55 chevy bel-air, hardtop

[Sky]

Hello, i know this is a bit off topic a bit but, im looking for car, i want it to be a 55 chevy bel-air, hardtop. i have been looking on ebay for this car but i have found the reason you guys call ebay ePay, but it's not ebay's fault, but there is just NO CHANCE for the little guy who simply wants a 55 chevy for his first car on ebay, you find a good car, the bid is 3000 give or take, so you think well, i'll watch this car, (hope it dont climb too high) next morning, it's up there, WAY WAY up there, to 13 or 14 thou, maybee more, there's no chance for the little guy on ebay, so i was wondering what you guys would suggest and how to go about finding the 55 i want, it's gatta be in the state of indiana, perferably close or somewhat close to marion county but i can travel inside the state if need be, im looking for a 55 bel air in good condition, it's ok if it needs a little body or engine work but nothing serious, how would you guys go about finding the car i want if you were me? i thought about the paper but what else can i do. i just thought maybee i'd come here and ask since you guys have been very helpfull to me with other things..

[Jordan]

hey sky,

what i would do is just ask around and you may never know what you might find. also if i were you i would always keep my i out in the classifieds just in case one pops up.

hope this helps
jordan

[Jonathan Widelo]

Sky,
It sounds like a great project but, I wouldn't get one for a daily driver unless it was a complete frame off restoration, with everything gone through. With something of that vintage you might encounter some problems due to plain age, plus it wouldn't be a very good "winter car" ,I would look for a reasonably priced car or in our case as engine collectors, a truck. I have a great older GMC pickup a 1975 3/4 4wd , I would love to completely do this truck over and drive it around town and the local area, but it wouldn't be a daily driver, for one thing the gas would most likely kill me, since it is carbureted, not EFI, plus it is geared real low with 4:56 gears and a 14 bolt rear end, so its more of a weekend / work truck. I would rather get something more reliable like a newer style GM 3/4 with a duramax which you can get near 20 mpg, or so I hear anyway.
Good luck with your search, but I would be more looking towards a newer more dependable vehicle.
~ Jonathan

[Paul Spence]

Sky: I had some 60's Pontiacs and sold them many years ago, and always wanted a 65 Catalina 2 + 2 Convertible. However, like you the car I wanted always commanded lots of $'s even for one in poor shape. After years of looking through the want ads, garage sales,newspapers, dead end leads, ASK, ASk and Asking, etc., I found a 68 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible. Not exactly what I was after, BUT there it was sitting in an out of the way used car dealers lot. I passed it up for two weeks, and finally stopped to look at it. Hadn't been on the road for 13 years but started, ran and drove nicely. Sure, it needed some TLC but that's the fun of it all. I got tired of looking for exactly what I wanted, so I bought it. Now I'll take it out whenever I get the urge, and I'm sure happy with it. Saw a 67 Pontiac Grand Prix Convertible last week at a car dealers that sure looked nice from the road, but up close my old top fits better that it's new one, my body panels fit better, my paint is in need of restoration, and I'm sure mine leaks around the windows just like this frame off restoration priced at $30K does . How about settling for a 56 or 57. Just a thought, or just keep looking untill you find your dream car. Thats my $0.02 input while just trying to have fun in NJ.

[George Vaughan]

Sky, just my opinion, but I would never buy an automobile without being able to see and inspect it first. The quality of an older vehicle is subject to much "interpretation". If you inspect it yourself and have made yourself aware of what to look for (particularly regarding the specific model auto that you wish to own) you have a much better chance of making a prudent purchase. In some instances, replacement parts can be very difficult to locate and very expensive when and if you do. Some parts can be rehabilitated but that can be expensive too if you cannot do the work yourself, i.e. welding,painting,electrical,etc. If you buy a vehicle at a "reasonable" purchase price only to discover later that there are some costly repairs necessary you have not made a good deal for yourself.

[Larry Rusch]

You want to buy a '55 chevy hardtop in good condition, close to home, that's been on ebay, for a couple of thousand. Good luck! If you find that car I'll take a dozen! I think you are being a little nieve about the demand and popularity of certain model cars. I am not particularly a Chevy fan but that is still one of the most sought after models out there. That being said, I suggest you pick up a copy of Hemmings Motor News, or check them out online. You might find it there. The needle is in the haystack somewhere.

[Tim Claremont]

For your budget, you had better resign yourself to a four door.

Or, look into buying a 1980's Monte Carlo and mounting one of the new fiberglass 55 Chevy bodies onto it. Do a web search and you will find the body kits.

[Tim Claremont]

PS: I think looking in Hemmings for your "needle in a haystack" 55 chevy for a bargain price is a complete and utter waste of time!

