Advise Wanted- Brand New Rookie

Welcome to the ACD Club!

Bruce, will your wife be attending the Reunion?

If so, please have her join us for the 8th Annual Ladies of ACD National Luncheon & Tea.
There will be a charter bus for the ladies to travel to Kendalville after the Tea.
I happen to know the co-chairs and can get a ticket for her! <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

Tell your wife she may not know anyone but she'll have a new group of friends at the end of the Reunion.
Early in our membership, Joan Huffman &amp; Karen Parker introduced us to our friends in the ACD Club.

Hope she attends the Reunion.

Send a Private Message for ticket.

If you can only come one morning and want to see as many cars as possible and also want to go to the museum, I would suggest you come on Saturday morning. Go directly to Eckhart Park. The cars are all there Saturday morning for judging. Judging begins around 9AM, and the parade begins around 1PM. You should have plenty of time to walk around the park and see the cars in the morning. The cars that are in the park are only available to see during Auburn weekend, and you can get up close to them and talk to many of their owners. There really isn't a better time to see the cars.
Thursday many of the cars are not yet there, everything is just starting to kick off.

You could then go to the museum. The museum is great to see as well. You can spend as much or as little time in the museum as you want.

Thursday many of the cars are not yet there, everything is just starting to kick off.

Friday this year, is the Duesenberg Race, that will be in Kendalville. It is a once in a lifetime event, and should have around 40 Duesenbergs. There will be a parade of Duesenbergs leaving from Auburn, you will need to look at the schedule to know exactly when (I think it's around noon). and many of the club members will be attending there as well. If what you want to see Duesenbergs, this would be the time to see them.

From what you said you are looking for, I think that Saturday would be the best opportunity to see the most cars. It is also the best time to meet the most people.

Hi,

The parade starts at 1:00, so seeing all the cars in the park has to be done by then. You'll have all morning for that.

I doubt that you can do that AND the Museum in one morning though.

--Tom

Bruce,

I sort of had the go ahead on an Auburn from Jane. I was looking at drivers mostly, some twenty footers, 30 footers and a couple you almost had to sneak up on. In my case, the pretty car in very good condition was a lot easier sale than the other ones would have been.

You already have club member under your handle, Bill will get back to you soon enough, I'm sure

Say hello @ Auburn, the car and I are at ninth &amp; main every night.

Thanks Joan. You guys are all very welcoming and helpful. That's good advice about including my wife. It's the same deal for me when I'm around people I don't know.

I need to figure out what day to go to Auburn. That Saturday night we're going to the Indycar race in Sparta, KY, so if I go to Auburn, I would have to leave the park by 1 or 2PM. Does that leave me time to go to the museum too? I'll probably bring my 82 year old dad. He wants to see all the cars. He was a kid when the company was in its final years.

Friday Aug 3 may work out better for me. Will many members be there on Friday to meet?

By the way, where's Bill? I've sent 2-3 emails to him and haven't heard back. Last night I registered online for club membership with my Visa card, but I can't access the newsletters yet.

Thanks,
Bruce Wolfe

Thanks Joan. You guys are all very welcoming and helpful. That's good advice about including my wife. It's the same deal for me when I'm around people I don't know.

I need to figure out what day to go to Auburn. That Saturday night we're going to the Indycar race in Sparta, KY, so if I go to Auburn, I would have to leave the park by 1 or 2PM. Does that leave me time to go to the museum too? I'll probably bring my 82 year old dad. He wants to see all the cars. He was a kid when the company was in its final years.

Friday Aug 3 may work out better for me. Will many members be there on Friday to meet?

By the way, where's Bill? I've sent 2-3 emails to him and haven't heard back. Last night I registered online for club membership with my Visa card, but I can't access the newsletters yet.

