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Advanced age members,How much did your 1st tri-five cost?

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#61 ·
I got my first Tri in 1976 at age 14, it was a 57 2 door hardtop 210 with Bel Air panels on it. I paid $200 for the car and $150 for a 327 he had for it - didn't take long to figure out why it wasn't in the car - it didn't run. had it 7 years, sold it without the engine I built for it - for $2,000 - with a dent in the back! I got every cent out of it that I put into it, including the engine.
November 2007, paid more than I sold the 57 for to get a 55 Bel Air 4 door sedan that had more rust than metal. Oh, it it didn't run either! :happy0030:
 
#62 ·
tjsdelivery said:
That's a very nice window delivery!:tu
Click to expand...
Thanks. :)

Incase you don't about it, it came out of a field in southern Indiana next to the Ohio river I'm told by the guy who pulled it out of the field. He painted it the green it currently wears in his driveway of all places. Not a bad job considering it was his first ever attempt.

My 210 4-door Sedan had 45,000 original miles on her 283 when first got her. she now has a little over 81,000 miles on her.

And not to be left out.
I bought this in october, 2004 for $300. The body shop that had it even delivered it at no extra charge.
Yep, it needs some serious TLC. So would you after setting outdoors for almost 30 yrs. And what do you expect for $300? :laugh:
Image
 
#63 ·
I bought my 55 (the one pictured I'm still working on now) in 1979, the guy was asking $1500, I offered $1300 cash and he took it, of course I've put more into it than it's worth, but I never plan to sell it so doesn't matter, just want it just the way I like it...
 
#65 ·
MY FIRST 1955

I PAID $800 FOR MY FIRST 1955 BELAIR 2DR HARDTOP ,IT HAD A 350 AND A 3 SPEED SHIFTER IN IT ,THE GUY GAVE ME THE ORIGINAL 265 AND POWERGLIDE,WHICH I REBUILT AND PUT IN (IAM SUCKER FOR THE ORIGINAL STUFF) THAT WAS IN 1975 ,I JUST FOUND ANOTHER 55 (SAME CAR 2DR BELAIR HARDTOP) SAME COLOR,, ENGINE ETC ALL DEAD STOCK LOOKS LIKE IT JUST ROLL OFF THE LINE ,IT JUST TOOK ME 34 YEARS TO GET THE RIGHT CAR BACK ,,,ME AND MY WIFE "DATED" IN MY 55 ,WITH THE KIDS GROWN AND MOVED OUT WE HAVE COME FULL CIRCLE , WHEN IAM DRIVING IT AND LOOK OVER AT MY WIFE ,I JUST SMILE,,,,ITS A TRUE TIME MACHINE
 
#68 ·
Purchased a 210 V8 hardtop,original canyon coral and ivory paint in '76 for $2,865 CDN.
Bought the car in Peabody Kansas and drove it home, 1200 miles{radio delete}
Still have and drive the car, 51,000 miles when I bought it 56,000 miles now. Still original paint.
Bob
 
#69 ·
1977, in the service and a buddy had a '55 he had driven from NY. I tried to buy it from him, but no sale. Another buddy had a Toyota that I wanted the seats from for a '62 Impala I had. Things just seemed to come together at the same time. The guy with the Toyota wrecked it and got orders to deploy overseas at the same time. The car was in a tow in lot. He paid $100 to get it out, then sold it to me for $4. (go figure, he asked how much I had on me, that was it. He got the car out of impound, and gave it to me. Never could figure out why)

Got the toyota home, took out the seats, found a case of oil, a brand new in the wrapper CB antenna, an AM/FM/Casette player in the trunk, and kept them all. I figure I'm about $80 ahead by now, at least.

The guy with the '55 called me... said he had driven the car back to NY, and on the way back to post, he blew it up. It was sitting in Columbus ohio, and he wanted to trade me for the Toyota which was sitting in my front yard (wrecked, with no front seats, and my land lord yelling to get rid of it lol) Of COURSE I traded. I only lived about 2 hrs from Columbus when I wasn't in the Army, so that weekend we went home, drove to Columbus, and picked up the '55 (which the station it was parked at didn't want to let go, almost had to steal it out from under them). Got the car home, found he had dropped #5 piston. 327 time.

