Hello all, the 26 barn find thread reminded me of a 26 or 27 Tudor that I looked at a year ago. It is sitting in a chicken coop about an hour from me. It looks to be complete, motor is not stuck (I checked), covered in surface rust, five wire wheels. No title bill of sale, this guy has had it parked for years. My interest would be to get it running good, fix mechanicals, and drive it. I know its difficult to value without pics, but what do ya think? Thanks in advance,
Brian
See, they're all in Wisconsin. Brian, maybe you should send me the guys address and I'll go take a look. Then I'll let you know what I paid... I mean think it's worth.
Do you think right around two grand is too much? Im tellin ya it's all there but not real pretty, and no title? I don't know why I can't stop thinking about it.
Brian,
The value to your self esteem and your family will be inestimable once it is in your possession and you are behind the steering wheel motoring down the road.
Go for it....spend your "entertainment" money for a couple years and don't go into debt for it - your pleasure & happiness and the satisfaction of rejuvenation will be a great reward!
If you can get it for 2 grand buy it!
That's a good price but you'll have more than 2 grand worth of fun with it.
The thing is, I really believe I can get it running, I did that with my Fordor. I just don't want to buy a TOTAL money pit. I kinda think it's worth that in parts alone (although I wouldn't part it out. I guess worst case scenario, maybe speedster build?
Brian
Brian - Tell us more. Does it have usable upholstery? A decent looking top, or no top at all, or something in between? Does it have tires and are they "up", or do they look like they're "rollers" at least? And, of course, how are the doors, especially the door bottoms? You said it is covered in surface rust.....does that mean there's still some paint on it under the surface rust? Is there oil in the crankcase? I imagine the block has been drained, right?
All of these things will help determine its' value.
I know you're all enthused about this, but you still have to step back and be realistic too. We can help you with that.
Could you perhaps post a picture or two? It would help.
Keith
Keith, I need to get back there to look it over more closely. From what I remember a year ago, the body has no rust through, just covered in surface rust ( never know how bad that can be). Interior is there, but REALLY REALLY dirty and crusty. Useable? maybe. Gentleman that has it bought it and parked it. Who knows if oil was drained. When I first heard about it, price was two, I get there and it turned into twenty five hundred. I guess maybe I got such a good deal on my Fordor that it seems too high, especially with no title. Idont think it would take long too long to spend 1500.00 just to get it running and safe. Now youre at 4000.00 Is it worth 2000.00? Im not sure. All I know is I cant stop thinking about it. I almost hate to go back as he will think it's a sure sell. Hate to see it just sit there like I know it will, and I do not want to offend him. we will see.
Brian
Brian, stop talking and start doing. Go get the darn thing. You know your going to anyway.
Mike,
I promised myself that IF I ever got another, Model T it would have to be an open car, preferably roadster pre 1923, I guess. A Tudor, I'm not sure. Thinking about bringing CASH with me next time, people tend to be a little more realistic that way.
Brian
I paid $2600 for my '26 touring back in '94.
It had good rubber on demountable clinchers but there were things missing inside the engine/trans unit and the body was a mess. It probably had been rolled on the rt. side.
One fender was still good, it had a speedo hole in the dash.
The good thing about is that it had no rust holes.
if you don't have to hunt or bargain for windshield stations, top bows, fenders, etc. then a couple thousand seems pretty cheap.
If it has a Ruckstell or a Warford and Rockies I would grab it right now. If not I'd wait until morning.
Aaron, I was hoping for ruckstell or rockies when I went to see it a year ago, no such luck, and yes I will keep thinking about it. I hate to take pics of the thing, cause you know how people are, he will probably start thinking it is worth even more. I've never understood why people keep things that they never use let alone see. Then it just goes to crap. I waited five years for the Fordor in my profile, kid said he would never sell it. One day he said come look at it, so I did. he knew it was a 1927, but wasn't sure what kind of car! His great Aunt left it for him and he had NO interest in it, hard to believe, oh well we are all different I guess...
Brian
If you have the cash, buy it. If it looks to be more of a project than you want to tackle...flip it. Someone will buy and probably give you a little more Christmas money to boot.
Brian, when I bought my '26 Tudor I was able to drive it on the trailer and that was about it. The body is solid, the interior is shot. Tires are fair but the motor, transmission and rearend were pretty much toast. I paid a pretty good price for it at $4500.00. But I've never regretted buying it. Since I bought it I've put about $3600.00 into it for a total of $6100.00 spent. Is it worth that much? Heck no. Do I regret putting money into it? Heck no. Am I happy with it? God yes! The way I look at it, a flat screen tv can cost well over $1000.00. I paid somewhere around $600.00 for mine. Will I ever get my money back out of it? No! Am I glad I bought it? Sure, winters are 7 months long in this god forsaken country. I paid the money for the TV so I didn't have to sit here on this computer with nothing to do with my life. I bought the Tudor because winters in this god forsaken country are 7 months long. I need something to keep me from sitting in front of this $600.00 TV all the time. I haven't got $6100.00 invested in a Model T. I've got $6100.00 invested in keeping my sanity. If people in this hobby would stop trying to justify every cent they spend and actually look at this as a hobby I think there'd be a little more peace in this world and there wouldn't be so many anal retentive experts doing this.
i've sure seen a lot of good cars die that were not for sale. 20 years later when its a piece of junk then, its for sale
Brian.......I see you're in Wisconsin too.......
In Wisconsin if you can get the last registration certificate and a bill of sale the state should issue a new title.
If the car was from New York state, for example, it would be a cake walk.
I'd call the DMV first.
Mike, you're spot on. So what if you pay more than it's worth. if you can afford it and want it, buy it, in may be a while before you have another chance and you've missed out on the enjoyment all that time. Most of the guys on this forum would say I paid too much for my 09 and that's alright. After a little while I don't even miss the money. (can't say that my wife feels the same way) even though I haven't started work on at least I have one and I like to look at it. This is not to be construed to encourage anyone to go into debt for a car they can't afford.
I agree with Clayton. In this area there were cars over the years that literally rotted down to the ground.
I remember a 56 Buick hardtop that was off to the side of the road and after 30+ years it was almost worthless. Also saw a mid 30's Packard just rot down in a junkyard. It looked pretty good when I was in my twenties and the owner was waiting for the right price. After almost 30 years urban renewal took in the area and everything was hauled off. The Packard was a rotten rusted hulk. To many more to talk about here.