Need opinions on selling a ’55

[mkbruin]

I need some opinions on the prospective value of a 1955 Champion.

My father picked this up about a decade ago out of California as a non-running project, it had sat for years but is solid. He let it sit for another half decade before I stole it from him, and I’ve let it sit for another 2 years and haven’t found the time to do any work on it.

So, it’s a non-running, half-stripped 1955 hardtop with the original 185 under the hood and 3-on-the-tree. The 185 spins freely, it rolls smoothly, although the transmission linkage binds a bit.

we have a re-chromed bumper, all trim (and even some extra), OEM door cards, a spare dashboard, a new carpet kit, a complete new leather set for the seats, a turner disk brake kit, and a rebuilt carburetor.

Should I sell it as a package deal, or sell the parts separately? Should I spend the few hundred to try to get it running first, or sell as-is? What’s the market for these now?

I legitimately have no idea where to even begin…

[StudeRich]

A '55 Champion 6 Hardtop that is that solid, would be good candidate for some kind of Engine swap, but Project Prices are just all over the place for a Non-driver, I am almost as lost on that as you are.

One way, certainly not the Only way, would be to put it on eBay Motors as a good test of it's value, if you put a reserve of maybe $5 or 6,000.00 on it, you will find out it's value or sell it.

You would also need good Pics of the Parts, because it needs to be as complete as possible.

[Slick111]

Detailed pictures of the common rust areas as well as the frame and under body are the most critical always help a sale .

[mkbruin]

A '55 Champion 6 Hardtop that is that solid, would be good candidate for some kind of Engine swap, but Project Prices are just all over the place for a Non-driver, I am almost as lost on that as you are.

One way, certainly not the Only way, would be to put it on eBay Motors as a good test of it's value, if you put a reserve of maybe $5 or 6,000.00 on it, you will find out it's value or sell it.

You would also need good Pics of the Parts, because it needs to be as complete as possible.

Appreciate the feedback!

[mkbruin]

Detailed pictures of the common rust areas as well as the frame and under body are the most critical always help a sale .

Thanks for the advice. I should be able to get some good pictures. It’s definitely a solid, rust-free product car.

[62champ]

Just a point of reference, while the '55 Speedster is a much more desirable model for that year, there were more produced than the 6 cylinder, two door hardtop.

Good luck!

[Hallabutt]

IMO anyone who parts out a car today is digging himself a hole that he might not easily dig his way out of. There is very little money in parts and a whole lot of work involve in parting a car. What you have left after the few desire able parts are sold off is just so much junk that has to be disposed of. The seemingly rust free tub has got to be worth as much as the detachable parts, but together they may be worth at least as much with less work and the without the cost of disposition of what's left.

[6hk71400]

Merlin,
Welcome to the forum and the Studebaker Drivers Club.

Just as the way the car sits and presents, the first thing I would do if you have decided to sell is get rid of those wheels and put a set of stock Studebaker wheels on her. It looks like a 19 year old had the car and the first thing they did, besides stripping the interior was go out and buy those wheels without a plan to do anything with the car. Selling the wheels would free up some cash to use that if you did want to keep the car you could approach a plan of action as to either restore or present a picture of the potential.

Second, a running car, even though it is a Champion Six, will have a bit more value than a lump of sheet metal and pig iron. The problem I see is that many of the guys here will not see 60 again or older and are usually not willing to take on a large project and pay a lot of money initially for a car low on the desirability chain. Also factor the transporting cost that the buyer would have to pay.
The car is solid from what I can see. It must have spent time in a garage. I would test the market locally (craigslist) without much cost. There may be a few people with large pockets that would pay the money and then modify the car to suit there desires.

Good luck

[mkbruin]

I appreciate the comment, and agree to a larger extent.

My intention would not be to part out the car, but rather to sell separately some of the parts we’ve accumulated, like the new in box Turner brake kit or the new leather for the seats.

The wheels are 17” from a Mustang, and I know that several other people here run similar wheels (just chrome instead of the black). They were necessary due to the condition of the wheels and tires that had been on the vehicle prior, which were essentially claymore mines.

[6hk71400]

Check also with any members in the area that are willing to come and look at the car and give a hands on thoughts

[6hk71400]

Sorry for duplicate posts. Laptop and operator not working too well and tried to delete