For the price point, you need to be looking where other potential buyers are NOT looking. Old barns, etc. etc.

[Larry Rusch]

Point well taken. The only real potential advantage to Hemmings is that prices are usually set and can sometimes be negotiated down, rather than going up in a bidding frenzy like they do on ebay. And Hemmings gathers all the hay into one big pile.

[Tim Claremont]

No argument there, Larry. I must conceed that my days of reading Hemmings are getting to be long ago.

I still have copies from the early 70s in a box here somewhere. Wanna see some prices for 55 Chevys being sold in 1972?

[Larry Rusch]

No thanks. My "needle" is a '53 Buick Skylark, but I'm not actively looking right now - too much otrher stuff going on.

[Benny Mckheean]

I have a 55 Chevy that has been ground up twiced and take my advice buy it finishied instead of taking on the job by yourself. Benny

[Tim Claremont]

I am mulling over the purchase of a 59 Buick right now.

There is just something cool about having fins in the back AND the front.

[Kevin O. Pulver]

Sky,
I'm not optimistic about you finding something that is so sought after.
... And finding it cheap, in good condition, and right around the corner.
When you find it, the guy will probably also have my '70 Hemi 'Cuda, but I will settle for a Superbird. We need to practice contentment with what we have, because there is LOTS of cool stuff that we'll never have! But if you find it, I'll be happy for you. Kevin

[Sky]

im speechless, but i'll find one some were...wont be on ebay though

[Patrick McNallen]

It's too bad that this is no longer a free country. I have an idea that GM could make a lot of money and a lot of happy customers by tooling up and building EXACT reproductions of the '55 Chevy 2 door sedan, 2 door hardtop, and the convertible. The only change I'd make would be an optional 3-speed automatic.

[Tom Cwach]

[quote=Kevin O. Pulver;171239]Sky,
When you find it, the guy will probably also have my '70 Hemi 'Cuda

An old drag racing buddy recently sold his restored 1970 triple black hemi Cuda. Original hemi car but not the original engine.

He had many dreamers call him before looking for a bargain. He got a phone call a couple of months ago, Talked with the caller about the car. The caller asked if he would sell it, My bud said he would need $120,000 for it.
The caller said that sounds reasonable and picked the car up a few days later.

As far as '55 chevys go a 2dr sedan would be easier to score. I have seen some fairly solid rollers, no engine,trans,or interior sell in the $3000 range.If you found a nice driver for $15000 it could be less expensive than rebuilding one.

If GM would build new repros of 55s maybe $35000 might buy one.

If you bought a new car for $30,000 in 7 years it might be worth $10,000.

If you buy a reasonably priced collector car, say $20000. It Might, repeat MIGHT be worth more than that in a few years. But past history would show that it won't depreiciate like a new car.

I squandered most of my hard earned money on muscle cars in the mid to late 70s. I have not sold any yet as I still like the cars just like when I bought them. I still have food on the table so they will stay a while longer.

[oldironcollector]

I got out of the car business because it got way too expensive for me, I had a 72 Chevelle SS 454 car and sold it at the time for a hefty price Fast forward 12 years and now the price is nearly 8 times on them as to what I sold it for in the early 90's. Jokes on me!!! Oh well.

Point to ponder: a local Ford dealership has a 1964 Impala SS big block car on the showroom floor and they are asking $14,000.00 for it. A friend said "who would pay that for a car that old", but the truth is if you go buy you a brand new Ford Taurus for lets say $20,000. In 10 years what will it be worth? Right now you can buy lots of nice 96 Taurus cars around the $1200.00 mark. And ponder on what the 64 Impala will be worth in 10 years. .

Like I said I got out of cars to find a less expensive hobby like old engines again jokes on me!!!! I wish you well in your search for the 55 they are a nice automobile.

D.

[Alan New]

Sky,

I know this isn't exactly what you're looking for, but I saw an Edsel station wagon for $1800. on St Rd 38 between Pendleton and Noblesville on Monday. I've got too many projects now or I'd have taken a closer look.

[Tim Claremont]

The Edsel wagons are rare, but that translates into huge prices for parts.

You can build a tri-5 Chevy from scratch since they reproduce practically everything.

Just like the old engines, you can buy a popular engine in poor condition and actually have success rebuilding it with reproduction parts, or you can buy the rare stuff and spend the rest of your life looking for the parts you need.

Now, a crazy thing happened since this thread started. While driving through my neighborhood just this morning I saw a 55 Chevy two door in weathered, driver condition just two streets over. I will be glad to go take a look and see if there is a for sale sign. For all we know the car just came out of the garage this morning.