What is a 34 Vickie complete unrestored worth

[Vics Stuff]

Ralph Moore ! As we hoarders think that one day these vehicles and parts will bring us large $$$ return . But many do not realize , that in this hobby the trends and age groups are constantly changing and us grey haired guys who are into the V8 cars will be gone in a few decades and these charrished vehicles will not be desired collectables as we know them . My car builds are not about what they are worth but they are the vehicles that I just plain like no matter what they will be worth down the road. For me it is not about the investment , but the enjoyment of tinkering with something that I call a hobby .

[Ralph Moore]

Same here, I don't think I could ever get the time and $$$ spent back out of one of these.
But I love doing it just the same.

[Vics Stuff]

Ralph Moore ! When I get up to North Pole next spring I would like to look you up ?
Vic

[theHIGHLANDER]

Originally Posted by TJ

I have a simple answer to your long winded screed against buying a finished car. It's simply called age. Most of us that relate to old V-8's are 65 or over. We have a limited time on the planet and maybe limited funds. At this point in our lives do we want to spend 5-7 years and gobs of money on a project or do we buy a finished car and enjoy the fun of driving it now? Do we leave a bunch of projects to the widow that she can't sell or do we leave her driveable cars she can sell immediately? There's very few kids waiting in line to buy V-8 project cars, and most young people have no interest in them .They are looking at a used Honda with a big stereo.
It's sound advice to the first time buyer to get finished car. I give this advice frequently to new people to the hobby as most are over 65 and have no idea of the related COSTS and TIME to build a project. Everyone can make the decision for themselves, but I would rather be driving my finished V-8 than sitting at home for several years with a project and wishing I was out on a tour with my friends. BTW the cars I have were once my projects, but now they are finished and I have no desire to start anything new at this age.

If the need to defend the position of restoration being a waste of time and resources is there then I'd make the assumption that the defense of such makes that person guilty of disrespecting the restoration process.

I could make just as much folly out of saying old guys have no business being into old cars at any level. I'll always defend restoration and just as strong would be my defense of those going hot rod with em. Maybe at your age (which isn't that old really) it might make sense, but to declare someone as "wrong" for restoring means one may wish all around him to behave and decide just as he would. How boring, have everyone like and buy and behave the same. How insulting to snub the individual choice to bring back from the dead a car that others will enjoy seeing once done. A close friend spent a bit over 4,000 hours on a Packard restoration. He's older than you and is quite pleased with the end result. He should be as he wins nearly every show competition he enters (7 out of 8) and gets just as much joy out of hauling his grandchildren around in the rumble seat.

The bottom line, at least from my view, is do what you like. If you like to take a jab at those who restore then accept the counter-jab that should follow. Don't preach your specific need to those who choose opposite to your choice. Some of us think that more than 1/2 the pleasure is getting there. Some of feel that the juice is worth the squeeze. Some of us, with "us" meaning proponents of the restoration process, have a degree of confidence in our stuff that may not be there by simply buying something done, or more on point, someone else's work. We know it's not full of bondo or has stripped threads in key components. We know the engine isn't full of motor honey to quiet it down. We know nothing was cheated or rushed in the name of "going for a ride". I can say those things having followed "finished" cars and the hack n slash approach taken in order to "dump" for money. Long winded? Not even close as there's so much more to restoration than time and money. Some "get it", some never will.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by theHIGHLANDER

If the need to defend the position of restoration being a waste of time and resources is there then I'd make the assumption that the defense of such makes that person guilty of disrespecting the restoration process.

I could make just as much folly out of saying old guys have no business being into old cars at any level. I'll always defend restoration and just as strong would be my defense of those going hot rod with em. Maybe at your age (which isn't that old really) it might make sense, but to declare someone as "wrong" for restoring means one may wish all around him to behave and decide just as he would. How boring, have everyone like and buy and behave the same. How insulting to snub the individual choice to bring back from the dead a car that others will enjoy seeing once done. A close friend spent a bit over 4,000 hours on a Packard restoration. He's older than you and is quite pleased with the end result. He should be as he wins nearly every show competition he enters (7 out of 8) and gets just as much joy out of hauling his grandchildren around in the rumble seat.

The bottom line, at least from my view, is do what you like. If you like to take a jab at those who restore then accept the counter-jab that should follow. Don't preach your specific need to those who choose opposite to your choice. Some of us think that more than 1/2 the pleasure is getting there. Some of feel that the juice is worth the squeeze. Some of us, with "us" meaning proponents of the restoration process, have a degree of confidence in our stuff that may not be there by simply buying something done, or more on point, someone else's work. We know it's not full of bondo or has stripped threads in key components. We know the engine isn't full of motor honey to quiet it down. We know nothing was cheated or rushed in the name of "going for a ride". I can say those things having followed "finished" cars and the hack n slash approach taken in order to "dump" for money. Long winded? Not even close as there's so much more to restoration than time and money. Some "get it", some never will.

