Selling 1931 Deluxe Tudor 55B

[RT]

Hello out there,

I am a devoted Grandson who has been enlisted by my Grandpa to help him sell his 1930 Deluxe Tudor 55B (also his 26-27 coupe

I've come to consult the collective knowledge of those kind enough to respond, and ask what the best way is to go about listing this vehicle for him.

Essentially I need to know what sort of information I should ascertain about the vehicle in order to give the clearest representation to those that might be interested.

The extent of my knowledge of the car:

•1930 Deluxe Tudor 55B
•Running in the last year
•Been under a cover in an enclosed, airtight barn for 20 years.
•Grandpa is the original owner

[chiliman]

Well if it is original just might check the title cause it has a 30 shell on the front does it have the split splash apron above running board? are there arm rest in the back are the seats in the front a little wider? jut giving you some upa

[RT]

Good call on the split splash apron, 1930 it is.

Does anyone think the selling location matters a great deal, for instance: It is in Missouri now but I might get it in shape in California before selling.

[clay co 27]

What part of missouri is it located (not city) I live in N E Arkansas and might be interested,
depending on quality, price, etc. thanks.

[oldredford]

Correct me if I am wrong but I think a tudor deluxe only came out in late 1931.

[1931 flamingo]

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Pictures, pictures, pictures, ! ! ! !
Does it have a title??
Does it run??
Will it stop??
Pictures, pictures, pictures ! ! !

Paul in CT

[Charlie Stephens]

Advertise in the newsletters of the local Model A Clubs. The national web sites should have addresses for the local chapters. Start early as it may take a while for the advertising to go through the cycle (a couple of months). When you say running in the last year that says to me it doesn't run now. Take a little time to get it running so you can say "runs". Of course advertise here and on AHOOGA.com. Have lots of good pictures you can email to interested people (or set up a site they can go to, photobucket?)

Charlie Stephens

[ronn]

Resale will be better where it is, should you end up listing it on the bay....

I very rarely buy cars from CA, because I live in NJ and the shipping expense becomes prohibitive. A tudor is a nice car, but the body style does not bring the most $ and so
shipping is a major factor.
The more info and photos you can provide, the better the buyer will be to gauge at what price to pay. Do a search on (sold) tudors on ebay from the last few months, consult with your Grandfather and come to terms as to a realistic selling price.
Good luck and thanks for helping your Grandfather out.
You might want to consider making him an offer yourself, especially if he did buy it new.

[Roadster62]

That's an 84 year old car, how old was your grandfather when he bought it? Is that the original factory paint? Selling it while in the center of the country would appeal to more buyers because of the shipping costs. Bob

[RT]

I really appreciate how helpful everyone is being.

To answer some of the questions:

•It is in Northwest, MO.
•He couldn't remember exactly when he started it last, he estimates a year but it could have been longer. It has been in the barn for a couple decades, and it drove in, to be certain.
•My dear Grandpa is having his 95th birthday in February, I believe his father owned the car before him.
•If I could, I would buy it from him in a heartbeat. And I think he would want me to have it. I just don't have the resources at this time(recent graduate=student loans). He seems just as happy to have someone with a real passion and respect for these machines have a go, and so am I.
•He has the title. For the A and the T.

[Mike V. Florida]

Buy it yourself from your Grandfather with a keeping it in the family discount and do just that keep it in the family. (look up antique car financing)

Running (and stopping) cars will almost always get you much more money then a non running car.

[Barber31]

Do yourself a favor and don't sell it. Years from now you'll regret letting it go and missing out on a vehicle that meant so much to your grandpa and his daddy. There must be so many memories your father and his dad had with that vehicle. There's always gonna be bills to pay so my 2 cents is hold on to that heirloom.

[Roadster62]

DO NOT let college loans override keeping this car in your family, you will kick yourself forever if you you loose it. I may never outlive my kids college debt, and will forever wonder if it was worth the expense. Bob

[SkipShift]

Everyone in the Barn would love to have a car owned by their Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by SkipShift

Everyone in the Barn would love to have a car owned by their Grandpa and Great Grandpa.

I know I would! Just to think how many people could possible say they are the 4 generation to own anything never mind a car.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Keep the tires aired up, or better yet, put it on 4 jack stands. That is a really nice looking Tudor, and I'd do what you have to to keep it. Sell stuff you don't need, take out a second job, make monthly payments, etc. to keep the car.

