Not station wagons, but found these two barn cars today. One is a 1957 Ford Fairlane, other a 2-door Mercury Montclair with continental package. Both are complete, but need a good restoration. What'd be a fair price, he wouldn't go below $10,000 for the pair.
Pretty much depends on how solid. If they are, The Merc should easily bring that by itself if mostly complete.
Yes but I couldn't tell if both cars had flat tires or they were both sunk into the dirt floor which to me, may possibly indicate some frame deterioration? I do like the colors of the Merc though.
That concerned me too, it is flat tires and frames seemed to be off the dirt floor. They really should have been put on blocks or something.
I agree with Buster for 10K he can keep them. I would say 3K for both. (JMO) Everone think that because it's "OLD" it's worth all this cash. think about this for 10K you can buy something like the 57 Fairlane in "running" condtion. Still not mint but a running driving desent car for that kind of money is a much better place to start. 10K for even two cars with rotted frames is just plain nuts. check out this link to e-bay. 15K for this fairlane. Anyone of the two car you are looking at will be WAAYY more than the extra 5K to make this nice. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1957...8075528?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item35c62c8e88 Think before you jump into a money pit (been there done that)
He wouldn't budge below $9,000, or $2,500 for just the Fairlane. He says he 'knows' what the Mercury is worth 'fixed up'. If they'd properly stored those vehicles instead of just rolling them into a decrepit barn for the elements and mice to wreak havoc upon, they'd need a lot less fixing up. I'm sure in places those frames are about touching the dirt, or just inches above it. He was also good for the standard 'They was a'runnin' when we parked 'em in there.' Just another hayseed thinking he has a gold mine parked on the back 40, to be cashed in when values have peaked.
Did you tell him what it's gonna cost to "fix it up?" That makes a lot of difference. Seems like "barn find" doubles the value.
I did mention the tens of thousands that would entail. Our plan (my uncle and I) was to try and get them, clean them up real good, maybe try tinkering to get them running, then flip them. The Mercury does seem to be a desirable and rare car.
I like how these guys always say "you know what that is worth fied up" My reply to these clowns is always the same..... BUT IT"S NOT SO....... Here is what it's really worth and if you don't like it you can sleep with it. If they don't like my offer I walk away. I admit that is hard sometimes but buying a rusted out hulk just is not worth it unless you get for almost next to nothing. Even then it just might not be worth it. (I know guys we want to save em all but....)
The four-door Ford is an $800 car, tops! Period, dot. It might bring $400 over the scales. The Merc appears to be a two-door hardtop, so in its' current condition, and NOT knowing what condition the floors, frame and suspension are in, would be worth $2,500 TOPS where it sits. The seller is on crack if he thinks the pair should bring $10K. He's been watching way too much of everything from "Fast and Loud" to the Mecum and Barrett-Jackson auctions. He has what I call BJDS, or "Barrett-Jackson Derangement Syndrome"...thinking what he has is worth a mint, but actually, it's worth a breath mint.
I pulled a '63 Fairlane out of a barn 8 years ago. I was given the car - the owners just wanted it out of their barn. It had been with the owner since new but sat in the barn for nearly 20 years, on dirt. It was one of the dirtiest jobs I ever took on. Just getting the car stripped down and removing the dead critters, poop and associated smell was a nightmare. Then getting every thing that held fluids operational again was another ordeal. All cloth/fabric materials also have to be redone - I was able to save the door panels but headliner, seats and padding all had to be replaced. It was satisfying taking something that was "dead" and bring it back to life, but from a purely financial perspective you'll spend a lot of $ getting it to a point that it's running and safe to drive and not be money ahead - you'll be lucky to get your $ back. $10,000 for both is extremely unreasonable. The seller needs a reality check. The other posts on this thread regarding price sound much more realistic but you'll be so far apart from what the owner wants for them.
