30 Cabriolet craigslist find - opinions?? help

[4oldfords]

I found this model a cabriolet - The oldest car I have owned to date is a 1953 Ford so ....... I don't know what I am doing. this car has been for sale for a long while so maybe somebody around here knows something about it. thanks for any help/ideas.

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/3018824302.html

[700rpm]

Seems overpriced for what is shown in the pix. Find a local Model A club, go to a meeting, and ask someone from the club to go look at it with you.

[Jason in TX]

Cabriolets are great! I like them better than a roadster because you can enjoy convertible driving, but then seal up the top and roll up the windows. On a roadster, there are no glass windows.

Cabriolets are metal body panels nailed to wood. This is different than the typical model A which is all steel. So, if the wood is bad, you will need to replace that, which can be pricey and time consuming.

You will also hunt for a while to get the correct top pieces, which is the main part of a cabriolet. I personally would pass on that deal because it is not complete and you will probably spend a couple years looking for the rest of it.

This one sold for $18K if you need a comparison. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/120917022484

[gweilbaker]

You asked opinion so here goes;
Over priced for the restorer crowd,
way under priced for the rodder herd.

[LukeDahlinger]

You can add a pile of money to the purchase price for top irons, bows and brackets like the triple hinges, landau brackets etc. No landau irons either.

If the door glass frames are missing, that's another major hurdle as they are not reproduced to my knowledge and good originals are damn hard to find.

What's the condition of the wood? These cars are like 28-30 Fordor sedans with lots of wood and wood subrails.

[Aerocraft]

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Also add the cost of a new chrome plated windshield frame (Abt. $900) and you will find the price is a bit out of line in my opinion. Gar Williams

[Fred K-OR]

Kind of depends on what you want. If you are looking for a car to restore and have the $$ to do it, then you need to decide what you want to invest. It does seem to be a bit high in price. But if you want a project, then try to work a deal with the seller and maybe get a good deal for you.

[FL&WVMIKE]

4oldfords ..........................
If it had top irons, it would be OK. You might go for years without finding all the pieces, if ever. They are very scarce ! Then they will be expensive.
I would be afraid of not finding any.
MIKE

[ford1]

over 50 years of working on these model a's i found 2 things that are always true, if the car ahs been for sale for a long time, its either way over priced,or to far gone to be restored, $8000 for one unrestored $18000 for a restored one, buy the restored one, you will put at least $10000 restoring the other one, and at least a years work and who knows how long looking for parts, find another one

[Brian SATX]

IF anyone is interested in it, I can go look at it for you. Is it a real Cabriolet?

[Kevin in NJ]

Yes it is a real cabriolet.

Look at the header and you can see the 2 hold down posts. The wood around the belt as well as the qtr panel design. Well everything is cabriolet on that body and it is obvious from a distance. The only thing not cabriolet is the trunk lid as they all came with rumble seats.

[4oldfords]

thanks for the info everyone - i am going to try to see it next week.