...classic yesterday.

Went to an estate liquidation sale where they were auctioning off two cars. The first was a 1926 Chrysler and the second was a 1937 DeSoto.

The DeSoto had a starting bid of $2k and an absentee bid of $3500. There were a few guys there. No one bid on it and I couldn't let it go. The next bid needed was only $250 more, so I pulled the trigger and bought it.





As you can see, it's very similar to my Airflow (considering both are in the Chrysler family and the same year).


The car hasn't ran in two years, but I checked out the engine as best as I could. The radiator was still full with green coolant up to the neck and the engine was full of oil. There were also service records included with the car. So, the car was maintained. Shouldn't take much to make her running again. The car was only missing one hubcap, but otherwise complete.

There was also this 1926 Chrysler.




My wife fell in love with it and wanted it. The starting bid was $7k and no one bid. The car is in better condition than the DeSoto. This car is also complete, even with a matching pair of 1926 CA plates and another set of matching 1963 plates. The only body damage is to the left front and rear fenders. Tires are brand new. I offered $5k and the estate executor countered at $6k. I have until 5pm today to decide. This car also hadn't ran since two years ago.

I checked out a price guide from 2004 and the value on the 26 Chrysler isn't much. The DeSoto is worth more.

I bought the DeSoto with the intent to fix it up a bit and sell it. I need to fund my Panel and Airflow restoration. My plan is to do the same with the 26 Chrysler, but I don't think that I'd have any room left for a profit. Plus, I don't think that there's a huge market for 20s cars, like there's for 30s and 40s.

What do you guys think?

Ilya

PS: The story behind the cars and the estate. The cars belonged to Wayne L. Glasgow who was a pornography and **** importer into the SF Bay Area in the 50s. He was supposedly part of the mafia. I saw (and will get) articles about him in which it states that he killed people and that he was arrested many times. He also ran and underground 'speak-easy' bar in SF. Later, he was warned by the mafia that he needs to leave SF and never come back. He put everything he owned in storage, including the cars, and only returned once year, but was very quiet about it. When he was in town, he drove both cars up to his death about two years ago. Then the estate went into probate with attorneys, investigators and IRS involved.

Only if the cars could talk...

 

Ilya,

All I can say is that you must be living right. WOW!!

I always enjoy your posts, thanks for sharing the pics. There is some pretty cool history there

Bobby

 

Ilya
Get documentation from the estate and double your price on resale.
Those look real good, just what the restorer looks for.

 

my neighbor down the road had a Chrysler just like that.

 

Gorgeous cars. You do seem to find some beauts!

 

Some cool cars and some cool history on the cars and that guy

 

I am very jealous. I've been thinking of just such a car and at that price I would have jumped, too!

 

Did you get the Chrysler? That's a really nice looking car!

 

Not yet. Still doing some research.

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of DeSoto. Just pray that you don't need to many parts because Ebay's a b**** for those things. Here's a pic of my husband's '53.