This 1928 Chevrolet AB Coupe barn find is largely complete, and it looks like a solid basis for either restoration, or it has the potential as a rat rod project. The car is listed for sale here on eBay and is located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The car comes with a clear title, and the seller has set a BIN price of $6,500 for this Coupe. There is also the option available to make an offer.
The car was originally sold in West Virginia and remained there until it was brought to Pennsylvania in the early 1970s and placed into storage. The body and frame have a fair coating of surface corrosion, but major rust looks to be absent. There are a few minor pieces of trim missing, but the car is essentially complete. It also appears that all of the glass is present and in good condition. There are a few minor dings on the body, but it is fairly straight and clean. While I am a great fan of restoration, this car just seems to have the look that suggests a rat rod project, and I think that it has a lot of potential in that area.
The first thing that you notice when you look at the interior is the lack of floors, but that’s no big deal in cars of this vintage. The rest of the interior is pretty well complete, but obviously, it will require a total restoration, as the seat, dash and door trims have all seen better days. The steering wheel is really bad, and that is almost certainly beyond restoration.
The engine looks to be the original 171ci 4-cylinder engine which is backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. The seller states that the car doesn’t run, but that the engine does turn freely. The car is also said to roll freely, but as with the rest of the car, this will require a fairly comprehensive restoration.
This 1928 Chevrolet is a solid car that offers the new owner a couple of options. Being largely complete, it would be a prime candidate for a full restoration. So Barn Finders, restoration or rat rod?
I say neither restoration or rat rod. When is this rat rod nonsense going to go out of style I say restomod. When I say that I mean mostly back to original with a newer motor ( 230 CID 6 cyl ) and transmission. Full synchronized 4 or 5 speed. It would be a fun little car after that and it would look good too. The untrained eye wouldn’t know the difference.
Mark, I agree with the restomod plan you
have there. GM cars of this era can be
pepped up by adding an inline six rather
than an over rated LS 1 swap. Myself,
I like the 250 six instead. This unit would
give you a bit more power and torque too.
Just missed picking up a ’29 Buick
Marquette 20 years ago. The car was
all original except for the ’53 235 truck
motor under the hood, mated to the
4-speed gearbox that was in the same
truck as well. The guy who owned it
converted it to 12 volts for reliability.
He also upgraded the brakes from
mechanical to juice brakes for better
stopping. The only other problem you’d
have is the all wood framework under
the sheetmetal. I’d use the original
woodwork as a pattern to 3-D print the
entire structure to provide more strength
to the body. A nice 2-tone paint job, and
you’ll have a one of a kind daily driver that
gets looks wherever it goes.
HI Kenneth when it comes to the wood frame work I think if it is not to rotten I’d suggest epoxy resin and weave fibreglass fabric. It will seal in an stop the rot, will be impervious to water, and is supper strong. All you’d have to do I remove the sheet metal, clean off the Cobb webs and dust apply your first coat of resin while still wet apply the fabric followed by more resin. In really bad areas it would not be a bad idea to lay more layers of resin and fabric. It’s even possible to tape on a cardboard Mold around the problem area an pour the resin into you temporary Mold. I’ve had good success with epoxy resin and wood on a number of projects now and I’m impressed with how strong this product is. You could honestly say that it has the original frame in the car after this sort of repair.
I guess you can paint me curious.
Those first 2 pictures are almost definitely taken on the last day of Hershey. In fact, I think I might have even walked by it.
So did the seller recently pick this car up, or was he or she just unsuccessful? The weather was pretty uncooperative this year.
To answer Adam’s question; I’d do what my buddy always says when he sees a car in this condition. ‘Make it drive-able and brush paint it black.’
Yes, this was most definitely at Hershey this year. I also saw this last weekend just outside of Hershey on the side of the road for sale. Currently on route 322 just east of Hershey if anyone is interested.
Is there much demand for 1928 Chevys, even for a three window coupe? One recently sold on eBay, faded two tone blue/black paint, new wood floors, 305 V8, automatic, S10 rear end, generic interior, runs and is currently registered, it went for $10,500. Based on that, this one seems considerably overpriced since it needs everything.
