George Smolinski

$4500

I'm thinking about buying the '38 Ford in the photos. It "runs" --- but stuck valves. Never messed with a flathead. What needs to be done to correctly unstick the valves. The operative word there is "correctly". I only have the 2 photos, but would anyone hazard a guess as to a fair price? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Class act Marty. Offering to help like that.

It would seem nearly impossible to sell this with the information you have provided. This first red flag is it's apart & has been that way for a long time. God only knows if a buyer will get everything for the truck. The second flag is you are asking on a national if not international site for someone to spend time & money to travel to Texas to inspect it then make a decision to buy it. (That wouldn't be a problem to a local person.) You make no mention of title. If there isn't one, that's another flag for some people. I will make 2 suggestions that you can take for what they're worth & may help sell the truck. First, you say if someone came to inspect it, you would get all the pieces out of storage - do it now, inventory them, photograph them, & then list it with a reasonable price. Second, failing to do the first suggestion, take the reasonable price, cut it at least in half or more & let it go. Your 80+ year old friend must admit his truck is a lost cause & he should just get whatever he can out of it just to be rid of it even if that means damn near giving it away to someone that will sell the parts so other trucks can be restored or restore this truck.

I’m used to seeing rusty, disassembled piles listed as project cars. I was surprised to see something intact & even with somewhat shiny paint for the money.

I wouldn’t say they were sold. More like someone stole them. Seems like really cheap prices for the cars.

Cadcamino

Anyone besides me notice that these old junkyards and hoards always only have 2 to 3 weeks before the crushing starts? Do they really not know up until they post an ad that they are going to crush them?

It’s not a new scam. It’s the same one used on CL usually on a nice old car at a very reasonable price. Anyone with good command of the English language and good reading comprehension can see right through the scam.

Sent an email to the address in the ad and it came back undeliverable. Maybe a scam or spoof?

You never know what will turn up. As I recall, several years ago there was an early Tempest on Ebay listed as a project. I believe the seller may have bought it from an old guy that had it in a garage or barn. Turned out to be an original factory sponsored drag car. The auction was going along at a low bid until news got out as to what the car was. I think it ended up selling way north of 100K......and up until then no one knew the car even existed.

Vern, I've never met you, but know of you & of your reputation. The reason for my question is that when I hear "the only one" or something similar, red flags go up for me. For a car to be the only one out of several, or out of less than 100, or out of 100 or more, would mean that EVERY car of that group has been located & documented or verified destroyed. So, in the case of the '61 409, if all 142 409 cars have been accounted for, & this is the only one left with it's original block/engine then yes it is "the only one". Otherwise it's the only one known at this time. There is a difference & in the case of a car like a '61 409, it's a big difference.

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1930-franklin-speedster/6449237785.html Not mine. This is very rare the Aircooled Franklin motor has been rebuilt runs good gear box and clutch work have a cowl as is been stored many years steering is working aluminum rear end w wire rims I also have some Franklin parts (317) 997-0191 ext. 317 Allen

https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/d/1949-cadillac-limo/6443447892.html (309) 437-7916 Not mine. Someone here may be interested. Too bad it doesn't have the original engine. 1949 Cadillac limo. Very solid complete minus engine and trans. Was running and driving with a big block Chrysler a year ago.Clean title. Restore or rat rod. Attracted attention everywhere I drove it. $6500.00 East Peoria,IL. Rat rod,limo, Cadillac,Project car

Hi Vern, Just curious as to how you know "This is the only 1961 Chevy on the planet with its original 409 engine block!"

Not to buy the Bentley I was looking at. Thanks to several members on that one.

Back in the early 70's right after we were married, I coulda shoulda bought the REAL 427 Cobra I saw for sale. Price $5000.

This is from NADA.com Values Original MSRP Low Retail Average Retail High Retail Base Price $3,455 $9,700 $20,400 $44,300

If your pictures are of Bernie's stuff, then I would classify him as a hoarder. Yes, there are good parts in those photos, but good luck identifying them & digging them out. It looks like if Bernie could get it & drag it back to his place, he did so & it went on one of the piles. He should have been selling 30 or 40 years ago instead of continuing to hoard. You're probably right in assuming his heirs will have someone come in & clean the place out for scrap. It's NOT the heirs fault if they do. IT'S BERNIE'S FAULT for not taking care of it when he had the opportunity to do so. If he cares for some of that stuff, maybe he'll sell a bunch of it (cars included) to a single buyer at a good price & it will be saved. Selling the stuff in Hemmings, on Ebay, or any other venue other than maybe an auction is not an option timewise.

Is anyone from Minnesota that can answer a question about titling an untitled out of state car? Looking to buy a '65 Impala SS from a state that doesn't require old car titles. I will have to have it titled in MN & I want to do it ETHICALY, CORRECTLY, LEGALLY, & ABOVE BOARD. I don't want to buy a made up title or use a title service either. Any help is appreciated.

Right back at you Steve. Thank you for this great website.

Well Greg, Have at it. Ron may have a Volvo gold mine there.

It's still on CL, so maybe not.

Ron & people like him with the same problem are NOT collectors. They are hoarders. Collectors take care of the items/cars they collect. Hoarders drag home any POS they find & leave it sit outside as an eyesore for the neighbors & public to view. That said, I'm as happy as the next guy to mosey through a field of vintage tin, but as cities & towns expand outward, their rules, codes, & laws affect the collectors & hoarders. It's a fact of life. I saw 2 lousy vehicles in those photos that would be of interest. The early 60's Chevy pickup & the Mustang. I'd buy them to flip, but only at scrap price or a little above & I would be helping Ron by eliminating 2 of his problems.

I'm curious as to how he got into the car for $57,000. Since it's original, the money wasn't spent on restoration, so that leaves 2 other options I can think of. One is he overpaid when he bought it & now wants someone else to overpay so he can recoup his $$$$. The other is he may be mistaken about the money he has in to it. Realistically, with failing kidneys & 90 years old, he maybe should be more concerned with finding it a good home rather than what he can sell it for. Don't give it away, unless there is an heir that would give it proper care, but be realistic about pricing it.