boblichty

I find Haggerty's Cars That Matter to be excellent, sometimes I use NADA, Kelly Blue and occassionaly resort to Old Cars Price Guide, which has become super conservative over the years. It is a shame OCPG also dropped pre-1930's cars a while back. There is certainly room in the marketplace for a periodical guide that does all years. Whey OCPG covers cars up to 2002 is beyond, me that is information covered better by the used car price guides. I would trade the later car information for older cars in a heart beat. IF I really want a good solid value, take, OCPG, CTM, KBB, and NADA. Look up the car in question, add all four values together and then average them. You will come up with a spot on value every time. It is amazing how much the four books vary from each other. Usually CTM is the highest and OCPG the lowests. So if you are buying use OCPG, and if you are selling use CTM. (Just kidding).

A lot of use would "like" to believe our old cars are heavier and more sturdy, but I do hesitate when I take my granddaughters for a ride in my old Nash with out seat belts. But as someone illustrted I am not sure they are any safer without them due to the lack of proper mounting points in my old car. Not sure Does preservation class take off points for belts also?

Wow, but not surprising. I had a friend in a 38 Studebaker hit by a drunk in a late model pickup truck and my friends had a long hospital stay after being thrown from the car and then run over by it. They had seat belts installed but they pulled out of the floor of the old Studebaker.

Hi Has anyone had any experience with this. I recently got a car that took 650x15 tires. I had a brand new set of 750x15 tires still in the wrapper. I put them on, they look great, the car drives fine, but friends of mine tell me this will really damage front suspension quickly and I should go back to 650 to 670x15's asap.

Ive stayed there off and on for 35 years, really love the place, been in the same room the past 8 years. BUT, with the rate increase they hit us for this year, I have to question how spoiled am I and should I be looking for something more modest. You can't beat the convenience however, and with the RM Auction in the same building you see just about everyone you can imagine wondering around the hauls. Maybe when I retire in a couple years I'll start sleeping in my station wagon, that's what I did the first time I went in 1967, Somehow 62 year old bones, joints and bladders seem to need a real bed and bathroom these days.

This is simply how a lot of "hobbyists" dodge paying sales tax. They run the car around for years on your title, using plates from another car. I insurance agent tells me if the car is in your name it is still yours and your liability. Always play it safe when selling a car, fill in the buyers information where indicated, date, sign, notorize the title, and keep copies. He will be forced to pay sales tax or sell the car without that title at least. Some states require the title to be transfered to the buyer by a licenesed dealer. Some do not. Some states operate very loose with bill of sale only. If that is the case, make sure you make up a bill of sale to the buyer and make him sign it. If a buyer refuses to buy your car with a "closed" title, don't sell it to him. You can bet he is going to dodge taxes and liability issues. I know in the "hobby" it has been done that way for years and especially when the buyer wants to pay in cash. But this is 2009 and libility issues are a lot tougher these days. It is not worth screwing up the rest of your life for a quick sale.

I just inherited a 1948 Nash from my family and intend to keep it for ever. It is a wonderful original car. Chrome, upholstry, engine compartment, glass, wiring etc. all orginal. I put a new set of wide white wall correct bias tires on it as the old tires were dry rotten and a correct tar top battery under the seat. The paint is like this, the top down to the belt line is all original, but my uncle had the car painted from the belt line down approximately 25 years ago, due to it being warn through. I wish he had left it alone but what is done is done. How bad would that lower body repaint hurt me for HPOF?

THanks DLynsky, That has to be the car, how many could survive by now? I love it. When you mention Austins to people they immediatly think Bantams etc. This car would make 10 American Austins. Thanks again, great photos. Bob

Thanks to Dave Brownell, I was lucky enough to call Austie a friend and spent many hours with him at Hershey and while he was working with us on the Standard Catalog Series of books at KP. The old car world was never the same with his passing and the passing of the Long Island Auto Museum. He had a really great early teens big Austin touring, I would love to know where that one went to.

