Thread: Classic car - help!

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I have always loved Nash Metropolitans. Obscure car only produced from 1953 - 1961, had a good number in production and you can still come across them every once in a while in okay condition and restoring is possible (but a bit of $$ if you can't do it yourself, which we won't be).

I came across one that isn't a rusted-out "project car" on Craigslist.
http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-19...tropolitan.jpg

Not this exact one, but the colors are the same (and again, this is my fave combo). The one I've found is in driving condition with reasonable wear but not junked - a convertible version. They even have it at a reasonable price, and have "or best offer" and we most definitely could pay cash - making it likely that they'd take even less.

I'm going to look at it tomorrow with the hubby. I'm really hoping that it's got bad rust or something that didn't show up in the pictures that would make it not worth it.

Reasons this would be a dumb idea now:

• Neither of us know how to drive stick (it's manual - 3 on the tree)
• We would have to either clean out our garage or get storage
• We need new flooring - and would cost approximately the same and not require further cost like the car would
• Restoring this car would be a minimum of $10K, and the best place to get it done would require us to ship the car out of state
• Restoration may take months


Reasons why I want to say screw it and just get it:

• COME ON! It's adorable! (and it's one of my favorite classic cars)
• Could get it for cheap
• Classic cars like this restored hold their value and could technically be considered an investment
• The best condition of a technically unrestored car that I've seen that isn't waaaaay over what I'd pay for the condition.
• Fully restored and updated, I could use it as my commuter car (it gets something like 40 MPG and I don't travel on freeways)


My hubby thinks it's cute too, and he's not helping to talk me out of it, but it would be a hassle, right? Anyone owned a classic car or have any friends that do and have horror stories about constant maintenance and the like?

What should I be looking for? My hubby has worked on cars in his teens, but he hasn't done anything remotely like this before.

OMG! That really is an adorable car! Sometimes you have to throw out the practical and go with your feeling. Don't be asking for horror stories to talk yourself out of it lol Sounds like you really want this car so go for it! You only live once! Besides, you really need a good reason to clean out your garage anyway! And I'm sure the old floor will get you through another year or two. And cheap beats out practical anytime!

FG, I will try to "help" you.
#1 A stick shift is not that hard to learn how to drive!!
#2 What is REALLY more important to you..... floor or a car?
#3 Check out different websites that feature that car so you can get a REASONABLE idea of what the car is worth when done.
#4 Do you want to go stock, showroom or modified ? All have have a determination in the final value.
#5 Are you ging to drive it for "FUN" or be practial about it?

# 6 This is where I have fun........SCREW ALL THE ABOVE AND GET IT!!!!!!!!The price of "classic " cars is all over the place. If you want to look at it as an investment you need to check out web sites that cater to that car. In the late ' 70's early '80's I had a 1971 Dodge Charger S/E 440 R/T, which was the full title of the car, and it was worth about $125,000.00 in STOCK condition, mine was somewhat modified so it was not worth that much.

In my opinion it all boils down to WHAT do you want to do.
If it were me and I found a car that I liked I would get it, but I can do alot of the work myself , which is what I like doing!! Hope this helps, if you want more from my experience , e-mail me and I'll try my best to help you.

Hey FG , What Meeps said!! I took way too long to reply, but she has the same idea as I do!!

I'd say go for it too!

It's an adorable car and obviously a passion. Hubby just wrestled with getting a dream car for over a year. Same problem you had: it's not practical for the winters in Kansas, we'd have to shoehorn it into the garage and it's expensive. Well, he pulled the trigger three months ago and today he still gushes over the thing (it's a muscle car). I have not seen him ever this happy about a possession and so glad he did it. I asked him last weekend...any regrets? He said, "Are you kidding!?" Yep, cars do make you happy

Thanks for the encouragement you guys!

I had an appointment this morning that took longer than I thought it would, so we didn't get a chance to go look at it today. We're going next weekend for sure if they still have it... and I may just do a major impulse buy then.

Anyone else wants to chime in, please do. I'd be interested in hearing about how to find a good classic car restorer or what sort of maintenance I'd be looking at. Right now, I drive an older Explorer, and it's had regular maintenance, but I figure that oil and the like would be more critical to check and change in an antique like this.

Sounds like a nice car, FG!
I'd say go for it. You might not run across another one you like this much in the near future.
Plus---who says you have to have it all restored at once? Just get it in your garage and see what restoration you might be able to do yourself. Even if it takes years, it will be a fun project you and your husband can do together.
Also it'll be a fun learning experience---well, maybe not ALL fun---but a learning experience all the same. Good luck!

Sorry TOO classic for me! LOL

I say go for it. You only live once. It's not everyday you get to fulfill a dream.

Just make sure that you check the frame and body mounts. Also bring along a magnet. Never know what's under that paint. I'm 3/4 through restoring a Jeep. Doing all of the work myself. It's amazing how much bondo was on that thing. Previous owner had just thrown Bondo over large rust areas that I cut out and welded up new metal. Also had to fab up new body mounts and weld them in. It's almost always cheaper to find a car that someone has already spent the money on. I guarantee you that I will never get back what I put into that Jeep and it's not even road worthy yet. And I lost track of the hours I put into the body work. On the up side, it's a car that you don't see much. Unlikely that you will ever pull up next to another on the road. I like them too. You'll learn alot working on a car like that. Makes the next one easier to deal with. Nothing like driving an old car that you worked on.