First of all no where in my post did I say it was WRONG to restore a car.
I also said it was a person's decision to make the choice to restore or buy a finished car. I also said that the advice I give is to those who are new to the hobby. Those who have been in the hobby have the experience to know whether to take on a project or not. They also know where to take their car for restoration or repairs where they won't get "ripped off".You'll also notice that I did not call anyone Neanderthals or "dumb bastards". Those are your words. You have indicated you do work for others on their old cars. You obviously have "skin in the game" for promoting restorations. Good luck with your business. It would be interesting to see any one of your customers extolling the virtues of your restoration work.

[FrankWest]

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Originally Posted by TJ

I have a simple answer to your long winded screed against buying a finished car. It's simply called age. Most of us that relate to old V-8's are 65 or over. We have a limited time on the planet and maybe limited funds. At this point in our lives do we want to spend 5-7 years and gobs of money on a project or do we buy a finished car and enjoy the fun of driving it now? Do we leave a bunch of projects to the widow that she can't sell or do we leave her driveable cars she can sell immediately? There's very few kids waiting in line to buy V-8 project cars, and most young people have no interest in them .They are looking at a used Honda with a big stereo.
It's sound advice to the first time buyer to get finished car. I give this advice frequently to new people to the hobby as most are over 65 and have no idea of the related COSTS and TIME to build a project. Everyone can make the decision for themselves, but I would rather be driving my finished V-8 than sitting at home for several years with a project and wishing I was out on a tour with my friends. BTW the cars I have were once my projects, but now they are finished and I have no desire to start anything new at this age.

Very wise comments!!
AS you get older time seems to go very fast indeed. If you are over 65 choose a car that is almost ready to go. Maybe a little tinkering and a few repairs. Don't buy a rusted out hulk..That can take you 10 years or more to rebuild, unless that is what you enjoy doing. Some people are not really interested in driving but likes to work on the project itself. Sad to say, but us 65 plus people should use our time wisely because time is getting shorter. It all depends on what you want. So ask yourself, "what do I really enjoy doing? And do that!

I remember the story why the army drafts young people. You can tell a 20 year old guy to go out into open fire and take that machine enemy machine gunner out. But an old guy would say.."What are you crazy, not me?"

[Ralph Moore]

So true, I did a lot of really stupid stuff when I was is the Army, funny it didn't seem so at the time.

Vic,
Your welcome to stop by anytime! I'll give you the nickel tour of my shop and projects.
Ralph

[Vics Stuff]

Ralph ! If you are ever down here in Anchorage you are also welcome to stop by.
Vic

[rockfla]

For the "what its worth" department!!!

I mean for what its worth to the current rant, not value of car!!!! I am the "YOUNGER" generation that most here say "no interest" in EFV8's. I have been around them all my life. Part of the problem with even the "projects" and undertaking restoration project (and the younger interest) is....the $75 $100 and $200 EFV8 projects my dad was buying back in the late 60's and early 70's NOW adjusted for inflation that would normally equal $800 to $1200 are actually being advertised for 10 times todays inflation rate. I for one cannot afford a family and a $10,000 restoration project. THUS this hobby will slowly fade.

[Karl]

Wow - If you want to restore your car great. I've done it and loved it . I now prefer to buy someone else's restoration. I have five restored cars and they are all immaculate. I can do lots of stuff (including taking your appendix out with my eyes closed) but bodywork and painting are not my thing. I have to farm these out and to get a good job you pay heavily to get this done. Chequebook restoration is not as much fun as doing it yourself . I worked out that I could have the pleasure of driving and owning more cars by letting a previous owner do that work for me. Having said that as I am fanatical with originailty I re restore them to original specs when I get them anyway! I am under no illusion that my cars are investments (although A's , T's and V8's are holding their prices better than most) and I have much more in them than I could ever get back -However for me spending $50,000 to restore a car that is worth 25,000 when finished when I could buy two restored cars for $50,000 doesn't stack up -Just my opinion -Karl

[Karl]

Originally Posted by FrankWest

...........................I remember the story why the army drafts young people. You can tell a 20 year old guy to go out into open fire and take that machine enemy machine gunner out. But an old guy would say.."What are you crazy, not me?"

That's because when you are young everything is going to happen to someone else not you . Some one else is going to get killed in the war, Someone else's girlfriend is going to get pregnant , Some one else is going to develop a drug habit ......etc etc etc

As they say "Youth is wasted on the young!"

