I have been seeing some projects listed for sale and it got me thinking about whether it's better to sell a project as is or to sell it as parts. I am looking at my 56 and doing a rough estimate of all the time and money I have invested in it...YEOW! I guess it really hits home when you consider how much paint and bodywork cost these days...and don't even go into a bodyshop and ask for an estimate on an overall paint job! I can see why some folks are moving away from the hobby.

 

Hi Charlie,

That is a tough question. Selling a project has its pros and cons. An entire non-running or inoperative vehicle is very expensive to have shipped so the market is limited to a region nearby to the project. You have to hope someone near to you has the gleam in their eye to tackle a project along with funds to finish it their way. On the plus side, a project can be finished to the satisfaction of the new owner and they can proudly say they have sweat equity into it.
Selling parts has pros and cons too. If you just need a door, fender, seat, steering column, hood, etc, chances are someone nearby will want that without having to get a whole chassis and then deal with how to get rid of it after all the parts are plundered from it. Shipping large parts is wicked expensive now, gone are the days of Fastenal happily taking those. And it does seem as though the restoration hobby is waning....you don't want to get caught with a shed full of parts that fewer and fewer people will want.

Having said this.....I'd say that selling the project might be the best option if the seller doesn't have active swap meets nearby.
Tom

 

is easy to look at a truck and quickly mentally add up an estimated value of some of the parts being greater than the value of the complete package. One thing that is sometimes overlooked is the overhead of selling parts - it has its costs. It It takes time and effort to remove, list, and ship each part that can all really add up and take it's toll. And dealing with fasteners that have not budged in 75 years?

 

I bought this 55 F600 for the Ford script bed. I had contemplated parting it out. I knew the non running or stopping truck was worth less than the sum of its parts. But I didn't want to be bothered taking parts off, taking pictures, and listing them . I had no place to store the large parts. And I needed the money now to help pay for fixing up and painting the script bed.

I sold it for $1200. But I did take off the tow hooks and sold them plus there was an oil bath MoPar air cleaner in the cab that I cleaned up and sold for a good price.




And now, as far as I know it's sitting in the new owner's field rusting away next to his other big 53-56 Ford trucks, one of which was a MH.

 

Here is my recent experience although somewhat different from what you're asking about.

A couple of years ago I bought three trucks in a package deal, two '46 Chevys and a '52 panel trucks. All of the trucks were in parts, one Chevy was a parts truck but mostly whole, the other '46 was the project truck, partially painted and assembled. The panel was in parts, patched up body and running flathead. I didn't want to the Chevys because I didn't know the value of them but I thought for sure I could get the Ford panel together and sell fairly easy. I was wrong, the Chevys sold within two week, the mostly restore Chevy sold the day I brought it home to a friends son-in-law. I assembled the Ford panel to almost drivable condition and sat on it for two summers. I ended up selling the front clip to one person, the engine to another, the chassis to another and the rear doors and seats to two other people out west. The first items I sold I sold to people within the state, the rear doors and seats the buyers paid as much in shipping as I sold the parts for. In the end I sold the parts of the panel for a lot more than I was asking for the entire panel truck and I cam away with the cab to use for yard art. I feel I made out pretty well selling parts. I wish I started selling parts before thinking selling the entire truck would be best.

It didn't take a lot of work, a few bolts to remove the front clip, a couple of more to remove the rear doors and a few more to get the engine of the chassis and a few more to remove the body from the chassis.

 

I think that you would do much better selling a usable vehicle.
While a truck with immaculate paint and body is awesome, it is not required to have fun in the hobby there are ways to still have a nice truck and have fun without 25K in paint.

 

I hear ya....I for one would not enjoy a 25Kpaint job. I'd be too nervous driving the thing. I wouldn't be able to park anywhere without being a nervous wreck. Heck, I'd be nervous with it sitting in my garage.

That being said. Someone who has started a project and has gotten about half way and then loses interest and decides to sell will never be able to recoup what they have into it.

 

I guess I'm the odd man out. I'm a parts guy and IF IF I say, there aren't a lot of high end aftermarket stuff already purchased or installed, my vote is for selling in pieces. Also if the body hasn't been heavily modified it's a sell in pieces.

pieces parts are great but you have to be willing to do the leg work. Listing, no shows, tire kickers, guys who didn't get permission first, you get the idea.

I do all the above and it gets tiring to say the least, but I love doing it and meeting folks.