[Hoss]

A friend has need of some cash and has offered me the opportunity to buy his nephews 65 coupe, which has been modded for 1/4 mile racing. It's not too fancy and is not street legal, seems to be fairly straight and mostly rust-free. The car runs and the motor sounds strong. He is throwing in all the chrome, etc that was bought for the car and never installed. He's asking $4,000 and I think it will go for $3,500-$3,750. I'm no car guy, but have always wanted to work on a project like this...is this a reasonable deal or just another day at the office? I've attached a couple pics for reference...thanks, Hoss

[GreenFaleen]

looks like it needs alittle TLC. What engine is that?

[SemperFi]

I'd say more than "alittle TLC" & no deal unless the motor or numbers on it r special. Cars been neglegted - intake looks oxidized and the engine paint job is a quickie. Bet most of it comes off with a spray of the hose. Interior looks as if they didn't care or it's been sitting awhile. If he's hurting for cash: check the engine good, make sure that the frame rails are not rusted and then ask yourself how bad do you want it. If the answer is yes to all three - start at 3000, cash - and work your way up - slowly, and think about it over night or a couple of days if time permits, b4 you make final offer. Make sure they have a good title or u can get one from DMV with bill of sale. Good luck.

[SemperFi]

Why isn't it street legal?

[Hoss]

Originally Posted by SemperFi Why isn't it street legal?

the alternator and fan were removed for racing and the battery was relocated to the trunk...I'm probably showing my ignorance here, but my assumption was that it must improve the car's performance in the 1/4 mile. So there are no lights, side mirrors, windshield wipers and it will overheat if driven very far. All of the parts were kept and can be re-installed.

The whole story goes that the father bought the son the car and all the chrome to work on together as a project. The son married, started a family and has fallen on hard times and needs $. Along with the alternator comes new steering wheel, interior chrome, grille, rear mat, dash, etc and it is supposedly "new original" and not a reproduction.

The original inline 6 has been replaced with the 289 w/4 barrel carb, headers, C4 trans and 9" rear end with 4.11 gearing. I'm not sure about the cam, but when it is cranked and running; the idle is very "rough", again, my assumption is that it is a result of being setup for racing. When the owner took my wife for a test run yesterday, he goosed it as they pulled onto the highway and spun it completely around (not on purpose)...My friend (not the owner) has said the front end jumps a foot off the ground when the nephew runs it at the dragway. I will see it tomorrow for the first time and just wanted to get an idea from a more knowledgeable crowd about what I was looking at when I get there. Thanks again, Hoss

[BWAL09]

from what ive seen, i honestly dont think it could lift off the ground an inch, much less a foot..

i think for the condition it is in it may be a reasonable price if it had been street legal but unless you are REALLY serious about building the car and actually racing it then i would say dont buy it

[Grimmy]

Yeah that car isn't something that would be fun to go cruisin in. But if yopu are looking for a project car where you intend to strip it down and build it back up Id say go for it. Oh and I can't imagine its too incredibly easy to race the 1/4 when peddal part of the gas peddal is missing. You should ask for it if you buy the car.

[Hoss]

Went and saw the car up close today and it is what it is...a fairly rough drag racer. The motor has racing cam assembly and the carb runs 1100 cfm. Time slips showed "it" running 12.2's in the 1/4. The trunk is full, though, of blue Ford boxes with emblems, handles, trim, weather stripping, and on and on...I'm going to cypher on it over the weekend and let the guy know on Monday. Thanks again for the input, Hoss

[69fastback]

12.2s is pretty good. If you're looking to drive it on the street any, you can do better for the money. Overheating problems can be a serious bitch. It could be something as simple as an old corroded radiator, and can be fixed by replacing it, or getting a coolant system flush. It could also be a head, or head gasket, wich is a little more difficult, or it could be that the cylinders are bored too much and it can't dissipate the heat which means it needs a new engine block.

With you not being much of a car guy, as you stated, you could be jumping in way over your head with it. It does look like it needs a lot of TLC.

[Horseshoeing]

What do you want the car for?

If the car was a I6, what do they change? You need to change the rearend(which the did), front coil and rear leaf springs(who knows if they did), front brakes and spindles(looks like they did), motor and transmission(they did), steering linkage( Maybe they did) and other odds and ends. Just from the looks of it I would say if you want a street car to play with you should get it for $3,000. Really look for rust.

If I got that car I would may a street rod out of it.

[My67_fastback]

cool. offer less for it. but get it if its a reasonable price, and reinstall the fan and alternator, thats rediculous and isnt worth doing for the small amount of power you get from it. and yes the rough idle suggests a radical cam profile, which is a good thing (to us hotrodders anyways). but no, no way is a 4bbl 289 jumping off the ground a foot without EXTENSIVE and i mean EXTENSIVE mods.

[My67_fastback]

o ya and there are no drag slicks. wheelie=not happening without slicks


and if he lied about that, i'd be warry of this purchase

[Horseshoeing]

Thats easy to check out. Just have him show you. It don't really matter.

[Hoss]

Thanks ya'll...we bought the car. We intend to have some fun with it by converting it from a 1/4 miler to more of a street rod. We'll tone the engine down a little...but with all of the chrome that was included and they threw in some Falken 255/35 zr 20's on custom rims, we think it would be a pretty easy and fun modification. I may of overpaid a bit, but the smiles on my wife's face ( she has always wanted a '65 and never thought it would happen) was worth it. I am very grateful to all who responded and will pay it forward as we learn by doing on her car...thanks again, Hoss

[Grimmy]

well, you will probably want to go with a milder set of cams and good luck with the project. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun.

Oh and don't forget, when working on your car, every time you swear an angel gets her wings. So let them loose.

[My67_fastback]

lols. and remember, every time you drop a wrench under the hood, it ALWAYS lands in the very middle, usually just out of reach. hahaha

[Horseshoeing]

I don't think you payed to much. Thats without seeing the car. I am happy for you. Welcome to the Mustang club! If you need help, just ask us here.

[SemperFi]

You never pay too much if the other half is smiling. Even if it's free and follows you home - if she ain't smiling, you payed too much - because you will pay. Good luck!