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Boy, you guys sure know how to derail a thread!

The guy asks a simple question about the worth of a car and it turns into a discussion about what's right and wrong with old cars and how all the people who like them are doomed to fade away.

If everybody liked the same thing we wouldn't need 31 flavors of ice cream.
Live and let live...there's plenty of room for all sorts of folks in the car world, and there are new enthusiasts coming into it as well. Look at the number of car shows on tv....and most of them feature young guns with a passion for cars.

[FrankWest]

Originally Posted by Karl

Wow - If you want to restore your car great. I've done it and loved it . I now prefer to buy someone else's restoration. I have five restored cars and they are all immaculate. I can do lots of stuff (including taking your appendix out with my eyes closed) but bodywork and painting are not my thing. I have to farm these out and to get a good job you pay heavily to get this done. Chequebook restoration is not as much fun as doing it yourself . I worked out that I could have the pleasure of driving and owning more cars by letting a previous owner do that work for me. Having said that as I am fanatical with originailty I re restore them to original specs when I get them anyway! I am under no illusion that my cars are investments (although A's , T's and V8's are holding their prices better than most) and I have much more in them than I could ever get back -However for me spending $50,000 to restore a car that is worth 25,000 when finished when I could buy two restored cars for $50,000 doesn't stack up -Just my opinion -Karl

When ever I have to replace something in my 1933 ford I always try to get the best stuff..not the cheapest. And that is the way people think that love and enjoy their car. Years ago before I purchased my car..I was offered a car restored by an individual for 28K nice looking but I was in the market for a more original car..especially original interior. And the car being offered did not even have replacement Mohair interior but a grey woven fabric, which I didn't like at all. A month after I turned the car down..I saw it for sale at a professional restorer antique car site selling for 50K!.
So the professional restorer only restored the price not the car.

[34fivewindow]

Here is the one that was on craigslist, now on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford-...aabcf4&vxp=mtr

[Karl Wescott]

The car will be worth exactly what a buyer and a seller agree at a particular moment. No more, no less. And the car will not be worth that a moment later.

Figure out what you are willing to pay for the car. Thats your "buy" value. Obviously you do not have unending dollars and a burning desire for that car or money would not be a significant issue. Ask what the owner "wants" for the car... Maybe you can reach a deal. Perhaps the "sell" value is well below your "buy" value and a good faith good home for the car. You will never know if you dont ask.

[Vics Stuff]

I did speak to the owner on this 34 Vickie and he was firm @ $16,000.00 so I gracefully passed on this one. Not needing to spend that kind of $$$ for another project and having it turn out to be worth maybe $45,000.00. Hell I would have way more in it then that. Even with doing most of the work myself.
Vic

[stangblue]

I have restored cars from the ground up and enjoyed every moment of it. Think about it you get to meet people you would have never met. You get to stay in different hotels, motels looking for parts and going to car swap meets around the country. You get to haggle with stranger and sometimes make yourself look like or you should be on welfare. ha ha. You get to make a mess out of your residence with sand blasting using toxic chemicals ect. ect. Your neighbors wish you would get a job. You get to ask others a lot of question (pick their brains) for the price of coffee. You get a good education from buying the wrong part first then go still looking for the correct one. You have to wait for others to do the job you don't want mess up yourself. The cash you saved is gone and now using your credit card. Finally when the project is done you stand back and.... Say what an Accomplishment ( I resurrected The Phoenix From The Ashes) and it Looks Great!!!! Next?

[funrunr]

Wow, I have read and reread this whole post. It took me 9 years to build my coupe and it still needs some stuff installed. I love my car and hope to never sell it. Unfortunately I don't drive it. I would much rather just look at it and enjoy to myself. With that being said I'm continuously working on my wife's or daughters cars and find that brings me most of my enjoyment out of this hobby. That is why I'm building another car. By all means do what makes you happy.
There is one thing out of this whole thread that impresses me,,,,,,,Karl, can you really remove my appendix with your eyes closed? lol have a great day guys

[Karl]

Originally Posted by funrunr

.......
There is one thing out of this whole thread that impresses me,,,,,,,Karl, can you really remove my appendix with your eyes closed? lol have a great day guys

Not if you wish to live ! However many years ago when I was an intern I did so many that it felt like I could do them with my eyes closed. Oh those where the days I was young, single , much more handsome than I am now , well paid and working with hundreds of hot female nurses. Problem was most of the time I was to tired to do anything other than sleep when I did get time off ! Maybe those weren't the days after all ! LOL Karl