Thanks,
Bruce Wolfe

To really get to know the club members I suggest that you attend some local regional meets. They are posted in the newsletter and are also posted on this website. You do not need to have an ACD car to go to the regional meets or go on their tours. Most people join the club for their interest in the cars, but stay in the club because of the people. The best way to assure your wife likes your hobby is to get her involved. TI can't think of anything worse then being dragged to an event that you have no interest in and where you don't know anyone.
I would be happy to introduce you and your wife to some people if you look me up at Auburn. I can probably give you some tips on identifing the different model cars as well.
We will arrive Thursday from the Hoosier tour. We will be driving a '35 Black Auburn Speedster "Boston Blackie". Friday I will be doing the Ladies Tea in the afternoon but should be around the club swapmeet in back of the museum in the morning. Saturday, I will be in the park. If you want to give me a time, I'll meet you somewhere.

Mike Dube wrote: Bruce,

Come to Auburn; meet a lot of good folks & see a lot of great cars from all eras. You'll be able to ask a lot of questions & have a lot of fun too.

X2. You'll see most available models there and can really get a sense of what was made. I highly recommend going to the park Saturday AM for breakfast. All the parade cars will be parked there and you can chat with owners about their experiences with various cars. It is really an invaluable opportunity and I probably look forward to that 4 hours more than anything else during the weekend.

My wife loves her reality TV also so I bang around on my old Jeep in the garage. Like you I haven't bought an ACD car yet due to lack of finances to do so. I have been tempted by some cheap basket case Cord 810/812 cars but it is true that it's always better to get the best example you can afford of the car you really want. If it's your 2nd or 3rd choice and a big project you'll probably find it sitting there after a few years and you're not motivated to work on it. Just my experience.....

Welcome to the Club! Oh ya - get a nametag for Auburn so we'll know who you are.

Justin

Bruce,

Come to Auburn; meet a lot of good folks &amp; see a lot of great cars from all eras. You'll be able to ask a lot of questions &amp; have a lot of fun too.

Hi,

Don't overlook the 810 and 812 Cord Westchester sedans. They were born to cruise the highway--and to turn heads!

--Tom

Thanks Chris &amp; Philipp.

Favorite models? Well since I'm not rich enough to buy a Duesenberg, I would say Auburns in the 1928-32 maybe '33 era. First I must say I don't know the model designations very well. I just know what I'd prefer when I go to the ACD Museum again. I like the Phaeton Convertibles and the Boattail Speedsters are growing on me. But I also like the sedans. All I can say is the Auburns were beautiful cars.

Bruce, I believe in the model you're looking at that yes, the roof was wood-framed covered in fabric.

Bruce, i would not recommend paints as violet and pink unless documented as original and very inconspicously( just nuonces appart ), in case you don't expect money out when you want to sell, paint it apple candy red and silky matt black if you like. Actually 1930 sort of metal flake paint was original with some makes, just be sure what you aiming at and what kind of restoration you want and can really do ( according your skills ).

Roof sections where often only woodframes covered with cloth or leather stuffed with horsehair to make the body lighter, Wheyman from great britain, has patented the woodframed, leather or fabric covered bodys that where isolated with rubber from the chassis. this technic was adopted by most manufactoror arround 1926.

About your wife : you soon will discover that soon after you disappeared in the garage to start you project, she'll ask you to do this and that - her tv show is not half as interesting as before.

So what is your favorit Model ?

I appreciate all the advice. I think I'll pass on the car I found and wait until I've investigated further so I can get a model that I want.

Once I do buy a car and start the restoration, my wife will be happy that I'm not in the house "bugging" her- whatever that means. She likes to watch her reality and home improvement shows without me interrupting her.

A couple of questions:
1) The car I found on the internet appears to have an open section in the roof. I can't be sure because there's no top view photo. All I could see were some shadows from a rear view that looked like the top was open. Did the sedans have a wooden roof covered with fabric?

2) Phillip- you said don't get flashy with the paint. I assume you mean candy-apple red or something like that. I like a lot of the two-tone paint jobs that I've seen in the ACD Museum. Those are authentic paints aren't they? When I finally do this (in my dreams), I want to restore an original car as authentic as possible.