Only one other 1928 Chevy sold for over $10,000, it was an abomination of a rat rod, which went for $15,000. One semi-restored running and driving 4dr sold for $4,500, no other restored 28’s sold.
Steve R
Just too much money. No one wants this era car anymore unless it’s a rare and desirable make. I just sold a running and driving ORIGINAL and rust free 1928 car. I had it on BF for $6000. Got a couple tire kickers but nothing more. Put it on Hemmings for $4900 and sold it to 2 smart dudes for $4500. It needs little to nothing to drive and enjoy. This thing here is a pit you throw money into. It would take thousands to get it running and driving safely, let alone make it esthetically presentable. In a way it’s too bad, a shame really, but as I told my kids as they grew, “I didn’t make the world, I just live here”
I too look forward to when the ‘rat rod’ craze dies off. I would prefer cars of this vintage remain as stock as possible. I’d just clean it up, make it safe to drive, maybe do a few minor tweaks to give her a bit more pep in her step
You guys need to get out in your garage away from your TV. Not every car needs to be a rat or resto mod. Counting Cars and all those other BS shows have you warped.
Doug I am out in my garage a fare bit and your right a lot of those car shows are total bull droppings. I’m of the belief when you do…! You learn and as you get better you learn some tricks to save money along the way. For me it’s the best part of the hobby. The doing the scrounging, the bartering. And the enjoyment you get when your done.
I’ll agree with that too Mark. It’s programs like these that are killing the
hobby we love so much. IMHO, they also
do their best to infect their starry-eyed
viewers with a good case of Barrett-Jackson Syndrome by telling them that
any old car is worth a gazillion dollars
no matter what condition it’s in. The
air waves are full of these butchers and
it needs to stop! The only one of these
shows I liked was Wheeler-Dealers on
Velocity when Edd China was on it.
It’s been a year or so since I stopped
watching it after they fired him. Since
then, Wednesday nights are when Sis
and my neice get me out of the house
by taking me to Old Man Frank’s for
tacos (of which I eat too damned many)
and karaoke. I have a good time every
time I go, and that keeps me from watching these clowns kill our hobby.
There’s just something about the young
ladies over there that has me excited
about going out tonight for Halloween!
Sorry, lost my traun of thought. Young
ladies and tacos always do that to me.
Rat Rodding will never go out of style.
I am an old guy. I can recall a time about 1946. A horse guy had a 28. Used mostly to haul hay for the hoses. Alas, he decided to plow a section of ground for growing a pasture . Hitched a disc to the 27. Blew the clutch. end of tale there.
This car could run. A full restore? No, cost too much for the ultimate value. Not a classic.
The easiest part would be the floors. Mere wood. Plain pine boards cut to fit.
Just be an awful shame to cut it up for a “Rat Rod”.
Those awfully mismatched head lights would have to go, first, and fast.
Sad, a couple of decades ago I had a good pair that would be “right”
I was in my shop yesterday. Jaguar moved out so I could “make saw dust”. A wood worker, I am not, but I do chop up wood and come up with stuff.
I have a vague recollection that the transmission is not the conventional “H” pattern shift of the times…
The little OHV 4 banger is interesting…
I almost bought a “critter” based on a 28 chev chassis and power train…
Carl
When I see an old car like this in this condition, have to wonder, did they store the car underwater? If ordinary humidity in Pennsylvania is this bad, Whew!!! Run the dehumidifier and dry heat night and day!!
This car should have been brought out of the Barn 20 years ago.
Not many guys left that would restore this now.
If it even sells to someone who wants to rod/resto-mod/ or lawn ornament. Its toast.
Cosmetic restoration as a static display
This car is what put Goodyear in business what with rotten wood and 20 lbs of rusty nails I bought a running one at a sale for $25 blue and black with landau arms on the rotted top. a restored one can be bought for little more
Iron Duke it….with a later model overdrive…….
You say the lack of floors is not big deal . . . is that to make the “Flintsone Brakes” easier to access??