As a dealer who has bought and sold a number of cars a Kruse I can assure you. we all had to pay for our purchases on sight, so I don't feel that is a fair excuse. Most bidders must provide a back letter of credit and all purchases must be paid for before removing them.

The folks I know who have used Russo and Steele have all gone away with a positive experience as well, Steve is correct.

That is easy, in 1966 I was in collage and all my friends were buying foreign cars, one buddy bought a Triumph TR4, another got a Mini-Cooper, another an Alfa Romeo coupe, and I decided I wanted something different and British. I picked a new Sunbeam Imp. It was Rootes Group effort to compete with BMC's Mini. It packed a 850 cc overhead cam engine in the rear, handled well and looked like a sanforized Corvair with single headlamps. Only problem was it was a piece of #$*&*#. Honest, the dealer even told me not to buy it. He told me to spend the extra $50 for a MG 1100 Sport Sedan and I would not listen. After all at 20 I was a car expert! Now at 62 I have finally realized I really don't know "everything." Anyway, within the first 6 months it used up 5 water pumps, 3 u joints, a generator, two mufflers and failed to start more times than I can count. It had more miles hooked to a AAA tow truck that it ever did on it's own. Finally I gave up, and traded down in years to a 1963 Mercury Comet S-22 convertible with a 260 V8 automatic, which got me through all the remaining years of collage AND a daily 112 mile round trip commute from Akron, to Cleveland, Ohio.

Thanks for sharing, too much to consume in one sitting.

Well since I am actually an antique and classic car dealer this can't happen enough. As a matter of fact in this economy in NE Ohio it does not happen near enough. BUT, when I am driving my 1948 Nash 600 Sedan that I inherited from my 94 year old aunt, it is most certianly NOT for sale for any amount of money. That dealer stuff only goes so far even for me. I love that old car and my aunt for giving it to me.

Lots of good information here. I agree, looks like a devalued dollar this fall could get people to 1. invest in tangilble investments more like antique cars, and 2. could cause an upswing in out of country sales. Last spring was really hot for out of country sales but cooled off during the summer, but in the last 4 weeks I sold a 86 Cad Eldo to Italy and a 56 Eldo to Brazil. Also agreeing with some of the folks here. good cars are always good cars no matter the economy. i.e. a rare antique like say a Mercer Raceabout or a fine Classic like a Duesenberg will always be a limited number and maybe fluctuated a little but not near like the hyper-promoted cars like the winter auctions produce in huge numbers.

The photos make you kid yourself you want to save them all. Then of course memories of my last restoration pop up and I get over it really fast.

Steve, That article in the 08/12/09 AutoWeek page 12 pretty much says it all re: Kruse's unfortunate issues these days. I really enjoyed the Giant Centre auction as it was within walking distance of my booth. I will admit it was a lot more fun when Don and Robb Williams with Richie Clyne ran it. It will be a missed event. Has any other auction house approached AACA about taking over the Giant Centre as a venue for another sale?

keiser31 Yes I believe Coker sells a double white wall in a bias tire and Diamondback will make you double white wall radials at a cost.

Cruise in's are informal fun. If car owners see their car as special then in some small way it most likely is. Maybe not to most of us, but promoting the hobby and building awarness in all cars is super important. I welcome cars of all ages that are interesting. Now, on a AACA show field that is another story. I like to see older cars, and bone stock, I don't think modifications like mag wheels and even radial tires have a place in a serious judged event. There has to be at least one place left where a young person can go see a real antique car that is the way it was produced at the factory. Now, don't presume I hate modified cars. They have their place and I have one in my collection, but it is for fun only. The other day I ran across some photos I took of the Litchfield, Conn Corn Roast Car show in 1970. I took the pictures as a participant and was attending in a 1951 Hudson Hornet (a 19 year old car which was welcome) In one photo I have the line up shows some Cords, one Duesenberg and a Gullwing 300SL Mercedes, about a 14 year old cars. I don't recall anyone sending that guy home back in the day. That was still when AACA was enforcing the 1939 cutoff rule. Boy how things have changed. Can you imagine? This year a 1984 will be accepted. But you know what to those folks who love those later cars, they are still interesting and the future of the car hobby. More power to em.

