Fantom Works
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: Fort Wayne IN
If it's the same show I saw, I beleive that the car had some serious rot issues and the frame had to be practically completely rebuilt...
I think he is "upside down" in that car!!!
Supporting Lifetime
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 1,516
From: Syracuse NY
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Not typically a big fan of these types of shows, with all the bearded and tattooed, wife-beater T-shirted "automotive experts" running around yelling "Whooooo!" while they spout off their version of automotive historical knowledge that is almost universally wrong. But in this case, they did tell the customer up front that the type of restoration he was asking for wasn't justifiable on a 1977 Corvette - but the customer had sentimental reasons for going ahead with it anyway. They were at least honest with him, and I have to give them credit for that. Also, some of their craftsmen appear to be VERY talented at what they do.
I don't mean to imply that there's anything inherently wrong with beards, tattoos or sleeveless T-shirts . . . It just seems as if every one of these shows fall into the same mold. The restoration shops I've dealt with over the years had a very different appearance. Guess it depends what you're used to. Just my opinion, of course.
I don't mean to imply that there's anything inherently wrong with beards, tattoos or sleeveless T-shirts . . . It just seems as if every one of these shows fall into the same mold. The restoration shops I've dealt with over the years had a very different appearance. Guess it depends what you're used to. Just my opinion, of course.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 989
Likes: 13
From: Gloucester Point VA
This show is growing on me.
I've watched several episodes of this show and it's starting to grow on me. I like the way Dan is upfront with cost and he's not afraid to tell a customer when he's doing something that is wrong for the car or wasting money. There also isn't all the drama you see on the other shows and so far no "shop idiot".
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 1,975
From: Temple Terrace Florida
Birdcage
I get the fact that the son has lots of great memories in the 77. What I could not get was the shop doing all of the bodywork and painting and then looking at and fixing the frame, rockers and parts of the birdcage. I have done three restorations and that is where I start. Two minutes on a lift would have revealed the rust. Jerry
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,039
Likes: 2,592
From: Del Boca Vista FL
At a conservative labor rate of $50.00 per hour the 941 hours is $47,050 plus $31,000 on parts makes $78.000 into that 77 Corvette. His dad must have been one hell of a dad. I would have honored my dad by buying a C7 in his memory. But it wasn't my money.
The Cobra replica they did was, in my opinion, BUTT UGLY. The delivery spot, at the Pungo Airport, is beautiful. They fly quite a few of their restored WWII warbirds on a regular basis and it is great to see those aircraft in the sky.
I have seen the show a couple of times now and it is a much more realistic presentation than most of the others, including the bearded, tattooed, bone headed, ridiculous shows.
The Cobra replica they did was, in my opinion, BUTT UGLY. The delivery spot, at the Pungo Airport, is beautiful. They fly quite a few of their restored WWII warbirds on a regular basis and it is great to see those aircraft in the sky.
I have seen the show a couple of times now and it is a much more realistic presentation than most of the others, including the bearded, tattooed, bone headed, ridiculous shows.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 196
From: Wilton Ca.
I saw that too - I think the guy who paid to have it restored said his father owned it and when the dad died, the guy wanted it redone as a memory of his father.
If it's the same show I saw, I beleive that the car had some serious rot issues and the frame had to be practically completely rebuilt...
I think he is "upside down" in that car!!!
If it's the same show I saw, I beleive that the car had some serious rot issues and the frame had to be practically completely rebuilt...
I think he is "upside down" in that car!!!
What really surprised me, other than the $, were the metal floor pans. I had no idea those were used in the late 70's C3's.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
I often wonder how much these reality shows kick back to the shop owners and customers on these projects that are boarder line.
AND they are scripted to generate interest, just like as happening here on our forum. I had my own shop and would have been VERY VERY happy to have gotten all the publicity...advertising aint cheap
Sour grapes here..and I don't watch them anymore either
AND they are scripted to generate interest, just like as happening here on our forum. I had my own shop and would have been VERY VERY happy to have gotten all the publicity...advertising aint cheap
Sour grapes here..and I don't watch them anymore either
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Fantom Works does, (in my opinion) a very good job on his vehicles, their shop is all over the place in vehicle types and requests.
Working with all sorts of different cars with a larger staff and large overhead cannot be easy.
Working with all sorts of different cars with a larger staff and large overhead cannot be easy.
Melting Slicks<br><img src="/forums/images/ranks/3k-4k.gif" border="0">
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,274
Likes: 2,220
From: Colorado Springs Colorado
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I've watched the show quite a bit and really enjoy it. They seem to be very upfront on cost and it is interesting to see the shop owner go over the cost when the owner picks up the car. The '77 Vette cost was insane, but the owner had a sentimental attachment to the car and was willing to pay the astronomical cost to restore it. I can't say I would have paid anywhere near that amount for a '77.
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 12
Likes: 13
From: Utah
In defense..
Yes I know this is a 10 year old thread..
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 825
Likes: 585
From: Newport Beach, CA
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I agree. I think many of us here do lots of things to our cars and never consider resale value. I have put 2 replacement engines and 2 transmissions into my car as projects. I am sure I am underwater and never for a moment thought about it. It is all about the car and your enjoyment of it.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,696
Likes: 3,683
From: Central Arkansas
I replaced these reproductions of original 66/67 plastic filters on my Hemi with later model metal ones after one started leaking. But I get your drift. I wouldn’t let them touch one of my cars either. I watched them cut a fixed transmission crossmember out of a Superformance Cobra to remove the transmission because they didn’t know it has a removable transmission tunnel for that purpose.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 37,671
Likes: 1,115
From: CA
Yes I know this is a 10 year old thread..
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,988
Likes: 6,212
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Yes I know this is a 10 year old thread..
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
And yes I created an account just to comment on it
As someone who has a 77 that once belonged to his dad, I get it. The day after my dad died of leukemia I hunted down the mailman he sold the car to 13 years prior (when I was 16) and bought it back. I know the 77 isn’t the most desirable C3, and couldn’t care less. The sentimental value is what matters.
I wouldn’t pay Fantomworks $80k to restore it, but that’s mostly because I’m both poor and cheap. I fully intend to dump $20-30k into it (after I’m done raising 6 kids) to restore it to daily driver status. Resale value doesn’t matter on a car you’ll never consider selling.
Feel free to start a new thread on the topic (is the show still on? I can’t find it) either on the show or on your ‘77 that sounds like the perfect project- sentimental value with no market concerns at all. Keep us posted!