[Franchise_24]

I would try to keep it if possible. My grandpa sold the Coupe that is my avatar when I was young (before I drove) and luckily the guy he sold it to was in our Model A Club chapter with my parents. When I got older and was married I saw he wanted to sell it, so a week later it was in my garage :-) Grandpa's car was back "home".

[mhsprecher]

I well know what it is like to sell cars because of other time and financial demands and lack of storage space. The last was the biggest problem for me. If you have the storage, try like crazy to keep it. If it is an original family car, that is very uncommon. It is worth the effort to keep it!

[Jordan]

I have my grandpa's car and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

[chiliman]

I'm with the outer guys find some were to keep the car I'm with the outher guys I' in north west Mo we have a great club here if you need help P M me some of the guys can get it going and up on jacks Leave it were it is until you get situated then bring it n home you will regret getttin red of it have a blessed day

[RT]

Originally Posted by chiliman

I'm with the outer guys find some were to keep the car I'm with the outher guys I' in north west Mo we have a great club here if you need help P M me some of the guys can get it going and up on jacks Leave it were it is until you get situated then bring it n home you will regret getttin red of it have a blessed day

This is a seriously kind gesture.

What you guys are saying has not fallen on deaf ears, I have quite a bit to consider.

Hanging onto it seems much more manageable knowing that there is such a kind and knowledgable group of people out there.

Will keep you posted.

[Tiny]

I vote keep it. I have two of my grandfathers cars. I don't really want them but can't seem to part with them, 68 Cougars. I wish I had my other grandfathers 32 Auburn that he sold when he got shipped overseas in 43'.

[bikejunk]

If you cant make the finances work right now is their someone in the family that can? The money you get for the car will vanish in no time believe me

[ctvpa]

Keep it, you will regret selling it. Don't restore it, just go through it and make it safe. It's worth more that way, and it is wonderful. You don't have to do it now. A self storage area is cheap, often you can find garage space in the neighbor hood.

[oliverguy]

I'm sure that your grandfather would likely give you the car if you expressed interest. Or maybe you could earn it by doing some chores for the car. For what the car is worth, it will not make a dent in your student loan. I paid off my wife's associate degree and it took me 10 years. At the same time I enjoyed life by having an antique car. That being said, if you truley are not interested and it's in good condition, someone will snap it up for the right price.

[DGNY]

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One more vote for retaining it. Can't tell you what it would have meant to me to have the '31 A my dad parted with, that had been in family since 1953.

They don't eat much in storage and are near-impossible to replace with like-condition vehicle, for what you can get in sales price. AND - a 'replacement' will never have the abiding family association.

Best regards,

Dyson

[kp]

Keep it if at all possible.I now own a 31 model A ,first one I ever had but wish many times I had kept the 32 Ford 2 door I owned. BUt I also wish I had kept ever gun I owned. Hard times make you let go of lot of things and I know how that is .

[1930artdeco]

I am in agreement with everybody else here about keeping her in the family. Do whatever you have to keep her. And to maybe scare you a bit think of it this way. If you sell her, what is to say that someone won't hot rod her. Then you really will be kicking yourself.

Mike

[jm29henry]

If you have to sell it a good source would be to call the model a restorers club and ask them for a phone number for one of the local chapter near you .model a people always seem to want to help other model a people some one from one of those club that live near you will help you. MARC phone number is 1-734-427-9050 hope this helps just another opion

[insomniacshotrods]

Hope you keep it, i got a loan for my model a and was able to use the car as the collateral so no money down. Cheap payments and insurance. These cars are a blast to drive and to own in my opinion,and to have the connection with your grandfather would be priceless. Im sure he would love a ride in it again.

[C4engr]

RT,
I totally have to agree with the many A'ers that posted... DO WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE TO KEEP THE CAR..
As mentioned there is a big trend going on today. Many guys are searching the globe to find the actual car that they owned in high school or the actual family car (Grandpa's).. Everything from T's to Classic cars to Hot Rods.

I can assure you if it sells, within one year you will be kicking yourself or someone else will be putting a size 10 boot in your bootie..

There are too many resources out there that support the Model A. Local club members are chomping at the bit to help someone like you to get Grandpa's A on the road... This is what we live for.. kicking the old Model A tire..

