Kaiser Frazer Owners Club Forum

General Category => Cars For Sale & Wanted => Topic started by: MarkH on May 31, 2018, 06:52:14 PM

Title: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on May 31, 2018, 06:52:14 PM
Seems to be all there, not too many miles. Not mine.

https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1955-willys-aero-custom/6603902747.html (https://annarbor.craigslist.org/cto/d/1955-willys-aero-custom/6603902747.html)
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 02, 2018, 11:43:27 AM
No way. $2500 for that serious of rust - on a more door?  No way.  I appreciate you posting and you are into these cars, but that's a $500 car at best, for parts.  Whether it's a 55 Cadillac or a 55 Willys, it costs $40,000 to $70,000 to restore any car these days. For $2500, I would expect it to run and need a cosmetic restoration.   No one is buying this car.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: joefrazer on June 02, 2018, 12:25:21 PM
I beg to differ...it’s a 55 and few were made. It’s essentially complete. It has the 226 engine. And, it’s stick with OD. Drive one and then get back to me. I guarantee the two extra doors won’t make a shred of difference.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: SC/397 on June 15, 2018, 12:43:44 PM
I would bet $1500.00/$1800.00 cash would buy it.
I would go look at it but I don't need or want another project.  That one looks worse but is really not all that worse than the 52 that I bought.  The guy started at 3K and re-listed at $2500.00.  I took $2200.00 in cash with me and that was going to be my max.  I asked the seller how much he needed for it today and he wouldn't give me a number.  He insisted that I make the offer so I hessitated and threw out $1800.00 and he said "Sold!"
There doesn't seem to be any $100 to $500 dollar parts cars anymore.  They have all become $1000.00 + parts cars now.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 16, 2018, 08:08:46 PM
Well it's a neat artifact, but such a niche audience. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on June 16, 2018, 10:33:40 PM
Well it's a neat artifact, but such a niche audience.

                                                                                  ???
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 17, 2018, 11:12:19 AM
By that I mean the car is still for sale because of what it is.  I looked at a 1956 Ambassador Station Wagon about 3 months ago.  Pretty neat artifact of a by gone era, but no one bought it, or was going to buy it, and it was priced at $500 and was 10 times better condition than this car. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Mr Manhattan on June 17, 2018, 01:43:43 PM
 They never made a 1956 Ambassador Station wagon  or convertible............))
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on June 17, 2018, 02:17:54 PM
Well it's a neat artifact, but such a niche audience.

                                                                                  ???


By that I mean the car is still for sale because of what it is.  I looked at a 1956 Ambassador Station Wagon about 3 months ago.  Pretty neat artifact of a by gone era, but no one bought it, or was going to buy it, and it was priced at $500 and was 10 times better condition than this car.

Stating something will never be sold is an assumption that the possibility of future bargaining will never happen.

What really has me saying "HUH!" though, is describing a vehicle, in a collector car forum,  as having a "such a niche audience". Ignoring that this is an orphan brand forum, wouldn't that describe even the most popular collectable car in the world, and it's club?
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Mr Manhattan on June 17, 2018, 08:28:49 PM
So how many were made  ? not many I think. It looks like a foreign car of the 50s. I like the looks but do not need a project like this . )) I just bought a 1987 Ford Ranger with only 66 k, clean as a pin.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 17, 2018, 09:41:51 PM
Mark knows more than I do, but the 4 door Customs - should be around 2600 to 2880 for 1955. 

This very same car sold on a Proxibid auction a few months back for $450.  Same car.  Therefore, the present owner is trying to flip it for 5 x the amount he paid. 

I am making a statement on the asking price, not the general desirability of the car. I am making a statement on the condition of the car, and it is only my opinion.  I suspect this car drops off CL and we don't know what it eventually sells for.  If at all. 

All KF's are generally 'niche' collector cars but some are bonified in demand collector cars that transcend the orphan tag.   This 1955 Willys is not one of them.  This is a neat period kitschy car that I can appreciate for being the 'last of'.  If that front floor pan was solid, I would place value in the $1200 range.  A person could chip away at the cosmetics, drive it and enjoy.  Eventually getting it to a nice #2 or #3 car. 

As a straightforward 'apples to apples' example, you need to look no further than the $500 1949 Frazer Manhattan post below, with the same floor rust.  A serious person could get this car for $250.  (The Frazer)

I meant no disrespect to Willys fans and collectors. The car is simply over-priced that's all.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 17, 2018, 09:44:50 PM
They never made a 1956 Ambassador Station wagon  or convertible............))


Thank you for the correction. The CL ad was for a Rambler Wagon.  I do not know where I got Ambassador from. 

I liked it a lot, neat, different project. Most of us like KFW because they are not mainstream.  Therefore, we tend to look for orphan stuff.  That's how I found that Rambler wagon.  I think it was listed as a 57, but my research showed it was a 56. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: amkfken on June 17, 2018, 09:45:54 PM
If you don't want it don't comment on price--
I looked for over a year for a 83 AMC Eagle SX4. found one with no rust, 100k miles, all original Paint/upholstery, etc. did not drive it, met my criteria, got it for 3k, cleaned carb, now has 113k miles and a few trophies
Same story on my 84 Rampage, one family owned, trade in at a Dodge dealer, has matching topper, 85k miles drove it, asking $4995, got it for $3000, now 92k miles also a few trophies.
Research $$ asking prices and conditions then negotiate with your bottom dollar, if not met walk away!!
Asking prices and actual dollar need by seller will not always match!!
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 17, 2018, 10:02:35 PM
I would not comment on a members car for sale but Mark posted a craigslist ad and we as a community often comment on the cars. Mine just happened to be on price v condition.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Carpenter on June 18, 2018, 08:08:06 AM
I wish those who have a gripe would just keep it to themselves.  Doesn't add one thing to the forum...that anyone wants to hear.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on June 18, 2018, 08:30:43 AM

This very same car sold on a Proxibid auction a few months back for $450.  Same car.  Therefore, the present owner is trying to flip it for 5 x the amount he paid. 

