Xander Wildeisen

Sounds like you went out dancing.

Nobody has talked about how the global market has driven up prices as well. Back in the 50's-90's you could buy this for that. But as other countries grow, so does the interest in American classic/collector cars. Investors/collectors around the world want the good stuff to. No one will spend the money to buy/transport a car around the world, unless it has a good value where it is going. A lot of lesser cars have gone up in value, because the cost to build/restore has gotten very expensive. If you find a nice car worth around 12K, listed for sale for 25K. Everyone says the sellers dreaming. Go buy that same car needing restoration for $1,800-$2,500, and see what you are into it. The 25K will seem like a bargain. Quality always has a market, no matter what the car is. If you can not do any of the work on these cars yourself, it will be a very expensive hobby. Always buy based on your abilities. Buy a finished quality car if you have to pay to have everything done.

1973 was a dark time for US production cars. I have no treasures from my birth year.

The barn find look, only works, when it looks like a barn find. That looks like a dusty car put in storage because someone wanted out of sight, out of mind. Can not tell the real condition of the car to put a value on it. In this case, a bath and getting it running. Would do wonders for the sale.

Those are one of the best buys out there. If a person was wanting to drive a classic/collector car. Nice styling, low buy in price, 46-48 Plymouth coupes can be found in good condition around here, and parts are still out there.

well said. I am sure it was the side of the engine block that sent the guard rail to the passenger side. A little farther to the drivers side, and they would of found the driver.

I am sure this person is glad their arm was not on the center console. On the news this morning. http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/idaho/stolen-pickup-found-impaled-on-30-feet-of-steel-guard-rail/446656365

Dave, any other 39 merc parts. A friend of mine is working on a coupe, and I think he is looking for some parts.

I can not say much about this, being that I am no spelling B champ. Bernie, your thoughts?

I am sure you are right. It was the one in the middle of the three that you remember seeing.

Glad to hear you have things going in your direction. Xander

That build on the purple 35 ford says mid 90's. Fads and trends come and go. Keep your build clean, styling choices should enhance/high light factory design, quality work on customs is a must. Balance and proportions must be in the finished product. Some peoples taste is only in their mouth.( I know,I have a Hudson) I am over 500 miles on the shop truck so far, it gets smiles and waves from the young and old. The younger people think it is cool, maybe because it is really different when you see it compared to the sea of new cars on the road. Get your car out, you do not want to be the type writer or the record. Every time you drive your classic/collector car it is a mobile car show. That is how you get people involved in the hobby/trade/industry.

How many people own a classic car? How many people own more than one classic car? How many classic cars are for sale? How many magazines are there that sell classic cars? How many cars still need to be restored? Lots of cars to do stuff with. Getting very hard to find the upper end stuff still needing to be restored. Older restorations are some of the best ones to buy, most were restored when good used parts could be found. The street rod/custom side drives the industry. AACA needs to step out and play a part of that scene. Not to change who you are, but to be seen. I wonder what is the average number of cars owned by AACA members? I am going to guess 6. Out of those 6 how many are road worthy? I bet that there are a lot of very nice cars just sitting lock away that would be bought up fast if offered for sale. Always a market for good stuff no matter what direction the build is going.

So running a 383,440 or a 428,429 thunder jet. That fine wagon would get what per gallon with that custom sleeper on top?

Has anyone heard of the "tote motel" as seen on the ID tag? With great styling like that, I am guessing that not many are out there.

https://lewiston.craigslist.org/cto/6121925132.html

A 47 Hudson truck only had one tail light on the drivers side.

One of the best posts ever, thank you Restorer32 for shinning a light on this touchy seldom talked about issue.

I use the same wood grain kit. I have only run into one problem, tape residue from the dash being masked off. Putting on the toner wiped off the grain pattern. Easy fix before clear coat, I would recommend them as well.

I do have to laugh at some of this, we all know it takes skill to do this work as a business or a hobby. And the cost involved can add up fast. But you have no idea who is behind that post and pictures. As far as me building the upper end stuff, I sit here and laugh. On other posts I have stated that people tried to collapse my business. Not a joke. A big play to push a business into the tank. If a person did not catch the play by others to lock me up through terms and conditions, and pulling all the work from me, it was done to get me to bite. Two worlds crashed together at the same time. Stood up and caught this city pulling a fast one, stuck a fork in shady stuff, only to find out that people set up my business in a very large scam. And I still sit here and wonder how long people can continue to turn a blind eye to/too/two the whole thing. Turning out cars faster than any other shop, it rocks the price fixed boat around here. If your business is in the county and you are going to be annexed in the city. People will come after you, try to make you think you are part of something. Crush you, or own you. Then off into the wait arms of a city. This State got caught, and not much interest in looking into it. This is a great trade/hobby, around here it is locked down and controlled. Maybe SEMA or a group like that might talk about some of this behind the scenes stuff, and make it a better car scene for the youth. Picking winners and losers based on who is owned, does not drive a industry. I have seen a few of the pictures you have posted FJ, you do good work. I think a lot of people on this site do good work. But all of this talk about getting people involved in the hobby/trade/industry is just talk, if you are not wanting to have an honest conversation about what goes on. Small businesses around here are sacked. Be careful with just the word of mouth for your work flow. It can be a way people pin you down and string along a business, so you can not climb a ladder. Just enough work to keep you busy. There is a national news story sitting here in this little city, on many levels.

Ouch, harsh words for the new guy. I guess I will just bounce back over to the topic "how to get more young people involved" That car can be saved with very little work. Even if a person does not have a lot of skill. It looks to be solid enough that it could be put on the road. Great car for a custom build. The Hudson truck that I just finished was pulled from a Hog farm in Harper KS. It was not as nice as the coupe pictured above. A person should always look at what something could be, it is the only way we hold on to hope for this country.

Cool project, a clean slate to do what ever you want. I would put the value at $5,500. When looking at the pictures it is clear it was not stripped to bare metal before primer. the fixes that are needed will be easy to do, you just need to blast it down to bare metal first to see the extent of the rust. Parts are out there, that would be a nice mild engine for a stock steering/braking system. To move forward with body work/paint would be a mistake, when you can tell someone sprayed right over a rusted body. Body/panels need to be stripped and cleaned.

Running boards and a hood can all be found. 37 Hudsons/terraplanes are a great looking car. Comments about the Jet motor are true. It is not a valuable project, if complete you would be in the range of 4,500-7,500 dollars. That is for a complete project, not hacked up. Price would have a lot to do with where in the country you are selling it. Solid cars in rusty States are gold. Way to many factors to put a price on it, with out seeing pictures. But they make good looking customs/street rods.

I think another big problem that a young person is faced with, is finding a person/shop that does not take them for a financial ride. When their car is sitting parked in the shop.

You can not go wrong with an old truck/pickup. Can be bought in all price ranges.