New Model A owner

[dbrist]

My uncle recently passed and I was left his 1931 model a pickup. It runs and is in pretty decent condition. If I took it to a shop to get it restored what would be about the cost i would be looking at?

[Tinbasher]

Welcome to the Fordbarn. This depends on how far you what to go with the restoration. The average ground-up restoration takes about 3000 hours. Body and paint will take around 800 hours. Depending on the shop rates and cost of materials and services like chrome plating, wiring, engine rebuilding etc. will vary the cost. A professional job your looking at $80,000. plus, plus, plus. I'm helping a man restore a 1949 Cadillac and I figure the cost will be over $300,000.00. My thoughts from 40 years of experience. John Poole

[dbrist]

Thank you. I'm not looking for show quality just a few dents out and paint really. Just want it to last

[iverson]

why restore it? get it running good and have fun with it! to me if I had a perfect car I would be afraid to drive it

[dbrist]

Originally Posted by iverson

why restore it? get it running good and have fun with it! to me if I had a perfect car I would be afraid to drive it

Really just looking at frame and body painted to prevent any more rusting for a while and it needs a little body tweaks here and there

[Charlie Stephens]

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The sad fact is if you take it to a professional shop it will cost more than you could buy one already restored. Unfortunately it won't have the family history. Make it safe, clean it up a little and drive it. Look into local Model A clubs. Also put your general location in your profile unless dbrist is your real name and people could find you in the phone book. You will be surprised when you find out how important location is to getting the best advice.

Charlie Stephens

[Mitch//pa]

Welcome thats a nice truck u have
These vehicles look good either way that's the beauty of them. Worn and dented or show quality either goes. I would work on getting it mechanically sound and drive it... To do a half decent repaint with the body on the frame the fenders, splash aprons should be removed at a minimum. Then you have to consider the quality of the paint job you want which can run $$$,. Stripping the paint down will reveal more un foreseen work. I would just enjoy the car first and not take that road right away... Many projects never get finished once started ..

[Clem Clement]

Welcome,
Patina is sacred in my mind. I have a 39 Pickup with wrinkles and scars of his years at work. I get many more compliments that on my restored Model A. Let the truck serve you as is after safety repairs( Tires brakes, steering etc. )and a clean up

Do very little for a couple of months and study what you have. You are on a fine net . Ask all questions.

What is the truck's name??

[bikejunk]

Do this get it running swell and safe take it to a show and see the overall response to a beat up 86 year old pickup with family history - you will probably be glad you didn't do much to it enjoy

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yes, what Mitch said.
Drive it and maintain it, keep all the moving parts oiled and greased, never drive it on salty roads, and try not to drive it in the rain, and it will last longer than us. Your pickup looks very nice from what the small picture shows. Most people like to see these antiques in their natural skin, with some wear showing.

[mhsprecher]

I will add to the chorus. I'd like nothing better than a pickup like that to use for errands like going to the garden center or the dump without worrying about hurting anything. Once you live with it for a while, you will figure out what really needs doing.

[mshmodela]

Welcome to the Ford Barn... If she's running, have at it and enjoy! The bonus is you'll be learning along the way.. Also there dozen of true Model A experts here, many with a half century or more of experience... You've found the right place for help.

PS. Your car looks great --keep the dust etc. on it... looks right out of time machine!

[Big hammer]

Wecome to the Barn! If your truck is original they are only original once! My vote is get it running good and safe! Enjoy your truck be it driving(lots of fun) or what ever you decide!

[Sunnybrook Farm]

It will be hard to find a body shop that will do the job properly to make it last. I went that route originally and the results were hard to look at when put beside work done by an owner who can afford to put the time and work into getting the body ready to paint. The painting isn't too big a deal it is the prep work before the event that makes all the difference. You might want to just patch and use a spray can and put the money or work into it at a later time. The fun is in driving it unless you go and make a trailer queen to trailer to shows.

[30ccpickup]

Welcome...Read here at the fordbarn for info... Like others, I believe it looks perfect as is. It is original only once. Unlike other vehicles of this time period these cars can be daily drivers. At this time I would dedicate my finances to stoping, running, and steering. Probably in that order, but best if all are done at the same time.

[ronn]

Thank you. I'm not looking for show quality just a few dents out and paint really. Just want it to last

I wouldnt touch it, but if you just want an inexpensive clean up for 2-3k
take it to MAACO. let them know EXACTLY what you want, so you dont get it back
with differences of opinion.

[30ccpickup]

Originally Posted by ronn

Thank you. I'm not looking for show quality just a few dents out and paint really. Just want it to last

I wouldnt touch it, but if you just want an inexpensive clean up for 2-3k
take it to MAACO. let them know EXACTLY what you want, so you dont get it back
with differences of opinion.

FYI... Painting it may be a negative currently and in the future. Fix it to drive, enjoy it, learn what it is about, then make your decision on what is next. I wish someone would of given me that advice in the past. You may wish to restore it completly, than again you might like it the way it is... My opinion only, not meant to offend. And once again welcome, I will do my best to help you out where I can.

[30ccpickup]

Sorry Ronn, I double quoted... or something like that... meant for dbrist.

[tbirdtbird]

an A cannot be properly painted with the body on the car; unlike a modern car.
More than likely the paint that is on there will be incompatible with today's modern urethane paints, which wear better than any paint yet invented, meaning all the paint will have to be sandblasted off. Once you begin to remove any paint you are gonna uncover rust-throughs and other damaged areas and the price begins to climb. There are few shops that can do all this type of work properly in such a way it will last as long as what you have now.

If all the fenders, panels, body, etc were off an A right now in our shop, and all were blasted, and repairs properly done; ie the panels and parts were 100% gun ready, we would charge you 5K for a professional shoot and buffing, and that is a very good price, and that is labor only for 3 coats of primer and 3 coats of color. Then it all has to be put back together again.

The pic is small but from what we can see it looks like a decent car. They do not have to be perfect to enjoy them or show them off. Do not be ashamed of something that is not perfect. Enjoy that you have a piece of history and tangible memories of your uncle. Be proud of it and enjoy it and drive it and show it off and have fun; that is what your uncle would want

[dbrist]

Thank you all. I love yalls ideas and I am going to spend all my time on the drivability of it first.