Treasure found in my Tudor!

[allison-tech]

Yesterday, I removed all of my seats (for the 1st time) and the floor mats to inspect the middle & rear floorboards. While cleaning out all the old debris & walnut shells I found a quarter, it was pretty dirty, so I cleaned it up a little and brought it in the house to show my wife. I figured I'd mount it somewhere in the car as a keepsake. One of my boys (a coin collector) took a look at it and got all excited, the date looked rubbed off to me, but he thinks its a 1916. He's taking it to a collector today to see if this can be verified. If he's right, this thing is worth $2,000! This got me wondering, how many others have found "treasures" while cleaning out their car for the 1st time. I'd like to hear what unusual things you guys have found.

[LukeDahlinger]

When I first my got my Roadster, I pulled the seat cushions to give them a good scrubbing and found 2 original 3X spark plugs and the correct jack along with the remnants of the owner's manual. The cowl pocket had some papers that were so roach eaten I couldn't tell what they were.

While not Model A, I bought an unmolested '55 Olds some years ago.

Doing a cleanout of the car yielded a couple of condoms(still in the wrapper thankfully), Zippo lighter.

My '56 Pontiac had some 60s era nekkid girl photos under the back seat.

When I used to work for an exporter I'd find enough change in those old buses and semi's to cover my eats on the way home with some left over. I routinely found jewelry and other small trinkets in the buses, some of which were 14 or 24K gold.

[85930tudor]

Ive found old change,dimes pennies ect A old planters peanut whistle and many mummiefied mice and snake skins

[ajbcc2]

wow you guys are lucky...all I found in my ol car was a hole...just a big black bottomless hole with a little sign and an arrow pointing to the abyss that said..to rebuild throw money here...

[roccaas]

Originally Posted by allison-tech

Yesterday, I removed all of my seats (for the 1st time) and the floor mats to inspect the middle & rear floorboards. While cleaning out all the old debris & walnut shells I found a quarter, it was pretty dirty, so I cleaned it up a little and brought it in the house to show my wife. I figured I'd mount it somewhere in the car as a keepsake. One of my boys (a coin collector) took a look at it and got all excited, the date looked rubbed off to me, but he thinks its a 1916. He's taking it to a collector today to see if this can be verified. If he's right, this thing is worth $2,000! This got me wondering, how many others have found "treasures" while cleaning out their car for the 1st time. I'd like to hear what unusual things you guys have found.

$2,000 buys a lot of Model A Parts; what's on your list??

[allison-tech]

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I guess it all depends on its value. If it's just an old silver quarter, I think I'll mount it in the car as a memory. On the other hand, if it's really worth a lot, I'm sure my wife will have some input on this.....new update, my boy just got back. Good news! It is a 1916, however, its condition is not worth $2k, but it is worth $600 & thats still alot. It probably will go torwards more parts, maybe not, my wife is sittin over my shoulder and she just said, "Think so?!", Ha!, bet she wins!

[bogiediver]

Got our '31 roadster 'kit' from brother-in-law - he had disassembled to update, but never got to it - for $3,000

He also gave a box of stuff...
- several quarts of non-detergent oil - "the only thing you want to use"
- an old torn vinyl spare tire cover
- an oil cloth spare tire cover printed with the figure of Roosevelt, holding a beer, with the word 'Prosperity'

Now, this last item...
Has a small tear in it, I was about to toss it with the torn vinyl one when my wife said hold it... took a picture, searched the web, talked to an auction house... first discussion was they want it on consignment to start at 1,800 with an estimated sell from 3,000 - 3,500. I made her verify this with them, reminding her to tell them about the tear... new pictures, showing the tear were sent. Now they say start at 1,000, sell 2,000-2,500. Have to remind her doesn't mean a thing until the check clears - but still pretty interesting...

[John LaVoy]

My sedan had a set of 21" tire chains under the seat.

