To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

I have a 1936 club cabriolet. I started to restore it but have second thoughts
Of restoring back to original or street rod It. So my question is to keep it original or hotrod. Where would the Best value be. Let me hear what ideas you guys might have in mind and why.The pros and cons.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

This forum is heavily biased towards cars with mostly original running gear, so the responses may be biased towards keeping it stock and maintaining it.

There are more choices that just restored to original or street rodded.

If it is more or less complete and stock just fix it up and enjoy it. If you want a street rod just go and buy one. Why spoil one that has survived this far?

I don't restore, but do like them kinda stock but kept in good running order.

Mart.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Mart thanks for your response. To be honest I am heading towards original rebuild but I see so many 36 cabriolet original cars for sale that are for sale under priced and yet not selling.
I have to think if I put the time and money into the car what is my best return when I’m ready to sell. The desire of these 1930 cars have changed. It’s seems to me that the generation today are leaning more to hotrods then original. I think that because of the generation of hotrod buyers today. In years to came it will be today’s Japanese make cars.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

The 1936 Ford Deluxe Club Cabriolet was a brand new addition to the Ford line-up of fine automobiles. The fact that it was the first for the Ford line makes it a unique car. Ford only produced 4,616 Club Cabriolets in 1936 which makes it relatively rare. Only the '36 Ford Roadster was produced in smaller numbers at 3,862.

Just my opinion, but these facts alone make it good candidate for restoration or at least maintained as a driver.
Ken

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

The value of our pre-war Fords is driven more by the demographic of potential buyers than by the stock versus modified issue. Those of us who admired, owned or hot rodded early Fords in our youth are getting up there, and not as able to roll around on the garage floor. Folks in the 40 - 60 range whose are able and can afford hobby cars remember muscle cars from the 60's and 70's, and that is what they are looking for.

If return on investment is what you are looking for, I believe your best bet would be to do the minimum to get it running and driving safely, and put it on the market as soon as possible, because the value is going to just erode with time.

I have greatly enjoyed building my '41 coupe into the street rod of my dreams when I was in High School, but my heirs will be lucky to get half of what I have invested in it. In the mean time, I will drive it until they take the keys away from me.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Make it a Hot Rod. The more hot rods there are, the less original cars there are. thereby making our rarer, original cars much, much more valuable. so, go for it!

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

drolston got it right.
There are more and more of this era cars coming up for sale but the buyers are
not willing to pay the big bucks prices of even 10 years ago. People today are looking to buy resto-rods for highway driving and parts availability.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

I fail to see the point in making a decision based on a dollar value you may sell it for after you have no more use for it. A similarly illogical car related decision used to be to put ugly clear plastic seat covers over the upholstery to protect the resale value. Go figure.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

I'm sure glad the original owners of my car did this. Thanks Hjalmer and Elmer Anderson!

As to original vs. street rod? Do anything you want to now, but only if can be undone down the road.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

That is very good advice. I have done some things in my automotive past that still come back and haunt me.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

My uncle did that not only to his car, but to the living room couch. Sticky, hot, ugly stuff. Protect it for the next owner, never mind your own discomfort!

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

It's kinda like not "boffing" your girlfriend so she'll remain a virgin for the next guy.:D

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Okay, that's just crazy talk.

Now, back to the '36 club cabriolet... do what ya want with it. You are unlikely to get your investment returned regardless of the path you take.
A true restoration - you'll be very quickly upside down. Easy $100k +. I can't imagine a perfect club cabriolet fetching even half that.
A "high end" rod... again, you'll be way upside down.

Bottom line in my opinion? Have fun with this one. Attempt to keep your investment to a minimum.
A good rule of thumb as an example? Body and paint cost about the same if you're painting a '36 club cabriolet or a '39 convertible coupe.
Choose wisely....

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

I'm with Kube on this one....

A good friend once told me "It costs the same to feed a race horse as it does a mule"

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Okay, ya got me laughing... you may not realize this but we have ten horses. There have been rumors that we may soon be adding yet another to the stable.
All rumors have thus far been traced back to my wife. Coincidence no doubt...

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Can you post some photos?

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Good one Zach!! 😂

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

I got a good chuckle from it as well. Not quite accurate but the analogy is spot on.

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

When I had the opportunity to be the"first" to post on this....I "WAS" gonna post "IF you are in this for "Value" then you have picked the wrong venue for "Value" either way you go!!!! What is it YOU want?"

Re: To be or not to be a 1936 club cabriolet
 

Hobbies are usually money wasters, not money makers. The return on investment is the fun you have participating in your particular passion.