Anyway, I figure I got paid about $75 to take it, what do you all think?
 
#70 ·
Was in the military in 1972 when I bought my first Tri-five. Had been wanting one for a while and my buddy and I were riding around the Oakland area and crossed the bridge into San Leandro. There was a '56 2-door hardtop Belaire sitting in front of a house with a For Sale sign on it. Turquoise and white, no rust, original 265 with 3-speed and factory overdrive and all numbers matching with even original seat covers and headliner. I had about $900 to spend and I told my buddy that "I could not afford that car". Knocked on the door and this very disgruntled guy came to the front porch. After telling me that he had bought this car for his son and 3 speeding tickets later his son had lost his license for 6 months, I asked him the fateful question; "What you asking for it?" He replied, "Give me $275 and get it out of here!" I was floored, but I tried not let him know. I paid him and drove it back to Lemoore just South of Fresno. My buddy and I went to a local "junk yard" and found a punched-out 283 out of a wrecked '65 Impala and started changing out the old 265.
After getting out of the military and changing the 283 out for a 300HP 350, got married and in '78 my wife got pregnant and we were hurting for cash. I sold the '56 for $900 and have regretted it since then. Seeing what they are selling for now, it would easily be a $25000 to $30000 car these days. There is nothing like a beautiful fixed-up Tri-five........Bill
 
#71 ·
First Car

My first car was a 55 210 2dr sedan with a 371 olds and a 4 speed hydro. I bought it around 1968 for 100 bucks. My next car was a 57 rag top I bought from a VW dealer for $500.00 in around 1970. I've had a 57 4door, 57 sedan delevery as well. I am currently the second owner of a 55 210 2dr sedan with 45000 miles 265 and 3 speed...........
 
#72 ·
My first Trifive was a 56 4 door that I bought in 1970 for 50 dollars 283 auto,I was 15 and could not drive on the street ,so we would take it out on the dirt roads out by the American river in Sacramento.Had it for about a year.A buddy of mine convinced me to sell it to the local junk yard for 25 dollars.We drove the clean purple rust free 56 to the crusher got 25 bucks and walked away,,,,,,,Bought pizza soda,and a strobe light...You dont have to say it,I know,,:eek:
 
#73 ·
I went to check out a 57 and the owner was out at the curb talking to another prospective buyer and as I stepped up he said I have to have $200 and the guy said the best I will go is $175.
So I say "I'll give you $200" and he said it's yours. Talk about some dirty looks. 57 210 6 cylinder sport coupe, I traded it to a mechanic to put a 301 into my 41 Sedan Delivery.
Jim
 
#76 ·
1st and 2nd 55 Chevy

I bought my first 55 Chevy in 1963 for $75.00. It was a turquoise and ivory Belair coupe. 265 / powerglide. I got in an accident and I needed a right front fender. I found a 150 2 door sedan stick 6 with a nice nose for $15.00. I took the right front fender and parted most of the car out for about $100.00. Should have kept them both. The one I have now I traded a 46 Dodge pickup truck and $4k for (55 -210 2 door sedan zzz crate motor / muncie M20) in 1992.

Joe
 
#77 ·
I bought a very rusty (St Louis car) orange and white 57 four door for$40 dont remember the year sometime in the late 60,s. It had a non running 265 bored .030. The owner became fustrated because nobody could get it running. The story was they where souping it up and had milled the heads and put a3/4 cam in it . The first time that it was run they collided the valves with the pistons. They then installed brand new 283 heads couldnt get it in time just would not start just backfire. I bought it and after about a hour decided the cam wasnt in time with the pistons. The timing marks where correct. I soon found that the crankshaft key had sheared. Got it running and drove over to show the guy what a grubby little kid could do. Boy was he mad. Never would give me the title. So i put the engine and trans in a 63 chev pk. sold the front cap radiator ect for $50. hauled the body to the crusher in 79. I still have the rear end, 355 gears -heads ,exhaust manifolds and intake.:cool: Randall
 
#80 ·
i bought my 57 chevy in '67 and still have it. It was a bel-air 2 dr. ht. with 57,000 miles and i paid $275. It's been upgraded or restored 3 times. In '68 i replaced the 283 pg with a 327 and 3 on the floor. Just last year i replaced the 3 speed with a borg-warner super t-10.

ken 57
 
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