She says "I never told you it was behind Granddaddys barn?"

We met 6 years ago when she asked if she could have one of my cars when she saw it (but didn't know what it was, 2nd gen Firebird). She had a nasty appliance she was driving. She always said things like "I want to restore a 67 Shelby Mustang" or "I want to restore a Harley". Never helped me work on any of the cars (I have a bunch of classics). Has NO knowledge of automotive restoration, history, or even routine maintenance (like washing). Staying at grandmothers till she can move back here (long story). She calls today.

"Guess what I'm doing?!!!" uh.... dunno? "I'm sanding all the paint off the car" Huh? What car? "1901 Ford" Huh ??? What are you talking about? Helping somebody? "No, my car that was behind the barn." WHAT??? Car behind the barn?!!!! "ya, granddaddy bought it before I was born and was going to fix it up for advertising but never did. I'm gonna fix it up like he wanted!" Wait, 1901? Does it have a stick? (figured I'd trip her up if she was playin me) "You talking about the stick you steer with ? Ya it's still got the stick."

At this point I'm both pissed and speechless. 6 YEARS! and she never mentions she has an antique car during a lapse in dinner conversation or on a car drive? NEVAR mentioned it. Even a casual acquaintance would mention it to someone who's a hard core car guy. You'd have thought she'd have asked if we could go pick it up and restore it for fun or something at some point. Or perhaps while I was going by there anyway with an empty trailer???! Grrrrrr

"So I scraped and sanded all the paint off the sides and want to know what to paint it with?" STOP! "Huh, I'm gonna fix it up nice" STOP NOW! DO NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE TO IT!!!!!! "It has this cool plate on the side that says something about 1901 and Ford and Carriagecar. The metal's naked now already so I'm gonna paint it." DO NOT DO ANYTHING MORE TO THE CAR!!!! "But, it looks ugly without paint and it's gonna rust." Send me pictures. And DO NOT do anything else till we talk again tomorrow!

Although comical from a car guys aspect you guys don't need the rest of the rather heated "discussion" that followed concerning "restoration" LOL. But the info I got was the car was bought by grandfather about 28 years ago and parked. One headlight missing and I got some more info about the story and the cars condition. Quick research shows 1903 was the start of sales by Ford? And that there were reproduction cars made, even a long time ago in the early 1900's. Anybody here well versed in these cars?

EDIT: UPDATE She just called when she got home and the plaque on the side says it's a replica so it confirmed my suspicion. Still would like any information or idea of value or suggestions of where to get info and rough idea of value.

I think the 1901 Ford Carriagecar needs a LS1 swap.

Wow.

that could be the most epic entry into either a Chumpcar or LeMons event..

I would be stopping at a jewelry store and getting this fine lady a ring if I were you.....

That's a sealed beam light hanging off the front, but the rest with quater-elliptical springs and balloon tires, looks good. I won't go large type, but, it's only original once, and that type of condition is now very hot in the collector market. Get some better pics, post on the classic side, too, and have someone look at it. But FOR GODS SAKE take the sandpaper away from her!!! Sorry, I'm a restoration/kep it original type guy. Even if it's only a kid's toy car, (power type?), it looks older than 28 years, and you could be sitting on something that could buy you LOTS more than you know. Or, it could only be 28 years old, and not worth much, but, you did the right thing. STOP, have it appraised by someone who knows what they're looking at. Don't screw with the emblams, clean anything..yet. Have it looked at. The top is kinda modern looking, but that could be a newer retrofit, or it could be original. BTW great writing on capturing your girlfriend.

Like triumph5 says even replicas are worth a bundle in some circles. I agree, make her step away from the sandpaper and spray bombs until you get a real assessment of what it's worth.

Find a large auction house that deals with all tpes of antiques. Google one in your area. Also you might want to PM the auction editor on the classic side for some more ideas/background on what you may have. When you photograph it, put a yard stick on it, or on the ground to get an idea of its size. Good luck. I think you're going to find it's well worth looking into.

Thanks for the quick replies! When she called with the "Replica" update she thought since it was "fake" she could go ahead and mess with it. I said,"NO!" uggggh, tough getting it through her head! But she agreed to wait a day. uuuuuugh

Supposedly it was already old when her grandfather purchased it so it's much older than 28 years. She's going to ask her grandmother for more info.

BJ is the closest auction to here in Palm Beach. Don't really like their approach but..... And I'd planned on posting on the Classic side when I get more pics but figured you guys would get a kick out of the story. She figured out how to send the first couple pics from her phone to my email earlier when I insisted on pics before doing anything else, so she took more when she got home she'll send tonight.. LOL

A) It's a replica. B) It was gamp's. C) It's not worth anything unless she sells it.... D) Give her paint and have fun, it what he wanted and got it for.

Got more pics, scares me to see a house paint scraper on it! uuugh! "Step away from the car and no one will get hurt!" LOL An intervention is needed!

Funny, Ft Lauderdale is about 20 minutes from here but the cars up near Atlanta. Maybe I should tell her to get a trailer for her crap and drive it home! LOL

Anyway here's the new pics

Whew! I just took a deep breath after holding it till I got to the replica part.

http://www.hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2005/05/01/hmn_feature20.html

http://www.dezercollection.com/1901-horseless-carriage-corp.-ford-factory-built-c-452.htm

Maybe that will help out some.

Thanks Derik! I came across both of those in my google searches and called her to have her take pics with a ruler so I can try to figure out if it's one of the 3/4 ones mentioned in the Hemmings article. She's really mad I told her not to use the Home Depot paint she already bought! uuuugh

Now the fun starts. Try to find a picture of what it looked like new, or even an illustration. That will dictate the type of paint and upholstery it will need. It's the little details that will help to determine its value, what's been replaced and what's original. With my IE6, I can only see about half of the pics, other half is off the screen. But, it looks fairly complete, and thankfully she didn't try to "shine" the badging. You need those for authenticity. And at least you have pics of how the tuck and roll looked on the seat. Once it's restored--not that hard to do on that, I think you'll get more, much more than "challenge money" for it. Some of the guys in the model T clubs may be of help. Good luck.

triumph5 wrote: With my IE6, I can only see about half of the pics, other half is off the screen.

triumph,

Right click the pics, scroll down and hit properties, that will resize the pic for us that aren't in the new millenium. Just click 'cancel' when the properties box comes up.

Rad_Capz wrote: Anyway here's the new pics

Ooh! Tiller steering. How cool....It will be fun to get the constable's approval for the certificate of roadworthyness.

What's powering this buggy?

44Dwarf wrote: A) It's a replica. B) It was gamp's. C) It's not worth anything unless she sells it.... D) Give her paint and have fun, it what he wanted and got it for.

I'm with the dwarf on this one.

The car is already stripped. Let her have fun, and enjoy the fact that Gramps would have enjoyed her having fun. Immensely.

Leave the restoration for the next guy.

If you want the relationship to last, show her she (and the things she thinks are important) is more important than the fact that you think the car should be restored "right".

I'm with the "Let her restore it" crew. The only thing you really should do (and only if she wants you to) is offer advice on how it can be done without too much damage to the underlying "restorable" structure.

914Driver wrote: What's powering this buggy?

Hopefully some sort of street bike motor soon...

I see an air cleaner under the seat in the new photos, looks Briggs-ish.

Dan

She didn't tell you about a car cause it's not. It's a horseless carriage silly!

I say let her have at it.

Its her's...its free, let her have her fun.

That would be great as a pit car. You need to look around for a small diesel engine.

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