To buy or not to Buy... 36 Coupe

[Hgiljr]

I came across this 36 Coupe and need some feedback to see what you all think. Asking $24k... Thanks for your help. Here is the description:

1936 5W Std. Coupe Model 68-77A: Original Mechanical s and Sheet Metal on this rust-free three owner vehicle. This car is being offered with the following accessories (Value of Accessories = $2000): Ford (Bill Hirsch) Stainless Steel Spyder Hubcaps and Beauty Rings, 30 Hour Mirror Clock, Radio, Outside Mirrors, Glove Box Lock and Locking Spare Tire. The original set of hubcaps, jack, tire iron/hubcap removal tool, grease gun, screwdriver, pliers, open end wrenches, starting crank handle/extension and tire pump are also included. This car is a survivor having retained it's original 6 volt electrical system, engine, transmission, running gear, mechanical brakes and knee action shocks. The only non original items that I can recall that are not original to the car are the following: interior upholstery, paint, tires (presently wearing Lucas 6.00 x 16 whitewalls with good tread) the generator cut out switch, (replaced with one outfitted with a diode) and the fuel pump (replaced with a later one with glass bowl). This car is not a trailer queen. It is driven regularly.

[mfagan]

Looks like a nice car. Do you like it? Do you have
The cash to buy it? Will you drive and enjoy it?

If it meets these criteria, get it!

[TJ]

Looks like a decent car to me. It's all about the sheetmetal. I'd put the value at $20,000-22,000, but if you really like the car and it's a good driver it would be your decision to pay full price. I don't know if it has a rumble seat or not, but in my opinion a car with a trunk lid is worth more than a rumble seat car just because of the ease of putting things in the back when you go on a tour.

[Fibber Mcgee]

Buy it. Now let me go back and read your post.

[JM 35 Sedan]

From the pictures you are showing, it looks like a nice car that could be driven and enjoyed just as it is. It would, however, help to see more exterior pictures. 24k is probably a reasonable price if the overall condition is as nice as the pictures you have shown. The accessories you mention are also a plus, although I believe the locking spare tire feature would have been standard equipment in '36 on both deluxe and standard models. I know it was in '35. Good luck on your decision and let us know what you decide.

[rotorwrench]

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Limited photos present only partial opinions. Coupes have a higher base value than tudors & fordors and it seems a driveable car with decent fit and finish can go over the 28K price range on the 1936 models so it's not far from that and to your advantage.

[Hgiljr]

Sorry all. I thought I uploaded the exterior pictures. here you go and thank you for feedback.

[scooder]

If I had the folding money to buy this car, this debate would be over. As it would have this here short fat bloke grinning like an idiot sat be hind the wheel. It looks beutifull.
Whilst I was at the vendors place, snatching the keys off him, I would pause for just enough time to hit him upside the head with a lever arm damper, "knee action" that there is some kind of brand X component. An if he said "friction damper" that would be another bump on the swede.
I am in love with that 36. My dream car.
Buy it.
Now.
Go on.
Get it.
Right away.
Dont hang around.
Martin.

[Hgiljr]

Good post Martin. Thanks

[Willit Stop]

Don't let the price scare you.An old friend told me that what something actually costs you is the difference between what you bought it for and what you sell it for.Buy it for $24K and drive it until you're tired of it,sell it for $24K.It was a free car.I think it's good deal.

[Uncle Bob]

It's always difficult to assess value from a distance, relying primarily on pics (almost everything looks better in pics than in person).........never mind the subjective nature of "what's a good deal?".

That being said, those underside pics show a frame that appears to be quite nice and the absence of pitting would be at a remarkable level in my mind. If the rest of the car, especially the sheet metal in the usual vulnerable spots, were of like high condition it would be well worth that money to me. Superficially that price is nudging the high end, but how many other cars out there are of equal quality for less? If it is really that nice and mostly original I'd guess there are very, very few competitors.

