Re: Opinions Solicited
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Posted by SEA on July 08, 1998 at 05:47:10:
In Reply to: Opinions Solicited posted by Paul Fox on July 07, 1998 at 11:52:13:
: I'm in the home stretch of rebuilding a 1938 F14. By the time I get done, change from $5000 won't buy me lunch at Mickey-D's...A major wad of that is in the engine, what with machine work, new cylinder head, new manifold, rebuilt mag and rebuilt carb. My question is this...AM I CRAZY? I know I'll never get anything like that back out of it in the form of cash (I suspect I'd do well to sell it for half of that, if it came right down to it). Is this amount of money way out of line for rebuilding a tractor? Notice I didn't say "restoring"...the correct tires, rims, wheels and some real body work would easily add another $2000 to that. I don't regret having done it, I had (am having) a lot of fun, and I expect to enjoy putting around on the old girl for several years, but it surely is a shock to realize how much money I've put into it. I'd be curious to know if anyone else has similar thoughts. Paul, I have had the same experience. I bought a 1952 John Deere G (ser:54797) for $500 from the original owner who said he drove it into the shed when he last parked it 10 years earlier. Well the motor was stuck, the tires were flat and when I pulled the pulley assembly apart it was quite evident that the tractor was pushed into the shed not driven in as I was told. To make a long story short 10 years and $10500 dollars later I have a beautiful looking and running tractor that I pull floats with at the local parades and spend alot of time just keeping it clean. Oh by the way I had this tractor on display last summer with many other beautiful tractors at Grand Detour, Ill when this nice gentleman from Nebraska came up to me and told me what a beautiful tractor I had and that he sure would like to own it. He asked me to put a
price on it and I said that it really wasn't for sale, but if the money was right I guess I might sell it! He came back the next day and said he was ready to make me an offer of $4900 for my tractor. Guess what he still wants it and I still own a $10500 dollar John Deere G and I am not sure that I would sell it if I could get all my money back. The pleasure of just listening to that old tractor look and run like it did when it was brand new cannot be measured in dollars. I am now working on a 1950 Farmall H (ser:FBH 332247 X1) that I purchased last March. SEA
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