If you are looking for a project car your whole family can fit in, this may be the one for you. This 1933 Chrysler 4-door is described by the seller as “a BIG CAR with heavy fenders and lotsa room in the cab.” It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of about $2,000. Currently located in Newton, Alabama it appears to have spent some (or most) of its life in Montana.
Based on the license plate, this car was registered in Deer Lodge County, Montana, which makes sense. In the 1930’s, Anaconda was the county seat of Deer Lodge County and was a roaring mining town. It hit its peak of population in 1930 and this car was probably cruising those streets shortly after that time. With 1933 being the middle of the Great Depression, this car possibly belonged to a Copper Barron or someone tied to the mining industry.
Unfortunately, the ad does say the grill shell that is on this car is from a different car and is not included in the sale. There are a few rust holes, but overall it looks pretty good. There doesn’t appear to be any major damage and the seller states the body is fairly solid. It appears to be mainly a shell though. No glass, no interior, no floor. The steering column is missing.
This is a big four-door car and would make a fun family cruiser. It will take a lot of metal work and scrounging of parts though. Do you think this car would look better as a period restoration, hot rod or rat rod? Certainly a rat rod would be the easiest way to go, but there’s something about the white-wall tires of a period correct restoration. Although, you could put white walls on your rat rod.
It’s a big job no matter how you look at it. Without a complete parts car for the missing stuff, a restoration would be a major undertaking. Well exceeding the value of a restored vehicle. Even with one, it would probably be the same. It could make for a very cool family hotrod. Probably the more affordable option. I don’t think this would look good as a rat rod. There is no patina at all, just rust.
George, I too see a truckload of potential
as an old-school restorod. Saw a ’32
Imperial done up that way in ’72 and I
was hooked. As I recall, that old bruiser
ran a 318 V-8 mated to a cast iron Torque
Flight tranny, and some sort of HD rear
end rounding out the drivetrain. The rest
of the car was restored to original specs
outside, while the interior was also mostly original save for a tilt/tele steering
column that held the shift lever for the
tranny, modern gauges and electrical
systems, a killer stereo, and a Thermo-King underdash A/C unit mated with
parts from Chrysler’s own Air Temp unit
to keep you cool on the hottest days.
With that said, this car could be built the
same way with the exception of the body
work. Once you’re done with the driveline
and the electrics, you start the body work
by filling in the rearmost quarter windows
and adding a power devider between the
front and rear seats for that town car look. Next, you fill in the roof insert with
a fitted piece of steel and cover the roof
with the same type of material that was
used to make the carriage roof used on
many luxury cars in the ’80’s and ’90’s.
Add some vertical coach lamps just
above the beltline and behind the edges
of the rear doors to round out the look.
Paint it a conservative dark blue with
a hint of metalflake, cover the interior with Cream or Tan leather with real
wood accents, and you”d have the sharpest cars around! Just think of the
money you’ll make renting it out during
Prom and wedding season or any other
occasion that such a car would be needed. Cap it off with an external trunk
and sidemounted spare tires to make a
lasting impression. That’s what I’d do
to it, how about the rest of you?
Hi Kenneth! Being the simple man I am, get her running, put my goggles on and cruise. Pretty car! Take care Bud, Mike.
Hi Mike! Couldn’t tell if there was an
engine in it or not. Still would make
a restorod out of it. After seeing that
’32 Imperial and Larry Wood’s ’32 Nash
Brogham in Rod & Custom Magazine
in ’73 just blew me away. Been wanting
to do one that way for 45 years now.
But since I’m retired, I have the time but
no money…go figure!
HI Kenneth your singing the same song as a lot of us are singing, myself included. ( got lots of time ain’t got no money ) the fact is you can still do it by scrounging, and budgeting, as well as doing your own work. If you don’t know how to do something then research it and teach yourself. A lot of how to’s I picked up on the Internet. I’ve done everything from sewing my own headliner to converting to power front disc brakes. To metal fab and body work. It will take a little longer to get it done but for me the build is as fun as the ride will be later. You should buy this car and build it up.
The front of the car is in paint and the rear looks a bit sunbaked.
Ended: Aug 20, 2018 , 11:06AM
Current bid:US $3,602.00
Reserve not met
[ 14 bids ]
Price:US $7,500.00
But at the top of the page, it says “no reserve” ????
The guy doesn’t deserve a nickel.
“selling with no reserve”…sheesh…..
It looks to me as if at some point someone took the front of another car and bolted it onto this one. Along with that rear pan and side runners. The Black car must have been really messed up if they were willing to take those parts and throw them on a rusty heap.