember seeing a pink 3.0 screen somewhere in a medical application. That's the office and billing. They have some good stuff in the treatment rooms. I'm on W7 right now and using 2.6 GIG of memory. That would run at least 5 XP machines. I've been using them as part of my everyday work since 1974. Don't listen to this guy: Bernie

Ebay rules probably have a lot to do with that shipping cost. They look legitimate: https://www.facebook.com/redhotrelics/ And if that sign is too much, just buy the other one. Bernie

The tail lights are 1949 Dodge. Nice car, flipping them ain't so bad when you are the recipient. And if the flipper made a couple of bucks he might find another one. You're lucky the flipper wasn't a TV personality. Be careful about those butterflies. They could be an invasive species that wasn't available in 1946. Bernie

"Amen!"! Well that's going to push some buttons! You know, this topic has made me reflect on my experiences with old men I have known all through the 55 years since I was exposed to them in the hobby. They have generally been a bunch of sour old stiffs. I recognized it pretty early on and I have tried to avoid the things I thought brought it on. I enjoy humor that may appear negative or, more appropriate, ironic. It's more like poking fun than the mean, hateful things I saw those old mechanics do. I swear, a chunk of craggy old wrinkled cheek would crack and fall off some to them if they ever smiled. A little reflection is not a bad thing, especially on the cusp of a new year. Sometimes I kid about the old guy who always wore a garage uniform and left a quarter tip from a worn out snap open leather change purse. I do remember that guy. Yesterday I had coffee at the diner in town and happened to think of this topic and guys like him. I had already put a dollar tip on the table for my $1.75 coffee. I thought "That's about equal to that quarter 40 years ago." I dropped another buck on top of it an walked away thinking "I ain't gonna be that guy." Bernie

I was showing someone a picture of one of my cars, probably in a bar, and they told me I was full of crap. They said "That's and old picture. Look at the old car in the background." My Wife's daily driver '62 Electra was parked by the house. Oh, four years after that '39 Buick picture was taken I bought my '64 Riviera. 26 years old in the first pic, still have the Riviera, the girl, AND a smartphone. When you don't adapt one becomes exclusive. And the root word of exclusive is........ Bernie

On the metric cars a 500 gram hammer works well. A 1K can do some damage, but swinging a 5 kilo around is pretty close to the limit. Of course, wrenches to hammers, that's a different metric. Moving to metric since 1972. Bernie

The comment was made by Ben Franklin about the white horse they bought for George Washington from a low bidder. They borrowed the one in the picture. Then they went out for low bids on a boat! That's when Franklin started using @#!&@# in place of common words. Bernie

My Father died in February 1978. On February 15th, 2015 I got $90 for the wheel covers he took off his 1970 Galaxie 500 when he bought it new. He liked the 1966 wheelcovers better. I guess death and estates are kind of a casual thing in our family. When my kids were High School age I told them "You don't need to worry about inheriting my money. Just pay attention and see how I got it. Then get your own." Bernie

The gift for the man who has everything. Bernie

Four years ago my wife spent about $180,000 in medical insurance to keep me going just so she wouldn't get stuck with the stuff after I had a stroke and heart attack. It's amazing what people will do to avoid being trapped with an inheritance. I bet she'd do it again! I could have bought a big old warehouse for that kind of money. Bernie

I bet that Selden Guy who posts here car tell you about air compressors in 1911. Bernie

Anything under $10,000 is a pretty good entry fee for a potentially desirable car like this convertible. And I'd say that is close to the cost of an interior and top. Then there is a lot more work ahead. Buy it, bring it home, and clean it up. If you don't like it sell. You won't lose 100%. How much are you prepared to lose or spend? For about 15 years the internet has brought a much wider range of cars for sale, and many opportunities for a sight unseen purchase. Recognizing the risks, I established a figure that I felt I could lose without affecting the flow of groceries to the family. I figure I can screw up for $3500 without feeling hurt. (It's actually about the cost of a post grad course at a local School of Business). If I bought that car for $10,000, felt I made a mistake, and sold it for $6,500 I wouldn't be thrilled, but I'd be a little smarter next time....maybe. On my side, using the $3500 rule has worked out fine. I haven't lost or felt disappointed since I went into a deal with that conscious thought. I can say that my purchases have been totally impulse buys and immediate. If I can take the time to think or ask , my juices aren't flowing enough and I can pass the car up for the one that does. Bernie

I had a Smith Motor Compressor a few years ago. Here it is after the sheet metal was painted. They make a nice period piece. The tank mounts across the back. It was a '28. Bernie

Ever seen a bunch of old guys (Buick owner aged) laughing at something they thought was funny? Bernie

Now I lay me down to sleep, a garage full of stuff I dared to keep. If I should die before I wake, Unload it! It’s a small percentage of the estate. Bernie

David's story is pretty close to reality. The prices she has for my cars is about 40% or less of what you'd have to pay me. I haven't given her a price on the Alley Cat yet, but if my son can scoop out a 6 foot deep hole it will pretty much pay for itself..... and more.