under 3000. club.....?
 

was thinking how there are a lot of young folks out there with a budget-
so why not an under 3000. club?
that's right-3000. club

I have bought a few A chassis and built truck jalopies in the 1500.-2500. range
not show vehicles of course, but good running, fun parade type vehicles
rusty pickup beds are out there-even sedans etc can on occasion be picked up on the cheap
so what say you to sending in photos of under 3000. builds-I dont care if it was under 3000. 20 years ago, just basic cheap builds to inspire the less fortunate..............
and no, not hot rods, must be a model A chassis............

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Excellent idea! However, I suspect that getting a model A hoarder to part with the stuff to get the job done would be like pulling hen's teeth. Too, there needs to be some good research on a state by state basis on how to register an A built with parts and pieces. Might be a good project for MARC and MAFCI.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Always on a budget, but know $3000 does not build much of a car. Just getting most of the pieces for the delivery sedan was a bit over $3500. Lots still to buy as far as rebuild kits, paint and services. Rod

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Im in there Ronn. We bought a complete 29 Tudor for $400 and then my father took all the body pieces to build a rod. I reused the chassis and scrounged swap meets to find enough parts to build a good enough body.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

My son who was 15 years old at the time bought this 31 tudor in 2011 for
$ 3,000.00
Deal of a life time

Mikehttps://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...992317&thumb=1https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictur...992317&thumb=1

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I think depending on where you live. And what kind of skills you have. Building a car for three thousand is possible. Most are not out tk win any shows. Or worried that everything be exactly correct. If you are able to find a motor that runs. And be able to paint it yourself. You can do it. Or maybe get lucky and find a hot rodder getting rid of everything but the body for cheap.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

WOW :eek: Wish I could find that deal, I wouldn't mind a Tudor so my son AND wife could come along :D

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

[QUOTE=Mike;947240]My son who was 15 years old at the time bought this 31 tudor in 2011 for
$ 3,000.00
Deal of a life time


yea mike his tudor is awesome....lucky boy

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

A few years back I went with my son to look at a roadster which was advertised as a bargain. My son called that night and the seller told my son to go to school the next day and the car would be there when he got home the next night. The next day, I looked over the car with my son. The seller who was my age politely told me to excuse myself during the negotiations; he said he wanted to sell his father's car from a son to a son. I left my son with the advice not to haggle. The seller made my son promise not to streetrod the car and to keep it in the same or better condition than when he found it. He also told my son no contracts were to be signed to this effect; he only wanted my son's word which my son gave.

My son has kept his word and is slowly making mechanical improvements to the car with body work coming later. I can't help thinking of years ago when I helped a neighbor kid who said he needed a Mustang engine and I sold him mine for a bargain. He turned around and re-sold it at a profit. Somewhere between these two transactions there's a lesson. Maybe it's that Model A people are cut from better cloth.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I use to think that they were when I was a kid . My father always said they were not. Some are good but many are not. I've found many to be amoung the rudest.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I would be willing to bet. If you showed up at a event with a 3,000 dollar model a you built. There would be quite a few pick it to pieces. I put model a guys up there with Corvette guys. You get a few real good guys. And the rest want to tell you what's wrong with yours.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

OK about 15 years ago I bought an antique british motorcycle for 2,500 bucks never got around to doing anything with it sold it 2 years ago for just under 10 grand and purchased my late 30 tudor for 8 Gs and put about 2 thou into it ....does that count I got under 3 into it...:D

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I inherited my 31 coupe so I WAS in the under 3000 club however it was a typical worn out Model A where you had to aim for a tree to stop the thing so I wound up spending nearly 2-3 times the "3000" restoring the chassis and ALL the mechanicals including engine, trans, rear end, brakes, etc. Now I'm going to be getting into the bodywork :eek:. I guess for me its not the money but the journey and having fun with it. It was grandpa's car so that makes it special. It would be a fun challenge to build some great deals like that but I only have the space for 1 project and since now I'm living in the big city suburbs having a car that 1. Stops, 2. Handles properly, and 3. is somewhat reliable is much more important than if I were out in the country like my granddad was. I also want to actually drive my car and put on some real miles so reliability and safety matter. I'm not too worried what others think but I like the historical aspect of the model A, and I'm a detail oriented guy so I'm making an effort in my repairs and restoration to keep it looking correct and driving like it did in 1931. Yep, I left the 3000 club a while ago.:rolleyes:

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I think im right at 3grand...just got a cab that needs completely restored yet...and buy tubes and tires - theres another grand lol.

