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Old 08-07-2018, 04:40 PM   #5
Marshall V. Daut
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Posts: 2,083
Default Re: 1931 Model A Victoria Value

A good Model A paint job in multi-colors is expensive. Very expensive. It's hard to believe that someone would do a quality restoration on such a desirable and valuable body style, crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's, only to slap a cheap or amateur garage paint job on it. I would be suspicious that other areas also got the bum's rush, including such minor considerations as the brakes that will save your life. Yes, the car looks decent in the photos, but you must drive it to make sure the mechanical aspects were done properly if the seller is to get a high price for the car. It must run, drive, steer and stop properly, or else you're looking at expensive rebuilds to make up for what the owner didn't do properly. A complete brake job with new cast iron drums will likely run over $1000 by itself. Sloppy steering could cost $600 for parts alone to correct. And if the engine is a knocking, rear main leaker with no power, kiss another $2500-3500 good-bye. Overheats? Radiators live in the $700+ side of town. Consider all these expenses if they don't live up to expectations.
Another potential red flag that the car was not restored safely is the presence of a lot of chrome goodies plastered all over the car. This is often a camouflage for a mediocre restoration. Not always, but be aware that too many "accessories" often mean trouble.
Also, authentic Victoria interiors are not cheap, either. It will cost thousands of dollars to purchase and install the correct mohair or Bedford cord interior in this car if it has a Naugahyde interior or something made out of Aunt Minnie's old couch material. Because Victorias are built around a wooden frame work, ensure that the steel-structured doors open and close properly and sit squarely in their doorways without sagging or the need to lift and force the doors to close - and stay closed. Take an ice pick along with you and poke the wide floor sills along the side in several places, especially in the door openings where water tends to cause damage. If rotted, it will feel spongy, or if dried out, splinters or even chunks of wood will be lifted by the tip of the ice pick. You do NOT want install a wood kit in a Victoria! Maybe you did so already in your hot rod Victoria? But in case you haven't, if the wood is bad and needs to be replaced in this one, you're looking at a couple thousand dollars for the wood alone, plus the unbelievable effort to install the wood.

All of the preceding could add maybe another $8,000-10,000 to the cost of the car if they have not been done properly. For each deficiency in these areas, subtract a goodly sum from the asking price. Has the owner given you any idea what he wants or is he playing the "Make an offer" game, where no matter what you offer initially will not be high enough. Let HIM make the first move with his asking price and go from there. At $18,000, everything better be pretty spot on. $10,000 or close = take it and run.
Marshall,
former leatherback Vicky owner
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