well-

Posted by Bob Carabbio on February 28, 1998 at 21:52:12

In Reply to: advise
posted by Jim :edbetter on February 28, 1998 at 18:44:51

Hi Jim -
You know the ground rules about "Free" advice BUT -
Sounds a bit high to me.Around the Dallas area we'd probably be more in the $4000 - $5000 area for a car in that condition - IF the running gear is really in great condition
$7500 sounds more like the price for an "older restoration" - done but a little dog-eared. What you're describing doesn't sound particularly "Done".
Unless there's something REALLY spectacular about the chassis,
I believe for that kind of money, I'd pass it up and keep looking
As I've said here before the greatest service/reliability problem you'll have is the former owner.
I absolutely wouldn't consider buying it for those kind of dollars unless you've driven it, had it inspected by sombody that really knows his "A"s, and proved the motor/tranny/chassis IS actually all restored properly.I've seen a lot of spray-can restorations, and some of the stuff you can't see can get real expensive.
An "A" engine that turns, and doesn't have internal problems can always be made to run in an hour or less (including pulling the distributer to pour a quart of Oil down the hole).
Reminds me of the time in'60 that we bought a '29 Fordor Station wagon with beach tires on it for $75, and sold the beach tires for $100 (ah - the good old days). It had been sitting for some years in a concrete plant back lot half buried in sand.We dug it out, started it, adjusted the brakes, and drove it 45 miles home - all within 4 hours.
If the owner tells you it won't run - he may not want it to.
The Seat in a coupe can be moved back a couple of inches by relocating stuff.I always wanted a roadster pickup till I tried to sit in one (I'm 6'3").
"A"s are a lot like VWs. They are "forever cars" - BUT they are not a low maintenance car, what with frequent oil changes, weekly brake adjustments (don't compromise on this), and chassis greasing.
Properly restored, though, they're as faithful as a chow dog, and a bucket of fun to drive.A stock motor is best at 45 MPH, and will go 50, but will pound out the center main with too much of that.At 15-16 MPG they're not an economy car, but repair parts when needed aren't expensive (set of points here, Water pump packing there, etc).
Mine ('31 160-A S/W Fordor) will be a daily driver for the 16 mile trek from Highland Village TX to North Dallas. I'm using hydraulic brakes ('39-'41 Ford), and building an inserted, c'balanced motor with full flow oil filter, and light pressure feed to the mains.I'll still have to grease the chassis every moth, though.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but I think you could probably do better.
Bob Carabbio

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