Sometimes I think model A's are like the acronym for a Boat - Bust Out Another Thousand lol

Other times its like brake pads for my modern car cost HOW much?!?!?! i can buy new model A shoes for half that!

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I bought my 1929 Roadster PU for $600 on Labor Day 1970. Started on it and then it became one of those "in the barn" Model A's for 34 years. It's a "work in progress" now. Someday I'll have it finished, progress is slower than I'd like, but progressing.

I don't know what the actual parts cost will be when I'm finished. Now if you include the shop I built, or the tools I've bought it will be high.
I could have junked it and bought a finished one two years ago for about $10,000, but it wouldn't be saving one, and I really wouldn't know what I bought.

I'm doing most of the work myself and it won't please some, but if it pleases me, my long-suffering wife, my three sons who started on it with me in 1970 then I'll be happy.

ADVICE for the 3000club. Buy it and get on with it. Find one that runs and run it.

Ted

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Just under $3k got me a 28 Sport Coupe in kinda rough cond. They dont come as cheap here as they do in the mid west. I will get a pic of it up asap.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

This is exactly what I was hoping for, some good stories and photos...........

keep it coming!

The point is fun fun fun and not always big bucks.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

hello
my tudor was left to me by my uncal i am in the middle of repainting it but i guess i'm not in the under 3000 club the motor rebuild was 3200 and adding
kevin
1930 model a tudor
1923 model t roadser p/u

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

:( i wish. $3,000 would not get me a rusty frame.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I'm going to weigh in on something here and pose a question or two.

Suppose an average 'All-American kid' does purchase a Model-A for under $3k, ...what does he do then? Most of them do not have even the basic tools to do any kind of repair/restoration work, ....nor do the kid's parents.

Next (s)he must find a place to work on it. Society has changed over the past few decades where many town's zoning ordinances & HOA deed restrictions now prohibit inoperable and/or unlicensed vehicles in sight on a residential property. That typically rules out working in the driveway. Can they afford to rent a place?

So even if a young person finds a car for $3k, I'm not sure their struggles are over. Just some thoughts.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Not sure if this qualifies. I acquired my Cabriolet for $700. Since then I've invested over $1500 in parts and repairs. Initially the car, that is, a couple of pick up loads of parts, was bought by my Dad for $300. From that, he built the car in the '80s and drove it for about 30 years. No idea what he may have spent to finish the car. He no longer drives, so I've taken it over and have begun repairs. The $700 was merely a formality for legal purposes in transferring properties to me and siblings.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I think the "under 3 grand is very doable; but, they need out help. We need to use our many years of expertise to make sure the car is reliable and SAFE! I advise the young people to join their local Model A Club. They may be kidded a little at first but as soon as we know they are serious and willing to help they are welcome. Nothing is better than an ol fart eating humble pie when he needs some help and a stronger back! They may not end up with 400 point car but the fun and education is priceless. Maybe it could end up being a brush coated speedster.
Most of MAFCA doesn't have a clue! Just ask the former FAST special interest group

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I understand your point Brent, just trying to keep it light and have some fun here.

Where theres a will theres a way.................

stories are always good.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Not quite as bad here in OZ, but this was 12.5 K last year .

It was said to run and did have a rough roof and windscreen whch was removed for transport .

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps704ccdb5.jpg

And I bought my pickup which may have went with a little work and 98 % complete for 8 K .

