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artiejay
01-11-2014, 09:45 AM
I'm looking for a 1957 convertible project car. I have checked e-bay and craigs list. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Richard

chevynut
01-11-2014, 01:39 PM
How much are you planning to spend? How much work can you do yourself?

MP&C
01-11-2014, 04:10 PM
Where are you located? Would you need a 57 hardtop to pick up parts while you're working on the rag top?


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/Misc/03b26638.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/rmccartney/Misc/cc230663.jpg

artiejay
01-13-2014, 04:54 PM
How much are you planning to spend? How much work can you do yourself?

Who much I spend depends on what is offered. I plan to do a full restoration, it will no doubt be a learning experience as I have never done a restoration. However I have plenty of friends who are willing to keep me going right.
If you have a lead let me know.
Thanks,
Richard

Rick_L
01-13-2014, 07:03 PM
So you want to restore one rather than buying something nice?

How much restoration do you have in mind? There's been a couple of low end projects on the usual sites recently.

Maddog
01-13-2014, 07:32 PM
Where are you located? Or does location not matter? There's a fairly decent one for sale in Illinois. OR are you hoping for one that someone is giving away, those mostly don't exist.

artiejay
01-14-2014, 09:14 AM
So you want to restore one rather than buying something nice?

How much restoration do you have in mind? There's been a couple of low end projects on the usual sites recently.

What sites are you referring to? I want one that needs restoration, not all done.
Any help appreciated.
Richard

artiejay
01-14-2014, 09:17 AM
Where are you located? Or does location not matter? There's a fairly decent one for sale in Illinois. OR are you hoping for one that someone is giving away, those mostly don't exist.

I'm in Utah, but I am willing to have the car shipped. How do I get in contact with the one in Illinois? I really want one that needs restoration to some degree or another.
Thanks for your help.
Richard

Maddog
01-14-2014, 09:51 AM
Let me remember where I saw the ad. It was a red driver that should be restored but doesn't have to be

Maddog
01-14-2014, 09:55 AM
Here's another one in Illi:

http://www.cars-on-line.com/67970.html

artiejay
01-14-2014, 10:57 AM
Here's another one in Illi:

http://www.cars-on-line.com/67970.html

Thanks, this one is already sold.
Richard

chevynut
01-14-2014, 11:37 AM
That one in Illinois sure looked like a good project! Too bad it's gone. :(

Maddog
01-14-2014, 12:00 PM
Looked like a good deal, those are the ones that sell quickly

artiejay
01-17-2014, 09:05 AM
I'm looking for a 1957 convertible project car. I have checked e-bay and craigs list. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Richard

Bump - Boy I didn't think it would be so difficult to find a convertible to restore. Still looking, any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard

Maddog
01-17-2014, 03:34 PM
Any thing that is desireable at a lower price will sell quickly. Lots of people making a living off of buying those projects and then fixing to sell for a profit.

Maddog
01-17-2014, 03:40 PM
Here's an excellent buy. Not what you're looking for but an excellent buy

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/4265669521.html

Maddog
01-17-2014, 03:43 PM
2864

Rick_L
01-17-2014, 04:14 PM
I'm thinking $60k is not an excellent buy. I've seen a handful getting $45k bids a couple of years ago. I'd consider that an excellent buy. I don't think prices have increased in the last 2 years, at least not perceptibly. These were nice cars that only got a $45k bid - though obviously there's nice cars and really nice cars too. And of course there's the venue. Don't buy one in Arizona tonight or tomorrow if you want a deal.

captainwillardjack
01-22-2014, 03:00 AM
How much are you willing to spend for a project car ?? You can usually find a project for 35k & less depending on how rough & raunchy it is. I see them on ebay all the time & those are the ones that usually sell. Depending on how much money you have you can buy one already restored in the 50k, 60k, 70k price range. How nice & perfect does it have to be ?? Do you want a show car or just one you can be proud to drive ?? I have a '57 Bel Air Convertible for sale it's an excellent driver quality car that looks & runs & drives great. I 've had it assessed & appraised by several classic car dealers at $52,500. 3 years ago I had a serious cash offer for $57,000 but I turned it down because I thought the car was worth more & I lost the sale by $1,000 I wanted $58,000 at the time.

I listed it on ebay 3 years ago & got bids up to $52,300 not too bad but still a lot less than the other '57 Ragtops. I listed it again in January last year & got bids up to $50,100. I think these cars were worth more 3 years ago. It seems to be a buyers market right now as I've owned my car twice I paid $50,000 the first time 3 years ago & I bought it back recently for $44,000. Over a year ago I saw a '57 Ragtop sell on ebay for $92,000 no reserve which is rare but it's still quite common to see them get bids in the 50k to 70k range & higher but don't sell because the reserves are too high & gets relisted repeatedly. It's not a good idea to keep relisting the same car it loses appeal & interest. Let me know if you're interested I can send you pix & videos, regards,

Bihili
01-22-2014, 01:58 PM
I'm looking for a 1957 convertible project car. I have checked e-bay and craigs list. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Richard

http://www.premierstreetrod.com/detail/RDS-35/1957_Chevrolet_Convertible_Skeleton_.html

http://www.newclassicchevy.com/bodiesw.html (http://www.premierstreetrod.com/detail/RDS-35/1957_Chevrolet_Convertible_Skeleton_.html)

http://www.realdealsteel.com/products-page-2/bodies/1955-57-chevy-bodies/1955-57-convertible/1957-chevy-convertible-body-skeleton-with-dash-quarter-panels-doors-deck-lid-convertible-top-frame/

Rick_L
01-22-2014, 06:52 PM
Just a reinforcing thought on the value of a complete running restoration. I was watching a replay of a late 2013 Mecum auction in Florida over the weekend. A photographically nice 55 convertible went for $40k there. Now maybe the bidders knew something, maybe they didn't. But it reinforces my thought of at least the average restoration convertible being worth more like $40-50k than the $80-90k they once were.

captainwillardjack
01-25-2014, 02:25 AM
You're right it doesn't surprise me the value of a nice tri-five convertible changes & is up & down like real estate.
Now's the time to buy these cars but their time will come again.

carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)
01-25-2014, 06:46 AM
as baby boomers pass, imo these great cars are going to continue to go down in value. buyers market now and in the future. very sad.

