Steve_Mack_CT

The REO would pique my interest more due to originality and long term care it has received. The Buick is nice, more powerful but a lot pricier and IMHO at the top of the market for a non Classic closed car. It's been on ebay a couple times so I think the market is trying to tell the seller that as well.

Both nice examples of the period. If you get serious on the Buick you should contact Jessie Morton of Morton Coach in Bristol CT. He is familiar with these Buicks having restored a few of the same era. Perhaps he will inspect for you. Worth the money if you don't want to come up north to see the car yourself. Of course if the REO is in VT you could likely see both in a weekend.

Cort, I rode in rumbleseat of our friend's 31 model A as a kid, maybe 13 or 14. Never forgot it and large factor in my life long interest in old cars. We recently acquired a 30 A roadster although admittedly I have yet to climb in back there, although mrs. Mack has. My friend still has the 31 also, which he helped his dad restore in the 70s. His dad has been gone for a while but the car is obviously a great reminder of his dad and the time they spent on the restoration. Cannot wait to get the two cars together!! If you were in CT I would be happy to have you test it out!

Had this very condition with a cheap replacement switch on our first model A. Don't know the brand though, as it has been a few years. A&L sells an inexpensive replacement that works if you don't want to go with a pricier pop out right away. He is very close now...

Good eye john, and great to see you back on the forum!

The bucket seats are horrible though....

The bucket seats are horrible though....

Around 1985 I passed on an otherwise decent one of these that had been street rodded in the 60s today that might be considered a car with history. I thought it looked wrong but didn't know much about traditional hot rods way back then. I have since seen examples in books, etc. Over the years. This one certainly looks to have been a decent job. Wonder when it was done. I believe rodders call these coupesters...

Agree with vermontboy's comments on the emotional side. I will say that if you are considering both a big non Classic vs. A Model A try to drive examples of both. Bigger cars of that Era may have more power but for some driving them can be a chore. Big difference in drive ability in just a few short years in the late 20s to around 1932 or so. Both nice looking cars, BTW. I like the REO color combo and lines.

Lots of good advice above, MRCVS. Been following your Model A work on the other thread in the Model A section and hope your not too far away from resolving the issues. I would only note that you could spend three times as much for a car - do all your homework, get all the documentation for work done already, etc. and have a breakdown or elusive problem just the same. This is especially true for the prewar cars many of us here love due to a lot of things including the fact that the youngest prewar car is 73 years old now. I would take this approach - as long as you do not confuse this with an investment plan, you can have a fun hobby - how many guys on your block can actually start and drive a Model A, for example, let along work on one? You will have gone a long ways towards a more reliable car, that you can likely diagnose problems on independently when your back on the road - I will tell you from experience that is a huge confidence builder if you want to actually use the car. I know your frustrated but you might think about what impact the improvements you are making will have on it. The valvejob will give you more power and should be pretty noticeable. Good luck with it - plenty of season left!!

Gary Ash makes a great point - sometimes the best cars circulate through club members and never get to eBay, etc. - not just CCCA Full Classics, in thinking about it this has been the case in every club I have belonged to. Widening search is fine, but definately put in the effort to try them on for size, the Olds above is a sound deal; but a very different car from an MG or TR. Be sure to get a feel for the car, one if not necessarilly "better" just different. If you go with a dealer, the good ones should walk you through the process - buying assistance is part of the value add, so do not be afraid to put them to work...

Peeam, you might find a fairly good selection at or a touch above your budget. Don't rush it, while $10K won't buy a midyear Corvette or prewar open Packard, as you can see you do have some choices that could be ready to go, and despite the "improving economy" I think it is still largely a buyer's market. TALK to owners at car shows or club events, if you indicate an interest in a certain make or model, you may be offered a ride, etc. to get to know the feel of the car better - at the end of the day you should look to buy what interests you, but sticking with one of the more popular models will help with parts and support while you own the car and of course, having a market at resale time. If you have the $10K cash and need to stick to your budget that is understandable, even a very sound car will need some attention so plan on that; but do not be afraid to look a little over your budget - cash talks, as they say.

Oh, second choice that comes to mind in your price range, 6 cylinder '64 -'66 Mustang. you won't likely get a convertible in that range, but great practical collectibles that, IMHO are one of the cleanest 60s designs. $10K should get you a pretty good one in a 6 - plenty of get around power, just not a race car.

Agree on an MG (but I am a Brit car fan) or TR-6 as an alternative (actually preferable, IMHO, but usually a little more expensive). If you go with an MGB, rockers & floor are an integral part of these cars, they can be repaired if rusty, but with so many out there go for a rust free example, and try to get a chrome bumper (pre 73, I believe) example. Not just the bumper - when they went to rubber MG raised the car to meet US safety requirements on bumper height. You can convert, but again, why when you can just buy a correct one. The Brit clubs tend to be pretty active with both tech and touring. New England Classic Cars in Stratford, CT always seems to have a good selection, he has been around forever, and in southern CT, not too far from you. Google him and have a look - remember a dealer will get top dollar, but asking is just that. Plus, a touch over budget is a small prioe to pay for getting behind the wheel right away - it is the perfect time of year for an MG! Relatively easy to repair, great parts availability, ready market when time to move on comes as long as one is realistic about the value, all in all a lot of car, I think for the money. Good luck!

