Thread: Appraisal for steel 34 Ford-new pictures attached

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I am new to this forum. My father passed away, and left us a beautiful all-steel (unchopped) 34 Ford three window with a 350 ram jet fuel injection GM crate engine and special constructed frame. The car (body, original frame and engine) was in his garage for 30 years, then he finally got it made soon before he died. Emotionally, we cannot bring ourselves to even show the car. We have decided to sell it, but need an appraisal. Can anyone recommend a good appraiser with a proven reputation that we can use to price the vehicle, which we have in our garage in New Jersey? Thank you!

I would suggest that you contact the National Street Rod Association in Memphis and get their NorthEast representative's name and number. NSRA could then put you in touch with a reputable person who does appraisals. Usually, these persons are either street rod builders who have an established, legitimate business OR are an appraiser who does street rod insurance appraisals. A regular auto appraiser probably doesnt have the street rod
knowledge to effectively figure what the car is worth.

Another suggestion is to contact one of the street rod insurers to see if they have a person local to you that they use.....Haggerty is one insurance broker who does rods...perhaps other forum folks can suggest other insurers.

As with most sales, a reputable appraiser does not try to buy or sell your car....

Another insurer who may be able to help you is Grundy Worldwide. Their offices are outside of Philly.

http://www.neshaminyappraisal.com/

They have done several market and insurance appraisals for my old customers....



Bill S.

Welcome to the forum, and so sorry to hear of your Father's passing.

Everybody has to deal with their grief in their own way, and I can understand how seeing the car might bring back sad feelings of losing your Dad, however, let me put another spin on it. Perhaps it would be a shame to see something your Dad loved so much go to another person who has no attachment to it other than it is a neat old car. When I die I suspect my cars will be kept forever by my Sons, and that pleases me to no end. I could sell them instead, and give the money to the Kids, but I know everytime they see the cars or drive them they will be thinking of the times we spent together and how much I loved them and the cars.

As an example, I don't have a lot of my Dads possessions, my Sister grabbed everything first because she was older. However, I do have a few of his handtools and some other items, and those mean the world to me. I bet your Dad would love to think that you all loved him enough to keep the car in his honor. If it is a money thing, that is of course different, but if you don't need the money to settle his affairs I think you should put it away until you are better able to deal with his death, and then start taking the car out and using it, as he would have done. That would be the best way to honor him IMO. Somewhere down the road you will kick your own butt for letting part of your Pop leave the family.

Just my opinion.........

Don

Sorry to here about your Dad. I agree with Don enjoy the car I'm sure your dad would like that. I live in Somerset ( Franklin Township) off Easton Ave. If I can help with anything email. Joe

Keep it or down the road you will regret selling it,my dad had a 55 ford sunliner sitting in the garage for about 30 years before he died and as soon as I got all his affairs done I started working on it and last year hit the road. Its not completely done but I enjoy driving it and would not like to see someone else behind the wheeel. Jeff

While my dad was not a true car buff, he did enjoy his nice cars. He passed away and I ended up with the '74 Ford LTD Brougham. I drove it for quite a while . I gave it to my then father in law(great guy) who loved the car. He passed away and the car was sold to settle his estate. The last time I saw it was at the local junk yard - still running. I was able to salvage a few small bits and pieces for my street rod - and they are installed. Do I regret giving up that car - not to my father in law. But it really made me sad to see it derelict. To keep this '34 of your dads, at least through the period of grief, would be a tribute to him. If, later, you felt that it was time to part with it, you could do it and choose who should own it next, not the first person with a handful of cash.

Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Welcome to the forum, and so sorry to hear of your Father's passing.

Everybody has to deal with their grief in their own way, and I can understand how seeing the car might bring back sad feelings of losing your Dad, however, let me put another spin on it. Perhaps it would be a shame to see something your Dad loved so much go to another person who has no attachment to it other than it is a neat old car. When I die I suspect my cars will be kept forever by my Sons, and that pleases me to no end. I could sell them instead, and give the money to the Kids, but I know everytime they see the cars or drive them they will be thinking of the times we spent together and how much I loved them and the cars.

As an example, I don't have a lot of my Dads possessions, my Sister grabbed everything first because she was older. However, I do have a few of his handtools and some other items, and those mean the world to me. I bet your Dad would love to think that you all loved him enough to keep the car in his honor. If it is a money thing, that is of course different, but if you don't need the money to settle his affairs I think you should put it away until you are better able to deal with his death, and then start taking the car out and using it, as he would have done. That would be the best way to honor him IMO. Somewhere down the road you will kick your own butt for letting part of your Pop leave the family.

Just my opinion.........

Don

.....So sorry to hear about your Dad's passing... And I totally agree with Don on keeping the car as long as it's financially feasible. I sold a shot gun my Dad gave me to buy car parts 12 years ago. It was the first shot gun my Dad owned {his Dad gave it to him} & the first shot gun I owned. Well the pro street rear end that I put together with the money is long gone {except for the 9" case that's in my '32}. I never got the car running & just gave away all the parts to it & I regrett it BIG time! Again, sorry to hear about your Dad.... Bill

Mod note: threads merged and picture links fixed

That is a beautiful little coupe your Dad put together, and a very desirable, hence not cheap, body style. It is also unmolested and unchopped which will help boost the price.

I was happy to see that when you posted the same question on the HAMB most of the members there said pretty much what I had suggested, that you try to keep the car in the family. However, only you can make that decision........it could be that the survivors are not car people, or that you need the money to settle up the estate or provide for his Widow, if there is one. We are not trying to tell you how to run your life, but being car lovers ourselves we know that these things become more than steel and rubber, they are a part of our lives.

I also don't know how recently your Dad passed, so maybe the pain of looking at the car right now is too fresh and hard to take. But consider this, your Dad owned that care for 30 years, and put a lot of love and effort into it. What do you think he would want you to do with it? My bets are that he would be thrilled to see it remain with those people he loved, and to see them use it as it was intended. I also feel he would be sitting right there beside you every time you took the wheel.

If money isn't an issue, take your time to make a decision. Throw a cover over it and see how you feel in a few months or more. You have a chance here to keep a part of your Dad alive, and those of us who suggested you keep it don't want you to make a decision you will regret later on. If my Sons sell of any of my cars to some strangers, I will come back and haunt them BIGTIME!!!

Don

I figure if you want to sell it, that's your business. Sentimentality is an issue. When my Father died, it was stipulated in his will that his car, tools, and most all of his toys be sold and the money put in a trust fund.... The trust fund is still making payments to his grandkids today... Keeping his cars would have been almost impossible anyway, only 2 cars and 5 boys, along with two gearhead son-in laws....would have been a fight to the death!!!!!

We had all of Dad's things appraised and set a price on selling them, I guess if anyone wanted something all they had to do was step up and write the big check....

As for the appraisal, Mr. Mustang had a good suggestion. Most any insurance company will have a list of legitimate appraisers for most everything, cars included... You could just check with the company he had the car insured with and see who they might suggest.....

I agree with Don. This would be a terribly emotional time for you and the Family to be sure. I have been through it with a number of family members including my Dad. It is a difficult time, and in my opinion, not the time to make a drastic decision (unless certain circumstances justify it, like monetary) such as that. Just a couple of years ago one of my Wife's Brothers passed on, and his wife wanted to sell the house right away. Said she never liked it there anyways. Now two years later she has lamented selling it. My Mom sold my Dad's car when he died, not for the money but to get rid of the reminder. In my humble opinion, please put it away for a while until you get over the loss of your Dad. My condolences on your loss. Perley