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By peeeot - 12 Years Ago
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This weekend I bought a '57 Sunliner in rough condition. It was, of course, worse than I was expecting, but I bought it anyway. Now, as I contemplate what to do with it, I want to post my pondering for you wiser and more experienced folks to weigh in on.
The Sunliner's panels are very straight but ALL of the sheet metal at the bottom of the car is badly rusted, in addition to the frontmost structure of the hood, the headlight mounting panels, and the panel between the headlights under the leading edge of the hood. All 4 sides of both rocker boxes are bad. The braces under the floor pans are at least half bad. The body to frame braces are questionable. I can open both of the doors at the same time without the body collapsing, but there is pressure at the top corner of the doors when they are shut. The top frame is good, as is stainless trim and all metal high enough to where plant material couldn't hold water against it. The trunk lid is excellent! Also, I can roll the windows up and down.
There are no seats except a sad looking rear bottom cushion. The engine is a 1956 312 with Teapot, supposedly rebuilt and only briefly started years ago, but one of the spark plugs is absent so that doesn't bode well. Haven't tried to turn it yet. Trans is standard 3-speed but switched to a floor shift. It has power steering, and the pump looks like it has never been used.
There is no question that a donor car would be needed to get this thing together, if it's worth it. I looked at the Mac's catalogue and most of the panels they list for sale say "except convertible." So, I'm not sure whether even a non-convertible donor could give this car the metal it needs.
The other side of this proposition is that I also own a '57 Fairlane 500 fordor sedan. It's a project too, but far less ambitious. Currently running and driving with its original '57 312 and Fordomatic, it's even the same color as the Sunliner (black). Its rear quarters are completely rust-free; the floor pans have suffered some rot but it's hardly cancer; the rockers have some rust on the very bottom surface in a couple of spots but are mostly solid.
I see 3 roads:
1. Sedan as donor to convertible. I could transfer all of the running gear, interior trim, wiring, many body panels, some exterior trim, etc to the Sunliner and so preserve all the work and money I've done and spent on those items. I could cut up the body and use all the good metal that will transfer to get the bottom of the conv. rust-free. What's left of the sedan I could scrap, or part out, or sell whole, to recoup value.
2. Sell sedan to fund convertible project. Maybe it would be best to sell the sedan as a driver and use the money to buy a more suitable donor, or parts, or whatever.
3. Convertible as donor to sedan. the convertible has a few things that would really help me build the sedan: excellent trunk lid, complete power steering system, and a good hood skin which could be added to the sedan's good structure to make a good hood, at least. I could sell the conv with a minimal decrease in resale for those changes, then use the money to finance the sedan.
I would truthfully rather have the finished convertible, but I like the sedan too, and it would be far, far less trouble. I would feel a bit guilty about cutting up a good sedan too. They aren't building them anymore, after all. Even the conv is worth more money on the market, I wonder whether going down that road would be worth it in the end.
What do you think? Will the sedan even work as a conv. donor, or do I need a 2-door? (even the area under the rear seat, where the pump mounts, is rotted).
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By slumlord444 - 12 Years Ago
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The convertible will be more work and more money than the sedan but you may never get your investment back. The convertible will be money in the bank long term and a much cooler ride.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 12 Years Ago
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The sedan will not be a very good donor. The interior won't work, the door panels are too short, the front seat needs folding backrests to access the rear seat, the rear seat is too wide for the convertible. The sedan doghouse will work on the convertible, but door skins and 1/4 panel lower sections and rocker panels are all different. Check the bottoms of the boxed frame side rails, they are very prone to rust, and it sounds like this car sat in the dirt for a period of time. Sounds like the convertible is a very aggressive project, but not impossible. Restoring it to make money on it is not very likely. Good luck.
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By bird55 - 12 Years Ago
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If you aren't able to do your own body work, then it will be an expensive ordeal on the convertible. I haven't heard of to many shops you can trust to turn over one of those projects to, unless you forget about how much it will cost by the hour. And like has been mentioned its unlikely you'll get your investment back.
But hey I've seen people save ugly stuff that has (what I think is) very little collectible value too.
There are a lot of good running cars out there, if you're patient you can find 'em.
that's my two cents
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By PF Arcand - 12 Years Ago
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Unfortunately if sounds like the sunliner is a giant project. Obviously restored it's worth far more than any sedan. But, as far as getting your money back, forget it, you have to want to do the project for postarity or your own satisfaction.. Might be better to find a better one & use what you can from the rusted one. The condition of the sedan might justify some refurbushing, but doing an extensive resto on it won't make it a really desirable collector car. You would lose your shirt when you sell it. You have to like it & drive your value out of it..
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By pegleg - 12 Years Ago
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I don't want to influence your decision on the Sunliner but the guy whose E code Sunliner in Michigan has a complete sunliner floor for sale as well. You might contact him before you cut up the four door.
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By 314 - 12 Years Ago
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fix the sedan you may never live to finish that sunliner.
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By peeeot - 12 Years Ago
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Pegleg, that floor pan would have been a lifesaver, but Jim has already sold it  For a great price, too!
I have learned that it usually is unwise to approach car projects with a mind to turning a profit on them. In my case, I just want to build a '57 Fairlane that will be fun, reliable, comfortable, and reasonably economical to drive wherever I want to go. A convertible would be more fun than a sedan, but I am doubtful that it will be so much more fun that the extra work and time and commitment will be worth it. I should be able to keep the financial outlay relatively low, since I will do the work, but there is still a lot of parts and materials to buy. I am currently thinking the sedan is the way to go.
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By Lou - 12 Years Ago
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I sugest doing what several of my friends have done using rusty sunliners, the found rust free 2 door victories and converted them to convertibles. Expencive but worth the time and money if you build a nice original looking car. Biggest problem is cutting the X out of the convertible frame and welding it in the victorias frame. If the convertible frame is useable all the better.
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By peeeot - 11 Years Ago
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It has taken me a long time, but I have decided to stick with the sedan. I'm working on getting the Sunliner titled in my name and getting the engine running.
I don't see many Sunliner projects of this nature for sale, so I'm not sure what ballpark price range is fair to ask. Collectorcarmarket.com prices a #5 condition Sunliner at $5075--but that's obviously over-optimistic for this car. I don't want to gouge anyone but I don't want to give it away either.
What would you ask, if it were yours to sell?
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By PF Arcand - 11 Years Ago
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From your descripton, it's either a very expensive & time consuming restoration, or it's a parts car. Price? maybe a couple of thou at best..
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By Barry L - 11 Years Ago
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Where is the Sunliner located, close to Manitoba?? Barry L
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By peeeot - 11 Years Ago
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I'm afraid not. It's in North Carolina.
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By oldcarmark - 11 Years Ago
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There is a fellow in my area who took a 67 Fairlane Convertible in rough shape and used a 2 door hardtop as a donor car.You would never know it until he tells you about it.Someone with a good 2 door hardtop donor car might make you a good offer to purchase yours for parts or vise-versa.
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