I agree to Mike, usually once you have bought a project car that seemed rare, better and cheaper cars of the same model, will show up for sale,
and you would wish to have waited for a little longer ....
Better you wait until you find the model you really want ( drive a good sample to know what it's like ) and buy at least a complete project car where the hard bits are all made along with the large investments, then finish the car by doing the wiring, trim and paint correctly to personalize your car.
Don't use to flashy materials or paint if you want a good returne once you want to sell. ( seriously )

Last but not least only show up in front of your wife with nice flowers, when your project is in your garage, fully payed. She'll realize very fast that she will not see you for the next 3 years and she will notice at what time you came to bed by smelling odor of old car, grease and solvents.

Once a month you should give her a good massage, and NEVER NEVER talk about any frustration on you car project, she will use any opportunity to discourage you. Don't expect any understanding from her, she knows its a illness ! once the car is finished she'll tell you that nobody can top this result, not even you, just to prevent you from an other relapse.

I know it !!! At my very young age of 39 i had 9 relapses and now working on a basket case of Cord 812 with lots of missing parts i realize
that it comes only worse..... <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

Hi Bruce,

Glad you joined us and here's hoping you make it to Auburn. I agree with Joan, a basket case as far gone as you described and especially a 6 cylinder sedan, is probably not economically feasible for most of us. That price sounds a bit steep for that condition too. I was a member of the club for 11 years before I found the 'right car'. No need to be in a hurry, you'll find the right combination one of these days.

Thank you both. I just joined the club. I'll try to make it up to Auburn in a few weeks for the reunion.

Hi,
I have to tell you that Chris is right. Join the club, Come to Auburn, and research and buy the very best, most together car you can find....It's way cheaper in the long run. A basket case, generally is missing highly sought after expensive parts. While your vision is a finished car worth $$$$. A pile of parts usually stays a pile of parts. Life usually gets in the way. It is much better to purchase something that needs a "little" work than to purchase something that is a true basket case. Good Luck!

Hi, Bruce, and welcome. You'll want first to join the Club, if you aren't already a member; you can find a membership application on this site's homepage. You also may want to attend the Club's Reunion September 2-5 in Auburn. There's always a few early Auburns there and plenty of knowledgable folks; you'll meet many more through the club. We're a great organization with lots of helpful people.

I can't offer any restoration advice, except to buy a restored car if at all possible, so you can enjoy it immediately! You're more likely to come out with your head above water, too.

I'm in my early 50's, in automotive electronics sales, but I studied mechanical engineering. I'm very mechanically inclined and into woodworking in a big way.

I've coveted Auburns, Cords &amp; Duesenbergs for many years. I've been to the ACD Musuem 2-3 times and I just love those beautiful cars. I MUST have one!

Unfortunately, I can't afford (or rather can't justify to my wife) buying a restored car based on the prices I have seen out there. So I think the only way I'll ever own one of these cars is to buy a "basket case" (nice way of saying pile of junk) and restore it over a few years.

I found a 1929 Auburn 680 Sedan "barn find" online. I thought about not mentioning the model, so no one would buy it before I have a chance, but you guys would know it's out there already. It will need a complete restoration. The body has significant rust, but it all seems to be there. The 4 doors are off the vehicle but all intact. The wood looks like a disaster, but I build furniture, so I'd love the challenge of making a new wood frame, floor-boards, etc. The sheet metal and painting is another story- I'll need professional help on that. I've rebuilt 4 engines in my life, so I'm ok there.

The dealer wants $8900. I'm sure that's somewhat negotiable. I have no idea what to offer. Can any of you help give me an idea? And when it's fully restored- and I mean fully, because I don't do anything halfway- what will it be worth? I can't find any other 1929 Auburn 680 Sedans online, so it seems to me the rarity would mean something. (It's not really the model I wanted, but I'll be happy once it's restored.)