Thread: 37 Buick Century in pieces, should I buy?

Tweet

I tried to trade for this '39 Special but the owner never responded.. evidently is not interested in a turbocharged Falcon

It can go either way in this market. I'm in the camp that believes you can make more selling it in parts than whole. Last year I had a pretty complete '40 ford sedan that came to me in pieces, a stalled restoration pretty much like you described. It came with a pretty thorough listing of the parts (stock/rebuilt/NOS/repop), that I just had to expand on. Turns out it was only missing sunvisors and one splash shield. I tried for three months to sell it complete, but being all apart limits the field of buyers to either the very knowledgable or the very gullible. Got the usual flood of "send me pictures" types, and one young tire kicker who "had to ask the wife" , but no serious takers. Finally got tired of that BS and posted up ads for the parts individually. In about 3 weeks I was $2k ahead of what I would have sold it for complete, and I still have a few boxes of small stuff to sell. Funny thing was, two of the guys that bought parts were from the "send me pictures" group. I let them know they missed the chance to make the extra money...........

Being that it was a Ford made my chances better than I would guess yours would be with a Buick, the audience is way larger for the Ford. That being said, you're getting the Buick for what I think is a pretty good price if it's complete and as "nice" as you've described. Especially if it's got a title. I'm not tuned into the Buick market, but if I remember correctly the grille on those is cast. If that one is really nice and not pitted or pimpled, I'd guess you could get most, if not all, of your initial pay out back on that part alone. If you've got the time, patience, available money, and space sounds like a plan to me. I find ebay a good resource for determining price potential, it reflects what people are actually willing to pay (understanding that that is just a snapshot of any given day in time)rather than guesses/opinions. You'll likely get more money for the pieces if you go to a national/international market. As suggested above, a Buick forum is a good place too.

Though it's sad to break up any car, my feelings were like your all's, Ebay the parts. First thing I started looking for was the stainless pieces, headlight,running light buckets, all the smaller parts that can be shipped easily. Last month I parted out a 36 Pontiac, then sold the shell and it was missing at least half it's small stuff, still doubled my money. It just seems gruesom, maybe even morbid to look for cars and cannabalize them for profit.
Stupid Huh! A moral dilema......

The other side of the coin is, how many unfinished cars can your parts car help complete? I agree it is almost a sin to part out something that can be saved, but sometimes cars get to that point. If yours is to that stage you can help out other rodders and restorers and like Bob said, probably make more than you would have made selling it complete.

It's like the parts I bought from Paul in Atlanta a little bit ago. He could have made way more money parting it out, and he realized that, but being the car lover and stand up guy he is, he just wanted to see another member get the parts and put them to good use.(and they WILL be put to good use! )

Don

Originally Posted by 68RATVT

It just seems gruesom, maybe even morbid to look for cars and cannabalize them for profit.
Stupid Huh! A moral dilema......

That's why I tried for several months to sell the car complete, even warned in my last ads that I would do the part out thing if it didn't sell complete. Nada! Some will argue but the reality of the market is at hand. Folks play with cars they can identify with. Those of us that are of an age to identify with this vintage of car will be continually diminishing in number. We're just at the leading edge of it IMHO, but the rate of decline has been accelerated to some degree with the rising price of fuel. If the election turns out the way it's predicted we'll have a an unopposed government structure that will favor environmental rules that will further discourage fuel/energy of all types production and, from their biased point of view, "excessive" pollution. Fuel prices will continue high, even (actually moreso) with pie in the sky so called "alternatives". Sedans, especially 4 doors, are the least desirable body style, so will be the first to feel the pinch. It's reverting back to the "old days" when fewer people (some would say the "real" enthusiasts) were interested in the old car hobby. The circle of life.

Well, if nothing else, I feel better now. Stand back, I'm going in!!!

Bob, I did the same thing, had a 37 Ford pickup I couldn't sell quick for $600 and parted over 3 grand and still have a bunch of it left.

Nice car. Had to google it to see what they looked like. It would be sweet to restore one.