What would you pay? (classic El Caminos)

Please talk me out of this!!!

I've had a classic Elky for a long time- a 1960. So, I know them fairly well...

But the real desirable 1st gen one is the 1959. Dripping with chrome, cat's eye tail lights, so gaudy it's beautiful. I've wanted one for a long time, but tried to avoid it forever (since it would probably mean the end to a 30 year marriage).

So, into my life comes a '59. Actually, not one, not really even 2. (2) 1959 Elkies, a complete restored roller frame (with a 350 hp 327), PLUS a 1959 4 door Impala. Package deal. Instant divorce for reason of insanity!

Older man who spent a lot of time restoring cars like this. Ready to call it quits.

The Elkies are disassembled, and sitting in primer. Good bodies, minor issues. Most work completed. Sitting on roller chassis with their original engines (not restored). Ready to be reassembled. All of the hard bits are there- curved glass, chrome, gauge pods, cat's eyes, seats, etc. These would not make good restoration grade cars, but they'd make excellent resto-rods, or hot rods. One of the beds is tubbed, the other one is ready for a wood bed.

The chassis is completely restored- he's got over $17K in it. 327, 6 spd auto, all suspension re-worked, disk brakes, etc.

The 4 door is a little rough.

Guy would like to walk away from the entire pile. 2 complete Elkies in pieces, 1 extra restored chassis, and the 4 door Impala. Said he'd like to get $14 K, but that was his first shot over the fence. He's gonna have a tough time selling this as one package deal (though that is his preference).

I've got the money, and probably the space (if I sell a few kids). I would probably need $5K additional for each car to do them right. I would ONLY want this as a project to make a few dollars on. It would take me a year to put the 2 Elkies together right. I wouldn't restore the Imp, I'd just sell it as-is.

You are all enablers, so most certainly the wrong people to ask. But, just out of curiosity, what would you pay? Thoughts on resale, etc? Should I be reserving a spot at the local asylum?

I'd rather see you end up with it than some chuckle head from Gas Monkey Garage et al.

Sell the 1960 and drive a '59? Sell off parts, sell the Impala?

You shouldn't ask - temp that sort of scenario here .....

Put the best body on the best frame save the best parts then sell the rest for a 409.You really only need One, I love them more than I should,maybe second only to a 53 Stude.

409's never came on the Elkies (nor the '59 Impala).

Of course, neither did 327's.

I've got a freshly built 355 which is only a crank away from being a 383. Hmmm... I've also got an LS....

I'd do it. I bet you can get the whole lot for $12k easy. Sell the 4dr for $3k. Get the less desirable el camino in one piece and running and sell it for $10k. Boom, free '59 el camino.

P.s. I love '59 (and '60) elks too.

You said the package comes with all the chrome bits, but are those bits in good condition? There's a lot of chrome on a '59 Chevy, it will cost a mint if it all has to be re-done.

Did you really think any of us would talk you out of this?

Whats your storage capaicity? I'll bet there is room for 3 more cars somewhere...

A pile like that has a way of being an anchor. Weren't you just thinking about pulling up stakes and moving near your dad? I'd hate to have to move that too.

Here's a comparable car , just to get an idea on price.

And a rough runner for a whole lot more.

When I was a Boy... puttin' 348's in them was big, but you knew 409's are badder, but about 3 times as much right now. they still have the most beautiful Dash.

Psssst, GTX don't look here

This sounds like an emotional sale as much as a financial one. It's a perfect opportunity to reinforce that you want to take these & complete them like he would have...and of course explain that you'll need the $$ to complete the work, so offer him $7500 and hope you can get them for $9k

dculberson wrote: A pile like that has a way of being an anchor. Weren't you just thinking about pulling up stakes and moving near your dad? I'd hate to have to move that too.

That was SO 2 days ago!

Come on, DC- keep up, will ya?

I'm a little slow!

stuart in mn wrote: You said the package comes with all the chrome bits, but are those bits in good condition? There's a lot of chrome on a '59 Chevy, it will cost a mint if it all has to be re-done.

Yep, you're right. The chrome alone on an Elky is worth about $5K, not counting the bumpers (It's not actually chrome, it's stainless).

I'll be looking closely.

If a deal is made i'd be very curious as to the condition of the sedan

We are here to enable your poor life choices. Please move forward with the procurement of these beasts. And yes, we need more pictures.

From where I am sitting:

I see the package bought for 12k.

Another 15k to get one of the bodies assembled, painted and upholstered on the chassis; in other words, "Done".

About 800 hours of your free time used up.

If marketed right, maybe 6k worth of leftover bits to peddle. So you are left with a fresh 1959 Elky for 21k and 800 hours of time.

So, up to the point where you say:

I would ONLY want this as a project to make a few dollars on.

I see you selling for more than you have out of pocket, ( is a fresh resto worth 30k?) but I just don't see you making good $$$ on the labor part. As a project guy, I see nothing wrong with this.

Best money would be to put the second best body on the chassis and get it looking like a car. Then find a buyer for that. I think you could get your money back on that one sale and be left with a bunch of parts that you could peddle over time. In effect, your project becomes selling, not building.

Yeah, I am in the buy it and immediately sell the less desirable one with the chassis. Then take that money, have a custom chassis made by one of the various shops that does that sort of thing and assemble a beautiful drivers car and enjoy until someone starts throwing bags of money at you. Don't spend 800 hours doing a proper restore unless you REALLY want to do that sort of thing.

With that said, it is worth mentioning that I am an 80/20 kind of guy. I will never do a full resto because a driving assembled ride in somewhat rough shape is always better to me than a perfect resto sitting a bubble while I wait for that last windshield washer bag to pop up on Ebay to complete my build.

Buy it!

I've decided that dculberson is right- I really don't need any anchors in my life right now. So, I'm gonna pass.

...in spite of the crowd of you trying to push me off the cliff!

Well, the least you can do is make a listing for the guy on the open classified section.

OK now I feel bad. Even if I think it's the right decision.

In reply to dculberson:

Not to worry. Watch me for just a little while, and you'll see plenty enough patheticness for everyone!

I have plenty more bad ideas!