[fyrffytr1]

I have always wanted a 50ish Pontiac 2 dr fastback and today I looked at one. But, the owner wants to make a package deal for 3 Pontiacs he has.Along with the 50 fastback there is a 50 4 dr sedan and a 52 4 dr sedan parts car. All three have the straight 8 motors and the two sedans are automatics while the fastback is a 3 speed on the column. The fastback needs front floor pans and the spare tire area in the trunk. Other than that the car is pretty solid with just a little surface rust. The 50 sedan has a lot of extras on it including a sun visor,dual outside rear view mirrors, fender skirts and front and rear bumper guards that extend up about a foot. According to the owner all three motors did run when he got the cars. He has had the 4 dr sedan for many years and last drove it in 1994. The fastback has a 91 tag on it.
The 52 would just be a parts car but it could be saved with a good amount of work. I know the 4 drs aren't really worth that much but I can get all three cars for about $3,000.
What are your thoughts? Here are some pictures,.

[fyrffytr1]

More pictures

[fyrffytr1]

This is it.

[Ben M.]

Those are seriously cool, I was looking at a '55 and a '54 the other day. But you're in for some major work though and I doubt you'd be driving them any time soon. If you've got the place to store them and the desire to make it happen, I can't see you going wrong. I still want a 50's Pontiac myself!

[fyrffytr1]

My plan would be to use what I need from the sedans for the fast back. Then I would probably part them out but, I may keep the 50 sedan too. I think some clear coat on the surface rust and a mechanical rebuild on the fastback along with some bucket seats and a little "rat rodding" would do the trick.

[400 4spd.]

The fast back is cool. For several years there was one on jack stands not far from me. It sat in front of someone's garage and I would occasionally take a ride down that road just to see if it was still there.
It's gone now and I hope someone was able to use it.

[pknopp]

The visor, skirts and what have you could bring $500 plus.....but then you would want to put those on the driver.

Does he have titles? If so and you have room you could probably make back a decent portion of the money by parting the two out.

You mention in the other thread about converting the 5X5 to 5X4.75. Any particular reason why?

[marxjunk]

dont make the mistake thinking youre going to make money parting them out..no ones buying...theres no after market support for them because they are unique on suspension..frames etc...

Ive had several and they where all loosers as far as parts.If you do one, do it because you love them..then, if you make a little it wont sting as hard...probably the one thing i see that would sell is a visor...they all have skirts on fast backs etc...lots of stuff is unique and year specific, and pontiac only...its that straigh8 that makes it all special.....i think 4 door and fast back skirts are diff...i cant remember right now..or maybe some work and some dont

If i where to buy another..it would be nearly done and dirt cheap or i would walk away...i wish i would have researched before i bought one thats for sure...

3 grand sounds good..but its too high for whats there...of course he wont split them up...he will never sell the 4drs and be stuck with them...because they survived well theres a lot of them out there

theres nothing to convert the suspension to...unless you put a crossmember in like mustangII...but 57-8 pontiac, you can butcher the spindles in buy an adapter to do something there...but have you ever tried to get 57 pontiac suspension stuff?? its unique too.. lol real bast@rd stuff


chevy and olds lots of support...buick and pontiac???nearly nothing as far as suspension...brakes etc

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by pknopp

The visor, skirts and what have you could bring $500 plus.....but then you would want to put those on the driver.

Does he have titles? If so and you have room you could probably make back a decent portion of the money by parting the two out.

You mention in the other thread about converting the 5X5 to 5X4.75. Any particular reason why?

No real reason. I just thought there would be more wheel choices but, after doing some looking on the net I see that is not really the case.

[b-man]

If you really want a '50 fastback save some money and buy a nice one.

The one pictured is a money pit that will take years to get finished. Chroming and pot metal repair is a killer expense.

As already mentioned pretty much zero aftermarket support, completely different than what's available for your highly popular GTO.

If you're really into long-term projects then go for it, but quite often the initial interest and enthusiasm is lost long before they're finished.

