55 Project Rewind-Found a Great 55 210 AZ body shell for $1800!

[55 Rescue Dog]

So, my 55 210 2dr has been collecting dust in a private body shop for a year, waiting to have new quarters, tail pan, etc. installed with no start date in sight. I don't think they really wanted to take it on, because I didn't either. That was just a start, since it had plenty of other issues with the floor, and roof too. It was going to get expensive to fix. Bought the complete titled car for $3000, and have since sold a few parts for $500. Bought $2400 of new U.S. sheet metal for the rear, which is now all for sale. Anyway, I literally stumbled on a CL deal 140 miles away in a heated warehouse that even has a fork truck to load it when I find a day to pick it up when the roads are not covered in salt. It is a very straight, solid 55 2 door sedan body from Arizona that has had some nice work done to it. New quarters, mini-tubs, flat trunk floor, recessed firewall, shaved drip rails, fuel door filled, and rust free for only $1800. So now I have a body ready for an initial drop onto my C4 chassis. It will have a few things to deal with like the front body mounts that were cut off for the new firewall, and how to get fuel in it without a door. Not sure about the hood hinge mounting point yet either. After that is will be ready to come off for clean up, and primer. This is going to be a lot more fun now I hope.
It's not picture pretty, but it's beautiful.
IMG_2902.JPGIMG_2910.JPGIMG_2906.JPGIMG_2898.JPGIMG_2905.JPG

[55 Rescue Dog]

Here is the now a parts car including title/VIN tags, and the C4 chassis. It was going to take well over $6000 to get this car not even close to what I just bought for $1800.
20151031_113958.jpgIMG_0197.JPG

[busterwivell]

Nice find. Not all Arizona cars are rust free. Not all Arizona cars spent their entire life in Arizona. That said, I got extremely lucky with my 56, a Tucson car all it's life. Absolutely no rust in the floors or trunk, but needs a small amount of work on the rocker panels.

[MP&C]

Looks pretty solid from the pictures. Word of caution, most rust issues involving drip rails normally lead to shaved drip rails as an easy fix, so check carefully.. if headliner is out a flashlight and inspection mirror will tell the tale.

[567chevys]

So, my 55 210 2dr has been collecting dust in a private body shop for a year, waiting to have new quarters, tail pan, etc. installed with no start date in sight. I don't think they really wanted to take it on, because I didn't either. That was just a start, since it had plenty of other issues with the floor, and roof too. It was going to get expensive to fix. Bought the complete titled car for $3000, and have since sold a few parts for $500. Bought $2400 of new U.S. sheet metal for the rear, which is now all for sale. Anyway, I literally stumbled on a CL deal 140 miles away in a heated warehouse that even has a fork truck to load it when I find a day to pick it up when the roads are not covered in salt. It is a very straight, solid 55 2 door sedan body from Arizona that has had some nice work done to it. New quarters, mini-tubs, flat trunk floor, recessed firewall, shaved drip rails, fuel door filled, and rust free for only $1800. So now I have a body ready for an initial drop onto my C4 chassis. It will have a few things to deal with like the front body mounts that were cut off for the new firewall, and how to get fuel in it without a door. Not sure about the hood hinge mounting point yet either. After that is will be ready to come off for clean up, and primer. This is going to be a lot more fun now I hope.
It's not picture pretty, but it's beautiful.
IMG_2902.JPGIMG_2910.JPGIMG_2906.JPGIMG_2898.JPGIMG_2905.JPG

Looks like a really good start , Congratulations on your find.


Sid

[BamaNomad]

'forward body support brackets'??

I was curious about these, so I spent a few minutes searching and didn't find them available separately; You might have to obtain from a junkyard car if you don't have any at all. One option, Real Deal Steel has a 'smoothie firewall with those mounts and more' for $599... or you might call them to see if they have the support brackets separately?

http://realdealsteel.com/i-20901189-...-firewall.html

PS. Looking again at the body you purchased, it appears a prior owner removed those supports to modify the firewall; Have you asked the person you purchased from if they had those supports? Even damaged ones would probably be pretty easy to repair or rebuild...

[55 Rescue Dog]

'forward body support brackets'??

I was curious about these, so I spent a few minutes searching and didn't find them available separately; You might have to obtain from a junkyard car if you don't have any at all. One option, Real Deal Steel has a 'smoothie firewall with those mounts and more' for $599... or you might call them to see if they have the support brackets separately?

http://realdealsteel.com/i-20901189-...-firewall.html

PS. Looking again at the body you purchased, it appears a prior owner removed those supports to modify the firewall; Have you asked the person you purchased from if they had those supports? Even damaged ones would probably be pretty easy to repair or rebuild...

Yes I asked about the brackets from the guy and they are long gone I guess. This was his fathers project that passed away a few years ago. I would think they would be available somewhere, since they are used on new firewalls.

[55 Rescue Dog]

I got my 55 and parts safely back home today after being held hostage for a year at the body shop. Talked to him 2 days ago, told him about the 55 shell I found and he seemed relieved. Back in July I put $200 in the trunk and told him he could have it when he got started on the car, which was completely surrounded by junk when I saw it. Told him he could keep the ransom cash if he could get it all back to my shop, for storing it for a year, and getting it back to me in 1 piece. It all worked out.
I also called the dealer on a whim, I had bought all of the rear sheet metal from, and since he has a couple people looking for some of the parts I have, he agreed to give me his wholesale costs back in credit for all of it! That is a much better deal than stumbling over it forever trying to sell it on CL for even less. Now I can by some shiny stuff I don't need yet, that is always tough to buy later when I want it.
IMG_2913.JPG

[55 Tony]

I also called the dealer on a whim, I had bought all of the rear sheet metal from, and since he has a couple people looking for some of the parts I have, he agreed to give me his wholesale costs back in credit for all of it! That is a much better deal than stumbling over it forever trying to sell it on CL for even less.]

I would be more than happy to give you dealer cost for all the parts I mentioned in my PM sent back after your first post about the new body you bought. I could use the parts and lord knows I'm on a tight budget.

Hell, give me a price the dealer quoted you on the whole lot and maybe I can make things easier for you by taking it all and getting rid of what I don't need.

[55 Rescue Dog]

I would be more than happy to give you dealer cost for all the parts I mentioned in my PM sent back after your first post about the new body you bought. I could use the parts and lord knows I'm on a tight budget.

Hell, give me a price the dealer quoted you on the whole lot and maybe I can make things easier for you by taking it all and getting rid of what I don't need.

Thanks for the offer Tony, but he already has buyers lined up to buy them, and counting on me bringing them back an hour drive away this week. Sorry I didn't see your PM until after it was a done deal.