Someone, please, rescue this incredible piece of Olds history!
A genuine 53' Fiesta. Extremely rare and collectible. I really hope that it gets restored to the condition it deserves to be in.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1953-Oldsmo...ce08%7Ciid%3A1

 

Figure another $250k to restore it properly. Yes, needs to be saved, but an expensive proposition.

 

Too far gone. It's a parts car, and probably not a very good one at that.

 

A $15,000 parts car, which fits right into one of the ongoing conversations in another thread.

 

You can ask whatever you want, doesn't mean it will sell.

 

I consulted to the owner of another Fiesta, body and running gear in much better shape - but a lot key pieces missing due to a previous owners' dispute with a resto shop. This car would fit the bill for that car perfectly. Hope the right people get together on it. I agree, even if someone fixes this car, it will always be known as a mutt.

EDIT: Having slept on it and after recalling the history of other Fiesta cars I also think it's true, save it no matter what. Took me two years+ to find doors for my 1952 88 CV. Those Fiesta doors might not exist separate from a car. This sale car has many positives apart from overall condition, but carries the gravity of overall scarcity.

 

upon further inspection of the pics, I have to agree and sadly say it IS too far gone to be saved.
The rust damage is too deep for there to be any real chance of a full restoration. =(
Its a real shame someone neglected the car for that long to put it in that condition.
But, on the other end I suppose it just adds more value and rarity to the remaining Fiestas

 

Honestly, the more I look at it the more I can see that the extent of the rust repair would be so unbelievably long that not much would be left of the original car anyways. At that point it would be mostly parts from other cars.
The best bet is use what can be salvaged to restore a Fiesta in much better shape

 

Exactly. When completed, the restored car will be mostly 2020 metal bent into the shape of a 1953 Oldsmobile.

 

A common misconception. Rarity alone does not confer value. Rarity, condition, and desirability must all be high for a car to have value. 1953 Olds Fiestas are valuable because people want them. 1953 Oldsmobile 88 2-door sedans are also rare because not that many were made originally compared to other 1953 Oldsmobile models, but they're not particularly valuable, either, because they're not high on anyone's collectibility list.

 

Definitely true. And that is what I meant, seeing as the 53 Fiesta is highly valuable and sought after, then the less there are available technically the more valuable they are.

And I know personally that the 53 2-door Sedan is quite rare because I have one and have never seen another. Only one 88 Holiday and several 4-doors.
Finding parts is extremely difficult in many ways, and if I had my car fully 100% restored it would never be worth what I had into it. But for me it would be worth it, not to make a profit but to have my dream car fully restored.

 

Such a cool car, it's a shame it's been neglected so long. But as I tell some potential customers, "even if you got it for free, it's too expensive!"

 

Auction ended without a bid.

 

Yeah, not surprised.
15k for something in THAT condition is extremely high.
Even for a legit 53 Fiesta and assuming it still has the VIN and title, the condition it is currently in and the amount it would take to bring it back still does not justify that price.

 

With some reading I find vehicles before the year 2000 in RI do not have titles, in any event seller states no title, bill of sale provided. I don't know what that means for someone in another state trying to title it. I've been in that position, it's no fun.

 

Car is relisted at a lower price. Shame it was let go and neglected all these years.
If money was no object I'd buy it and redo it, Just for the love of the car.

 

I am amazed that car has been sitting since 19792 and still has all four Fiesta wheel covers still on it.

 

Poor girl... These photos actually made me sad. Like watching a once strikingly beautiful woman corrode away from drug abuse.. Hey look, there's Glenn's car in the background!

 

Na it has the original chrome headlight bezels on it Glenn has 55 bezels, oh ya it's the wrong color also, like the color....Tedd

 

Here is what it list as market value of that 98 Fiesta It only goes down to a # 4 car and that car isn't a #4 car but still look at the what it is valued at ....Tedd.... http://www.collectorcarmarket.com/va...sta-value.html

 

Hey Tedd, Heath was talking about my car in the background to the right side of the picture facing the opposite direction. My car actually has 57 Pontiac headlight rims on it. The 55 had really pretty headlight rims on it and was a great improvement over the 54. I always thought the 54 looked bug eyed. I studied headlight rims and found these on ebay. I called the guy and asked him to measure the diameter and they worked. It costs me a bunch to have them chromed. I have on ever had one person at a car show comment on them.
The two Fiestas in the picture were at our NAOC/NTOC Show last year. They are incredible cars. The corral car is from Florida and I believe the owner has had the car since 1956. The other car was purchased by the current owners Dad with a blown engine. I think he told me his dad bought the car in 1968. Of course it has been completely redone since then. It was pretty neat to have two very nice Fiestas at the show. Hey I have the same wheel covers.

 

Oops my blunder,I must have been a tire out night last night.

 

MY GOD ! 2 Fiestas right next to each other!
I would lose my mind if I saw that.

And yes, it is extremely sad that such a car was left to rot for so long and not properly cared for.
But, if nothing else maybe some parts can be used to restore another Fiesta into show quality.
Or, MAAAAYBE someone will take on the enormous task of restoring this one.

But to be honest. I could not see paying more than 4 or 5K on this example,
Even the original Hubcaps alone are probably a good $400 if theyre decent.

 

Some more eye candy...

 

Nice job Heath. Hope you and your family are having a good Labor Day.