Good Luck on your decision...
Get Grandpa alone and whisper to him you would like to have the car and ask Grandpa, How can we make this happen..?


Rog..

[SeaSlugs]

yes, sounds like you and your grandpa are close - id express interest in keeping it and ask him about any stories he could tell you (im sure he learned to drive on it and probably has some wild stories from his teen years with it haha) is there a reason to sell it besides your grandpa wants to see it go somewhere nice? i bet it would tickle him pink if you said you want it. if your grandpa is able maybe have him come out to the garage with you and have him teach you things about it.

i have my great grandpas AA truck. its just neat knowing the steering wheel and the view out of the dash is what my great grandfather and grandpa were holding onto and looking out over all those years ago.

[BudP]

When someone you love is gone, sitting in their driver's seat, holding the steering wheel they held, bending over the fender they bent over to adjust the idle on the carb, etc. - that is as close as you can be to that person. There is no substitute. It's certainly worth minimizing a loan payment for many years to have that closeness to something someone dear to you treasured enough to keep it for many years.

[jr-41ford]

I agree with the others, keep it.

I'm planning on passing on my Model A to my 8 yo grandson, he loves the Model A.

I have a 1941 Ford Tudor street rod, 12 yo grand daughter wants it. If I still have it, she'll get it, but I'm hoping to sell it this year and buy another pre-1948 street rod. She can have that.

[swo4rd]

RT, The 55BDLX TUDOR started sales in May or June of 1931. The standard features on the car were deluxe mohair interior, rear arm rests, grab loops on the door jamb pillar, deluxe escutcheon on the interior door handles and window risers, carpeting, butler finished instrument panel, brake handle and gear shift knob, cowl lights and a standard trunk rack with a driver side fender mounted spare. Now, before that time, I have seen at least three 55Bs that were "deluxified" by dealer add ons of any number of the cited features.

From the pics, it looks like you have a 30 Tudor with a late 29 finish scheme...could that be? I'm curious...is the paint finish is original or was it a close reproduction of the original?

If it is all original, I would like to talk with you personally about buying it to conserve, and not disassemble for restoration. PM me with your phone number and I will talk with you about it.

Swofford

[tbirdtbird]

Do not, under any circumstances, sell that car. You will be wicked wicked sorry in a short period of time. You will be selling his soul. It is a one-family super-nice original car. They are only original once. Do NOT restore it. Do not let anyone convince you to restore it or sell it. Get it running and safe to operate (brakes etc). You have an offer from a local club to help you with the preservation that is needed now until you are able to work on it or have it worked on. If you are mechanically minded see if you can shadow a knowledgeable club member to learn the car mechanically. You need to forget all about what you know mechanically about modern cars and start over back in time, where it all began.

If you were here in Texas I would show you how to maintain/operate/care for the car at no charge whatever. You could work on it free in my shop anytime. You will find others out there like that, especially since this is such a rare set of circumstances.

Read post #33 then re-read it about 20 times and let it sink in. It is worth way more than a number on a piece of paper. Your grandfather was a steward for so many years; now it is your turn.

None of us owns any of our cars. We pay for the privilege of being stewards for these beautiful examples of automotive history. Modern cars are just so much throw-away junk compared to a Model A or other vintage car.

keep us posted.

[klawockvet]

I agree completely with Post 33 and 36. Read them over and over, especially 33. If you were in or near me you would have access to my shop and storage for free. I'm sure there are others in your area willing to help in the same way. You are blessed with an opportunity of a lifetime, don't let it slip away. I let a car go about 10 years ago that I had owned since 1957. It was the stupidest thing I ever did and it went to a member of the family but I'm still depressed over it as it was turned into a street rod.

And finally be sure to delve into your Grandfather's 95 year old memory about all things car related. The roads, the gas stations, the motels and roadhouses, etc, etc. I think we all regret not listening to the old guys as much as we could have. Take a recorder with you and get all that info regarding the car and keep it. Between the tapes and the car you will have your GF with you forever.

[chiliman]

Check out Northwest Missouri Model A Club they love to take on projects have a blessed day Chili in Norwest Mo

[cradlescyth]

Keep the car !!!!!

You will always have debt of some kind but never again get a chance at Grandads car.

To thine owneself be true

[jimvette59]

swo4d I think you are correct , as I read it was to compete with Chevrolet. This is mine it is a late 31 tudor deluxe.