Worth of a '47 Desoto

[Bingster]

This is not a for-sale ad. This is a "what if I have to sell it" question. I'd like to know the market value of a 1947 Desoto Custom 4-door sedan in good condition, light rust (rockers need repair) some of it disassembled and some of it restored. The engine ran pretty well the last time I started it seven years ago. It turns over now but I haven't tried it with plugs installed. The interior floor bolt-on floor pans have been restored and painted. Ditto radiator dust panels. Seats are out. Dash in good condition but needs restoring. Starter checked, painted and installed. I have the brake parts to rebuild but haven't yet.

I have collected all good to excellent add-on chrome parts such as tail light shells, set of four excellent hub caps, excellent factory hood ornament, etc. Bumpers not restored.

I should have rebuilt the brakes and drove it when I got it. But as a newbie I couldn't resist trying to take it apart and restore. All went pretty well until time and money got in the way. It has been stored inside a garage for part of the time and in a Morton-type building the rest. I am trying desperately not to have to sell it, but if I do I want to know my options. I'm 67, and if it comes down to my house or the car, the choice is fairly academic. Thanks.

 

[Los_Control]

There is nothing wrong with your request ... except need pictures of what you have to give any idea of worth.

With pictures I assume you will get a lot of ideas.

[casper50]

Value also depends upon location.

[desoto1939]

Rich Hartung with the 39 Desoto.  Since the car is partially disassembled and the engine is not running and the car can not be driven for a test drive by any prospective buyer you selling price will go down because of the unknowns.  So I would look an ebay to get an idea of your prospective car with it in running condition and a compartive condition of the items that you have for the car and then come to a reasonable selling price.

 

I know this is not a definitive answer but condition affects the price and if someone see that it is only partially put back to gether this makes them wonder what has been done to the car and if there are any missing components.

 

So this asking price and the offer price  is what anyone would be willing to offer for the car. 

 

Rich Hartung

desoto1939@aol.com

[Bingster]

Car is in/near Spencer, IA. Pictures unfortunately will have to wait till snow melt.

[plymouthcranbrook]

I would not trust much from E-Bay regarding prices.  If you look at the auction regularly you will see that the vast majority of sellers now seem to believe their cars are worth a fortune.  Andyou usually see the same cars over and over. Completed auctions might help but if you are not in a rush you can just check a few times a week with a general search of cars for sale.

[Bingster]

Thanks folks.  I've been on this board for years and always felt sorry for the guys that were forced to sell their cars. Now that I face this problem myself it's kind of weird. I've learned that fortunes come and go. Well, maybe not a fortune, but good times and bad times. I'm always afraid that I will sell it too soon.

[James_Douglas]

https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuationtools/1947-DeSoto-Custom?id=111437

 

https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1947/Desoto/Custom/4-Door-Sedan/Values

 

Read the definitions for the condition, be honest with oneself as to the condition, then pick that condition and read the valuation. You can add about 15% if it is in California just because people here will pay more...

 

James

[JerseyHarold]

I'd make getting the engine to run my top priority.   The value and ease of sale jumps tremendously when you can turn the key and hear it run.  Much better than the old 'ran when parked' story. 

[Frank Elder]

Sad to say but disassembled cars don’t go for much.?

[Bob Riding]

According to the 2019 Old Cars Price guide, in the condition you describe, it was valued at being $1,980 - $3,300. Not sure if a year of Covid lockdown has increased or decreased value.

[Bingster]

Thanks guys. Actually, that makes the decision to keep it more definate. Fortunately, I'm back to work and things look a lot better when you're working.  Yeah, the engine is my first priority, even for my own info.