Hard Choices, all or part?

[Olddaddy]

Everybody knows the past few years have been hard, for everybody. Me too. I've come to a point where I have sell off my last treasure, my 50 Plymouth Suburban wagon. Hard decision to make, but necessary. The difficult economy and my wife's declining health made the decision only slightly easier for me. The hard part is whether to sell it whole, or in parts. Let me elaborate. About four years ago the car was taken down for restoration. Everything was either replaced with NOS parts, or the part itself was fully restored to better than new condition. All the bodywork was done including full new rockers etc. There is no rust or rot, none. The painting is mostly done except for the body shell, but it's underway. A few more examples, the original radio was restored, fully updated to am/fm with a CD/Ipod jack added. All the bits were chromed and the grille was replated original green color. Both bumpers are NOS and were sent out for new chrome. All the trim pieces, every single piece, was bought NOS and re-chromed. New suspension, four wheel discs, rebuilt Mopar 8 3/4 rear, wiring harness, lizard skin sprayed everywhere, new floors, rebuilt steering box, NOS gauges, dash bezel, hood bezel, fully rebuilt flathead with serious improvements including 2bbl intake, dual exhaust, shaved head, decked block, balanced, and on and on and on. This was to be my car, my last car so money was no object at the time. It is an object now. So, do I try to sell a car that is apart as a whole project or start the painful parting out process. We've all been here, today is my turn. I'll post some pics later. What would you do?

[Frank Elder]

Unfortunately it is a buyers market....you will never recoup what you put into a rebuild.......still I would attempt to sell the whole car 99 x out of 100, parting out a car is a long drawn out process and everybody will try to lowball you.

Edited April 11, 2012 by FRANKIE47

[oldmopar]

When you part out the car the parts that only fit the wagons go quick and at a good price the rest sell slower as they are basic to most plymouths of the era.

Also as you know there are not a lot of suburbans around so it would be unfortunate if another complet car was used for parts.

[Plymouthy Adams]

Charlie, the best bet would be go balls to the wall and get it completed and put it on the market...a parts car will make some moeny as will a project but the unfortunate parts is neither will recoup the money as that of a finished car. Sadly again, at the rate you spent for your final to end all family cars has put lots of money out of your pocket that in some cases will never net the full value on return except to the end user (yourself as the intended owner) over a period of maintenance free years..

am sending couple other suggestions PM

[Merle Coggins]

Sounds like it just needs to be reassembled. What would it take to get it all back together? I would think a complete vehicle would bring more than a "basket case" project. Even a "nearly finished" project would be more appealing to me than fully disassembled one.

Merle

[BobT-47P15]

Darn, Charlie.......hate to hear that.

You've certainly done a lot for other old Mopar owners with your

parts business.

I would agree with others above that a finished car would be preferable

to parting out. Hope this all works out OK for you.

Bob

[Don Coatney]

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[TodFitch]

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Not sure that is true when it comes to cars and car parts. Seems like it'd cost a whole lot more to build a car paying parts department prices than to get the car off the show room floor.

As much as I'd hate to see a car parted out, I suspect that if the object is to maximize the money that would be the way to go. Of course it will take a fair amount of time and effort to sell all the parts and that might also be a consideration.

[pflaming]

I'm no expert on this one, but you might shoot a price you'd live with. You won't know until you try. You need only one person who wants a suburban like his father had.

Monday I called the salvage yard which had the axle. He wanted $250 for it. I told him I had X # of crisp $20 bills that I would like to trade for the axle. He said, start driving!

I wish you well, you've been a big help to me.

[suntennis]

It has to be hard to give up a project that you have given so much time and thought to. Sell only as a package and nothing else. Ebay and the POC Bulletin should get you some offers. Another difficult thing will be a price that will sell and that you can live with. Best of success.

[dezeldoc]

In my experience it is in most cases worth more in parts. A sad thing, but parts move faster than a whole car, finished or not. pretty much how i make most of my money these days, parting out cars and boats.

[Plymouthy Adams]

I know this car and I also know Charlie, he has put lots of love and money into this what was to be his ultimate 50's family car..I do not think there is any way that he could part this car out and regain his cash outlay..and even if he parted a majority of the components out, he'd still be shy of outlay and have the hulk of a useless body just laying about..for those folks who buy cars to parts out, yeah sure you can do well passing along panels and parts that are complete but in need of rework as most buyers here are looking only for a solid example of the item, your initial outlay of cash is very low compared to a well thought out and advance state of repair as is this case. Face it, strip, prep, possible sandblast, acid etc and prime or send small parts out for rechroming..yeah..math is not going to be in your favor..plus you know that reworking the engine is expensive even if you do your own labor..getting that amount back from sale of the engine..right..this crowd on the averages don't even answer ads for free pick up of engines when offered in the parts section..so I hope it never comes to where any of us would have to part with our pride and joy but I will say this and feel I will be right in the groove, most of you will not want to risk parting out a car that is most complete over selling the entire project one package..the risk is great you sell a few key components..be stuck with the rest, then if an interested party showed interest in the car..the key parts already sold will make the remaining hulk a hard item to sell..personally I am in contact with Charlie and am going to see if I can help him out with this..this guy has done a lot for the forum and its time to help him back if possible.

[Young Ed]

You gotta sell it whole or you'll be faced with some leftover piece of it throwing memories at you.

Charlie sad to see you having to part with your pride and joy. Hope something works out between you and Tim.

[james curl]

I hope that Tim and Charlie can work something out as the car is worth more as is than it would be as parts. Check the old car sellers and you will see a roller with a nova front clip, no engine or transmission with a Ford nine inch rear end and they are asking $10,000.00 to $14,000.00 for it. I would not ever sell it as parts as you would loose too much money on this vehicle. Norville here on the forum picked up a running flat head with OD transmission, the engine has an alum. head a dual intake with carburetors and air cleaners plus stove bolt cast iron headers. He did not say what he paid for it but the head, manifold and carbs with the cast iron headers would set you back $1200.00 to 1500.00 at any swap meet. I would wager he paid less for the whole package including the OD to the person he bought it from.

Edited April 13, 2012 by james curl

[mrwrstory]

I'm with the majority....

Number one, condolences for the spot you're in. It takes courage to acknowledge the options of a difficult situation. Many of us have been there and/or will be as we and those we love age. Best wishes and good luck.

Seems that if you could expedite assembly of the unfinished car, it could be marketable to someone for their first project, something to learn on and choose the easy stuff like paint and interior.

Also, and with no disrespect for our restoration brotheren, consider offering the engine separate from the rest. Your potential market will include those who will "Hot Rod" it whether you like it or not.

Good luck to you and your bride!

[PatS....]

I'm trying to sell my Chrysler as a project car because of my health issues, our economy up here is just short of booming and my ad on Kijiji got over 4000 looks and not a single call on it. I need the cash and I need it out of the garage so parting it out isn't going to help much. It could take years to sell all the parts at a few bucks here and a few bucks there. Then there are the dozens of phone calls and emails from guys wondering if the grille will fit a Hyundai...(YES, it will!!! ).

For me, I'll keep it and hope for the best. I'll just get rid of everything else.

Charlie, I sincerely hope it all works out for you and your wife.

[Olddaddy]

I appreciate all the comments and advice. I'm really pleased to be part of this great group of people. I'm sure something will work out one way or the other. I'm inclinded to find a buyer rather than continue working on something I can no longer afford to keep, but whatever works out will have to be ok. Parting would be less preferable, but is an option. All up in the air at present, but I'm not worried, I've been in tougher scrapes before. Many thanks, to all of you!