Joined
·
5,019 Posts
We recently had our annual swap meet, and I never miss it. I had nothing on my list this year to buy, except a new egg crate grille to go on my '69 Suburban. Located one at the swap meet for $5, so I can swap out the '71grille in the Burb, and get back to the correct '69.
We were almost to the end of the swap meet when I walked past a car trailer with a '39 Chev coupe sitting on it. My buddy and I were talking, and I told him I had a '40 in high school, and always wished it was a '39 as I liked the grilles better.
So we're looking it all over and wondering if it's for sale, as there's no signs, or price. Figured that late in the opening day it was sold, so just daydreaming about it. Then a gentleman walks up and asks me what I think of it? I told him it was pretty cool, but although very straight, it had tons of rust repair needed too!Most of the front/rear floors, rockers, and lower doors. He tells me he's too old to do it, so decided to sell his project.
He begins to tell me all the extra pieces he's got inside it, and how many doubles he's got of various items. Then he asks what I think it's worth? I told him I didn't want to say, as he'd likely tell me to take it, and I didn't need another project! He tells me he'd take $2200, and I told him it was fair, but I didn't want it. We talked back and forth a long time, and he asked me to make an offer, so I offered him $1500. He countered with $1600, and we shook hands.
So here's what he delivered to my house:
![]()
Along with the car is a one piece tilt nose. And a pair of fiberglass fenders, running boards, and a few other fiberglass panels. An original hood that looks great. About 4 boxes of parts including original radio, hood ornaments, headlight and taillight housings, and buckets for those lights. The original steering wheel, steering column, and box.
A lot of these parts will get sold off once I know what I will use. But not until I'm sure of my plan, and direction! I've got tons of extra parts from various builds, so I'll try to use many of them. Have a '59 Chevy truck straight axle and new springs. A 700R4 custom built AOD trans to make it better on the highway. A spare 3.73 limited slip 8.8" Ford rear axle. Plus various intakes, carbs, etc. for SBC engines. Have a pair of stainless steel fenderwell headers, so they'll work their way into this build also.
I'll try to use some original parts like the old steering wheel I think looks cool. And a nice hood ornament.
![]()
![]()
Of course the radio whether it works or not, since it fills the hole and looks neat too.
![]()
Wont use the running boards as they're an invitation for small children to climb on them!
![]()
![]()
I ordered all new floor pans, rockers, etc., so have all I can need to repair the floors. I also picked up a sheet of sheet metal, and a shrinker-stretcher so I can teach myself how to move metal for the small patches I can't buy pieces for.
![]()
Wont be updating often, as work will likely move slowly at my age! But I'll post some pictures as it moves forward. Plan is a mainly street rod, but with a little "gasser" competition look. Not one of the higher stance cars, but more like the older gassers that weren't nose bleed high.
Have a friend who has a ZZ4 crate engine, and his project went away. So hope we can work a deal to use it on this '39 coupe!
We were almost to the end of the swap meet when I walked past a car trailer with a '39 Chev coupe sitting on it. My buddy and I were talking, and I told him I had a '40 in high school, and always wished it was a '39 as I liked the grilles better.
So we're looking it all over and wondering if it's for sale, as there's no signs, or price. Figured that late in the opening day it was sold, so just daydreaming about it. Then a gentleman walks up and asks me what I think of it? I told him it was pretty cool, but although very straight, it had tons of rust repair needed too!Most of the front/rear floors, rockers, and lower doors. He tells me he's too old to do it, so decided to sell his project.
He begins to tell me all the extra pieces he's got inside it, and how many doubles he's got of various items. Then he asks what I think it's worth? I told him I didn't want to say, as he'd likely tell me to take it, and I didn't need another project! He tells me he'd take $2200, and I told him it was fair, but I didn't want it. We talked back and forth a long time, and he asked me to make an offer, so I offered him $1500. He countered with $1600, and we shook hands.
So here's what he delivered to my house:
Along with the car is a one piece tilt nose. And a pair of fiberglass fenders, running boards, and a few other fiberglass panels. An original hood that looks great. About 4 boxes of parts including original radio, hood ornaments, headlight and taillight housings, and buckets for those lights. The original steering wheel, steering column, and box.
A lot of these parts will get sold off once I know what I will use. But not until I'm sure of my plan, and direction! I've got tons of extra parts from various builds, so I'll try to use many of them. Have a '59 Chevy truck straight axle and new springs. A 700R4 custom built AOD trans to make it better on the highway. A spare 3.73 limited slip 8.8" Ford rear axle. Plus various intakes, carbs, etc. for SBC engines. Have a pair of stainless steel fenderwell headers, so they'll work their way into this build also.
I'll try to use some original parts like the old steering wheel I think looks cool. And a nice hood ornament.
Of course the radio whether it works or not, since it fills the hole and looks neat too.
Wont use the running boards as they're an invitation for small children to climb on them!
I ordered all new floor pans, rockers, etc., so have all I can need to repair the floors. I also picked up a sheet of sheet metal, and a shrinker-stretcher so I can teach myself how to move metal for the small patches I can't buy pieces for.
Wont be updating often, as work will likely move slowly at my age! But I'll post some pictures as it moves forward. Plan is a mainly street rod, but with a little "gasser" competition look. Not one of the higher stance cars, but more like the older gassers that weren't nose bleed high.
Have a friend who has a ZZ4 crate engine, and his project went away. So hope we can work a deal to use it on this '39 coupe!
:congrats:SCORE!!