I agree with BKAZMER 40 Packard should get credit, the air outlet was in the top of the dash, dash controls. etc. I own a 48 Nash and the heater refers to "air conditioned" air but it is only a real heater

Hi I have had excellent service out of both Firestone and B.F. Goodrich in bias tires in this size without any trouble at all. I have also run radials and report no issues either, all though radials are not aways superior on all cars. I have found it can vary. There is a controversy about that issue and for the sake of staying positive won't touch it here. At least one company out there has been putting out a lot of misinformation about bias tires and that is a shame. That said my only other advice is to avoid at any costs tires with straight rib treads, they follow highway grooves like a dunken bloodhound. Both the Firestone and Goodrich have the old zig zag type tread and that does not follow irregularities like the straight rib tires.

I'll be in the Car Corral as always, hopefully in the same spots way, way way back by the toll booths. We'll bring some appropriate Hershey cars for sure. I have been in attendance since 1967, and in that length I have missed only three times, traveling from as far as California and as close as Carlisle. But, rest assured if Bob Lichty isn't at Hershey check the hospital, undertaker or they cancelled the show. I really miss the mud! The Derry Township Fire Police are as mean spirted as ever, the Hershey region volunteers just as restrictive as ever, my feet always hurt as much as ever, it will no doubt rain, traffic awful, hotel prices crazy, and did I mention I miss the mud? BUT, I wouldn't miss Hershey for anything in the world. If any of my kids get married and "finally" go away, and the wedding is during the high holly days of Hershey I will be at Chocolate town!

Before I could do my colors, numbers, maybe ACB's I could name every car that passed my house. My dad and two uncles loved cars. My dad was a Farm Bureau insurance agent and took me with him to all the body shops and tow yards he had insured. My uncle, Herb Denzer from New Philidelphia Ohio had a Ford/Mercury repair garage and let me spend a lot of time there in the summer. At about 8 (1955) I was climbing around in one of my uncle's Model T's and stepped on the starter and it taught me to drive Model T right on the spot. A little later he let me drive an old Crosley around their farm, way before they should have. I was hooked. I knew I had to have a career in the automotive industry and I followed my art ability to lead me into a career in publishing, writing, marketing and event promotion. It has been a super blessed career, working for some of the top companies in our industry and getting to know literaly everyone. But! It's all my uncle's fault and I will always appreciate him for it.

I have an all original 1928 Model Pierce-Arrow model 81 in original paint, upholstry etc. etc. The radiator cap appears to be original but it is plain. No Archer. I was told that it isn't right that they all had Archers. Other people tell me they came both ways. Anyone out there can clarify this for me, that would be great! Thanks Bob

West as usual is right. As a former museum director I was faced many times with the quandry if having to turn down a great donation because the donor wanted to be assured the vehicle would be retained forever. The problem is nothing in life is that certian. The museum could cease to exist. In the case of GM or even Chrysler the company could go under taking the museum with it. I could not in good faith make that promise. And, also at times, we would sell of duplications as well. In all, it would help the cause of the museum. In most cases the fairest way to do that was public auction. That gave everyone involved a chance at the vehicle, it eliminate rumors of inside deals, keeping it all on the up and up. As to the subject addressed earlier about auctions being a curse on the hobby. This complaint has been around since Dean Kruse hammered the first vehicle sold at the ACD meet back in the early 70's. Auctions serve a purpose in their purest form and only run off track when the hype exceeds the mission. i.e. Aren't you glad you didn't believe Craig Jackson when told us what great investments muscle are were 4 years ago, and buy that $750,000 HEMI car?