want to buy this car but need help.....

I will glady post more pics, I just have to upload them, give me a few.

I am still going back and forth on this car, its alot of work but has potential and is at least all there (except obviously the glass). Like everyone is saying I just wish it was closer so that I could look at it.

another point is it does have a title and all the ones I keep coming across dont. I had a hard time getting a title for my 66 panel truck and that was one reason I ended up selling it (in IL a bonded title takes about 3 yrs).
 
Kevin O'Connell said:
Glaspro in Santa Fe Springs, CA made the curved rear window for my 59 Eureka. They don't deal with the general public, only established auto glass shops. I found a nearby shop that had dealt with them in the past. Total cost, installed, was $458.00 in 2001. That's for safety glass, not tempered. I have to believe tempered would be less, but there's no way to know which type this car used until you examine the rubber it was mounted in.
Click to expand...

I would believe they could do it in laminated. and would to hesitate to use it. if I need one I'll as the glass shop I use if they can deal with them. I would understand why they would not want to deal with the gen public. we did make a template of the corner glass in this 63 when I had it out.

but then as for the money it all depends on you definition of restored. getting one running and looking decent is a lot different then restored. but as for me every time I drop down to the parts store I drop 50 bucks come out with 2 or 3 items. the least I have gotten into a car was the 71 with major rust I did. I got everything I could for it off e-bay, Ace Hardware or JC Whitney and still got 800 in it 1150 if you include the price of the car. but everything worked well on it the used windshield came off a swap from one of the other cars. but it was a drivable car that the doors opened, closed and sealed on and everything worked as it should when I sold it. all it needed was 4 matching tires,center link, painted, a good used engine, couple moldings and bumpers re-plated when I let it go in primer for 800. so yes you can have one up and running looking decent for a lot less then 10,000. but if you don't keep track of the money or save all your receipts and add them up or spread it out over a few years, you can have it done "pretty cheap". were it doesn't hurt much. by the time you get this car say at 1000 and get it home you have all ready spent 2 of the 10 I was talking about. but then a clear title is a good thing. we don't have a lot of trouble here getting one cleared up but you do have to have something to start off with.
 
I'm wondering, how do they make a curved glass in tempered glass when they don't have the original to use as a pattern? I know from speaking to Kevin, that he had the original laminated piece of glass that was cracked, and they were able to use that for the pattern. The back glass on my Pinner and my 1969 Miller Meteor is curved in both the vertical and horizontal directions. I have to assume that most of the rear door glass in a commercial chassis is also like my two..
 
Donna,

If you take a look at the youtube videos linked to ny signature below, there are a few videos of the on-going restoration of my 67.

The same issues also plaig my 69. The rust under the floor and inside the rear quarter pannels may be hard to see unless you remove the wooden floor.

I also had rust issues around the rear windows that I could not see until I removed moldings.

From my experiance and for budgetary purposes, I'd place the restoration cost of each of my cars at $40,000 each. The more I can do myself, the less it will actually cost, but if i would "charge" my time, i bet you that i'd be prety close. When you think about the cost of everything, it adds up.

Having said this, I also realize that if I ever finish the restoration of the 2 cars, and get to sell them so that I get the maximum return on my investment, I will never be able to get $40K per car.
 
Here's the CO coach that sold for $1200. Glass good; not rusty; not missing as many parts. Still looking for a pic of the TX '61 Superior.

5550588008_bdb90df987_b.jpg

5550006039_acbd3f8679_b.jpg


The last pic you posted Donna of the rear compartment shows that your coach is a combination - not a straight ambulance. Probably had a removable skeleton rack.
 
Attila Bethlenfalvy said:
The last pic you posted Donna of the rear compartment shows that your coach is a combination - not a straight ambulance. Probably had a removable skeleton rack.
Click to expand...

and thats why I am coming to you guys for advice, there is still so much to learn about these cars.

Thats a nice clean car, and agree that it leans more towards what I am looking to find.
 
Paul Steinberg said:
I'm wondering, how do they make a curved glass in tempered glass when they don't have the original to use as a pattern? I know from speaking to Kevin, that he had the original laminated piece of glass that was cracked, and they were able to use that for the pattern. The back glass on my Pinner and my 1969 Miller Meteor is curved in both the vertical and horizontal directions. I have to assume that most of the rear door glass in a commercial chassis is also like my two..
Click to expand...

I don't think they can. as the glass is cast in a form more or less. one would have to have one to make the form
 
I'm in Oregon. But if it's where I think it is, it's more than a 4 hour drive each way for me. And honestly, even though I'd love to have something like this, I'd pass on this one.

No glass = no buy for me. I passed on a 59 Superior (my dream car) that was really cheap about 3 years ago simply because I couldn't locate the important glass. I even had a friend who worked for Pilkington glass at the time and he couldn't help.