I am making a statement on the asking price, not the general desirability of the car. I am making a statement on the condition of the car, and it is only my opinion.  I suspect this car drops off CL and we don't know what it eventually sells for.  If at all. 

All KF's are generally 'niche' collector cars............


I've seen your cost estimates on transporting cars. How could you possibly know, and then say the seller is "flipping" the car for 5 times what he paid. If you're right, the Proxbid car was in California, now located in Michigan.

All collector cars combined are a "niche" market, otherwise we'd see a lot more of them being driven around.

I can't predict the future anymore than you can, but I think it's a good guess that this car will sell to someone, somewhere, at an as yet undetermined price.

I wish you'd post a link to that unsold $500 wagon that's in 10 times better condition than the Aero. I've been thinking about a vintage wagon for a while now and a little Rambler would be perfect. Ten times better, that's got to be pretty sharp, and easy to make a decent driver.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 19, 2018, 09:04:26 AM
Hi Mark:
The Proxibid auction was a Michigan auction.  This car was not purchased in California and brought into Michigan.  I live in IOWA. 

I can predict the future for this car.  It will sell for a modest gain by this seller OR he will hold onto it a long time.  If marketed well - perhaps an ebay auction noting it's rarity - he might get $700 or so out of it.    More than likely he does not get that out of it. 

The link to the auction was sent to me by someone. 

As for the 1956 Nash? Rambler Wagon, I spotted it on Kansas City CL about 3 months ago and thought how quirky and cool it was.  I am up for restoring a car not often seen. (I "strongly dislike" the Camaro/Hot Rod/Mustang/Corvette crowds at car shows)  I reached out to the seller.  He said he was listing it for an Amish friend who owned the property and inherited the car with the property purchase.    There was some texting then nothing.  So unfortunately I do not have that contact information.

There is a surplus of project cars in America.  Millions more than will ever be done (see the 49 Frazer thread as an example) so when I get a non urgent response from a CL post, I just move on.  75% of CL ads - I never even get a response. 

Who knows, that 56 Rambler wagon might pop up again. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on June 20, 2018, 08:20:54 PM
Hi Mark:
The Proxibid auction was a Michigan auction.  This car was not purchased in California and brought into Michigan.  I live in IOWA. 


Well, all I can say about your "facts" is this. I was emailed quite a collection of photos of this car about a week after the auction, the morning after it was delivered in the middle of the night by a transport company........... to Michigan............. from California.
Some time after that it was posted on CL. Being a friend of mine, AND a member of this forum I  thought I'd post it here even if he didn't.

I never said I didn't know the seller, just that it wasn't mine.

Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 20, 2018, 08:31:54 PM
My error then.  I will have to go back and look at the link.  Since you know more about the car, then a lot of the price must be in the cost to bring it to the Midwest from California.

If that is the case, it would be like me buying that 52 Manhattan for $$ (let's say $2000), and bringing it to Iowa for $1500 then changing my mind and wanting full restitution for the transport and asking $3500 for a $2000 car. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: MarkH on June 20, 2018, 09:02:50 PM
My error then.  I will have to go back and look at the link.  Since you know more about the car, then a lot of the price must be in the cost to bring it to the Midwest from California.

If that is the case, it would be like me buying that 52 Manhattan for $$ (let's say $2000), and bringing it to Iowa for $1500 then changing my mind and wanting full restitution for the transport and asking $3500 for a $2000 car.

No, it's not anything at all like you buying a car and changing your mind, but parse it any way that makes sense to you.
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 21, 2018, 08:02:09 AM
Ok Mark. Thank you for your input.  I hope the car finds a good home. 

Thank you for sharing your expertise on these Willys and correcting my misinformation.  Like you, I believe this car is easily worth the asking price now, based on your expertise. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 21, 2018, 11:07:09 AM
Looks like he added a new photo set.  I am on my iPhone but that appears  to be a black top grey middle and white lower paint. 
Title: Re: '55 Aero Custom
Post by: Roadmaster49 on June 24, 2018, 09:59:00 AM
I got this as part of a package deal, but don't have time or space to give it the attention it deserves. Currently in metro-Detroit, car has spent it's entire life in California. Was in storage since 1982. Has CA paperwork.

If you're not familiar with these cars, they were built in Toledo by Willys Motors, of Jeep notoriety from 1952-1955. This is the last model year, with restyled grille, side trim and taillights. These are uni-body cars. This has the larger 226 ci I-6 and a T-96 OD trans. The engine is common with many of the Jeep trucks and wagons, so replacement parts are available. The tooling to make this car was shipped to Brazil and production of this same model was resumed in the early 60's. Soft parts like weatherstripping, floor mats and light lenses for this car are available out of Brazil.

Car runs and yard drives. Runs off a motorcycle gas tank and battery which are not included with the sale. No brakes. Tires hold air but are not usable. Car is solid, save for typical rust spots on the front of hood, inner lip of trunk lid, battery tray and front floors. Tried to show these areas in the photos. Odometer shows 44k.

Interior is complete minus headliner and visors, but the seats are chewed up.I pulled off the old aftermarket seat covers so you can see what's there. Has E-Z-Eye tinted windshield. Many pictures and videos available upon request.

Asking $2500 firm and well worth it!
Call or text 734-625-2723