Thread: Anyone like Vintage cars?

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Hi all,
We have this one in storage at the farm. It is a 1929 Hudson Convertable Coupe. The Convertable Coupe is a very rare model, I think there are only a few examples of the 1929 model in existance worldwide. The car was imported new into Aus as a complete vehicle, unlike many cars of that time that were imported as a rolling chassis and had local coachwork built on top. (The above is from net searching I have done. I am more than happy to be corrected if required.)

We are only the second family to own it since new. It was originally owned by a Sydney based gentleman who was one to keep every car he ever owned. When he died he had 7 which were split up between his children. My family was given this one as family friends.

Unfortunately (before we owned it) it was stored at Bondi for several years which is when the rust got in. It was then stored at a timber mill near Lithgow which is where a few of the bits disappeared (spare sheel etc). It would be a shame to see it scrapped. For now it is on blocks in the shed. One day I might have the shed space to pull it apart and rebuild it as a long-term project. It would be a great experience...

Cheers,
Chris

Very nice, body looks good for its age. Would be a straight forward starting with a good base like that. My old man has 2 fully restored Dodges and a couple of parts cars. One day when i have space i would like to restore one myself.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

As opposed to Land Rovers, what is difficult is the lack of literature on Hudsons that old. I am sure there is an enthusiast network out there, I just haven't looked hard enough yet.

Cheers,

Try Hudson-AMC Club Home Page

Cheers

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Thank you all for your comments. I have no intention of scrapping it. I was a little disheartened to speak to a member of a Sydney based Hudson etc Club a while ago who said it would be worth no more than $10K fully restored and only $1-2K as is for parts. Though you would never restore it for profit, it seemed a lot of work for little reward. My drive for restoring it one day is the engineer in me who wants to see how it works and the history of the thing.

It has the Super 6 motor I believe. The motor is seized though I don't know why. The clutch and gearbox still work and that is how it is moved around, using the clutch to stop when required. I will get the numbers off the ID plate when I am at the farm again next weekend.

As opposed to Land Rovers, what is difficult is the lack of literature on Hudsons that old. I am sure there is an enthusiast network out there, I just haven't looked hard enough yet.

Cheers,

At last someone is being realistic about values. $10,000-$12,000 is a reasonable price for a restored mass produced car in a less common body style. It would be worth more than that fellow says as is though. People ask stupid prices for restored common cars and justify the ask by saying "It cost me $20,000 to restore and I want to get my money back". They have not added value to that extent. That $20,000 was the cost of a hobby.

Does look like a Super 6 under the dirt. They were a good bit of kit for the time. It would cost quite a bit to do a chassis up restoration, maybe even the $20,000 I mentioned depending on condition and the amount of work you farm out to professionals. Paint and panel has got frightfully expensive as has electroplating if you can find someone who is still allowed to do this by the environmental bodies.

Originally Posted by VladTepes

Try Hudson-AMC Club Home Page

Cheers

Thanks, I have made enquiries with that club and had a good conversation with a member whom gave me the prices quoted elsewhere. He put me onto a restored 1929 Hudson Roadster in Wellington (about 100km from here) which I have seen (happened to be driving through town and spied it at a service station!). It is a beautiful vehicle to see in the flesh.

I feel the real resources are in the US of A. That is where I need to do some serious research when I get the inclination (which is rapidly growing with discussion in this thread!!).

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

At last someone is being realistic about values. $10,000-$12,000 is a reasonable price for a restored mass produced car in a less common body style. It would be worth more than that fellow says as is though. People ask stupid prices for restored common cars and justify the ask by saying "It cost me $20,000 to restore and I want to get my money back". They have not added value to that extent. That $20,000 was the cost of a hobby.

Does look like a Super 6 under the dirt. They were a good bit of kit for the time. It would cost quite a bit to do a chassis up restoration, maybe even the $20,000 I mentioned depending on condition and the amount of work you farm out to professionals. Paint and panel has got frightfully expensive as has electroplating if you can find someone who is still allowed to do this by the environmental bodies.

Yep I have thought it would probably cost $20-40K to restore, depending on what was outsourced. I agree with your comments re over-inflation of values and restoration not being a profit making exercise. Heavens, I am restoring a money pit of a 86" at the moment. I certainly am not restoring it for profit!!

My brother inlaw owns a beetle repaur shop.
He recently bought a 1950(there about) Beetle.
Still had the original spark plugs in.
Needs lots of attention thought.
Everything is original.

Originally Posted by cjc_td5

Yep I have thought it would probably cost $20-40K to restore, depending on what was outsourced. I agree with your comments re over-inflation of values and restoration not being a profit making exercise. Heavens, I am restoring a money pit of a 86" at the moment. I certainly am not restoring it for profit!!

I have a friend who is almost finished restoring a veteran 1906 6cyl x 4 litre Argyll. He says it will have cost $40,000 when finished but he had to make a lot of missing bits. Fortunately he is a professional blacksmith.

According to the family of the original owners, the Argyll last ran in 1932.

He has a veteran (1909-10) Talbot to start when the Argyll is finished. He thinks it will consume $40,000-$50,000 by completion. This one is more complete than the Argyll was at commencement, being virtually complete as far as chassis and running gear but a lot of the little bits have been stolen during 40+ years storage or used on restoring two other Talbots by the previous owner.

Saw a few interesting cars today