Need some advice from you guys on my dad's Depot Hack project littl

[schwabd1]

This goes back to the early 1970's when my dad got a bunch of "T" parts from his friend to build a depot hack. It's a bitsa car.... Titled as a 1925, the engine is 1923, the frame 1927 etc. In high school at the time I took on the project on his behalf. This whole project was me as the restorer and my dad as my assistant. I refreshed the engine, (babbitt was good, bored the cylinders .30 over, new valves/seats) trans was a little worn but deemed good enough. Went through the rear end, but used the original thrust washers..... this forum wasn't even dreamed of in the '70's to warn of their destruction, Syverson body. The body was sealed with polyurethane back then but not assembled. The car never got completed, went to college, got married, had a family, built a house etc. Jump ahead 50 years. Still not done, but wood body has been assembled and attached to the running chassis, it's wired and DOES run. The body, although "new" could be stripped down and refinished , it has aged to a real dark yellow hue. The sheet metal needs painted and installed. The wheels, although tight could be respoked. My dad is 92 and has lost interest in his "toys". I'd like to buy this from him and get it completed so he can ride around in the "T" while he still can, but don't know what kind of value to put on a vehicle that was built from parts and still needs quite a bit of work and money invested (especially the paint!) to complete it. My brother and sister think his old cars and tractors are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars...... (we all know that's far from the truth), they have done nothing on any of his cars or tractors and don't have any interest in them other than their enormous value. Anyone out there on the forum that would toss out a value. Any idea what to offer my dad on an incomplete project built from multiple year parts that needs some re-restoring (rear end, spokes, strip and refinish body), painting and assembly. I already have hundreds of hours in this project and would like to see it through. Thanks for your help, Dave

[Steve Jelf]

Some think these estimates are too low, and for brass era cars I agree that they are. But for steel era I think this is a pretty good guide: http://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG99.html

[TRDxB2]

You have a couple of issues the will effect the price you will arrive at. One is your sentimental attachment to the project car and the other is the your siblings anticipated value of your Dad's possessions. The only way to keep harmony in the family is to have supportive documentation to show how you arrived at your price. Since it is an incomplete bitsa project, The real question is should it be priced as a complete project car in its present condition or based on the sum of the parts in their current condition (as if it were parted out)
Regardless, have pictures and an explanation of how the prices were arrived at to keep family harmony. For example a reproduction Depot Hack body is going for quite a bit (see below). Realistically your body is not "new", even though it was not used it has poly coat and even you have noted it could be stripped down and redone. However, if the patina gives it character why do that.
So here is a start of current prices
I'll let the Forum give estimates on your engine, frame, rear axle(drive shaft) and body. That's documentation as well! A few pictures would help understand its state of completion and what's left to do.

[George House]

Engine + it’s rejuvenation $600. ..50 + year old depot hack body $1,500. Frame $100. Fenders,hood and splash aprons (new or old ?) $600. Rear end (still Babbitt thrust ?), drive shaft and worn out wood wheels $300....Pictures will aid in a more accurate appraisal.

[Jerry VanOoteghem]

Adding to what Frank states, you have the replacement value of the parts, (e.g. body, fenders, chassis, etc.). But, subtract from that, the cost of the work/parts still needed, (paint, respoked wheels, etc.) & the money you've already got in it. Don't count your hours however or your dad will owe you money!

With that documentation, run it by your dad & siblings first. If can happen, then great! If not, is it worth the ultimate family discord to do something nice that ends up not so nice after all? In the long run, the siblings will learn the real world value when it gets sold by the estate. Sometimes you just can't win...

[Russ T Fender]

I wouldn't pay a penny over 3K for what you described. If you figure what it might be worth when it's done and calculate what it will take to get it that way even 3K is generous. Just my opinion but I have been there done that!

[Oldav8tor]

A friend bought a similar car - an actual 22, not a bitsa, for $4500. I wouldn't pay more than that and agree that considering everything, a price around $3k isn't unreasonable. You're going to have a lot of expense, a fact that shouldn't be discounted. If you had a mint-condition brass car the expectations of your other family members might be justified - that is not the case here. I respect your desire to finish what you started and share it with your dad...I would hope your family would too.

I went to an auction last year in which four of the 10 Model T's that sold went for less than $3k. The cars were all shown to run (briefly) by a Model T guy from the Henry Ford Museum, but there was little history on them. Had I realized how little they would sell for I would have put a bid in...

[Mark Gregush]

Why not ask him to gift it to you. Then he could gift your brother/sister each one of the tractors. If they think they are worth so much, they can sell them, that way they can see what the harsh reality is. You have put your "sweat equity" into it.

[George House]

Good idea Mark

[John kuehn]

On the top end the T you mentioned if it were on the auction block by itself would go for no more than $6.000 at the most. You didn’t mention what the other old tractors or cars were involved in your family’s ides of the thousands of dollars value in their mind.

There was a situation with my neighbors 260 farm, all the equipment, cattle, house and workshops and barns. Their Mother died and the 3 retired sons and daughter couldn’t come to an agreement of who gets what and their value. The will stated to give it to the kids and it wasn’t clearly stated how. They went to the local judge and he told them to either auction it all off and split the money 3 ways or try to come to some sort of agreement.
Their was an agreement made but there wasn’t a good relationship from then on.

The larger outcome for all the property combined may be the only way to settle who gets what.

[Channel1tv]

I can attest to the value of a project hack. My 12 year Hack project has cost me more than triple of what I could have bought a turn key completed car.
I can also say when it coming to family and settle the estate, if you want it for sentimental reasons, buy it back at the estate auction. That will shut the nay sayers down on price quibbling.

You will never make a dime from restoring it and selling it, but 2nd Generation, Dad's Old Model T...priceless!