I almost bought a 55 98 conv last year but couldn't seal the deal. Anyway, I have found a 55 Super 88 conv. that is in decent #3 condition. Paint is avg. but usable as is, engine looks good and just needs carb rebuild, undercarriage is dirty with surface rust but no rust through anywhere, interior and dash are in good conditionas well as top and top hardware. I can buy it for $25K and I think this is a pretty good deal but wanted to get others opinion first. Where is the VIN located? Inside of driver's side door?

 

Yes, and theres a tag under the hood

 

Where under the hood? Is it on the passenger side upper flat side of firewall? THe one that will say body by fisher?

 

Yes, That's where it should be, I don't have much for the break down on the numbers, but others might chime in.. We love pics here...All the best in your quest.

 

hope this works, the interior is nice but vinly not leather. Does that hurt the value?

 

According to Hagerty, a #4 = $26,500, while a #3 = $41,500.

http://www.hagerty.com/valuationtools/HVT/VehicleSearch/Report?vc=231049

 

It would be good to see another 55 convertible back on the road. The vin is on the drivers side b pillar with the body and style plate is the plate located under the hood on the front of the cowl next to the left hood hinge and this plate will tell you some of what came on your car from the factory as in year and model # trim # and paint number. Standard interior was leather but most anything could be special ordered and often was in this era. As far as hurting the value I think not much.

What are your plans should you buy this car, show car or drive as is. That will determine a lot on how much you will have to do to it and how much you can expect to lay out in cash after you purchase it. It sounds like you have looked in to this year model before so you probably know how hard it is to find one in the first place, there are probably no more than a couple hundred examples left in the world so the seller is kinda in the driver seat sorta speak but 25 grand is a little more than I would spend for a car that in a few years and some miles later will need a complete re store But if you want this model that's probably what you will have to spend....Just my thoughts...Your millage may differ.....Lost in the fifties ...Tedd

 

The VIN is:

558M40357

 

That would be a Lansing Michigan car. The rest of the info would be on the body and style plate....Tedd

 

What about the vinyl interior? Should it have been leather?

 

here is the info on the body tag:

STYLE No. 55 3667DTX
Body No. L 3370
Trim 32
Paint S-32-60
Top ACC

 

Sorry I am not near my motor manual which would have your info on the body style plate and as mentioned before. I don't feel the vinyl would change the price much at all, As for the stated price above I haven't seen 55 convertibles going for that much even in top show condition, I think those prices were pre recession but even Nada has those prices listed also. I hope I am wrong on this. Here is the Nada pricing http://www.nadaguides.com/Classic-Ca...ertible/Values ....Tedd

 

where can I look up the body tag inof to decode it?

 

Here it is...3667DTX =super 88 convertible

L = Lansing built car

3370 = Fisher body #

Trim color 32 =Grove Green

Paint = 32/60 =Grove Green/Polar white

And for some reason I can't find the top color in my book but I believe ACC is Black, someone may correct me if I'm wrong on this.

Most of this is found in the 55 Olds shop manual....Tedd

 

Thank you Ted, I can buy it for $25K but now you got me thinking it's too much but the guides are way higher than that. Decisions, Decisisons!!

 

From what I can see, I would be all over that car for $25,000.

 

Guides are just that. Who knows how reliable they really are? I know that they tell me my cars are worth far more than I could ever really expect to get for them in a private sale.

 

I tried to get the seller to go lower than $25K but he's not budging. Decisions, decisions!

 

I don't blame him. I think $25,000 is a bargain. I know I would not take anywhere close to that for my 54 and I am willing to bet that Tedd would be way north of that if he even considered selling his 55.

 

Ya, way north but I'm sure if I got another for free I would be in it $30,000 before it was like what I wanted..It takes a huge amount of dough to put one together like it was new. Most everything will have to be redone just because it is over 50 years old and probably wore considerably and won't take the stress of everyday driving and thats what we buy these things for anyway...Tedd

 

You want it, the price is not at all out of line so go for it! One simply does not see a lot of 55's of any kind, let alone rag tops, on the road today. Get it and enjoy it!

 

x2