1956 15hp Oliver

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  • May 30, 2016 at 10:19 pm #4396
    bill-bate
    Participant

      So, I have my fair share of OMCs, Mercs, Scotts, and Chryslers. Today I went to look at a 1956 15hp Oliver. Nice clean motor. No corrosion and very few scratches. Looks to have not run in a long time. Has a broken recoil assembly that had been welded but was not functioning. Also the magneto advance is frozen, but the motor turns over by hand. Also it had no tank or fuel connectors. The fuel connector on the motor had been replaced by a short plumbing nipple. I really liked the motor but the owner holds sentimental value to it and is asking way more than I am willing to pay. I believe it was her late husbands motor. So my question is, are these motors as desirable as say a Merc KG7 or do they just not have much of a following. I showed her the motor value as posted in The Old Outboard book and also advised her that those prices are a bit on the low side and I would be willing to pay a bit more. Anyway we didnt agree on a price. But the problem is I really liked the motor ….
      Dam this hobby !!!

      May 30, 2016 at 10:59 pm #37392
      chris-p
      Participant

        Yeah, paid more than I should have on a few occasions to get a motor I wanted. All depends on how much you want it!

        I personally don’t see a ton of Olivers. Not sure if it is as valuable as a KG7, but more rare than a KG7. Take that for what its worth.

        What was she asking?

        May 30, 2016 at 11:18 pm #37395
        bill-bate
        Participant

          Well, initially $500 but after we talked said would go as low as $300. That is still way out of my price range considering it needs work 1st to get it running. The most I ever spent on a motor was $200 and that motor was a 9 on a 10 scale. Of course I am a lil cheap and the last KG7 I purchased cost me about $60.00. Of course I still need to put that one back together along with a Mark 20 I also aquired a few years ago for about the same.

          May 30, 2016 at 11:30 pm #37396
          Steve A W
          Participant

            Do a search of past ebay auctions for Oliver motors.
            The Oliver tractor collectors drive the price up on them.
            Do some research and see what they go for.

            Steve A W

            Member of the MOB chapter.
            I live in Northwest Indiana

            May 30, 2016 at 11:32 pm #37397
            chris-p
            Participant

              Guys in our club are cheap?? Nahhhhhhhh 😉

              Comes down to how bad you want it then I guess. If you feel it is too high and wont be happy with it, wait for the next one. If you are going to kick yourself for the next few years, better buy it and save yourself the bruises.

              Sounds cosmetically poor though, so I agree, 300 too high. Although as stated, the Oliver tractor collectors will grab it if she advertises it.

              Same as the Indian outboards, all the high priced ones go to motorcycle collectors. they aren’t as cheap as outboard collectors!

              May 31, 2016 at 1:37 am #37410
              westwind
              Participant

                Canada Member

                I think of mine as an upgraded Chris Craft Commander, it even has electric start. The parts I needed were available for a reasonable price at the Oliveroutboardfixation website.

                The question I ask myself in these situations – If I don’t buy it and want one later, could I find one as good as this, fairly easily?

                I probably paid more than I should have for the one I got but I’m not disappointed.

                May 31, 2016 at 2:14 am #37414
                bill-bate
                Participant

                  How do the coils hold up in these engines ?
                  I believe they use Bendix $cintillas ?

                  May 31, 2016 at 11:43 am #37440
                  jerry-ahrens
                  Participant

                    US Member

                    If it has the Bendix coils, they will need to be replaced. Chris Craft used these, and I believe Oliver did as well.. The cheapest place I have found them is from Jim Judkins at Tomahawk. Speaking of Tomahawk, Iv’e noticed Oliver motors are ridiculously priced very high there. I think they get sold to the tractor guys with a huge profit margin.

                    May 31, 2016 at 2:53 pm #37448
                    bill-bate
                    Participant

                      So it seems like it is a hard motor to put a price on due to its rarity. I wonder why Peter Hunn has the value listed so low in the Old Outboard Book. Has anyone out there scored good deals on these motors ? I am still thinking about getting this motor but I need to coin up a lil more and she needs to come down just a bit. Any other known mechanical issues with them besides cracked coils ?

                      June 2, 2016 at 10:24 pm #37626
                      bill-bate
                      Participant

                        So, since the owner has priced the motor pretty much out of my reach 😥 , is there anyone else in the NJ PA area that might be interested in it ?

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