[allison-tech]

When I was a kid, my dad had an automotive trans. shop. He also did just about everything else, including body/paint. Behind his shop he had his own private "junk yard" w/about 100 cars. I used to pull the seats and look all around the interiors for stuff. Found all kinds of trinkets, money, ect.- I sure had a good time! Didn't take much to keep me happy then, and reading your similar stories now is pretty fun too!

[Keith True]

I found a Sears Defender 7 shot pistol in a tin under the back seat of my Tudor.A glass bottle of oil had broken in there too,turned to grease,and the pistol was in the lump.I was actually melting the grease with a torch looking for tools and useable hardware.The grease preserved it perfectly,and it shoots fine.In another tin I found some girlie books from the 40's.They were the hard-core ones for back then.They are all European printings,and high priced for the time.I found a set of unused tire chains,made for the A.There are three to a wheel,with the inside band a perfect fit to the contour of the A rim.

[gunmetal blue]

On my 1929 AA CCPU on the door post I found the date milage up to 1952. It had 82000 miles on it and I bought it last year and it had 84000 miles on it.My truck is my avator

[gweilbaker]

After stripping the paint off my passenger door I found a "Pittsburgh Steel" company ink printed in the sheet metal.

[RcT]

Originally Posted by allison-tech

I guess it all depends on its value. If it's just an old silver quarter, I think I'll mount it in the car as a memory. On the other hand, if it's really worth a lot, I'm sure my wife will have some input on this.....new update, my boy just got back. Good news! It is a 1916, however, its condition is not worth $2k, but it is worth $600 & thats still alot. It probably will go torwards more parts, maybe not, my wife is sittin over my shoulder and she just said, "Think so?!", Ha!, bet she wins!

Take a look at 1916 quarters on ebay. The prices are all over the place. If the dealer said it was worth $600, he could probably sell it for three times that amount.

[Vanspeed]

They are extremely rare. Just a quarter in good shape from 1916 can be worth over 3000.00. The change found in my roadster is worth about 25.00, a 1910 penny, and two quarters, a 1936 and 1956. Too bad they were not 1916's!!

[Jason in TX]

Keep an eye on this crummy 1916 standing liberty quarter that ends tomorrow.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1916-Standin...3#ht_922wt_689

Judge if yours is better or worse and then decide if you want to put it on eBay. Don't sell it to the coin shop. He is going to buy to make a profit.

[Clem Clement]

I as well, misspent my youth in junk yards. Always some tools and change found me. my 29 Packardcame with shall change. The money remains in plain view so as not to mess with Lady Luck.
clem.

[Charles Reese]

don't want to steal the thread, but would like to know of a website that would help a non-collector determine approx value of US Coins and possibly an honest source for selling ... have a number of silver coins including late 1800's silver dollars.

[Jason in TX]

eBay.....

[Al Bass]

this lighter was found above the windshield in the wooden header

[John Duden]

while not in a car, i was cleaning out an estate, My grandpa's cousine passed away, and every thing in the house was never touched, he was a horder so every thing was burried, ....I found a nickle in MINT CONDITON from 1899!!
John

[allison-tech]

Hey guys, thanks for the great advice. I did check out the e-bay auctions and was amazed! I think I need to have this thing graded, it really looks a little better than the one going for $1200. Ya know, I've never been a "lucky" guy, Mr. Murphy lives on my doorstep and most anything I ever got, was purchased w/good 'ol fashioned sweat; I'm not complaining, that's just the way it is, so at this point I'm still pretty apprehensive about the whole situation, I'll let ya'll know how this turns out.

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by Al Bass

this lighter was found above the windshield in the wooden header

http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemoranband?_mSplash=1

[allison-tech]

WOW!!! I hope Al sees this! That lighter has some real interesting history. You should be a detective.