YMMV
 
were covering posts here. but I's hard to say if it's a combo or a straight ambulance. only the modale number will tell. it doesn't look any different then the inside of this 63 high top I'm working on. the marks in the roof were permanently mounted lights. which could be on a combo to but most likly a low top ambulance with out the add on cabinet.
 
So this was a good little uh I dont know moment on my behalf....
I was asked for height/length/width/weight for shipping, I told them approx. 22 ft long, 6 1/2 ft. wide, a 5 ft tall and 6000 lbs. This was semi- based off of a 75 limo. Does that sound about right?
 
John ED Renstrom said:
I would believe they could do it in laminated. and would to hesitate to use it. if I need one I'll as the glass shop I use if they can deal with them. I would understand why they would not want to deal with the gen public. we did make a template of the corner glass in this 63 when I had it out.

but then as for the money it all depends on you definition of restored. getting one running and looking decent is a lot different then restored. but as for me every time I drop down to the parts store I drop 50 bucks come out with 2 or 3 items. the least I have gotten into a car was the 71 with major rust I did. I got everything I could for it off e-bay, Ace Hardware or JC Whitney and still got 800 in it 1150 if you include the price of the car. but everything worked well on it the used windshield came off a swap from one of the other cars. but it was a drivable car that the doors opened, closed and sealed on and everything worked as it should when I sold it. all it needed was 4 matching tires,center link, painted, a good used engine, couple moldings and bumpers re-plated when I let it go in primer for 800. so yes you can have one up and running looking decent for a lot less then 10,000. but if you don't keep track of the money or save all your receipts and add them up or spread it out over a few years, you can have it done "pretty cheap". were it doesn't hurt much. by the time you get this car say at 1000 and get it home you have all ready spent 2 of the 10 I was talking about. but then a clear title is a good thing. we don't have a lot of trouble here getting one cleared up but you do have to have something to start off with.
Click to expand...
When I say I wont have 10k in to restoring my Henney or my S&S I mean show car restored. Restoring a car doesnt mean you make it drive and the doors work, thats fixing a car. Example: some of the choppers we built at the shop I used to work at only got to 10k because we were putting new motors in them, but at the same time they would sell from anywhere of 60k to 160k. Just because you put a lot of money into some thing doesnt mean its worth more or less than you put in to it. Same goes for putting little money in to a car. But at the same time I look for all the cars that everyone says cant be restored and save them.
 
Casey

Not all people are in your situation according to your posts.

Some people can't do body work, some people can't rebuild their engine or transmission, some people can't do interiors, some people can't chrome their bumpers, some can't tune their own engine.

Some people don't even have the space to work on their own cars even if they want to do the work themselves.

Not everyone has a welder, all the required tools, etc.

Some people would love to take on a restoration but don't have the time, have kids, no extra money, etc.

If you have everything you need and have the ability to do it,
consider yourself very lucky.


I took a look at the cars Donna posted and instantly said NO WAY !
I have been down the road of sinking money into something that wasn't worth it but kept spending then finally realized. I took my loses and learned from it. I learned the hard way.

Taking a look at the car Attila posted, all there for 1200.00, I thought,
GO FOR IT !

Don't forget about the time to find parts, paying for shipping and phone calls. That is something no one adds to the final cost when doing it yourself.

I wouldn't even mention curved back corner pro-glass unless I had the name and number of a shop that can be recommended and you have gotten glass made at before. Front windshields are usually available but not always. I know a couple guys looking for glass and have been for a long time. 80s/90s Eureka for an example.


And everyone has a very different opinion on a "good/great/mint" condition car or restoration.


A mint restoration would be John's 39 S/S 3way.
That is outstanding work in my opinion.
Take a look at it in Ohio this summer.


I'm saying the average person isn't doing all you can do and are giving their opinions on the car Donna asked about.

I'm sure not many of us would take on a project of that size when there are other options that would save time, money and final outcome.


Looking forward to seeing what you do with your 60 S/S !!!
I hope to see it at a meet sometime and hopefully meeting you at the Ohio event this summer.

Make sure you know I'm not against you, I'm just trying to make sure you know how others see this situation.

Take it easy,
Darren
 
my problem is always the fixed cost I can't control. the last two sets (front and rear) of bumpers I have had re plated cost me 1,5000 a set, tires are running about 80 bucks each. windshields 550. the last car I had trucked in cost me 1200. the headliner to get made up runs a grand to get a bench seat recovered is running a grand, 2,500 if you need leather. it was 350 if I striped it and they made it up and I put it back together plus 5 bucks for a box of hog rings. it was vinyl and cloth inserts. the materials to paint one runs me right at 600 that as cheap as I can get it. heck a roll of stick it 80 grit is 50 bucks. 1.50 each for the 8 inch 36 grit paper to strip one with. I always get around 800 in rubber products. I really don't see were you can buy a car get it shipped to you and restore it for less then ten g. let me know were I'm going wrong here will you as I need some help. I'm spend way to much and I have 3 more to go. would love to get them finished for less if I can.

but as for the size of the car your close at 22 foot long, 6 ft high for a low top. 8 for a high with lights and 6000 lb. so far none I have weighed have gone over that. the man that Attila posted about at 75 cents a mile would be as cheap a hauler as you can get.
 
