Help wanted, I'm getting depressed!!
Posted by Xavier Brulez On 2012/11/25 17:54:50
Hi V8 brothers,
I have a 56 Clipper Deluxe as you all know... .
The car has a Belgian license plate for daily use, so that means that the car may be used whenever I want, but it needs a yearly technical control inspection.
Last summer I had an appointment at the control station, they checked the car and made a positive decision for road safety and gave a green light for mechanical quality. The only remark was the poor state of the rockers, but because the car has an separate solid chassis, they won't keep it off the roads.
Yeah, it's visible that the lower side does has rust and also that the chrome parts aren't perfect anymore. There is a tear in the drivers seat cushion and the drivers door arm rest is worn.
When I lifted the car, indeed the underside of the fenders, the inner and outer rockers and also the rear fender/wheelwell is in a bad shape because of rust.
Since the inspection I was searching for a body shop who can redo the car.
Most of them don't want to do such old cars because of the big work it may be... .
Finally I've found a shop at Nieuwpoort, at the Belgian east-coast who would take a look at the car. I made an appointment, so I drove 55 miles at saturday to Nieuwpoort with the Packard to show him the car.
I mentioned him that all repair panels were available at the States to repair the car. Parts would cost +/- $ 500.-
He put the car on a lift for closer inspection of the underside of the car:
I quote the man:
Hmm, there will be a lot of work at the car, replacing the rockers will not be easy!! The body does has to be removed from the chassis for having a good access to the rockers. This will cause a lot of labour hours!! Keep in mind that when removing the old rockers and lower rear fender plate we might find unpleasant things there! I think this will run into 500 labour hours to repair it what means you may expect a price for metal works beginning at $ 25,000.- add approx $ 5,000.- for redoing the chrome and add approx $ 3,000.- for the seats and door panels. That results in $ 33,000.- excluding 21% VAT or a total amount "beginning" at $ 40,000.- repairing the car !!!
You have to know that for this minimum price the chassis will NOT be redone, there will NO work be done at engine or tranny nor the dash ( which is good ).
When I check American websites where cars are sold, I see that Clippers in a good to near perfect shape always are sold for prices lower than 15 till $ 20,000.-
Right now my question: Is it acceptable to make such big costs to a Clipper??
Do I come from another planet or is the price offered by that man totally absurd?
What do you think?
Advices?
Maybe I should better get rid of the car and buy something in a good ( better ) shape???
Help !!
Xavier
I have a 56 Clipper Deluxe as you all know... .
The car has a Belgian license plate for daily use, so that means that the car may be used whenever I want, but it needs a yearly technical control inspection.
Last summer I had an appointment at the control station, they checked the car and made a positive decision for road safety and gave a green light for mechanical quality. The only remark was the poor state of the rockers, but because the car has an separate solid chassis, they won't keep it off the roads.
Yeah, it's visible that the lower side does has rust and also that the chrome parts aren't perfect anymore. There is a tear in the drivers seat cushion and the drivers door arm rest is worn.
When I lifted the car, indeed the underside of the fenders, the inner and outer rockers and also the rear fender/wheelwell is in a bad shape because of rust.
Since the inspection I was searching for a body shop who can redo the car.
Most of them don't want to do such old cars because of the big work it may be... .
Finally I've found a shop at Nieuwpoort, at the Belgian east-coast who would take a look at the car. I made an appointment, so I drove 55 miles at saturday to Nieuwpoort with the Packard to show him the car.
I mentioned him that all repair panels were available at the States to repair the car. Parts would cost +/- $ 500.-
He put the car on a lift for closer inspection of the underside of the car:
I quote the man:
Hmm, there will be a lot of work at the car, replacing the rockers will not be easy!! The body does has to be removed from the chassis for having a good access to the rockers. This will cause a lot of labour hours!! Keep in mind that when removing the old rockers and lower rear fender plate we might find unpleasant things there! I think this will run into 500 labour hours to repair it what means you may expect a price for metal works beginning at $ 25,000.- add approx $ 5,000.- for redoing the chrome and add approx $ 3,000.- for the seats and door panels. That results in $ 33,000.- excluding 21% VAT or a total amount "beginning" at $ 40,000.- repairing the car !!!
You have to know that for this minimum price the chassis will NOT be redone, there will NO work be done at engine or tranny nor the dash ( which is good ).
When I check American websites where cars are sold, I see that Clippers in a good to near perfect shape always are sold for prices lower than 15 till $ 20,000.-
Right now my question: Is it acceptable to make such big costs to a Clipper??
Do I come from another planet or is the price offered by that man totally absurd?
What do you think?
Advices?
Maybe I should better get rid of the car and buy something in a good ( better ) shape???
Help !!
Xavier
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