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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1941 Ford Tudor

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Posted By Discussion Topic: 1941 Ford Tudor -- page: 1 2     sthielwcd3 05-09-2011 @ 12:23 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 13 Joined: May 2011 I am not sure if your club offers some free advice. If so, I was wondering if you could answer the following question: I am new to the classic car market and interested in purchasing a 1941 Ford Tudor that has been restored and by only looking at pictures it appears to be in good shape. The owner is asking $24,000. That appears to be a bit high. Your thoughts?? 42wagon 05-09-2011 @ 3:10 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 584 Joined: Oct 2009 Welcome to the Early Ford V8 Club If you are new to early Fords please take someone the is knowledgeable about these cars when you go to look at this one. At first glance $24,000 seems like a lot of money and all though the car may look beautiful there are a lot of details that could have been missed. If the car is in fact a $24K car and you wish to purchase it be sure it has a clear title. Be sure to check the number on the title against the serial number that will be found on the top of the left frame rail. If the numbers don't match walk away you don't want the grief involved with a miss titled vehicle. tierod 05-09-2011 @ 6:55 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 73 Joined: Oct 2009 LOOKED AT AN EXCELLENT 41 STD TUDOR, NICELY RESTORED FOR 16K. 24K SOUNDS A BIT STEEP. trjford8 05-09-2011 @ 7:23 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 4215 Joined: Oct 2009 42wagon gives some good advice. I also agree with tierod that $24,000 sounds high to me. The 41 cars are not as popular as some of the other models. I'm not knocking 41's as I used to own one.If I wanted a 41 I would look closer at buying a 41 coupe with the back seat(sedan/coupe). Always go look at a car with a knowlegeable person if you are a first time buyer. It will save you a lot of grief later on down the road.Since you are new to the hobby you might attend a few car shows and look at the various models of V-8 Fords. See what you like first(model, body style, color, etc). Once you figure out what you like then start your search for a similiar car. You want your first purchase to be a happy experience, you do not want "buyers remorse". supereal 05-09-2011 @ 10:09 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Tom's advice is "right on". I know that many members have no regard for price guides, but they are a starting point to gain perspective on the relative values of years and models. For instance, the OLD CARS guide shows a '41 Tudor in mint (rare) condition at $19,500. The #2 cars, those with an excellent restoration, are at $13,700. Sedans are always lower than unique or low production models. The '41 convertible gets up into the 40's, if immaculate, and the station wagons can produce double that amount if in top condition. A coupe in good condition is in a range at least 25% higher than sedans. The price you quote, as the others have noted, is much higher than most seasoned buyers would be willing to consider. If you do plan to deal on that car, at the very least have it carefully examined for mechanical and body problems. A well done cosmetic "restoration" has fooled too many. We have a '56 Chevy hardtop in our shop now, and it is a "ten footer". That is, it looks stunning from ten feet away. The owner just bought it, and brought it in to be made safe for a cross country tour. We found that the engine was worn out, and needed new heads and a new carb, for starters. He was assured by the seller, a dealer, no less, that the engine was a new "crate 350", when that engine is no longer available, in any case. He was curious as to why the driver's side door was hard to shut. We found that the left rear quarter panel was replaced, and the underlying structure was damaged to the point the panel and door sill was crooked. His pride of ownership in his new "investment" evaporated. ANY old car you are considering should be inspected BEFORE the deal is sealed, without exception. If the prospective seller balks, get away as quickly as possible. This message was edited by supereal on 5-9-11 @ 10:11 AM ford38v8 05-09-2011 @ 2:50 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 2762 Joined: Oct 2009 I agree with all of the above, and will emphasize some of those points mentioned: Do not buy a car based on pictures only. Take a knowledgeable friend. At the very least, crawl under and inspect the entire underside for rust damage to the floor. Use the available price guides as a reference to relative values only. Never lock in a deal based on those prices or the claimed conditions. In addition to the above, I would advise to agree to an inflated price only on the most perfect example of the model you can find. As rare as these cars seem, once you buy one, you will often find others you could have also considered. Alan TomO 05-10-2011 @ 7:16 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7253 Joined: Oct 2009 After you have inspected the car with someone that has experience with Ford in the 32 -48 era, and have decided to purchase the car, have the car appraised by a professional appraiser. He will know the range of prices for a car in the condition that your purchase is. You will have an easier time getting insurance for the purchase price if you have an appraisal and you will know that you did not buy too early. Tom supereal 05-10-2011 @ 7:57 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 The term is "agreed value". This is important in obtaining insurance coverage. It stipulates the amount the insurer will be obligated to pay in the event the vehicle is stolen or destroyed. Usually, the insurer will require, as TomO suggests, that a formal appraisal be furnished. As an alternative, you may offer all receipts for the cost of restoration. When my '47 was rear ended a couple of years ago, I requested that an adjuster be assigned with old car experience. The total damage came to almost three thousand dollars, and even though the other driver was at fault, it would be tough to convince a non specialist that a 64 year old car was actually worth the amount. My agreed value was the key. Another important need is to insure with a company centered on old vehicles. Mine happens to be Hagerty, but there are others. Ordinary firms will just want to add the car to your regular policy, which can be a huge mistake with an antique or collector car. sthielwcd3 05-11-2011 @ 1:32 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 13 Joined: May 2011 Great advice. Where would I find someone in the Turlock, CA area who would be able to appraise and check out the mechanical side of the vehicle? sthielwcd3 05-11-2011 @ 1:33 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 13 Joined: May 2011 Thanks...would agree. Apprehensive about making deal without a 3rd party appraiser.

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