Darren Bedford said:
Casey

Not all people are in your situation according to your posts.

Some people can't do body work, some people can't rebuild their engine or transmission, some people can't do interiors, some people can't chrome their bumpers, some can't tune their own engine.

Some people don't even have the space to work on their own cars even if they want to do the work themselves.

Not everyone has a welder, all the required tools, etc.

Some people would love to take on a restoration but don't have the time, have kids, no extra money, etc.

If you have everything you need and have the ability to do it,
consider yourself very lucky.


I took a look at the cars Donna posted and instantly said NO WAY !
I have been down the road of sinking money into something that wasn't worth it but kept spending then finally realized. I took my loses and learned from it. I learned the hard way.

Taking a look at the car Attila posted, all there for 1200.00, I thought,
GO FOR IT !

Don't forget about the time to find parts, paying for shipping and phone calls. That is something no one adds to the final cost when doing it yourself.

I wouldn't even mention curved back corner pro-glass unless I had the name and number of a shop that can be recommended and you have gotten glass made at before. Front windshields are usually available but not always. I know a couple guys looking for glass and have been for a long time. 80s/90s Eureka for an example.


And everyone has a very different opinion on a "good/great/mint" condition car or restoration.


A mint restoration would be John's 39 S/S 3way.
That is outstanding work in my opinion.
Take a look at it in Ohio this summer.


I'm saying the average person isn't doing all you can do and are giving their opinions on the car Donna asked about.

I'm sure not many of us would take on a project of that size when there are other options that would save time, money and final outcome.


Looking forward to seeing what you do with your 60 S/S !!!
I hope to see it at a meet sometime and hopefully meeting you at the Ohio event this summer.

Make sure you know I'm not against you, I'm just trying to make sure you know how others see this situation.

Take it easy,
Darren
Click to expand...

Im not saying everyone can or cant build a car. What Iam saying is that someone asks about a car and all Im seeing is everyone saying not to get it because it will cost to much. Nobody once asked if the person has the skills tools etc to restore the car its just a plain NO from almost every one. I do agree with what you are saying but what drives me nuts is when people tell some one how much something is going to cost to rebuild and how its not worth their effort or their time. I was told that on both my cars and whats funny is that nobody thought to ask if I can even restore them they also keep telling me how much everything is going to cost me, which has caused me to have to search on my own because instead of some one helping by telling me where I can find a picture or a part or even info all they can do is tell me to go buy another car thats in better shape then what I have because they are to busy worring about how much a part will cost. I find there is only support on certain things and then a bunch of it cant be done dont waste your time on others. Whats funny is I dont have all the tools in the world nor do I have a garage yet where Im living now but it wont stop me from getting or saving a car that I want. Im also one of the fortunate people that was able to get a flatbed trailer so when I do find another car I can get it myself. Basically what Im saying is dont everyone jump the gun at once and say no. Find out more info first.
 
Donna, Casey


Both of you have been around cars and have many cars already.

These are not as common and have very few re-popped parts as Mustang, Camero and Corvettes do. Most coach parts are way harder to find. Getting harder all the time and more expensive.

Whatever your choices are and whatever you decide to get and bring to a local or National meet, we will all be interested in seeing whatever car you are driving.

If they are major restorations, please take progression photos as you go.
We will all be looking forward to seeing your efforts and the results.

After all, another car saved is a good thing for sure.

Darren
 
I really didn't intend for this post to turn into more than what it was. I understand everyones points and there will always be many views to everything.

Ok....... so.......with that being said I want to buy this 1961 Cadillac Ambulance thats located in OR. Pictures can be found on pages 1 and I believe 3. Its a really good deal and one of the determining factors is transportation costs.

My husband and I will be doing 99% of the work, and I know I will need glass for it right away. It has been determined that the M&M I was gonna buy will not work as a parts car and thus the idea has been scrapped.

Since I am new to procars I would like to know about this car I am looking at, is it a specific model?
Other than the glass what would be a hard items to find???
My biggest thing would be to get glass, do floors and then get this car running and driving, the rest of the work will be done as time goes by.

As nice as it would be to have a YEARONE for procars, I know it does not exsist. However is there maybe a few centralized stores or dealers that do stock some items? Any contacts would be extremly helpful.

Thanks again for everyones help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top