Re: new member hoping to get his feet wet
Posted by Troy Taylor On 2016/7/28 20:27:03
Hey Rudy, Welcome to the club.
Dont be afraid of being a different kind of car then your used to but, understand the car and how it differs from more modern rides.
Collectible and pricing varies and is dependent on which 326 you are looking at. Sedan, Coupe, Phaeton etc. Lets assume standard sedan. Fairly common, yes collectible and can turn profit depending on what you decide to do with it.
A fully restored sedan commonly will fetch 50-55k, at 22k purchase price, you have about 25k head room to break even. The level of restoration will affect that price, Concours restore will take you North of 50k.
22k is not bad Assuming the car is solid, upholstery etc. I would shoot in the 17k range based on the herd I have acquired and varying levels of need.
Do not let a stuck engine shy you away. With this year of car regardless if stuck or not, in my experience the engine should be tore down. These engines are babbitt bearings and internals wear. I am currently rebuilding two of these engines. One stuck, one not. Both, the bearings were worn down to the brass backings, Piston pins shot and 1/8" plus of piston wobble. It would not have been long before the engine would have crapped a rod.
Rebuild parts, machining, hardened seats, re-babbitt count on around 3k if you are doing the labor.
Body- These cars are framed totally out of wood. I can not emphasis enough looks can be deceiving. Just because the sheet metal is "solid" does not make the car solid. get the car on a lift or get under the car. Check the main wooden rails for rot/softening. Use an awl or a small screwdriver to prob the wood. Check the doors, pillars, windshield, and roof. I have a 28 that has been sitting since mid 60's and the wood was rotten and shot. yet, I have one that has been sitting for 65 years and as solid as the day it was built.
If you have any wood damage, you will need to become a carpenter, and be forewarned, these cars were not meant to come apart, I am sure the engineers had no forethought of restorations 80 years forward. That said, it is Amazing the way they put these cars together they are tanks considering they are all nailed or tacked together.
I hope this helps in some ways, you will have a blast if you go for it. Here are a few pics of fun ahead of you.
Attach file:
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Dont be afraid of being a different kind of car then your used to but, understand the car and how it differs from more modern rides.
Collectible and pricing varies and is dependent on which 326 you are looking at. Sedan, Coupe, Phaeton etc. Lets assume standard sedan. Fairly common, yes collectible and can turn profit depending on what you decide to do with it.
A fully restored sedan commonly will fetch 50-55k, at 22k purchase price, you have about 25k head room to break even. The level of restoration will affect that price, Concours restore will take you North of 50k.
22k is not bad Assuming the car is solid, upholstery etc. I would shoot in the 17k range based on the herd I have acquired and varying levels of need.
Do not let a stuck engine shy you away. With this year of car regardless if stuck or not, in my experience the engine should be tore down. These engines are babbitt bearings and internals wear. I am currently rebuilding two of these engines. One stuck, one not. Both, the bearings were worn down to the brass backings, Piston pins shot and 1/8" plus of piston wobble. It would not have been long before the engine would have crapped a rod.
Rebuild parts, machining, hardened seats, re-babbitt count on around 3k if you are doing the labor.
Body- These cars are framed totally out of wood. I can not emphasis enough looks can be deceiving. Just because the sheet metal is "solid" does not make the car solid. get the car on a lift or get under the car. Check the main wooden rails for rot/softening. Use an awl or a small screwdriver to prob the wood. Check the doors, pillars, windshield, and roof. I have a 28 that has been sitting since mid 60's and the wood was rotten and shot. yet, I have one that has been sitting for 65 years and as solid as the day it was built.
If you have any wood damage, you will need to become a carpenter, and be forewarned, these cars were not meant to come apart, I am sure the engineers had no forethought of restorations 80 years forward. That said, it is Amazing the way they put these cars together they are tanks considering they are all nailed or tacked together.
I hope this helps in some ways, you will have a blast if you go for it. Here are a few pics of fun ahead of you.
Attach file:
(241.71 KB)
(317.13 KB)
(161.55 KB)
(145.15 KB)
(75.71 KB)
(98.32 KB)
(109.61 KB)
(69.65 KB)
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