General

[Morhaughn]

500 to 1000 your looking at 10k just to get it complete and that is you doing alot of the work. They sell in 90% condition for 12k and that thing looks real rough and a money pit. With everything people will ask more but the value isnt there. Good luck

[cougar20th]

Originally Posted by LT.

I would have to know the numbers how many where made in that color and engine tranny combo. how bad is the rust in the floor boards is it a true numbers matching? what are your skills in auto body work? can you buy Noe oem Body parts floor pans and so on. 3 k cash tops. if it was a 4 speed id pay more.

That early (1958ish) in fords production there isnt matching numbers as many think of them. There are no serial numbers on motors/trans until around '68. What you need to look for is a casting/datecode on the parts that is a certain timeframe before the cars actual build date. Makes restoring one somewhat easier & also more difficult at the same time.

Titus: I would consider the engine junk, especially since its not from someone you know & trust. Theres leaves sitting on the rockers not a good sign. Did they say how long its been apart. To me it looks like they just let the kid at it one day with a box of tools, expect to be missing parts & fasteners. If it ends up salvageable and all there then that is a plus. Looks to be a FE 352, could be a FE 332 depending on its age as well. Theres lots you can replace that with fairly reasonably, I think some places still offer rebuilt motors, or have the original rebuilt. The motor does look to have many of the original parts there. But where is the radiator for the car? Looking at 500$ or so to get a good replacement.

If you do look at it, Pull everything out of the trunk & check the trunk floors. Around the rear body mounts would be a common rust area. Also the rockers dont look so great & it looks like they may have used the rockers to support the car on the blocks. Should have used the frame. Check the frame over carefully as well.

Does the car still have its original fender skirts? I think I see them in the trunk but check. And in general Make sure all the parts are there. Little things are expensive & very expensive when theres alot of them.

Also get to know what is available http://www.larrystbird.com/ If its not anything you need will have to come from a parts car or NOS (new old stock). Nos can be very expensive as its old orignal unused ford parts.

[Lohman446]

Originally Posted by dubletruble

find everything that is wrong with it, and point it out. it will make him feel bad, and like the car is junk, therefore he will be willing to sell at a lower price. the motor will need to be rebuilt. id ask him why he took the engine apart too. also see if it is a #'s matching car, if it isnt id knock the price down just for that. and i cant help but wonder, why the heck is it off the ground like that? he has it sitting up on blocks. does it have a clear title? if it doesnt have a clear title, just know it will be very hard, if not impossible, to get a loan for it. good luck and tell us if you get it.

When people start doing this with project cars they tend to look idiotic. When they do it with used (normal) cars it tells me its not someone I want as a customer and I tend to point out that the new car dealer sells cars without any problems for the right price. Its on thing to look and see for your knowledge, its another to be a condescending jerk.

That car is a project. I see $15-20K in it (at least) to make it run and drive as it did back in the day, which was not good compared to modern vehicles. Unless you are prepared for the cost and time of a serious project I would not recommend it.

[kevdupuis]

If I was interested in a square box bird I'd consider picking it up for 2-3,000 though I would also be prepared to spend three years minimum in the build starting with full disassembly including separating the body and chassis. Parts for them are still fairly easy to acquire especially mechanical parts, those FE's were built until 1968 and are still in plentiful supply though you may have to shop around for a good remanufactured Autolite 4100 carb if that one can't be saved. All in all it looks to be a pretty complete car.

[Phoenix01]

Titus, I hope you see this post before heading out to look at it. The pictures make it look decent enough to tackle, but I wouldn't waste my time nor money on it. I have my own project cars and I've help plenty of friends with theirs. My cousin's F-i-L specializes in rebuilding older T-birds like this and he has started with some in way better condition (running and less visible rust) than this one and he has spent upwards of $20,000 on them to get them to a point of completely finished. I can only think of one that he said he was able to turn around and sell for $30,000. I know one of his first ones that he did looked similar to this one, he jumped the gun and it turned out to be a basket case and he enevitably parted it out for use on another one that he bought.

I strongly suggest you look at picking up something in better condition. You might spend more, but at least you will not be left with a sour taste whenever you look at it. There are plenty of old cars and trucks out there that are fun rides. Just set a price that you would be willing pay say around $4,000 to $5,000 and then search from there if you are really interested in having a project vehicle.

Getting into a project vehicle is best by starting out with a car that has a good paint job, very minimal rust, runs and operates in a road legal manner, and you can add new stuff while enjoying being able to drive it any day of the week.

[MassDestruction00]

also that 352 is a FE series engine, (332,352,360,361, 390,406,410, 427 center oiler, 427 side oiler 428CJ, 428 PI) and you are looking at high dollars to put it together correctly. make use #1 it turns over and talk to an engine shop about the price of having it rebuilt before you get in over your head.

[taco]

My dad had one he was restoring awhile back he cherried out the body new paint then removed the hood to work on the engine the hood ended up getting stolen I think he ended up junking the whole car. It was pretty neat I think it had a push button tranny like on the Edsels. I wouldn't pay over a grand for it definitely a huge project.

[Titus]

Wow, thank you guys! I just got back from Canada with Ambers family and had limited internal access.

I ended up not going for it, nor going to see it. After all you've written plus what this guy felt was worth Vs IMO what it was really worth, I gave up and said no.

I would rather find an older truck 1st. Something simple, a bit bigger and running. I'll be sure to post again if I find anything fun.

You guys are the best. Thank you!

[Bigtuana]

You'll spend pennies on the dollar if you buy one already restored