[blucar]

Reviewing the pix and writeup the car appears to be a very nice, well cared for car.. Two things caught my eye.. In the engine compartment pix you can barely see the bolts that attach the radio box to the cowl.. The bolts in the pix are not original Ford-Philco bolts. Not a big deal, all of the radios were dealer installed, however, the pix would indicate that the radio is not original to the car..
A second item that caught my eye is the lower splash pan under the grille.. This item is generally missing from the majority of the '30 model cars..
Are the left and right splash engine compartment splash pans in the car?
Since the car is a Standard, it would not normally have had a clock mirror. Is the clock a string wind? The same is true of the Spider hub caps..
I have always found it to be quite interesting that very few people restore a car, especially cars of the depression era, as Standards, they tend to doll them up with DeLuxe accessories..
The fact that the car is basically stock in very good shape, I would say that the $24k asking price is a fair deal.. You could not build the car for anything close to that..

[JM 35 Sedan]

No... do not buy that car!! Send me all the sellers information immediately and I will buy it just to keep you from having to spend your money .

[ford38v8]

The price is right if this car is the best example of what you are looking for.
The price is right if the paperwork matches the serial number on the frame.

The price is negotiable if there are quality issues in the restoration.
The price is negotiable if the engine is tired.

The car is not for sale if the paperwork isn't in order.

[tiger.1000]

My old dad usually said to me....."buy the very best that you can't afford"


Invariably it was sound advice......

[Ray Balukas]

Beautiful Car! 24000 sounds like a lot of money, but is it? If you were to buy another one for less, there is a good chance you would end up putting just as much money into it. Buy it and don't look back!!!!

[Hgiljr]

Thanks everyone. Yes the clock mirror was added after by the current owner.

[DavidG]

If you have to ask, it would seem that the passion isn't strong enough to eliminate the risk of second thoughts and perhaps buyer's remorse. If this is your first old car purchase, my comment does not apply, but if not, it does apply.

The only ones you want to regret are the ones that you did not buy.

[flat-v8]

Wow nice car! I would love to have that one & the price seems reasonable. I do believe one could buy, drive, show off, enjoy, then sell, and get your money back, it's an investment!

[Fibber Mcgee]

If you buy a 2014 Ford Fusion for about $ 24,000 and drive it about 20,000 miles it will be worth about $12,000 ( according to NADA on a 2009 Ford Fusion with 20,000 miles) . Now if you buy this car and drive it 20,000 miles you could probably still get about $24,000 out of it in 5 years.

[BrianCT]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

The price is right if this car is the best example of what you are looking for.
The price is right if the paperwork matches the serial number on the frame.

The price is negotiable if there are quality issues in the restoration.
The price is negotiable if the engine is tired.

The car is not for sale if the paperwork isn't in order.

I like it a lot at that price. Good thing that I don't need it.

[19Fordy]

Buy it while you can. After all, how many others like that are for sale at that price?

[scooder]

You bought it yet?
Martin.

[1931 flamingo]

He's asking 24K, I'd try for less without insulting him. It is nice looking.
Paul in CT

[41panelmark]

Looks nice from the photos, I would do it if it is what you want and the price sets well.

[Conrad Rossi]

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Hello,

From the 2011 Collector Price Guide, it seems the car is within range. Most restored cars are 3s, but without seeing the car is tough to say. Does it start right away after sitting for a week?, Engine condition, quality of the restoration, etc., etc.

5W Deluxe Coupe:
-Condition 3: $18,450
-Condition 4: $28,700
-Condition 5: $41,000 (this is a 100points car)

Another factor worth considering is cost of opportunity. How many cars in this condition are available, and how often?