[dave in australia]

Not in a model A, but in an old valiant ute I picked up and was dissmantling for spares for my other ute, I was getting a few parts from the engine bay. Out of the corner of my eye was some movement in the windscreen plenum, there was a rust hole between the plenum and the engine bay, common for valiants. I looked closer, and being a foolhardy Aussie, poked it the strange looking thing with my finger. It suddenly moved, and so did I in the opposite direction. I poked a snake that had coiled up in the heater box/plenum area. I told my neighbor who then got in the car with the snake and pulled it out of its 'house'. It was a five foot python and very angry about being disturbed. It got released into the local bush area, the only find I've never kept.

[raceron1120]

Originally Posted by allison-tech

Yesterday, I removed all..&..found a quarter...a 1916...

Originally Posted by Jason in TX

eBay..

Indeed a lucky discovery! Congrats, it sure makes one wonder how much stuff like that happens, and how often it's overlooked. I've found many things in old cars over the years - tools, change, girlie mags - and a couple of joints under the dashboard of a '65 Mustang...

re: eBay? It's a great barometer of the market for used items. But often, people use the asking price vice actual selling price - to determine value. To me, value is only as much as stuff sells for, and not what people would like to get for their 'treasures'.

Man, I don't know what your financial situation is, but IMO, I think I'd clean up that quarter and keep it to display with the car; it's as much a part of the car's provenance as anything else that came with it.

GREAT FIND, keep us updated on your decision!

Ron

[darrylkmc]

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We had a similar thread last month:

"Money found in cars"

http://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51397

I posted this:

I found a Old Timer pocket knife, and a Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce bottle with a partial paper label describing how to cook rabbit with the glass stopper and the cork and a Model A carb in my 1926 Chevrolet Touring.

In my Phaeton I found several pre-war nickles, a dime and some misc. hardware.
I have it all in a container I'll look it over and see just what all I got.

Darryl in Fairbanks

[Jason in TX]

I bet rabbit cooked with a Model A carb would be tasty. Especially for someone on a HIGH CARB DIET!!!

HEY OHH!! Thank you! Good night! Remember to tip your wait staff!!

[t42]

I have found so many different things over the years that I have probably forgotten most them. I have a small jar with about 10 indian head pennies, a few teens era nickles and dimes, but the best was a 1902, $2-1/2 Dollar gold piece wedged in the wooden seat frame of a 1904 vehicle 35 years ago. At first I thought it was a penny. Always search every nook and cranny, you never know what will turn up.

[cheepsk8]

Wonder how long the poor guy looked for that quarter way back then? That was a pretty good chunk of change! Found a really nice buffalo nickel and a mercury dime in a 38 chevy I built some years ago. Its a real treat to get just a little more for your money.

[bobpo]

Aw NUTS, that's all I found in mine........

[ryan1929]

Im Shocked no one said they found a Tommy Gun with Bonnie & Clydes fingerprints on it with a suitcase full of money.... Most everyone heer at FordBarn seem's Honest...Thats Great News....Cause you know as luck should have it...The other day I Found Henry Ford's Wallet in my back seat......LOL

[Keith True]

When I worked in a junkyard in 1976 we bought a lot of Boston police cruisers.I guess they were supposed to pull the back seat cushions after a shift,I think some of them didn't get pulled for months.Rolls of money,knives,guns,drugs,jewelry,keys,womens underpants(never really figured that one out)wallets,and more drugs.Funny part was,if I pulled a bag of weed out from under a seat,I would go in and throw it on the bench in the garage.All we could think of were piranah fish,a bunch of guys,a cloud of dust,and nothing on the bench.Pills and powder we tossed in the stove or on the copper burn pile.

[bobpo]

Ryan, I'll give you 5 bucks for that wallet IF you leave the contents intact. AND, it has to be authenticized by an authentesist who has credentials. I will also pay for reasonable mailing, if they don't close the post office in the region from whereit is being mailed from.

Don't forget the i's, the t's, and the heretofors and whereases.......

