How much should I pay for this 1950 Buick Sedanette?

:grin::TU:

:gp:

 

Because some people are cheap.p A generator rebuild is in the $125+ range & a quality reg is pushing $80.I'd go back to the generator myself on this car.:TU:

 

I am sure that you are correct, Jamie. I hate to say this, but if $205 is the difference between doing something correctly, or fixing it on the cheap and poorly; cars are a poor hobby choice.

 

Hey Guys,
Looks like the first car isn't going to happen. The owner of the car had his buddy show up to show me the car & now won't return my phone calls. Kind of weird that you would say a car is for sale & let someone see the car & then never return a phone call after that. We never even talked about a price. I guess he changed his mind & decided he doesn't want to sell. Would be nice if he could have at least had the common decency to give me an explanation since he wasted my time. Oh well. Anyways. I found this car (pictures above) & the guy wants $2400.00 for it, but its going to cost me about $850 to have it shipped to my house. I've never seen the car in person. The guy says it runs, is complete, & has a straight body. It has mostly surface rust on the body, but the driver side floor pan is rusted through. he says the dash panel is very nice but the rest of the interior needs to be redone obviously. The bumpers have some rust on them but aren't bad. Do you think a total of $3000.00 is too much for this car??? What do you guys think?
Thanks,
Josh

 

I would bug the first guy. That is a real find. Make him say no! Your second find is good, but just not as nice as the other. Probably worth 3k.

 

If your serious about the second one, get somebody to check it out! Post on the board and ask if anyone around that area is willing to check it out, compensate them for their time obviously. I just bought a car sight unseen from a board member and got very lucky that it was accurately described, but I've heard horror stories about other sight unseens purchases. Good luck!

 

:gp: X2! When I was still teaching at a public vocational school, a student (not one of mine) bought a Mustang that was supposed to be the greatest thing since the cantilever bra. It was shipped from California to MA. Among the deficiencies with this car was the supposedly extremely hot 351 wasn't there. Yup. No engine! I would not purchase a "running" old car unless I or someone who I trust actually hears it run and sees it drive.

 

He can't say 'No' if he won't answer the phone...


Where is the 2nd car ?
The pictures show it potential.

 

Trust me. I've tried a lot to contact the first guy & he won't call or text me back so I'm figuring he doesn't want to sell it after all. Ate you saying the second one is worth $3000 ? I don't want to over pay for a project car.
Thanks,
Josh

 

The photos show promise. But, I want to see more photos.
And, as Louie says, find someone nearby to give a look see.

$3000 might be the high range for that one.

 

Thanks for all the advice again guys. I tried the first guy again today with no avail. Any suggestions on how to get this guy to answer me. As for the second car ill try to get more pictures. It's located in St Louis Missouri area. Anybody live in that area that could check it out for me? Oh & when I say running Im using the term loosely. Ha ha. The guy said they replaced the starter & it will run, but I don't think it's been run for a long while. I'm not necessarily looking for a running car, but one with promise of running defiantly makes things easier & cheaper for me. It sounds like this one has run more recent than the first car though. So $2400 plus $850 shipping might be a little to much for this car??? I've tried to get him down to $2000 but he won't go less than $2400. Says he has a guy that wants to trade him an old BMW that he thinks he can get more than $2400 with.
Thanks,
Josh

 

Yes, I think the second car is worth 3k. I am not an expert on 50 Buicks or even 50's cars, but it looks complete. Parts get expensive and this one, from the few pics you have, seems to have everything including emblems and hood ornament. The body looks pretty straight and solid. If you can get someone to make sure the engine turns over and the frame isn't shot..I think..its probably worth your 3k. Just a few parts can eat up a thousand dollars. I am an expert on how fast you can throw money at a car! You are absolutely correct to make sure you buy the right car at a fair price. I am glad you are still trying the 1st guy..maybe he went on vacation..who knows. Seems kinda odd he just wont answer your calls. I really liked that car.

 

Maybe, Adam Martin , Smartin ?
Adam Lives in St. Charles Mo.

 

If the seller says the second car is a runner, I would want to see and hear it run. See my post #5. They are not notorously troublesome, but if the Dynaflow is bad, either you are going to spend a lot of time learning to overhaul it, or you are looking at as much as $2,000 to have someone else do it. I would make a polite pest of myself with the owner of the first car. I would find his home address if possible, and send him a snail mail with a SSAE enclosed. Ask for a definite price, and if he really doesn't want to sell it, to let you know, so that you can stop bothering him.

 

I agree with John here. If this first deal ends up dead then the second car sounds like a fair deal but again you should find someone local that has some knowledge of old cars and you trust to go look at it or, buy a plane ticket and take a look yourself. Some times it pays to spend a little prior to the purchase to ensure you are getting just what you expect and, if you are face to face you should be able to negotiate for a better price that would pay for your effort. If you show up on his door step he is going to know you mean business. Fixing rust and mechanical issues that were not expected can easily run the expense up and you need to point this out in negotiations. Good luck

 

How did the sale end up?
Over here you would be forking out around 8000 and up for a neat 50 Sedanette.
I would have bought a 50 sedanette a while back but the seller stuffed me around too. Maybe they are related? I was offering him ten grand at the time.

 

so whatever happened with the 1st car?

 

don't you just love it. A guy comes on and pumps the collective for info and then vanishes just like the seller did on the the first car. What a brave new world it is today ...

 

o No:

Almost two years after starting this thread, Josh was still active on the board:

And didn't he tell us this about the Sedanet:

 

yes he tried to convince himself in post 24 that it was over, but it was not over, the drama and suspense continued.

post 25

for example post 31

and post 32

and post 34

and at post 35 the deal was still not dead.