This 1937 Chrysler Royal found by reader Robert R is just how barn finds really look before a wash and a trailer. There’s no telling what might be under all that dirt. It’s in Tulare, California, generally a fairly dry place, so perhaps the underside isn’t rusted from sitting in the dirt. It doesn’t look like there’s any dirt showig through the floors. As for the engine, there’s always hope, but perhaps not much in this case. I guess you’d need to do a lot of cleaning to see what’s left. It’s listed here on craigslist for $5,000. It seems like a lot to ask for this, but wouldn’t it be great if it’s not terribly rusty and the engine turns? What if one could just clean this up, do a little mechanical work and drive it? That’s the dream of every barn find, right?
No way in a million years is it worth $5,000K
Look at this for $15,000!
http://www.collectorcarads.com/Chrysler-Royal/56417
I think those are early-1950s CA plates on it (someone can correct me if I’m wrong, and I’m sure they will). If it has been sitting that long, the amount of work necessary to make it a basic runner will be staggering.
Show me a ‘flow that has been in storage so long and it’d be worth it to me. But I’m not getting that “gotta-have-it” vibe from this one.
And yes, the price is much too high. So many ways this car could burn you if you decided to take it on.
RayT, you guessed right… that someone would correct you, lol. I’m just playing. Yes, for 1937, the California plates were black field with orange lettering, so it seems it’s the correct plate set. Unless they are 51-55 plates. I can’t zoom in on them. I would love to have this car, but that one for sale for $15K would be the way to go, imo.
Those plates do appear to be CA ’51 with the red ’54 metal tag, but it is hard to see the color of the tag for certain. I remember the red tags because red is my favorite color still!
This might be a great project car, but how hard would it be to hose off the car before pictures? I think I like Joe’s car better.
There is no argument with Joe’s comment and that car for 15K but whoever restored and sold that for 15K took a MASSIVE loss. Either the market would not pay more for a great car like this or someone just took what they could get. If the owner LISTED the aforementioned car for 15K, that is just plain stupidity. Maybe this/these cars aren’t worth more than 15K to the market but this barn find has 5K worth of parts that don’t either exist or are next to impossible to find. There is also no argument that this barn find will take a massive amount of time (more labor time than money) to restore but it is seemingly all there. At least everything (for the most part) is there to “be” restored. The trim and bright work on the front end alone are a huge find. I agree with Ed P. for the one who loves this car this is a great find. I have sold cars for less than they were worth because I needed the money. That car above is not “the norm” and in my opinion a bad comparison.
Pretty amazing find, and I truly believe people leave the dirt on to represent the typical “barn find”, and for the most part, it works. (got us looking) The sad reality, like Tom says, it seems, people today are taking HUGE losses on their collector cars, ( sometimes for what the freakin’ paint job cost) especially as older owners pass away, and younger folks have no connection with these older cars. Personally, I don’t understand why someone would redo this car. Anyone that’s done that, knows it’s a huge undertaking, especially when cars like the one Joe showed us are around. Sure was a beautiful car. Thanks Joe, for the picture. It’s cool to see what it looked like once.