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1946-1954 American Cars

56 messages,  Last post on Jul 11, 2012 at 11:08 AM

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Messages Page 5 of 6

#37 of 56 Re: Here's another one [fintail] by isellhondas

Jun 27, 2012 (8:03 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 27, 2012 7:10 pm)
It looks like a total rust bucket to me and not worth the cost of restoration.
 
Even if someone wanted to make it a daily driver, they would HAVE to do an interior and replace the glass. Even then, who knows how it runs.

#38 of 56 Re: I need some expert opinions here... [isellhondas] by oldbearcat

Jun 27, 2012 (8:30 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jun 25, 2012 9:16 am)
Isell:
 
I know about the bottom end that this engine has. So far I'm doing my own wrenching on her. I just redid the valve gear myself, and, now she's much happier at speed. Yeah - I decided just to put up with the rear main leak at this point. Putting a seal in with the engine in the car looks like a pain.
 
Regards:
Oldbearcat

#39 of 56 Re: Here's another one [isellhondas] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 28, 2012 (9:00 am)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jun 27, 2012 8:03 pm)
I see this all the time. It's a tired old car tarted up with newer paint---the interior is tired, the chassis and suspension is decrepit, etc etc. He did the easiest part of the rwstoration of a car that's not worth very much even properly restored.

#40 of 56 Re: Here's another one [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Jun 28, 2012 (2:12 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 28, 2012 9:00 am)
Yep, throw on a cheap set of wide whites and a brgain basement paint job and you may end up with a "50 footer".
 
The closer you look, the worse things get. Like digging in a pile of manure. The more you dig, the worse it smells.
 
I think he may be an owner for quite awhile.

#41 of 56 Re: Here's another one [isellhondas] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 28, 2012 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jun 28, 2012 2:12 pm)
If it runs really well he might get 1/2 of what he's asking.

#42 of 56 Re: Here's another one [Mr_Shiftright] by fintail

Jun 28, 2012 (6:28 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 28, 2012 2:47 pm)
And even if it is mint, a prewar style postwar 2 door sedan isn't going to be much fun, useful mostly for in-town errands or low stress country roads.

#43 of 56 Re: Here's another one [isellhondas] by hpmctorque

Jun 28, 2012 (6:48 pm)

Replying to: isellhondas (Jun 27, 2012 2:14 pm)
Speaking of Plymouths, I think they were better cars than Chevys in model years '46-'54. The demand for Chevys is greater, of course, but Plymouths are more rugged and durable.

#44 of 56 Re: Here's another one [fintail] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jun 29, 2012 (8:09 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jun 28, 2012 6:28 pm)
Most pre-war cars of this type can barely run on modern freeways, and they are ponderous at slow speeds. They are neither fast, nor fun, nor agile, and in most cases, not very pretty either. There are a few exceptions, like 40-41 Ford V8s, the Air Flows and of course some pre-war foreign stuff.

#45 of 56 Re: Here's another one [Mr_Shiftright] by andre1969

Jun 29, 2012 (8:31 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 29, 2012 8:09 am)
Years ago, one of my friends had a 1950 DeSoto Custom 4-door, which had Fluid drive and, IIRC, a flathead six that was 236.6 CID or something like that and maybe 110 hp gross?
 
Now true, this is a postwar car, but I doubt that engine/performance-wise, it was much different from the '41-48 models. I rode in my friend's 50 a few times, and followed him, in my '57 Firedome, to a car show once.
 
I have no idea what 0-60 would've been in it, but I remember reading that when the Firedome V-8 came out for '52, it knocked 4 seconds off the 0-60 time versus the 6, and the time I've seen listed was 17.6 seconds. So that would put the 1952 6-cyl model at around 21.6 seconds, and I'd guess the 50 was similar?
 
In normal driving, as a passenger, the car seemed fine. And it also didn't seem to have any trouble keeping up with interstate speeds, maybe 70-75 mph. I'm sure it would be a bit scary though, if you had to do a high-speed merge onto a highway from a dead stop though!
 
It was a nice car for loafing around, and in good shape. But admittedly, pretty dull. Not something I'd exactly clamor for. He ended up buying a '55 Fireflite Coronado, one of the earliest triple-tone models, and sold the '50 to an old guy up north of Baltimore. It was a much cooler car, with the 291 Hemi and 200 hp. But still, just a nice old 4-door sedan, and I think he really wanted something flashier.
 
I think I ended up being a bad influence on this guy, because soon after I bought my '67 Catalina convertible, he got the 'vert bug really bad. But he tried to satisfy it with an '83 or so LeBaron convertible, with the 2.6 Mitsubishi 4-cyl! And after that it was one of those little Aussie Capris. Finally, he sort of found a happy medium with a '72 Corvette. Not a convertible, but it did have the removable targa panel.

#46 of 56 Re: Here's another one [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas

Jun 29, 2012 (9:43 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 29, 2012 8:09 am)
I used to commute 60 miles a day in my 54 Chevy Bel Air and it kept up just fine with L.A traffic. It would easily cruise at 80 MPH without complaint.
 
It was a Powerglide and I was lucky to get 14 MPG out of it.

Messages Page 5 of 6

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