QuestionHello Dave, I found a 59 Ford Retractable here in NC thats been sitting for a number of years the car is all there 292 engine has a great body and chrome will need floor pans,I can pick this car up for 3500 do you think it will be worth restoring?
AnswerHi Randy,
Sounds like you found a diamond in the rough. Given your description, I'd probably take a run at it if I were you. The $3,500 seems a bit high as a starting point and I'd hope you could get the seller down some.
Probably the most critical part of ths equation will be how much work and sweat equity you will be building yourself vs. farming the work out to pros. Shop rates will eat up a lot of potential profit.
The top opening and closing smoothly is the biggest worry. Since you wouldn't want to fire up the engine if it's been sitting so long, you'll be taking a chance the top's in either very good working condition or very bad. Many times the culprit turns out to be the owner trying to "adjust" the top himself. Sometimes this can be successful, sometimes not. So...I'd really press the seller to talk about how the top works and how well it was working when the car was parked.
It would likely be a beauty when done, just be realistic how much time and $$$ you can "invest".
Good Luck in your bargaining.
Dave
