Hello. I need some advice on what my '53 Surburban (base model) wagon is worth. The other evening someone knocked on my door and asked me if I wanted to sell my wagon, Since I'm not getting any younger or richer I'm actually considering letting her go. I would like to get an idea of how much the old girl is actually worth. Brief history of the car: Purchased in fair condition in 1976. Body a little rough and needed u-joints. Replaced the u-joints and got a tune up right away. Car had a rebuilt motor with about 30,000 miles when I bought it. Completed all the bodywork, and did a complete acrylic lacquer paint job circa 1982. Also had the front and rear bumpers, hood ornaments, turnsignal bezels and horn ring rechromed. Complete new interior installed about 1984. Re-did the entire brake system including new emergency brake lining and master cylinder. replaced all four shocks, 4 tires, and rear trans seal about 3 years ago. Had front bumper and guards replated again. Installed Langdon headers and complete new exhaust. New outside mirrors installed left and right. To the best of my knowledge this has always been a California car. I have always kept it in a garage or carport since 1982. Current condition: Paintwise it's a "10 footer". Paint chipping and lacquer checking in some areas. Lots of chips touched up. Rear bumper and guards have some minor blistering and light surface rust. Some rust starting to appear at the bottoms of the doors. There are a few rust spots in the front floorpan but could be repaired with patch panels, complete floorpan replacement would not be required. The old cardboard heater duct has decomposed and I rigged it with duct tape. I also had to bypass the heater because the grommet to the heater control unit on the firewall started leaking into the passenger compartment. All the original old cloth covered wiring is deteriorating. I was having a great time driving her until one night last summer I went to use the turnsignals and they didn't work, the ammeter went crazy, and I noticed some smoke coming from the back of the hood. I pulled over, opened the hood and saw the flasher unit smoking. So currently rear brake lamps and turnsignals aren't working. I have checked/repaired all the accessable wiring to the rear lamps . Suspect a short somewhere in the pillar or behind the headliner. Tailamps, headlamps and parklamps are working fine. This is the only reason I am considering letting her go. Just don't have enough money or time to deal with it anymore. So I'm hoping to get some input on the value from fellow members here. Photos can be viewed in my "IndividualMembers" album over at the p-15-d24 forums. http://p15-d24.com/g...56-53-suburban/ Thanks.
I'm looking at the Old Cars Price Guide, and it doesn't show a "Suburban" as a separate model under 1953 Plymouth. I'm not familiar with Plymouth model names from that era. Is this the name for a '53 Plymouth Cambridge or Cranbrook station wagon? Station wagons are shown as body styles available under both of those nameplates. For a '53 Plymouth Cranbrook 2-door station wagon in #3 condition ("car show" but not showroom), the value given is $7,200. For a '53 Plymouth Cambridge 2-door station wagon in #3 condition, the value is $7,600.
It looks good enough to take it to an auction and start the bid somewhere between 10 and 15 grand. Objects always look better in person and when someone wants that pretty car, he'll likely get carried away
