1956 Johnson FD-10 15HP all Original

[JamieJean]

Hello,
We have inherited a 1956 Johnson FD-10, 15HP outboard. It does not appear that it has EVER been used. Whatever small scuffs it may have on the outside are most likely from being moved around in the garage but really the paint is in ridiculously great condition. My husband opened up the motor compartment the other day and he said that it looked like it was just picked up from the store brand new. It is truly doubtful that this Johnson has ever been out.

I've looked high and low online to try to figure out what the value of this might be but I can't find anything that compares. Everything that I find are re-built, heavily used, not original, etc. etc. And of course, mostly I'm just finding parts. Can anyone give me an idea as to what I am dealing with? We hadn't really looked at this outboard since we got it about a month ago but this weekend a friend of ours Dave (big boater) was over and he saw it and about died. My husband said he could have it but Dave refused to take it and said that we needed to understand what we had before thinking that we would give it to ANYONE. He said that it could be worth a couple grand.

Where can I go for a true appraisal? I appreciate any feedback.
Thanks,
Jamie

 

[OldJohnson6hp]

Re: 1956 Johnson FD-10 15HP all Original

Maybe bring 500 bucks around here..

Use it..I have one and it sees weekly use. Great Motor.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1956 Johnson FD-10 15HP all Original

I doubt it could bring more than $1000, let alone "a couple grand". Nice motors, and they look great and run well, but the number of people with pockets that deep for a 50+ year old motor that likely doesn't presently run are few and far between. And yes, even though it is "like new" it probably won't run without some significant tune-up. If all original, the coils will be cracked, the condensers are probably shorted, the waterpump impeller is dry-rotted, the hoses are deteriorated, and carburetor gaskets will dissolve the first time ethanol "enhanced" gas hits them. Do you have the gas tank for it? If not, that significantly diminishes the value, too.

The bottom line is that setting a value is quite difficult because it is a buyer's market right now. It's really only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. A well used, but known running example of that model would bring anywhere from $200-$400 in these parts, depending on cosmetics. Yours, with proper tune-up stuff done and including the tank might bring a bit more because the cosmetics would be top of the scale, but not enough to pad the retirement account significantly... I have one in my own collection and I agree with Old Johnson's recommendation to get it tuned up and run it!

 

[MushCreek]

Re: 1956 Johnson FD-10 15HP all Original

If it was actually NEVER run, and you could prove it, it would be worth a lot more, but then you could never run it for fear of reducing the value. It's gonna take about $200 in parts to make it usable. Here in FL, a really nice original would be worth at least $500; maybe twice that- after it was put in running order. There is no money in antique outboards except for a very few exceptions.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1956 Johnson FD-10 15HP all Original

If your friend really likes it, give it to him. It's a super nice and super neat motor, but just not worth more than 5 or 600 as stated, and you'd likely have to wait a while to get that. I doubt you'd get more than $1000 even if it were new in the box with tank. For some reason, folks just don't want to pay for an older motor, even though a motor like yours will be easier/cheaper to maintain and far easier/cheaper to repair, and last just as long as a new one. Some folks refer to those motors as "antiquated pieces of junk", but the truth is, the 50's OMC motors were really good motors. They sold lots of 'em, though. Maybe that's why they're so cheap to buy used. I wish you would post a pic of your motor!
BTW, I'd love to have it, too. It was a one year only motor!
JBJ