Hi everyone...intro and value question

[Guest Original49]

My name is Travis, and I live in Boulder, CO. This forum is great! I've always been a fan of these older cars, and I recently found a real gem of a find - a green 1949 Plymouth 4dr with 49,098 original miles. It is owned by the original owner's grandson, and while the world turned, advanced, and changed, he kept it shut up inside a dry storage facility, up on blocks, for almost 3 decades (though he did keep it 'fresh' and not let the engine sit for too long at a time). There are pictures of it at

http://www.fuse-photographic.com/other/1949Plymouth.html

It isn't 'pristine,' needs some good TLC as it was driven 49K, but starts, runs like a sewing machine, drives with a tight clutch, stops while pulling left, and is about 98% original. I've also got the full story on its history. After viewing the photos, can anyone give me estimates on its value? I know it's largely a subjective thing, but I'd like to at least get a baseline from the experts here. To buy, or not to buy, (and for how much)...that is the question...Thanks for any help,

[BobT-47P15]

Hi and welcome. It looks on the one hand like a pretty nice car, all things considered. I guess there are some places the paint is off.....I wonder if they ever had it covered with a tarp. Stops while pulling left probably means all the wheel cylinders probably need to be rebuilt.....or at least the left front one. Maybe new brake linings. If those are places where paint is worn thru, then eventually a paint job would be needed. However, it would seem it can be driven without much doing.

Have you looked on ebay to see what sort of prices are being asked for a similar car? Have you looked in one of the antique car price guides?? There is a magazine found on news stands or you can even use NADA....they have a section on antique cars. This should give some idea.

[1949P17BC]

two questions, What are they asking for it and what are you willing to pay for it. When you buy it and plan on driving it, you will want it safe. So plan on overhauling the brakes,( wheel cylinders, Master cylinder and line for sure) next will be shocks and tires (go new its not worth the risk) some motor work, they all need it. Now can you do the work, or will you have to have it done. If I was going to try and buy it I would start at $2500, Understanding I will have to put at least $1500 dollars into it. Good luck, don't think of it as an investment rather as a hobby. You'll love it.

[Guest Original49]

Thanks for the replies so far; I'd rather hold off on telling what it's price is until getting objective estimates from you guys - the Plymouth Kings! So far $2500 sounds like a decent baseline, I guess I was hoping since it has such low mileage it would be worth more, but I guess it is a 4dr - so wouldn't go for as much as a 2dr. Anyone else? I can do the work myself, BTW. Thanks again!

Oh, and anyone have a source for the trunk and floor mats, among other parts? I'm having a heck of a time finding a solid source for everything. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

[Normspeed]

Looks like a nice old survivor. The bumpers and cool hood ornament look real good and the rest of the exterior trim is all there although needs a little TLC like you said. I like the color, and if that is the original color, you might get by with a Maaco type repaint with minimal body work first. The drivers door got tweaked, maybe someone backed it up with the door open and hooked it on something. Upholstery will need work while the dash looks pretty nice as is. Has some rust issues but they all do. Can you tell if it's ever been repainted, and if so check the lower body and fenders for signs of bondo. If you're looking for a fun driver and not a show car, I'd think somewhere around $2500 might be a good price, with the understanding that you'll be putting that much more into it pretty quick, with brakes, body work, paint, interior. The glass is minor, it's flat and easily replaced. Nice thing, it hasn't been messed with too much. Motor looks bone stock and the only mod I see is the muffler.

Lots of good advice and tech info here on the forum. If you want to price some of the parts you might need, check Kanter in NJ, Roberts in Mass., J.C. Whitney for carpeting. They all have online catalogs. You could have a nice solid fun car for way less than the cost of a late model used car. Like a lot of us here, you probably won't make money off it. But the fun factor is real high when you tool around town in one of these old classics.

[randroid]

Travis,

I live in Loveland and work at Andrea's in Lyons, and would like to meet another local enthusiast.

I can't help you with values because I intentionally over-spent when re-building my engine, but you'll never get back from your kids what you put into them, either, so lie to us as to what you spend for it and enjoy the drive.

There are several members in this area; JohnnyS ("Mongo like candy!") and I had coffee last Spring and he's a great guy, and he's met other members in the Denver metro area.