Finally, it is up to you as other fellow Barners pointed out, provided you are comfortable with the price that you will pay to enjoy such a car earlier, or wait for the absolute bargain.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

Conrad

[blucar]

I don't think it is sound advise to suggest that an old car is a good investment.. Many people have lost a lot of money thinking that old cars were good investments..
Through out the years I have turned a tidy profit on a few cars, however, for the most part, old cars have generally cost me money..
Of course the pleasure I have derived from my old cars is actually priceless. A good friend, and car guy, once told me that we should have collected stamps or coins in lieu of cars.. We would not have needed that big shop in the back yard, all the tools, etc.. A small safe in the corner of the bedroom would have held a small fortune in stamps/coins.. No license plates, dripping oil, dead battery's etc.. The stamps/coins would have just sat quietly in the safe gaining in value...
But then again, it's no fun being practical..

[38 Ford Pickup]

Good Afternoon

I think you should start at 18k and mostlikely settle at 21K

Ya never know if the seller needs the cash quickly or has had the car for sale for ages.

good luck

[dean333]

I know mine is a Deluxe Fordoor, but it is ORIGINAL!.. Same price range, check out my ad. Photos in my profile as the site wouldn't let me upload mot than five.

[Hgiljr]

Hello all. After a long 11 hour round trip, I passed on the car. Found several issues and owner would not budge below $22,500. Pictures looked better then in person.
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being great, the paint was a 4-5 in my scale. Too many chips, scratches, paint flaking. The interior has a nasty leak from the roof, bad window regulators, both on the doors and front window. Also gas is leaking from the carb and burning some oil. Also in need of brakes badly. Worst part was after a good 30 minute drive and turning it off for about 10 minutes, the car had a hard time turning on. Pretty much this was the deal breaker.
Top it off owner would not lower price and in my eyes it was to expensive.

Thank you all for all the info and help. Greatly appreciated. Now back to car searching...

[ford38v8]

Well, in my opinion, if that's all that was wrong with the car, none of us has ever found a car in any better shape than the one you passed on. We all have had to deal with every one of those issues, each except paint no more than a weekend project at best. Still, if more than you would wish to take on, then of course the price was too much.

Negotiating a mutually acceptable price is a big deal in itself. I've walked on more than a few deals just because the seller and I couldn't see eye to eye. If you can't trust a seller, something he said, or he cops an attitude, even a price you believe is fair can be too much to pay. You'll find a car you love like a woman, you'll be glad to pay more than someone else would, then that's the right car for you. You sure don't want to buy something and have second thoughts as you drive away.

[Hgiljr]

Alan totally agree about having to do repairs as no car will be perfect, but when you don't have that warm fuzzy feeling and know there is more to the picture then the seller is telling you, I just followed my gut. As you said, I will eventually walk up to one that I love...

[mhsprecher]

It is funny how things work out. I passed on two prior cars that I was looking at, both V8s, both in good shape and reasonably priced. I regretted not getting both, but then came across a Model A roadster that was a very nice car at a very nice price. I bought that in little more than a heartbeat and am as happy as I can be. It never would have happened had I bought either of the others.

There was just something that was holding me back on the other two. I don't believe in fate or that anything was destined to happen, just that there are other opportunities out there that sometimes you aren't even looking for. I love 36s and coupes, but if it didn't feel right, then it probably wasn't right.

[ct1932ford]

Surprised it is not sold yet!

[ccnelson]

I'm with JM35 and Martin.

[papanomad]

it would cost a lot more than 24k to restore a basket case. you're much better off buying a car that is turn key.

[BrianCT]

I feel the main point here would be the body and frame .
If it is super straight and always dry, it would make a great project.
However, I would not believe a word the seller spoke.

[Hgiljr]

After catching the seller on many lies, I knew there was more. Again I have no problem finding a project car, but at the right price. I do appreciate everyone's help and feedback.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Maybe you could pass the contact information on to others who might be interested (not me, since I already bought a '35 std 5w coupe in 2011). You wouldn't necessarily have to post it here if you didn't feel comfortable about that. They could PM or email you for the information. Some may think it is a good deal even with the things you mention that need attention and would like to go look at it. Just a thought.

[deuce lover]

I heard its currently listed in Hemmings