Antique car values are CRASHING, which is how I bought the CHEAPEST 1946 Chrysler Town and Country

I'm one of those old guys who sold all my cars and retired outside the USA. Since retirement not a day passes where I don't think about some of the collector cars I've owned with fond memories. A few I had almost 40 years, they really became part of my life. But now I realize with everything we are only stewards for a short time, everything gets passed on eventually. I'm blessed and grateful to have lived a life around everything automotive. I do hope some of the younger generation can become interested but maybe it's too much work for many.

This video unintentionally demonstrates that long term speculation of 90's cars that are going through the roof now is ultimately a way to lose a lot of money.

Originally, 6-volt systems had thicker (heavier gauge) battery cables, as the 6-volt starter relies more on current (amps) than it does on voltage. Some mechanics don't realize this when they replace the original cables with the more modern parts store (12-volt) thinner gauge cables, resulting in a slow spinning (dragging) starter. I've seen where just replacing the cables to thicker ones made a huge difference in the way it starts. Good luck.

At car shows with my dad and grandpa, we realized most collectors and enthusiasts wanted the car they thought was cool in high school. They either wanted their youth back or what was out of their reach back then. That seems to explain overall trends in collector pricing. Eventually, the market dies off and attention moves to other styles and years of cars.

I had that thought not too long ago, that these early cars are going to be in low demand because they were too old for many of us and our parents to remember, it was my dad's dad who would collect cars like this, and he passed away over 20 years ago.

My grandfather drove a 1951 New Yorker. He bought it new in 51, drove it to California and back and continued daily driving until he passed in 1986. Pepsi Cola Blue, Windsor Highlander package, so a Scotch plaid interior. Fluidmatic drive. Sadly sold after he passed away.

Congratulations on getting this great old car. A few things to watch out for. Resist the temptation to change to 12 volts. Unlike cheaper cars that had vacuum wipers and few electrical accessories, this Chrysler has electric wipers, electric transmission controls, radio, etc that make it a lot harder to change over. If you do make the mistake of trying to do this, save all the old parts to make it easier for the next owner to fix it properly. The brakes were state of the art for the times. Unlike the loose leaf brakes used on cheaper makes, Chrysler brakes are precision and need to be set up by the book meaning the factory repair manual. Once this major adjustment has been done, you only need a minor adjustment from time to time to take up wear. Something to keep in mind if you need to do serious work on the brakes. When set up properly they work very well but you need to profile the brake shoes to the drums and adjust them for full contact. Fluid Drive is not quite a torque converter, they came a little later. But even so you can do all your driving in High range, letting the trans shift up as necessary. You never need Low range unless you are starting off on a steep hill, or driving in deep snow sand or mud or such times as you would drive in low or second with a manual trans. Low range can also be used for descending a steep hill but remember the trans freewheels in 1st and 3d. One more thing, if you get stuck for answers the AACA Forum is always ready to help.

Hoovie, you finally made a great purchase! You also are correct about the falling prices of 40's automobiles. The generation that prized these cars are passing away and few younger collectors have interest in a car they don't understand. We saw the same thing in the late 2000's when cars values of the 1930's were falling off the planet and Duesenberg's became almost affordable. BTW my father use to restore sheet metal on those 1930 collectors' cars in the 60's and 70's but that generation and my father are no longer around. Being almost 70 years old myself few my age appreciate these works of art. I was just kidding about "finally making a great purchase".

Thanks, Tyler, for being an ambassador for these cars. If it wasn't of you, i wouldn't even know this car existed at all. I find it so fascinating how they were building cars back in the day.

I like the way that Tyler has a variety of different cars. Personally, I prefer muscle cars and old cars like this town and country. He seems to have something for almost everyone.

My fathers car is in my garage. Its a 1947 Buick Roadmaster convertable. Very similar to Hoovies woody. It is just as pretty and gets waaayyy more looks than my Italian sports car. If your a car guy doesnt matter how old you are,they are all great.

Hoovie the problem is that when the collector car hobby turned into a big business it priced many enthusiasts completely out of the market. What you are seeing is a correction. The price you paid for that car is the correct price for it. And if you want to restore an old car it should be for love not profit.

Cool episode. When I was a young person mom & dad bought me a 38 Dodge as my first car to work on and learn. I was 10. These big old Chryslers were around, but looking shabby as we were into the 50's. Some of my HS buds had them because they were a $25 running car. Gas was $0.19/gal and if you had an after school job, you could feed them (sort of ...) 🙃Sure hope you and your new partner can make it out to Woodies on the Wharf in Santa Cruz CA with this thing. It'll be a big hit. If it's sorted it might be in the running for a trophy ... Have fun with it and do an episode where you take us along on a Pic-Nic to the country somewhere when the weather improves 😊 OBTW, I love the wheels. They are the thing that brings the whole package together. These cars look a lot less than fine w/o them.

My grandfather owned upper-level Chryslers during this period. The body style and dash really brought back some memories. I'm pleased you are the new owner of this convertible: wooden bodies need climate controlled environments, no salt and not much exposure to water. Try to pay to have one rebuilt!

I think this is an amazingly cool car. Unfortunately, fewer and fewer people have space for collector cars, not to mention money as they are not cheap. The old car hobby used to appeal to technically savvy people who would build them themselves. Sadly, it became a way for wealthy people to trade them like stocks, driving up the prices and driving out many with a love for cars. It's been 10 to 20 years since this was an affordable hobby and many have moved on or aged out of it. Without entry level cars, younger generations never got interested in it and so the hobby is dying.

Hoovie, again you score another very interesting find. When I was 14 (I'm 68) I bought my first car from a neighbor, a '46 Dodge 4 door sedan. This brings back memories as my car also had the fluid drive with the shifter on the tree. It also had the cool dash and all the chrome. It had 6 x 16 white walls on steel wheels with hubcaps. It had suicide doors on the back with a huge trunk and a flathead 6. It was pretty slow and your straight 8 is a much needed upgrade for these heavy cars. I remember the fenders being some pretty thick steel. I paid the princely sum of $35 dollars for the car. I used to sneak it around the neighborhood because I didn't get a drivers license until I turned 16. Again your channel is blowing up because of the coolness factor of this car. I'm glad you scored it. Quite a beautiful car it is and watching you drive it reminded me of the times I used to impress my friends with the fluid drive at a stop sign. This was the only semi-automatic transmission that was ever made and few people have ever driven one. Congrats on the score and keeping your channel interesting.

What a bargain. My grandmother had one back in 1950, bought it from an american officer who imported it into Spain. It was and still is running as a green godess with all its original wood. I wish they never sold it, but went to a really good home.

Tyler Hoover the type of guy to buy a car as the price is plummeting

Same thing is happening with the vintage bicycles market right now. Lots of pre-80s bikes that use to be worth their weight in gold are now crashing. Not only are their fewer people alive who care about old bikes but also lots of old people with huge valuable bike collections are dying, flooding the market when their kids try to sell them all at once. Thing that were a dime a dozen not long ago (early BMX/early MTBs) are skyrocketing in price because the kids who grew up in the 80s and had a crappy huffy but lusted over the GT can afford to pay $4000 for one.

The "younger Hoovie" clip was fantastic. We need more of those, great video as usual.