Great stories. In thinking back, having a supportive/involved dad is more positive than negative but we did miss out on a few in my teen years due to disagreement - somehow, my vote did not carry as much weight as his. Two I wanted, but he vetoed were a '70 - '73 Formula Firebird with a 400 4 speed, sidepipes and flares, etc. - cannot remember all the details but I wanted it the moment I saw it, anyway, "hmmm, a bit much for a 16 year old..." and of course the Healey Bug eye with no rust $400 around '77 or so, running, Nope, too small. I do recall him wanting a '48 Pontiac sedan up at the old Foxborough Stadium swap meet around the same time, admittedly the car was mint, but I sure did not want it. I mean, 4 doors, Nope, I don't want THAT thing... Then there was the plain jane, seafoam green '57 Chevy sedan for sale on the walk home from school. Wanted that one for a beater, we agreed a good deal, all those doors did not seem to matter for some reason, may have been $400 or a little less, but it was sold to someone with restoration plans while we were considering it. So a few got away, nothing super valuable though - and we did have some fun cars pass through the house despite these misses... One big miss that comes to mind when I was around 19 was a '57 Chevy two door hardtop, black, stock for sale by the bodyshop where I was having my Camaro painted. $2,500 - cannot remember what got in the way of that deal, but it was a very, very nice car for short money even then.

Barry what would be interesting is to know what techniques, etc. took Lincoln 3 days vs. Cadillac's couple of hours build time. That is assuming the account I read (which I believe came from a compilaiton of articles from "Old Cars Weekly" is correct. On the Mark II, when Continental was formed, they used a dedicated facilty, correct? Maybe not "hand built" but I wonder of those techniques were carried over to the 60s Lincoln models.

When I was in high school there was an original owner '56 Chevy 210 two door sedan in a neighborhood where several of my friends lived. Everyone wanted that car - I fell victim to the guys M.O. along with a few others, He would say he is thinking about selling but changed his mind. I remember looking at the car with my dad, and we went back a few nights later with his asking price, I think it was $500 or so, in 1978. Well, he of course changed his mind, looked at us and said "I don't know, its just like an old pair of shoes, comfortable. I think I will keep it around". Fast forward five years and I am in town looking at a '57 Chevy not too far from where the '56 was. I was disappointed in the condition of the '57 and when I passed on the car, the seller says "why not go up to the end of the street, another guy lives there and he just got laid off and wants to sell his '56 Chevy. Sure enough - same car. Someone talked the old guy into selling it but unfortunately, he could not keep it due to a lost job. Well the price had gone up even though the new owner had done nothing with it so far, but at least no one had cut it up, etc. I bought it and did a full, stock restoration - most of my pals were still hot rodding at the time but that was never the vision I had for that car. Oh, wait a minute, all that waiting, paying and work restoring and this probably should be in the "lost cars" thread. I got a bad case of Corvette fever and traded it away, worst of the couple of automotive blunders I have been involved in by far.

Yep but was curious if anyone here had any inkling as well, Dave. Well, the "A" arrived and provided a great excuse to get nothing else done but playng with cars today!

Great looking Model A - GLWS.

Can warning points be issued for posters who raise the merits of hot rodding vs. restoration and a couple of other worn out topics?? So far so good - THANKS again Peter & friends!

Dave, I had an "A" tudor till around fall of 2008, when I had the car I remember hearing of a special interest group or region called "the out of the barn group" - focusing on unrestored, or "barnfind cars" well BEFORE the term was made so popular by junk TV and such. From what I read at the time a lot of these cars were mechanically sound but pretty much left alone cosmetically. Interested in seeing if this group is still around or active. Getting back into Model As - I am expecting delivery of our new '30 Deluxe Roadster tomorrow morning. It has had a good going through mechanically, but sports 1950s paint and what I think is a replacement interior from the same era. It would fit right in with that sort of group until we get around to a proper restoration. Assuming all goes well I will put up some pics over the weekend. Now if I could just get that load of Model A parts I sold off after the car was sold....

Anyone familliar with this Model A special Interest region - I think they are a subset of either MARC or MAFCA. Trying to see just how active they may be up here in the NE area. Thanks

I am pretty sure ours are for a Mercer.

Found. Curt, I actually ended up with the set you suggested. No luck in finding another set, and in the meantime they came down a bit in price. So for a little over $250 I have them here and in great shape - thanks for the suggestion!

Brad, As most High Schools have a designated teacher's lot, I am assuming you are a student. If it is in driver shape, best to leave the exterior as is and be sure it is locked securely. Not sure cars are as big a deal as they were back in the "old days" - but I now understand your concern. I can recall a few instances from HS but nothing involving any real damage. A popular thing us car guys used to do with a manual shift car would be to reposition it elsewhere in the parking lot. We had a gym teacher who insisted on parking her MG Midget in the student lot, which was moved, wheelbarrow style a few times. My HS car was a Camaro with an external hood latch through the grille, I rigged a chain and padlock from under the front of the hood to the front valance panel to keep anyone from messing with the engine - that is a precaution you might take. The only othe ruseful advice I would offer is to try to park it in a very visible spot to lessen the chance of the wrong person having an oppotrunity to do something stupid for no good reason. Good luck and good for you for driving something different!