Hello everyone, new guy here with a question

[dfaulkner]

So, I drove past a 1949 Dodge 4 door for sale down the street from me. I was intrigued because I'd never seen a car like it before.

Body seems straight, chrome trim has little bumps all over it and is rough, interior is all there, small amounts of rust on the door sills and more in the trunk area and spare tire well. Engine seems to look in good shape, battery is missing and it does not run according to the owner.

I've been wanting to do a classic rebuild/build for a few months now. This SEEMS like a good project, but here's my questions.

He wants $1500 for it. Does that sound high? I was going to offer $1000. What do you think? I appreciate any and all advise.

Awesome site too btw, been reading for the past 2 days.

Drew

Edited October 29, 2010 by dfaulkner

[Young Ed]

Hard to tell without pictures. But you've got a 4dr with some rust that doesn't run and needs chrome. 1500 does seem high. 1000 might be high too. You can always go back up

[dfaulkner]

yeah, I'm going to try and get pics today if I can.

[Reg Evans]

Here are some eBay comps.

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Cars-Trucks-/6001/i.html?Make=Dodge&_dmpt=US_Cars_Trucks&_mqf=0&_qfkw=1&_trksid=p4506.c0.m273&_myi=1949&_fpos=95949&_lsbx=0&_fspt=0&_flso=0

[BobT-47P15]

Drew, it's the age old question.

Seller thinks it's worth something - evidently $1500.

Sounds, from your description, like a fairly decent old car.

You saw some rust in the trunk - was it just some small places,

or larger holes? Did you look under it at the floorboards, which

are also subject to rust? Is the grille, hood and trunk emblems

(which are chrome) pitted badly? You have to either replace or

re-chrome those items to be nice.

The side trim is stainless steel. It can usually be found for sale on

ebay or at swap meets. Stainless can be buffed back to a nice shine

with a little practice and a buffer wheel at home.

Seller sez not running. That could turn out to be one of several things.

If it will at least turn over, may be something like carb and/or fuel; points

& plugs needed, sort of minor things. If motor is stuck and will not turn

at all - it might free up with some work, or may need a rebuild or

replacement.

Are you much of a mechanic - can you do part or all the work needed?

Or, like some guys, willing to learn as you go?

I'd say you might test the water at some rather lower figure for starters.

Then perhaps go to your $1000....or whatever figure.

Unfortunately, in today's world and money, $1000 is about what $250 or $500

was years ago.

Don't want to price the other person's merchandise, but the name of

the game is to buy something as reasonable as you can. That's what

people would do to me when I sold some old cars back in the 1970s.

And you can't tell how motivated the seller may be.

Good luck in your negotiations.

[dfaulkner]

I am somewhat mechanically inclined and definately willing to learn what I dont know. One of the reasons for going with an older vehicle. The rust was pretty bad under the trunk, forgot to check the floor pans. Hopefully, I can get by there today for pics.

[Merle Coggins]

Some other considerations on the price... does it run and/or do the brakes work? If it's mechanically sound but needs some body work $1500 doesn't sound too bad. If the engine is seized, the brakes are dry, AND it needs body work I would try hard to stay under $1000.

Merle

[Bingster]

I'll throw in my two cents worth. . .

There was a 1947 Desoto sedan parked in a town near me that I admired for a long time. It was sitting out in the weather. I found out who owned it and went to the car and administered WD-40 and such when the owner indicated he might trade with some cash.

Anyway, I ended up buying the car for $3900.00 I think it was. Part of the deal was that I could work on it in his garage (he owned a car repair place.)

It's been about two years and the car is still in his garage. I have been working on it. But in the meantime I have seen another '47 Desoto that was in better condition than mine and less money.

The point is, a specific car may get you interested in a make and model, but you might do better searching for a better one once you decide that's the kind you want.

I have no regrets about buying "Carlo", but I may have had an easier time with less chrome to plate and such if I had looked around instead of buying the specific car near me.

[bearheart]

I paid $2200 for my 49 coronet coupe, solid body, inspected and drove it home. Needed repaint, tires, interior, odds and ends. Very happy with my choice.

[carls 49]

hi drew and welcome. good to have you here. doesn't sound like a bad price. offer less and you can always go up. these old cars are so much fun.

[53_Suburban]

Welcome Drew. Like Young Ed said, it's kind of hard to make a call without pictures. I'd say a lot depends on how much rust there is and why it's not running.

[Plymouthy Adams]

its simple, if you like it, the price is right (you are confortable with it) then get it and be done with it..then let the fun begin...

[Mark Haymond]

Hi Drew,

I have a 50 Plymouth. What was important to me was the car I bought had all the dash knobs, emblems, engine parts and other small parts and the body was straight. If it has all the pieces that means you will spend less time and money getting missing parts. The upside is that it is not a popular or valuable collector car. So the parts on Ebay are pretty cheap and do not go for high prices.