With it came maybe 500 bucks of repo parts and books and a new wood kit fitted.

I have not got the chassis going yet as I wanted the body.

That steering wheel/column and gearbox in back is not off this car .

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ps679658b8.jpg

Not much below this that is not a complete rusted out parts car.

3 K here would buy a complete chassis , hopefully with a few body panels.

I reckon OZ would need to be a 10K club for a minimum runner that had a chance of being regoed .

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

You can build a car for under $3,000.00, just takes good bookkeeping. If you buy a junk Model A for $1,000.00 and sell off unwanted parts for $500.00 you have a $500.00 pile of keeper parts. Buy more stuff with the $500.00 you got from the parts sale and just keep rolling it over. Guys have been doing this for years. Bob

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I've always been quick to grab the junky model A's that nobody else wanted or said could never be fixed. When I was growing up I caught lots of hell about it. I had to hide my model A's at aunt Grace and uncle Rays place. Back then I could buy rusty strip downs with parts missing for just a few dollars. I only paid eight dollars for my september 29 in 1960. A friend towed it in for me with her 49 olds on four flat tires. We towed it on the back roads and most of the flat tires fell off before we made it in. Neighbors were pointing and laughing. I've still got this car and it is one of my favorites . Here it is in 1962 after I got it running, installed a set of 7.60 15 tires that aunt Grace gave me that came off her Desoto. I installed them on Mercury rims . I painted it chineese red with a brush in Fix All enamel. and another pic after I redid it in 07 with me standing behind it. I still probably don't have three thousand in it.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...ostogether.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z...rld/Sept-3.jpg



http://rs193.pbsrc.com/albums/z59/Ti...ether.jpg~c200

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

I got this one for $300.00 a few years ago. I had to take wheels and tires to put on it so that I could come along it on to the trailer . The guys brother that I bought it from had took the wheels and had them sand blasted and painted. I paid the brother $200.00 for the wheels and he gave me three old Allstate tires with good tread. By the time that I bought a new battery, two more used tires, replaced the coil, bought a Zenith carb from the brother for $50.00. installed a sediment bowl, gas lines rewired it and installed a repro ignition switch , I had around a thousand dollars in it. I got it cranked up and running good without even going in to the engine. With a common sense adjustment of the brake rods and brakes the brakes are good. I like like it just like it is. It took me thirty four years tring to coax it away from the previous owners. before it became mine. It changed hands a few times but I managed to keep up with it over the years. I had mostly given up on ever owning it. I've got most of the parts to do a driver type restoration on it but I like it so much like it is that I may just leave it that way. It spent most of its life out in the weather. It doesn't look that much worse than it did the first time that I saw it in 59.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/...s/IMG_0018.jpg

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Phew!! I thought it was only ME. Many of the photos I find here on FordBarn reveal a super fancy workshop with ALL the gizmos in the background. :eek: I'm beginning to wonder if the other 2000 people on here all own their own repair shops!!

I got a bad case of workshop envy. :(

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

That's what I'd do, for sure. That's my DREAM CAR, Purdy (provided you're not sitting on an oil can in there!!).

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Most of this I know first hand.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Purdy,
I too would leave that tudor just as it is-oil up the body a bit, cause Jersey weather is a bit damp and have fun with it. Amazing that you kept at getting it for that long.

Basic tools can be bought at flea mkts, just like the cars....... the .25 pile is my favorite-never quite know what youre gonna get-like a box of choocolates................

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Thanks Hoogah, Actually I'm sitting on an old 15 inch disc wheel in the pic. Its got a purdy good back seat but I've gotta work on the front seats. The front seats are mostly just frames and springs.

Re: under 3000. club.....?
 

Ron,
I hesitate to oil the body because it would be messy and I would probably get oil all over my self every time that I got near it. Oil would be good for the rust though. It is also damp here in winter and hot and steamy in summer. I've kept Gus, my rusty tudor inside for the past 14 years .