This is my 500th post for Average Guy’s Car Restoration, Mods and Racing blog (my one and only blog). It has become a bit more board in scope than what I originally intended, but if you are a total car nut case, like me (my wife uses the “o’ word) and have AADD (automobile attention deficit disorder…..HEY..that could be REAL…you don’t know that it’s NOT!!) you want more than just a Chevy or more than just 1950’s cars. You’ll be drawn to others. (“Drawn” makes it sound like a slow process…but picture a disco era strobe light…yeah that’s a but closer to what I’m trying to describe.) I’ve moved fairly close to the edge, having a ’70’s car and a 2007 model and mixing technologies and brands, Ford and Chevy. (I need a MOPAR and a Citroen.)
Of course one of the fun things that keeps me blogging are comments, not so many posted here, but a ton on Facebook and Twitter and now even Google+. I like when a reader’s comment sparks a blog entry instead of just sitting there. That brings me to the subject of this piece.
Bill is a frequent reader and leaves comments on a regular basis. In my recent entry on the 1957 DeSoto Adventurer sold at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, last weekend Bill wrote this:
Bill
Submitted on 2012/01/28 at 6:12 pmDeSoto was Chrysler’s Oldsmobile, and I think it was unappreciated both by the public and Mother Mopar herself.
Back when I lived in San Jose, CA (actually Santa Clara) in the early 1990s, there was a 1957 Adventurer 4 door parked in a driveway with four flat tires in a neighborhood near mine. I think the car had been registered last in 1979. The body, chrome, glass, and even the interior seemed in excellent condition, yet I knew the car needed more than just TLC to become roadworthy. Each time I passed that car I wanted to leave a note and see if I could get it cheap enough to restore.
I know that 4 door DeSotos would not be collectible, or bring the big money, but somehow this car seemed to be in good enough shape that it was worth saving from being just a donor parts car. I’ll be in San Jose on business soon, and will make it a point to drive by and see if the car is still there.
Have a nice day, Bill
It’s true that in the past 4 door versions of classic cars of the 50’s and 60’s lagged as far as pricing and collectivity. But that is changing. I as work to finish up my classic car auto appraisal certification, I’m finding that, much like the cars of 1910-1940’s, 2 extra doors aren’t hurting the price they’ll bring. Just take the trend of station wagons – sure at Barrett Jackson’s you’ll only see the two door(plus tailgate) and they’ll bring ‘bigger’ money, but 15 years ago, only crazy people had wagons restored. But the prices for cars like the Pontiac Safari wagon and the Buick Vista Cruiser (Sports wagon) are bringing higher prices. (Actually I think it was Olds Vista Wagon and Buick Sports Wagon.)
58 Safari Wagon
69 Buick Sports Wagon
I’m still quoted as saying that my Mustang, because it’s a coupe and not a fast back or a sports roof, will never to be worth what I’ve spent in restoring it. Interestingly enough, you can start finding them on the web and Ebay for $16k. One recently sold for a bit more than that and it to was a 302 with 351 heads and a wing. So these things are changing. Publications like Hemmings and others are often recommending the purchase of 4 door 50’s and 60’s cars. In part because they are well priced and with the after-market bolt ‘ons’ and drop in crate motors, you can take what was originally under powered 4 door and make it a rubber melting monster.
So go get those 4 doors. Winch them out of the barns and ditches, drag ’em home, restore them back to life and drive ’em!!!!
And I hope that Bill’s DeSoto (see I already have him owning it) is still there and at the least can grab us a few pics. And if you can get some contact info for the owner, I might add a pre-MOPAR to my driveway. Thanks for the comment Bill.
Thanks for reading.
Tim
Maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s what my parents had until they went empty nest but for some reason I like four doors. My 82 Cougar wagon was so versitile with four doors. The one car I get to compare to is my 92 Thunderbird. Get in the back seat with your knees up to your chin and I challenge any body over 40 to get out gracefully. The doors weigh as much as a VW bug…each. There’s nothing to grab on to. Needless to say the upholstery on the back seat shows no wear. I wonder why. I can’t imagine getting in and out of a back seat on a new Mustang. At least the 70 is somewhat reasonable.
Steve – Your wagon was cool because it had “Cougar” on it. Until you shared that information (about 2 years ago) I never new they made such an animal. Thanks for being a regular reader and droping comments. Any updates on the Tbrid?
I’ve been attempting to fix the p/s leak from the Electronic Variable Orifice….sounds dirty doesn’t it? LOL. Trying to find the proper O rings. I think I’ve got it fixed at least temporarily with some a/c O rings I have laying around. I don’t know if they’ll withstand the p/s fluid but we’ll find out. The proper O rings should be in today.
I’m depating whether or not to repaint and reupholster the car. With new cars costing over $30k it sure is tempting to spend $5k keeping it going. While fiddling with the EVO I installed the sway bar bushings that I should have done a year ago when I replaced the whole front suspension. It sure makes a difference. My creaking noise is gone. The bushings were worn about 5/16″ larger than the 1.09″ they started out as. Quite sloppy.
I did find replacement seat leather for $900 or simulated for $650. That’s tempting. All made up. Reemove the old and install the new. It also needs the headliner redone and the visors.
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Wow, congratulations on 500! I loved the old family Country Squire – and it even had those jazzy wood panels on the side. Later I owned a Grand Wagoneer with the wood panels on the side – I think it reminded me of that old Country Squire as a kid. Great pics of the old wagons.
Thanks for the comment Greg. I remeber those Country Squire (post real wood). In particular when I was a teenager working in my Dad’s body shop in teh ’70 and replacing those wood decals back on after a repair.
I try to read your blog daily and comment whenever I have something worthy to say. Congratulations on your 500th post. I look forward to the next 500.
Your Mustang is interesting to me in that I appreciate the ‘over looked’ collectables. I’ve always liked the charm of a base model, or non popular model of certain cars. It just seems to add special charcater. I should have tried to trade you a LeBaron convertible for that Mustang, but that is water under the bridge now.
To me, that slant 6 Challenger survivor, or base model Barracuda with 318 out there somewhere is not a car waiting to get another Hemi transplant, or be a ‘re-creation’ at some auction, but rather a car that should be appreciated by surviving the decades of use, and also knowing that Detroit did build ‘bread and butter’ cars besides 440 6 packs and 426 Hemis, etc.
I guess because I grew up in stripper straight 6 Biscayne station wagons I have a special appreciation for these kinds of cars.
Back to 4 door DeSotos; I will take the camera to San Jose next month, and if the car is still these, I will take pictures, and try to interview the owner. This will be my first correspondence job for your blog-BTW, what does it pay?
Bill – I’ll split (80%-20% split – 80% for you and $20 for me) the revenue I get for that week from blog. And if my math is correct – that would ..let’s see… .80 X 0 is roughly 0..so that would be your cut. Thanks for posting.
500TH…WOW, I READ AS MANY AS I CAN….and do enjoy the work u put into them. thanks.