To purchase or not to purchase? 39 Zephyr

[Guest WelcomeHome]

Hello all,

New to the forum. I have a question that I am sure your collective knowledge can answer. I have discovered a barn find of a 39 Zephyr. Shell only. The owner has the title, and the VIN number on the shell is matching. The car has been sitting outside for some time, but appears straight and little to no cancer. It has been chopped, convertible, two seater. He wants to get $5000 for it. The question is whether or not that is an accurate value for it? One of the best looking cars from the past in my opinion, and I would love to have the opportunity to do the project, but is the price right? I can add a few photos if needed. Also, any added info and insight you could give would be greatly appreciated.

THANK YOU!!!

[alsancle]

It is impossible to give any sort of reasonable advice without pictures.

[West Peterson]

The price sounds about double what it should bring, in my opinion. But as Al says, a picture could mean a lot here. What's the interior look like?

[Restorer32]

Was it an original convertible that was chopped or a closed car that was chopped to make it into a convertible?

[Guest WelcomeHome]

Not 100% on what style it was originally. It has holes above the windshield that the owner mentioned were for top removal?, and that he sold the top some years back.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Obviously it would be nice to research and recreate in it's period hot rod or Kustom form if you could find the info or history on it - and if it was ever completed. Even if so, someone did not really care too much about it at one point, you would certainly have enough to keep you busy.

Strange and it must be an optical illusion but the windshield in the 3rd pic looks like a flat one piece but it is clearly a "vee" style in the first two pics.

Not too knowledgeable on these but assiming it is not some lost, well known hot rod from the pocket sized book era, I think $5K is a lot of change for this - if you really want it put $2,500 under his nose and see where it goes from there.

Edited June 4, 2012 by Steve_Mack_CT
spelling (see edit history)

[alsancle]

Looks a like a fairly well done custom. However, some of the details and lines are off. Unless it is a famous car (which I doubt based on my last sentence) I would say 5k is too much.

[Matt Harwood]

That's not an original car, and without knowing who customized the body, it's going to be hard to put a value on it. $5000 seems like an awful lot for a modified body shell with nothing else, and seeing as it is a custom, EVERYTHING will have to be made from scratch. Then you'll have to find running gear to put under it, and, well, this is going to be a very expensive project with a final value that will be a fraction of the restoration cost.

If you truly love how it looks and see the potential, then go for it. But it will be a financial loser unless it's a custom by a noted and well-known coachbuilder (say, Darrin or even George Barris). If it's merely someone's home-grown idea of what a Zephyr roadster should look like, you'll be upside-down on it before you pay to ship it home.

Is $5000 too much? Yes, especially if there's no history or evidence that it's a noteworthy car. Should you rescue it? Probably not, unless there's history or evidence that it's a noteworthy car. I honestly don't see any upside to this unless you love the look, and even so, there are probably complete cars out there that could be modified to look similar to this for not a lot more money.

What are your plans for it should you take it home?

[The Continental]

If you want an original, then run. If you wanted to make some sort of hot rod, I guess it's not terrible.

[Guest bkazmer]

I didn't think I'd ever say this, but this is where belly button SBC's belong.

[Guest WelcomeHome]

I definitely love the look of where it was headed, however it seems like the consensus from everyone is it is too much for what it is right now. Most of you brought up finding out the history of who was doing the custom, and that may make it worth it. How does someone even begin to find out? Trace it back to who owned it before him and so forth until I find it?

My plans would be to continue with a hot rod resto, but not if I could never see a ROI to at least even if I ever wanted to sell it.

[alsancle]

If it was given to you there would still be no ROI.

As for history, post it on the Hamb. They will figure it out eventually if it was ever published.

[Guest WelcomeHome]

If it was given to you there would still be no ROI.

As for history, post it on the Hamb. They will figure it out eventually if it was ever published.

The Hamb? I'm not sure what that is?

[Guest Commodore]

This is the H.A.M.B.

THE H.A.M.B. - Powered by vBulletin

[West Peterson]

In my opinion, even if you found it was built by a noteworthy customizer, your ROI is probably pie-in-the-sky. However, it would certainly make it worthwhile doing if only to preserve history. If you had an original photo of when it was first finished, which might show its lines might actually look good (front looks great, back... not so much).

As far as putting in a Chevy short block, nothing is more boring than that as far as powerplants are concerned. If you don't put in a flathead (8 or 12), at least put in an ohv Cadillac.

[Steve_Mack_CT]

Of course another way to look at it is if you were restoring the same car in a stock version, and it was given to you in that condition you would be just as deep underwater with a proper restoration. IMO the only way to do this car would be totally in period - that would likely get you some of your investment back, and yield an interesting historically relavent piece.

Deep in my archives (ok, several dusty boxes in the walk in closet, have not seen 'em in a very long time) I have a ton of those small hot rod magazines from the 50s. It seemed like chopped, chanelled, open Lincolns and Fords of the time were popular to build. There was one called the Fadeaway Ford that was in a few magazines, this reminds me of that car, which I would love to know still exists. Makes you wonder how many of these former hot rod show cars ended up in fields after the owner moved onto other things in life, or had some mechanical issue or other project they really needed that hot engine for.

I am totally with West in that an SBC would be the easiest way to make a boring project. Flattie Ford product (imagine a V-12 that is reliable and powerful) Cad, or Olds mill would be ideal in this. I can see it in a dark color, maroon, or deep blue, with a simple, complimenting vinyl interior, almost as low as it sits now, very period. BUT you are looking at a major, major project.

Some of us obviousluy think your find is interesting, the HAMB guys will likely love it.

Good luck though!

Edited June 5, 2012 by Steve_Mack_CT (see edit history)

[Guest palosfv3]

There is more to the story of this car . Are you really sure its a Zephyr ? Front pics are not that great and its difficult to confirm . Good ,clear pictures really help in identifying the car and its builder. It appears the car has been extensively customized in the 40's or early 50's. The cut down door belt line is a styling characteristic that was the craze back then . This car should be identifiable if it ever was completed . The car has also been sectioned horizontally. Look at the height of the hood in relation to the top of the fenders. This que starts to say early 50's California. It is not a " Valley Custom " car as there is no documentation of them ever doing a Zephyr and I would certainly think they influenced the thinking of whoever built this car as they were the first to modify a body with this technique. The length of the car also appears to have been altered . Sectioning will change the visual length of the car but the distance from the cowl to the center line of the rear axle appears to be longer than a standard Zephyr unless they started converting a long W/B 4dr or limo into a 2 seater .

Bill is correct with his question about money and time. The info on who built this car and its history is important in determining if it is worth the money and effort to bring it back. If there is no significant historical connection it could at best be called a parts car but that would be streching it a bit and certainly not warrant the asking price. Yet if this came up as an old " Barris " car it could be worth the money . This car would easily consume over $100k in restoration expenses and that could be a conservative figure .

If your serious about getting involved, post a thread on the HAMB inquiring about the history of this car or drop Rik Hoving a line @ rhoving@totalidentity.nl

[Restorer32]

I wouldn't assume that it was ever actually a finished or nearly finished car. To turn it into something interesting and driveable you had better set aside $100K before you start. Still, sure would hate to see it scrapped.

[mrspeedyt]

give him $1000 and just put a running gear and a cheap interior in it...leave it rusty!

Edited June 5, 2012 by mrspeedyt (see edit history)