567chevys
01-26-2014, 05:31 AM
Hi Carl ,

I really dont think so , if that was the case companys would not be making complete bodys , Look at 32,33,34,36,37,40 Fords try to buy one of them cheap.The last time I went to the swapmeet which was last summer I seen lots of kids 20-30 Years old looking for old cars to build.

carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)
01-26-2014, 06:46 AM
that is not the case around here. my adult kids and their friends don't show any interest. even at cruises around here, there are not many young people that own an old car. now newer mustangs, Camaros, challengers and foreign cars are a different story. those will be the ones that will be collected in he future.

chevynut
01-26-2014, 08:07 AM
I tend to agree with Carl. Kids nowadays are not that interested in cars....at least not like our generation is. Street rods aren't nearly as popular as they were 20 years ago and 20 years from now I think tri5s aren't going to be as popular as they have been recently. You already see the big shift to 60's muscle cars.

Sure, some kids will always love the tri5s as well as street rods. But I think they grew up with cars with so many bells and whistles that they can't appreciate the simplicity of these cars. Also, most builders are updating their cars with modern conveniences and features. I think that makes the cars worth more than stock ones in the current market. There aren't that many people who want stock 32 Fords, or even stock tri5s anymore.

captainwillardjack
01-26-2014, 11:04 AM
We're all replying to the thread "1957 Bel Air Convertible wanted" these cars will always be in demand
as long as these cars are wanted & demand exceeds supply these cars will continue to retain & go up in value.
It'll never end they'll never make these cars again.

chevynut
01-26-2014, 12:28 PM
Yeah, but I don't think you're a kid either. ;)

There's already reproduction bodies for the convertibles. If I wasn't worried about authenticity, that's probably the direction I'd go.

Our point is the demand is going to drop, and so will prices. Look at how cheap street rods have gotten. The only thing keeping the prices up is the cost to build them.

567chevys
01-27-2014, 07:29 PM
Found this on craigslist

it's a start !!


vhgd8-4305193690@sale.craigslist.org


1957 2 Dr. hartop , Plus parts Convertible Cowl, Top, Frame - $1 (orlando)
I have the several 1957 chevy chevrolet Convertible parts as follows

1. Convertible cowl with Vin and clear florida title for 1957 Red Chevrolet convertible. $ 3000
2. Original Convertible top frame complete. One is $ 2800, other $ 1300
3. Car Frame with convertible X, $ 1500
4. two door hardtop with engine all original, needs restoration, $ 6500
5. 1957 frame, painted black and has front disks $ 1,000
I also have other transmissions and doors for 4 dr hardtop and post. NO two door hardtop doors.
cash only,no lowballs.
Do not ask if available I will remove when sold.
WTF they flagg my ad??? this is a real ad for parts iam trying to sell!! might trade for the following keywords etc...??
Keywords: 1955, 1956, 1957, chevy, bel air, belair, chevrolet, classic, convertible, muscle,

captainwillardjack
01-29-2014, 03:15 AM
You're right I'm not a kid my dad bought a '57 4 dr hdtp Bel Air new & I remember when he sold it in 1968 to a kid for
$250 bucks. By that time the kids were buying them from guys like my dad. I was 18 in 1978 when I bought my first '57 Bel Air 4dr hdtp for a $1000 bucks I sold it for $1,700 it wasn't easy to sell a 4 dr back then. I bought my 2nd one a 2 dr hdtp Bel Air in 1981 from a dealer for $3,500 & sold it for $4,250. The point is the tri-five Chevy's are good investments & if u can't come out ahead than it tells u something about where the US is as a nation economically speaking. Because a trained monkey can profit off a tri-five Chevy.

These cars have been desirable since new the fact that companies produce complete bodies reflects that. They're not doing that with the other Chevy's before & after. Such as the '53 & 54's or the '58 to 60 Chevy's. They're not as desirable, not everyone liked the body styles of the '58's & particularly the '59's ( my dad never liked the '59 & 60's because of the fins). I like 'em all from '55 to'60 but I never heard anyone that disliked the tri-five Chevy's.

hep1966
01-29-2014, 05:36 AM
As a driving instructor, I've met with hundreds of teens over the past 8 years or so. These new drivers show very little interest in cars. Of those that do, nearly all want an import with JDM fartcans, spoilers, and boom boom radios.

Rick_L
01-29-2014, 08:15 AM
I think that convertibles, real FI cars, etc. will have reasonably good value for many more years. As well as well done modified cars. The others are going to fade as we geezers die off or lose interest. The other half of that is that restorable cars will diminish in number. They already have, as you see rust buckets being restored (and more parts available to do it) that were considered unrestorable 10-15 years ago.

poorboy
01-30-2014, 06:16 AM
A friend of mine has a 57 vert project. He's asking 18000. PM me if interested for contact info.