Just having one of these cars on the road will make local contacts for you, in my experience, so welcome to the forum.

-Randy

[Lou Earle]

Looks like good driver . there are some issues with the rocker panels from what i see. Interior look Good as does dash.

I just bought a 54 with working overdrive and good engine brakes - drivable car - but needs tires fro 2300 . It needs interior re done.

As to brakes if pulls to right the problem is usually left brake not engaging for some reason.

Count on the following

1 master cyl needs rebuilding- at the least- as do all wheels cyls(6 of them)

Worst- all new cyls-master 150 wheels wheel 50 each- Most people do not agree with me but Bernbaum's is the cheapest in the long run and except for his rubber products his stuff is good-- he is grumpy-- but good.

I have done many car - over 15 - and please believer me you are going to spend 3 to 5 grand so go easy on getting price

1 paint- 1500

2 brakes- 400to 600

3 upholstery 1500

4 tires- a must- 300

5 Battery 70

6 tune up 25

7 Probably generator and starter rebuild and voltage regulator replacement- 175l

Well that about covers it - I just have never gotten a car up to excellent driver for less than about 5 grand in investment - cost of car and repairs.

My daily driver criterion- a car I would like to buy 30 miles form home and be able to drive it home.

PS before you drive it much I would encourage you to drop the oil pan now. I bought a car that way - not run in years and the oil looked like rat dropping with oil added- lots of small pebbles and thick goo. I am now a believer in that

good luck

Lou

[1just4don]

Much more rust underneath than I expected to see,,,has this lived in 'salt' country its whole life?? Sure looks like it. I have a actual 28K car in the garage(non-mopar) but I caution you to NOT fall for that old line of,,,its first time around. Yeah right. IF so they better have some docs to that. Most ALL oldies like this has the original oil change stickers in the door frame. IF they dont line up to say,,,its so,,,or,,,they are all gone,,,maybe they are pulling your leg,,or dont know any better. MOST of this generation had 100K plus whats on the speedo,,,and some had 200K plus showing miles. I cant see how much wear is on the pedal surfaces so wont venture to guess,,,use your own good judgement.

I see more wear on the seat than they would normally get in 49K too. Unless they forgot to close there winders and had alot of 'surprise' rain showers!!

And one thing for DARN SURE,,,his 'grandpa' didnt paint that rearend that bright red as well as the driveshaft. AND didnt buy that cherry bomb muffler either!! Was the rearend painted IN the car or outside the car?? Is it for sure an original?? Or somebodys attempt to fix what ails her??

Not REAL concerned with that front door being overextended,,,they all did that,,when opened in a high wind from the back side. AND not holding on to the door good enough!!

BUT for all this,,,I would be real surprised IF a family would part with it for the said 2500 buckaroos,,,might have to go a bit higher. Exposed body looks 'great'. Looks as if you can drive and enjoy,,fix as needed and possible!!

Hope it works out for you being--just don--

[BobT-47P15]

I see the car has an Okla license plate on the front. Okla is not the worst place to spend the years for a car, but they do get rusty in this part of the country (KS,OK, MO). Some salt is used on the roads in winter.

By the wear on the front floor mat and the seats, it would appear it either had a real rough 49,000 miles, or the odometer is wrong, or it's 149,000. Of course, the engine would have needed an overhaul at least once to be running good after 149K. The door panels are not in good shape either, for a car supposedly stored indoors all that time......they appear to have gotten wet when the car was left outside. And those areas of rust.....had to have some moisture somewhere along the line.

The red rear end and driveshaft, along with the cherry bomb muffler, looks like the grandkids tried to make it a bit of a hot rod. Have my doubts that grandpa did that stuff.

So, I think what you have here is a pretty good car for a place to start, but at the same time it needs about everything done to it. New paint, new interior, new floor mats, brakes, tires, and some rust repair.....which can be

a rather big job if done right. So, maybe a figure around $2500 might not be bad......however people often think these cars are worth more. They don't want to take into account the work that the buyer will have to perform.....they just know it's old and worth a lot of money.

If you want to do most of your own work on the car, you will still have a

fair amount of cost when done. So, just consider what they want and

what you may have to spend.