I love old cars and like the idea of saving them, but buying a decent one you can enjoy after minimal work is quite satisfying too. Life is short, spend it enjoying something that's been preserved better than that one.

[Old Blue 66]

Originally Posted by b-man

If you really want a '50 fastback save some money and buy a nice one.

The one pictured is a money pit that will take years to get finished. Chroming and pot metal repair is a killer expense.

As already mentioned pretty much zero aftermarket support, completely different than what's available for your highly popular GTO.

If you're really into long-term projects then go for it, but quite often the initial interest and enthusiasm is lost long before they're finished.

I love old cars and like the idea of saving them, but buying a decent one you can enjoy after minimal work is quite satisfying too. Life is short, spend it enjoying something that's been preserved better than that one.

Bart nails it here. I love the fastback. It's the definition of cool in that era. But I think it's way to much work to get it on th read. Find one that's already road worthy.

[Alvin]

Local family in my neighborhood bring many body shop cars home...including a Chebby fastback of the same vintage. Initial excitement to see them. But then the practicality of "what can be done with it?" question always comes to mind w those (3) vintage cars you've mentioned. The fastback would be cool if you drop the body onto a different chassis and suspension - just add tons of $$$ as mentioned previously.

Often see these cars converted to Low-Riders w hydraulic suspensions, zenith wire wheels w narrow bias-ply tires, etc...

[RocktimusPryme]

I really like those cars. Though I prefer 47-48. Bigger Grill. Have looked for one off and on. Honestly from what Ive seen thats not a bad deal even for a rough shape 50 fastback.

[fyrffytr1]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Local family in my neighborhood bring many body shop cars home...including a Chebby fastback of the same vintage. Initial excitement to see them. But then the practicality of "what can be done with it?" question always comes to mind w those (3) vintage cars you've mentioned. The fastback would be cool if you drop the body onto a different chassis and suspension - just add tons of $$$ as mentioned previously.

Often see these cars converted to Low-Riders w hydraulic suspensions, zenith wire wheels w narrow bias-ply tires, etc...

I have considered this option. I wonder what it would take to do the swap with an 04-06 GTO? I have seen them on S-10 frames as well.
If I do get it I would go the cheap route at first and just get it running and stopping. No body work is really needed as the only rust in it is the front floor pans right at the point where they make the upward bend to the firewall and the spare tire well in the trunk.
I wouldn't even paint the car, just spray some clear coat over the bare spots and let it ride.
The chrome can wait as well. The trim is all stainless so it could be buffed out and the hood trim on the 52 is stainless too so it would replace the pot metal on the 50.
I guess I miss the challenge of bringing a car back and am just looking for something to fill my spare time now that my GTO is 99.9% complete.
There is one other car that has sparked my interest but I don't know if it can be bought. My neighbor has a 69 Corvette that belonged to his father and it has been sitting under a tarp for two or three years now.
The problem is, one day my neighbor will speak to me and the next day he doesn't even acknowledge me! So, I hope to catch him on a good day and see what he has planned for it.

[Alvin]

Cool no matter what you decide IMO

[Simple Man]

Definitely a project!

[fyrffytr1]

It took me over 6 years to do my GTO. I need to learn how to weld anyway and this would be a good one to learn on. And, I have several old license plates to use for floor pans. If I can't learn to weld I already know how to use a screw gun and sheet metal screws!{D

[Simple Man]

A friend just restored a 50 Olds 88 4 door for a guy. It was his grampa's and wanted it done right. They did a beautiful job on it.
Now the guy has about $60,000.00 in a restored Olds, that might bring $9-10,000.00 on a good day.

[marxjunk]

those cars are a labor of love...not money makers....id kill to get my grandpas last car..a 67 dart post car..

[fyrffytr1]

"those cars are a labor of love." That is why I am even thinking about this project. I was born in 1950 and have vague memories of riding in one when I was around 10 years old. I have always liked this body style. The 4 drs would be parted out and I would keep a frame (if it is the same as the 2 dr) to modify for a modern suspension and drive train sometime down the road.
are the hood ornaments with the lighted Indian head worth anything?