I have not seen it, but his price seems high.

[dfaulkner]

Man, I KNEW I came to the right place! You guys are very helpful and I appreciate it. I had honestly never seen this model car before I spied this one this week. I thought it was very unique and it did catch my eye.

Here are pics.

[dfaulkner]

door sill rust, passenger side is a bit worse

the spare tire well is rusted thru as well. Anyway. dont want to run the guy off with an extremely low bid, but I do know he's motivated to sell since this sale will help fund his purchase of a Model A. Thanks again for all the advise fellas! I'll be gone all weekend so it will be monday before any negotiations can take place.

[carls 49]

here's a few pics of my 49 for you to compare. mine is a survivor,fun car.

[BobT-47P15]

Nice (but faded) license plate. Could be repainted.

Those lenses might be a tad hard to find.

Seen better and seen worse old cars.

Has room for improvement, and will give you something

to keep you busy for a while.

[RobertKB]

The rust is an issue as it appears to be pretty bad. You are looking at likely rechoming anything with chrome. Even the radio grille will need it. I would say the car is not worth the asking price. If you don't mind body work and looking on ebay for reasonably priced trim parts, I would offer him $500 with cash in hand, literally. As mentioned earlier, you can always raise the price later.

[Reg Evans]

I bought this 49 Dodge in about 06 for $2450. It only needed a new battery and an ignition wire to get it running again. I did have to rebuild the brakes too. The upholstery had been totally redone years earlier but was still in very good shape. I sold it in 07 for $2900. The roof rack was mine and just sitting on the roof for the photo.

Just another comp for you.

[dfaulkner]

what typically causes the chrome parts to get bumpy like that other than just age and elements? And can you repair or will everything need replaced/rechromed.

[desoto1939]

The water and elements have gotten to the base of the metal parts. You will need to replace or send to a Chrome plater to have the old chrome ground off and then triple plated. This is costly. Or you can search for good used quality or NOS New Old Stock that has not been ever used. NOS does not mean that the item is perfect. The item willhave been sitting in storage for 50+ years and wil lhave scraches on them. Rememebr sometime an NOS item might not have been perfect when it was made and the dealer put it back into stock and it was never sold or returned back to Chrysler.

As one person also stated just do not jump at the first car. Look it over and evaluate the cost to repair. The cost of repairing over the long haul sometimes is more, more often yes. Then getting a good quality car that has most of the work already done.

Good luck with your decision and the guys will help out with your questions.

Rich HArtung

1939 Desoto owner

[Chester Brzostowski]

If you want to get a handle on what you might be in to check out my web blog.

I purchased my P15 in September of 2004 for a similar amount.

Here I am 6 years later.

If you want and idea what you are getting into, check out my web blog at:

http://www.chetscoins.com/1948p15/index.htm

It is all documented one weekend at a time.

Chet…

[Captain Neon]

I'd keep looking. While this may be the first '49 Dodge four door you've ever seen, I can assure you that these are quite common. I think you should be able to find one a lot nicer for just a little more money than he is asking for this car. Lots of folks are motivated to sell this time of year as storage space gets scarce, and city governments start cracking down on derelict cars stashed in backyards and alleys.

It looks as though it has been setting outside neglected for a very long time. I've pulled trim pieces out of old juncqueyards in SD that have set out for over 20 years in better shape that what you are showing. I notice in the one photo where the brake pedal is all the way to the floor. I can only assume that you will need a complete brake job. I wouldn't pay more than $500 cash, and I would anticipate this one being a parts car for a nicer '49 Dodge.

I know you are excited a bout building a cool old car, but this one may not be the one. It looks cobbled to gether, poorly maintained, and neglected. Keep looking, you are bound to find some thing that you like better. We can't save'em all, and, IMHO, the best way to "save" this one may be to put its better parts to use in an other car. Looking back, I only regret not buying one car that I was talked out of, a '48 DeSoto Suburban, but I think I know where it went, and I am glad that it got the restoration and appreciation it deserved. Likely, neither it nor my '46 P15S more door would be where they are at had I owned both. I still have a soft spot for DeSotos and may own one of my own just yet. Maybe a '58?

[captden29]

that car will need alot of work and probably more money than you think. if it is the car of your dreams, go for it, but i would want to pay much less than asking price. i really think you should look around more as this car will not sell soon at $1500. a driver that you can have some fun with might be a better starter car.those front seats have to go, so a new re-upholstered seat is just the beginning. these old mopars are really nice , and much more affordable than many other cars. i think you can do better if you take more time. capt den

[Frank Elder]

Just the pitted chrome alone will cost you more than the asking price.