[ryan1929]

Just $5 Bucks....Remember This Is The Real Deal How About $10??? LOL

[FL&WVMIKE]

I can't tell why anyone would think this is 1916, other than wishful thinking. I see no date. Looks like to me, it is gone.
MIKE

[Keith True]

Somebody knew something,it brought $900. I wouldn't have a clue.I know some things are dated by the design.I would look for a date on a coin myself.I have an old Winchester rifle,picked it up somewhere when I was a kid.Just an old lever action rifle to me.My uncle,who is a gun dealer,told me years ago to hang onto it.He knew it had some value but not how much.He said a specialized collector of them would know.He sent a couple of guys over one day that dealt in them,there was no date,but they knew almost to the day when it was made.Screw heads in a certain shape,script in a certain way,placed in a special way,they showed me a dozen things on it to date it.I didn't take the $3500.or so they offered me,either my uncle or grandfather had gotten me the gun for something like 15 bucks around 69-70.I shot my first deer with it,it has ridden around behind my seats,under my seats,in the back of the trucks,for years it laid across the top of my backrest in my 30 pickup.It could have been stolen a thousand times but the thought here is if a fellow has a gun,has another one.It is now at least kept in the house.My ex's father was an antique dealer,the value of old beat,broken,worn-out,junk can be sky-high.That quarter,to me,is worth a quarter.

[FL&WVMIKE]

Keith True ......................
I had, almost, the same experience. I had bought, years ago, an old Winchester level action rifle. It had no finish, but shot well. It turned out that this Model 94 Winchester had a low serial number and was made in 1894. It was a first year production. That didn't make it worth a fortune, but it was definately more interesting !
MIKE

[darrylkmc]

"Jason in TX
Re: Treasure found in my Tudor!
I bet rabbit cooked with a Model A carb would be tasty. Especially for someone on a HIGH CARB DIET!!!"

My Quote
"I found a Old Timer pocket knife, and a Lea & Perrins Worcestershire sauce bottle with a partial paper label describing how to cook rabbit with the glass stopper and the cork and a Model A carb in my 1926 Chevrolet Touring."

Never really thought this through before... Pocket Knife, Lea & Perrins, Rabbit, High Carbs. There might be something to this....

Darryl in Fairbanks - 30 degrees here

[allison-tech]

Ya know Kieth, I feel the same way, to me it's just a quarter and if it hadn't been for my boy, I'd never know anything different. My heart wants to keep it with the car, like others have stated, it is a part of the cars history. However, I am still a young man with a wife & six kids at home and if someone really wants to pay what I'm seeing on the ebay site, well, I guess it'll probably end up in someone else's collection. I'm learning what it takes to get a coin graded. Apparently, I'm going to need to send it off w/a 30.00 check to accomplish this. I really want to keep it, but I could help our family better if I let it go. Still, a definite decision hasn't been made & I will keep all informed when one is. I'm really enjoying all of ya'll experiences, so far, I think Dave in the land down under has the show stopper! WOW! Glad that wasn't me!

[dr.j]

A 8" rusty nail; but on a positive note, the rattle in the door is gone.

[antiquepa]

It wasn;t my 31 roadster, but the second car I restored is my 2ed chrysler 4dr model 52. There was only the rear door panel still on the car, when I took it off down inside the door was a [fan] the kind on a stick to fan yourself, it was an advertisement for a funeral home with the 3 ditgit phone number, I beleive is still in business in New Martinsville W.va. Some day im going to check it out, the fan is in good shape and I lay it on the seat if I display the car as its also antique, must have fell thru the window channel in the funeral prosession.

[Barry B./ Ma.]

In the 31 Murray town sedan I owned I found old hat pins (if that's what there called) inside the upholstery and under the rear seat cushion. A real mystery, maybe a previous owner was a tailor. Incidently, there were probably 30 or 40 of them. I threw them all out but now I see there is a hatpin society and they are very collectable. Oh well....

[Hedbanger]

I wish I had found money under the seat of my '29 murrary. It would help pay for the rebuild. I did find a mummified rat. Can I sell that??

But I also found 4 original spark plugs still in their box so it's not all bad.