I got a possible trade offer for my clapped out 59 El Camino. Even up trade for what I think is 1952 Buick Special. The 52 has no rust except the hood is surface rusted. Low mile 455 and Th400 from a 72 Riviera. He also has the buckets and console from the Riv in it. He also installed a new tank and sending unit along with all new painless wiring. Currently needs front clip put back on and fuel lines ran. I have no idea what the value of these are and since its been hot rodded how much does it affect the value. My 59 needs floors and quarters along with everything else. With all the parts i have for the Elco i have about 7500 into it. Does it seem like a fair deal?
Chris, Check the numbers on the motor... unless he put later valve covers on it, that is not a '72... the covers are off a 75 or 6 engine, and if it is that, then it has the low performance big chamber heads on it. JW
Good to know. Thanks Jim. I know as far as an easy project this could be a really cool ride. But the El Camino is an iconic car that has been a dream car for many years since i saw pics of my dad's 59 Impala as a kid.
Is there a lot of replacement parts available for the ElCamino? Looks like it will take much more effort to resurrect it than the Buick. As for the 455,if you do decide to make the deal,it looks like all the fabbing etc is done and a simple motor swap would be much easier. It's what's in your heart to decide what road to take. That would look so cool with a Nailhead and dual carbs in there as well.Just adding a set of aluminum or chrome valve covers and an aluminum intake would spruce it up.
There isn't a whole lot, although i have a lot of it already. The only sheet metal I need yet is the floor pans. I have all the trim especially the hard to find stuff. I have a fully restored steering column and steering wheel. Dash is great. Have a line a rebuilt 348 tri power and th350. I figured I would have about 30k total in the 59. I can do most of the interior work and my son works at a body shop and will help with quarter panels and floors. But there is something about that 52 that lights my fire. I would weld up the original portholes and put in 56 portholes. I would want to chop it 3-4 inches. Skirts and lots of Metal Flake and Candy on the roof. Flat black on the lower half. Kind of like the paint on this Chevy
Personally I would rather have the '52, but I have never been a fan of passenger cars pretending to be pickup trucks. Having said that, I kinda agree with the above post - the Buick will never be worth what the El Camino would be if it were well-restored.
For a long time people wanted that "Lead Sled" look and the 50-52 Mercury's were the hot ticket. As the years have gone by and the prices for those have gone up people started looking at other early 50's cars. To me they usually look shorter and fatter, and that's not a bad thing! I love the pics of the cars you posted and you already have some good ideas of what you want to do to the 52. Done deal!! Besides, the Elco is a chebbie and for me and most of the people on this board there is no comparison. And really...when does residual value play in to something you play with? Get that Buick home! Philip T. P/S I used to have a 53 Buick Special with a straight 8, three on the tree. It was a boat! Had those knee-action shocks and man, that thing floated...
As cool as I think the Buick is, I'd keep the El Camino, too. Looks and sounds like you're going to have about the same amount of money into either with the people you've got to help you. The Buick will be cool, but a '59 El Camino is an icon. You can always find another 50s Buick that needs work for under 5k, how often to you come across a '59 El Camino for that much?
You can ask 100 people about which is the better car and you'll get 100 different reasons to go with one or the other.The bottom line is do what ever makes you happy. With either car, you'll probably have more money invested than they are worth. This is a hobby. We do it because we enjoy working on our cars. Most people won't ever get their money back out of their car. Let your heirs worry about it.
The EL Camino will always be a more desirable car to collectors. It will also always be an easier sell regardless of the condition. If you do the Buick, it will be a very limited audiance and made even more so as you personalize it with your touch as someone else may not have the same taste. Even in stock form, a 51/52 Special isn't a high demand vehicle, at least it's a 2 door hardtop though. I would verify it is a 52 and not a 51.
Here is another thought, more people would walk around and look at the El Camino at a show as it sits than would look at the Buick if it were sitting beside it done
Go with what you like. Sheet of paper, line straight down the middle, Elco on one side, Buick on the other. Reasons why for either on their perspective sides. That may help.
You're going to get an exact 50-50 split on this one, the best advice would be to say "go with your heart". Deep inside you already know the answer; and you're not going to get confirmation here. Think long and hard, lay out some spreadsheets and costs, -and don't forget sentimentality and emotion. Sometimes what's "right" isn't about money and economics, it's about what makes you feel good. Go with your heart.
