[Who is rebuilding your vintage water pump?]

I've used Gould and would recommend them for doing good work.

Prices are decent and they communicate very well with you during the process.

 

[What makes a car rare??]

I'm not as interested in being at Pebble as I am in being the only make of car in any one particular location at a time.

That is usually the case when I'm out with my Pierce, except when at a PAS meet of course, but it is always the case when I'm out with the Rickenbacker.

I like educating people about the cars and their historical significance.

Most have never heard of either marque.

If I can get another person interested in pre-war cars just by being out and about and showing the value of preserving this little piece of history then it's all worth it.

On top of that, driving a pre-war car is like driving a time machine.

Heck, I've been seriously considering picking up a Ford Model A so I can drive the snot out of it and not have to worry about hunting down parts when something breaks.

[Found crx]

Not surprising that the car was gone so quickly.

That era Honda cars go quick, especially if they look halfway decent, no matter what condition the motor is in.

 

[Found crx]

So did you pick up the CRX?
I think it's worth it if you wanted something to do some work on.

If nothing else, as others have said, it's worth the $500 in parts.

Out here in Calif there are a ton of younger car folks that would buy anything and everything off that car.

[What makes a car rare??]

59 minutes ago, 1912Staver said:

I think it's a reasonable conclusion that serious money cars are generally in the category  of what most of us would consider "rare". And rare being anywhere from one up to a thousand or so built or known survivors. Some exceptions of course but probably not that many. But as we all know rare does not necessarily mean unusually valuable. 

 

Greg in Canada

 

You're right, true rarity does not equal being valuable.

Rickenbacker Motors was only around for 6 years and produced limited numbers of cars so there are only less than 40 total production cars known to exist from all years of production.

I feel they were historically significant because of some of their design features for the time and because of the man, Rickenbacker, himself.

But a fully restored example will only get around $35,000 on the market.

As I mentioned before, most car enthusiasts have never even seen a Rickenbacker in person.

I'm lucky enough to have seen four, including mine - one being a very rare 8 cylinder sedan that was being restored.

[What makes a car rare??]

6 hours ago, Matt Harwood said:

 

Don't restore that car!

The car is not factory original.

The engine has been redone at least twice (last time about 8 years ago) and the paint and interior were done in the early 80's.

The paint job was not the best and it is showing its age.

So I wouldn't feel I was ruining an original car by giving it a full restoration.

[What makes a car rare??]

Hmm, maybe my work PC is still blocking a script that allows for pictures to post.

Anyway, here is a picture of my beloved Rickenbacker - blemishes and all.

It has the optional brass headlamps with embossed Rickenbacker logo lenses and very 'rare' Hat in the Ring logo tail light lens.

 

[What makes a car rare??]

For some reason I couldn't upload a photo of mine.
I forget the story behind the photo you posted.

[What makes a car rare??]

I own a 1926 Rickenbacker E6 Brougham.
With around 6 examples known to exist I would say it is rare, most car enthusiasts have never seen a Rickenbacker in person, but that certainly doesn't make it valuable.
There is a ton of family history behind the car so I would never sell it, no matter what the offered price was.
One day it will get the restoration it deserves.
Until then it is a decent looking driver quality car.

[Your first vehicle purchase?]

First car I ever purchased was a used '75 Camaro.

Guy I sold it to had someone run a stop sign and T-bone him totalling the car but he was OK.

Second car was a '64 Malibu SS Convertible 327/4 speed that I still own.

 

[Survivor car]

Mark, I have been a regular member of the PAS since 2006, I was an off and on again member before that.

I saw you post about the air filter retrofit but, unfortunately, the '29 has a completely different filter setup.

If you have not attended a PAS meet I highly recommend you do.

I have not attended nearly as many as I would like to, you know, life gets busy.

I will email pictures to you in the address listed in the PAS roster.

Enjoy your Pierce, they drive lovely.

[Survivor car]

I, too, have seen interest in original, or mostly original cars rise in the past 15 years or so.

I think this is a good thing as it is always nice to see examples that have been lovingly cared for decades and decades later.

 

My survivor is a 1929 Pierce Arrow Model 143 Enclosed Drive Limousine.

As far as we know, it wears original paint and interior except for the driver's seat which was redone in *cough* vinyl some time in the late 50's.

The motor has never been out of it and it and the car has only been maintained mechanically to keep it in safe working order.

The car was originally purchased by a Doctor in Pasadena, Ca and he owned it until his death in the early 60's. Someone purchased the car cheap from his estate, cleaned it up and just wanted to flip it.

My grandfather purchased the car from that gentleman and the car has been in the family ever since, just maintained and cared for over the past 50+ years.