A certain Auction Site question

[Scott Johnson]

Is it okay to ask opinions about something on a certain auction site in the forums? Not asking for a answer just about some ideas and opinions about a price of something. Wanted to ask before doing so. Thanks

[Jason Edge]

Scott, Not a problem. Maybe we can collectively help you evaluate the auction so feel free to post.

[Scott Johnson]

Thanks Jason.

What I had been watching for is '63 front bumper ends. A pair on there now for pretty much 1400.00. I'm taken it they are rechromed since it doesn't say in script. That's 700 each. Saw on another sellers store cite on there selling 1 '64 end for 400.00. Is the supply and demand for the '63 ends worse then '64 ends? 

My ends are rusted through. Has anyone here sent in a pair that's been rusted through to have fixed and rechromed or got a price of doing them. Are the prices comparable to just buying them already done or quite a bit lower? I've read on a few chrome company's sites how they go about fixing rot and prefer if not demand they be the ones fixing the rust since they say there is a preferred way of welding them up. I can understand the reason, just making my head spin on prices.

Thanks for any responses, Scott 

[Tony and Ginny 429]

Average price i have seen are in the $400-500 range each for the buckets
Not sure about the demand for the two different years
The older chrome work is superior to the chrome they do today due to EPA regulations
You could always offer $ 800-1000
He can only say no

[Anders]

Hi Scott

Some people try to win the lottery when posting stuff on auction sites. Make a decent offer, maybe in line with what you have to pay for re-chrome. You could also call some junkyards and check if they have and to what price. If you are really lucky the one closest to you home as a good pair for 200USD each... (But that would be like winning the lottery for you...)

Cheers

Anders

[Anders]

I searched a bit on google for sites in Sweden, but it does look like we mostly have re-chrome. Then I searched on English google and found one called Dessert Valley Auto Parts http://www.dvap.com/, they showed a lot of 1963 Cadillacs in various degree of scraping. Call them and see what they got. Only costs you a phone call...

[Jason Edge]

I just had a pair of rear bumper end bars rechomed at Tri City in Tennessee and they were $285 each. Of course I gave them very nice cores. I would expect the price to have solid front lower ends rechromed to be similar ....in the $250 to $350 each price range. Finding the solid lower end cores is usually the problem.  When I have them I usually sell them for $150 to $250.  

If these are new chrome or NOS originals, the price is not too far off the mark.  If you say $250 for a good solid dent free core, and $300 to rechrome, that is $550 per side invested so far. Factor in shipping and taxes and you might say $600 per side as a minimum.  Factor in many that many do gouge and charge exorbitant prices, then $1400 for a pair is again not that far off the mark.

With all of that said and not seeing these lower ends, IF these are just simply good used originals, with some typical decal in side the bucket cavity, typical minor scrapes on the bottom, and are good driver quality lower ends OR good rechrome candidates, then $1400 or $700 per lower end for solid good used ends is too much.  That's my take on it, anyway.

[Scott Johnson]

Thanks everyone for the opinions. Totally get what you all are saying. The ones up for auction now look awesome in pics and I'm pretty sure they been rechromed. We don't have any decent chrome shops around this area anymore so just to get a quote on the buckets on car will cost me shipping both ways. Well I'll have to figure it out. Probably just have ones on car redone and at that time I'll get the center section done also. Thanks again and hopefully some more will post quotes they got. 

[Tony and Ginny 429]

I think ---you can exchange the complete lower section of the front bumper with either the 63 or 64 Cadillacs complete lower front section

Someone on here had the other year lower front bumper on there car and was confused as to what they were looking at so they were asking about what they had
This could be an option but would not for everyone
I only mention that as you may be planing on redoing the complete lower front bumper with the buckets
The two lower front bumpers do have a different look to them but will bolt up ( some different indentations )

Jason or Russ can you please confirm my thoughts that this change is possible if it would be an option for some individuals
My first choice would always be to go with the correct year parts as it would effect the cars value i would think

Enjoy

[Jason Edge]

Lower 3 sections can be swapped out as an assembly  from 63 to 64 or vice versa as Tony indicated. I've found the demand for both 63 & 64 front lower ends about the same ---> HIGH! and the supply of both 63 and 64 front lower ends about the same ---> LOW!