Re: [FWDLK] Long-stored collector cars

There's a guy in South Carolina from whom I bought a 1958 Chrysler 300-D late last year. His mini-collection of 300s consisted of the 300-D, a 300-F coupe, and a 300-G coupe, and had all been untouched since 1978. The D & F were inside in dry storage for the last 30 years, and were complete down to the correct air cleaners and hubcaps.

His prices were fair - when he told me the price of the 300-D, I realized it wasn't dirt cheap, but was the last one on the planet I could possibly afford, so I jumped at the chance. It needs a general restoration, which is in progress, funds permitting.

I would have bought all three if it wasn't for lack of funds and space - the red 300-G was extremely rusty, had a 100% cooked & corroded interior, but had factory air, a complete cross-ram setup, and a *perfect* set of hubcaps. The 300-F was a black 85,000 mile car covered with 1/2" of dust, needing every cosmetic restoration task you can imagine, but was rustfree, complete, and unmolested.

Though he has another 100 cars in various buildings on his property, he unfortunately has no more Forwardlook cars. In the past year, he's sold off 30 cars, realizing he just won't ever get to them. Most of 'em have been untouched for 30 years or more. (he does have a rusty 1979 Chrysler 300 for sale--e-mail me if you want pics).

John Spiers

Lake Worth, Florida

Jan & Roger van Hoy <vanhilla@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Yup, it's frustrating to see something you desire go to heck just because the owner isn't realistic.

I've been run off a number of places by old guys with shotguns, who had acres of cars, now the cars are gone and so are the old guys.

The only legit reason I can think MoPar guys are different is the scarcity of parts. Heck, I've got a parts car behind my barn. Someone might want to restore it, but I want it solely for parts.

But there has to be some point where you don't "need" any more... 10? 20? Surely by 100!

Also some guys think they're immortal, they may not plan their time and seriously don't stop to reason they won't get all the projects done if they live to be 100.

Others just "collect" cars, they don't really ever intend to do something with them. I can show you a barn full of Cords, Auburns, etc. that have been sitting for over 35 years and aren't for sale... yet.

Speaking for myself, retirement is just around the corner, then I'll get started on the '41 Dodge businessman's coupe... honest, I will!

--Roger van Hoy, Washougal, WA, '55 DeSoto, '58 DeSoto, '56 Plymouth, '66 Plymouth, '41 Dodge

----- Original Message -----

From: David Gedraitis

To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:17 PM

Subject: Re: [FWDLK] ANSWER ME ONE QUESTION ??????

That absolutely drives me nuts. I can see maybe not parting them out, but the whole "I'll get to it". No, you won't. I can typically bring a car back from any stage of death in six months, but then again, I have no family, I make good money, and I'm 27. I get home from a long days work and spend 4-5 hours in a garage, and over twenty on the weekend. A lot gets done in that time. I get frustrated between finding cars that are definitely not for sale, or someone who wants far more than it's worth. Other than driveability, I don't typically modify the cars I buy. I don't see why I get people so fickle about selling me something I'll be driving in a year. A lot of these guys seem to be older. I always wonder if it's because of my age.

Dave

Ron Allyn Swartley <Archangel1390@xxxxxxx> wrote:

     In 1956 I got into Chrysler Cars with a 56 Plymouth Fury that I raced at more that 8 different drag strips. Many years later when I sold it I had won a total of 51 drag strip competition trophies. I became friends with most of the Mopar guys at the drag strip because we were a minority group compared to all the Chevy's and Ford in attendance at the drag strip. Over the years us older guys and a lot of younger guys have stayed friends and kept in touch with each other over the years. Most of us collect Chrysler Products today. We love them.!!!!!

     OK, HERE IS MY QUESTION--- Why is it a large percentage of Mopar guys will not sell the cars they know they will never restore? More than 50 years of experience racing, collecting, restoring,selling, trading and locating Mopar's has put me in touch with Mopar guys that have 10, 20, 30 and more cars that are just sitting and rusting like "Miss Belvedere" did.   EXAMPLE-- One friend who has more than 100 Chrysler 300's that are mostly high performance letter series, and they are sitting and rotting inside and outside his building. They will not sell them. Two of my best friends each have Mopar collector cars--- The one friend has a Chrysler 300-C conv, 300-F conv, 3 Barracuda Conv, 3 Challenger Conv, 58 Fury, 58 Belvedere Conv, 58 Dodge Regal Lancer 500, 58 Dodge 2 dr D 500, 4 Imperials of which 2 are conv. and at least 20 other rare Mopar cars and he has not restored one single car in the last 35 years. But he says someday---you know the rest.That is just one friend, I will not go into what the other friend has sitting and rusting for fear of putting you into tears. I have met way too many Mopar guys who let their cars rot for a lot of different reasons but they will not sell them!!!!

       What really bothers me is I have a lot of Chevy and Ford friends and if they do not restore their cars, most of them sell them to a friend who will restore them. Why don't more Mopar guys do that. By keeping their cars out of circulation they are permitting the Ford and Chevy guys to have many more cars on the road today and at car shows and events.

         Hey, I apologize in advance if I offend anybody by not being politically correct and being nice, but I live in the real world. If you don't have the money to fix it up, sell your Mopar to someone who will fix it up. It does not deserve to just rot like "Miss Belvedere" did in Tulsa.!!!!!!

     THIS E MAIL WAS INSPIRED BY ALL THE GUY WHO SAID " HOW COULD TULSA LET THAT CARS DETERIORATE LIKE THEY DID".   WELL, DON'T WE HAVE A LOT OF TULSA GUYS WITHIN THE MOPAR FOLLOWING.!!!!! ------THINK ABOUT IT, WE ALL KNOW SOME OF THESE TULSA GUYS.

                       Ron Swartley