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Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:55 am

I am going to go look at a 55 semaphore bug.It has been sitting for a long time by the looks of it.There is no glass,tail lights and rear bumper.It doesnt run and the interior is real raty.It is also primered.He says that he doesnt have a title but he can help get one.So what would be a fare price?The asking price is 2,000.

Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:33 pm

Well it needs work obviously but I think it would be worth 2k if you have the money to put into it...It looks like a L276 color Ultramaroon just like my 55 also with red interior.. wierd combo but cool and different. Let us know if you get it!

Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:35 pm

Yeah I have been checking around and people want good money for semephore square windows so I think its worth about 2k.Is there any one year parts?

Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:44 pm

looks like a great project to me...

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:02 pm

ottvw wrote: Yeah I have been checking around and people want good money for semephore square windows so I think its worth about 2k.Is there any one year parts?
not sure about one year parts but it's an early 55 making all the parts that much more than a later oval.
i think you are in the right ball park for price depending on any rust issues

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:43 pm

So it wont be like finding parts for a 67 then?I have seen diffrent tail lights on 55's egg,heart and snow flakes.Does it depend on if its a euro and build date to determine wich tail lights I should have?

Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:58 pm

Hi,

I don't know what your plans are but the $2000 is just the beginning. Plan on spending a LOT of $$$ to get this car into decent shape. Even doing it all yourself is going to be expensive.
It seems relatively complete, save EVERYTHING you take off until you are finished with it.
I'll guess another 8 to 10 grand if you do all the work yourself. Sub it out and you're up around 20 or so.

Check carefully for hidden rust, floor pans are easy, not so with rocker panels and door bottoms. Look around the torsion bars in the back and the area in front of the firewall. Also look around the windshield and rear window for rust crawling out from the rubber seals.
Whoever has that bug obviously dislikes glass! I wonder why they didn't smash the headlight bulbs out?

dave

dave

Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:15 pm

You are correct on the taillights, depending on if its an Early 55 egg tails later had snowflake...it has the correct ribbed doors Wrong steering wheel correct seat. Glass should not be an issue you can find that in the classifieds.

Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:58 am

my03yellowv wrote: You are correct on the taillights, depending on if its an Early 55 egg tails later had snowflake It has semaphores so it needs eggs.

Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:32 am

Thanks for all the advise.I am going to go look at it today so I will let everyone know if I get it.

Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:40 am

The 55 I'm working on has the same interior with the ultramaroon paint.Mine has the bullets, no semaphores.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:02 pm

I didnt end up getting it.It doesnt have a title and I dont want to deal with the head ache.I will have to keep looking :cry:

Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:45 pm

Good, because that car looks like it has been punched in the nose, hard. Hood fit is WAY off.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 8:17 am

HerrrKafer wrote: my03yellowv wrote: You are correct on the taillights, depending on if its an Early 55 egg tails later had snowflake It has semaphores so it needs eggs.

I don't think that's the case, eggs are a dual filliment set up and US spec only, meaning that since that car has semis it is either a early '55 or a euro '55 in either case it needs hearts.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:46 pm

It has semaphores (early '55) so it needs eggs.

It looks a bit rough in spots, pretty good in others. Not a bad start for 2k. It'll be a lot of labor but that's usually half the fun. :)
>>>Mike

Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:54 pm

vwtony2 wrote: HerrrKafer wrote: my03yellowv wrote: You are correct on the taillights, depending on if its an Early 55 egg tails later had snowflake It has semaphores so it needs eggs.

I don't think that's the case, eggs are a dual filliment set up and US spec only, meaning that since that car has semis it is either a early '55 or a euro '55 in either case it needs hearts.

Incorrect. US-spec early '55 w/ semaphores has eggs. Euro-spec has hearts.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:22 pm

^Correct correction, no US spec 55 ever had hearts. They were discontinued for US in late 54.

For 55s in the US:
Semaphores <=> Eggs
Bullets <=> Snowflakes

Biconditional; either implies the other.

Early/late is okay as a generalization, but not totally accurate in all cases. The bullet-flake package was optional during production of the last month of semaphore cars, so there are certain semaphore cars that are later than certain bullet cars.

vwtony2's post is all correct except for case (1) of the very last statement.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:49 pm

HerrrKafer wrote:
Biconditional

WORD OF THE DAY!
You, sir, get a gold star.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:27 pm

ottvw,

You may want to see if the seller is flexible on price considering he has no title. It's really not too much trouble. You send it up to the State Patrol, they check the numbers, and you wait 3 years. It will likely take you that long to get it restored anyway. :wink:

Early ovals are getting scarce. Much cooler than late ovals IMO.

I would check the front and rear for damage like woody said though.

Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:59 am

Just the seats are worth about half the asking price.