C3 Project Car Pricing
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: whippany NJ
Be very carefull with what I would call the "FLIP FLOP EFFECT"
For example when you are looking at a project and the paint is in poor condition and the chrome,trim and emblems all look pretty good. When the car is painted you will need to redo them or the paint will look great and the chrome,trim etc will look bad.
Another example the seats ,carpet, door panels are shot but the console,guages and other trim is in pretty good shape.The same thing will happen when you replace the seats,door panels etc the other items will now look bad and need to be restored or replaced.
Jeff
For example when you are looking at a project and the paint is in poor condition and the chrome,trim and emblems all look pretty good. When the car is painted you will need to redo them or the paint will look great and the chrome,trim etc will look bad.
Another example the seats ,carpet, door panels are shot but the console,guages and other trim is in pretty good shape.The same thing will happen when you replace the seats,door panels etc the other items will now look bad and need to be restored or replaced.
Jeff
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,934
Likes: 3,343
From: NYC NY
Get a straight body ahead of all else!!
Most think a restoration is a respray, swap a few crusty parts, and spruce up the interior. To me a restoration is every single nut and bolt has been removed and every system has been gone through and upgraded or refurbished. Maybe I am a loon.
The term restored means something different to all people, just saying.
If you redo everything, rebuild the rear end, transmission, engine (with upgrades), headlights, calipers, exhaust, wheels, tires, chrome, all the rusted light sockets, you are going to be into a HEALTHY sum of money.
Just saying, know that it is going to take a TON of money and time. Have a plan going in and stick to it. IE, what level you are going to go with it.
But keep in mind buying a 5-8K car, it is going to have issues and will probably need a lot of updating depending on your goals.
The more you tear it apart, the more it is going to cost you.
Most think a restoration is a respray, swap a few crusty parts, and spruce up the interior. To me a restoration is every single nut and bolt has been removed and every system has been gone through and upgraded or refurbished. Maybe I am a loon.
The term restored means something different to all people, just saying.
If you redo everything, rebuild the rear end, transmission, engine (with upgrades), headlights, calipers, exhaust, wheels, tires, chrome, all the rusted light sockets, you are going to be into a HEALTHY sum of money.
Just saying, know that it is going to take a TON of money and time. Have a plan going in and stick to it. IE, what level you are going to go with it.
But keep in mind buying a 5-8K car, it is going to have issues and will probably need a lot of updating depending on your goals.
The more you tear it apart, the more it is going to cost you.
There are lots of good points in this entire post. I just highlighted some of them.What you spend depends on what you want. The more Corvette you want the more you will spend. If you want something to drive anywhere, that's reliable, and you can have fun with in the end it will cost more than you plan for and take longer than you imagined. Do you want new brakes, new wheel bearings, new suspension, fresh engine and drivetrain, ect or do you just want to repair as needed? Can you do body work? What about paint? Do you weld? While it sounds very rewarding to take on a "project" and turn it into a complete "restoration" there are losts of pitfalls in between. In the end the cost and the time will be greated than you planned for. Are you preppared for that? That's why so many have said buy the best car you can afford. That comes from experience.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 1
From: Northeast Ohio
Be very carefull with what I would call the "FLIP FLOP EFFECT"
For example when you are looking at a project and the paint is in poor condition and the chrome,trim and emblems all look pretty good. When the car is painted you will need to redo them or the paint will look great and the chrome,trim etc will look bad.
Another example the seats ,carpet, door panels are shot but the console,guages and other trim is in pretty good shape.The same thing will happen when you replace the seats,door panels etc the other items will now look bad and need to be restored or replaced.
Jeff
For example when you are looking at a project and the paint is in poor condition and the chrome,trim and emblems all look pretty good. When the car is painted you will need to redo them or the paint will look great and the chrome,trim etc will look bad.
Another example the seats ,carpet, door panels are shot but the console,guages and other trim is in pretty good shape.The same thing will happen when you replace the seats,door panels etc the other items will now look bad and need to be restored or replaced.
Jeff
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 850
Likes: 36
From: Providence RI
Depending on how you define it, virtually *every* Corvette, short of a fresh frame-off restoration, can be considered a "project".
I bought mine as a great-looking, running and driving car. I've done some minor things so far (ball-joints, front calipers, parking-brake console, exhaust-donuts, coolant service, etc), but *could* do the following short-list to bring it up to snuff:
* rebuilt trailing-arms
* front suspension bushings
* get A/C functioning
* replace door-panels
* detail engine-compartment
* replace valve-seals (and perhaps guides as well)
and even then there would be a dozen other things I could still do. Run the numbers on the above, and you can see how things add up.
In fact, it's a safe bet to say there are very few Corvettes out there that you *couldn't* find some way to spend a month's worth of weekends and a few thousand dollars on them, and still have things left to do.
I bought mine as a great-looking, running and driving car. I've done some minor things so far (ball-joints, front calipers, parking-brake console, exhaust-donuts, coolant service, etc), but *could* do the following short-list to bring it up to snuff:
* rebuilt trailing-arms
* front suspension bushings
* get A/C functioning
* replace door-panels
* detail engine-compartment
* replace valve-seals (and perhaps guides as well)
and even then there would be a dozen other things I could still do. Run the numbers on the above, and you can see how things add up.
In fact, it's a safe bet to say there are very few Corvettes out there that you *couldn't* find some way to spend a month's worth of weekends and a few thousand dollars on them, and still have things left to do.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 8
From: Attleboro Falls MA
There are lots of good points in this entire post. I just highlighted some of them.What you spend depends on what you want. The more Corvette you want the more you will spend. If you want something to drive anywhere, that's reliable, and you can have fun with in the end it will cost more than you plan for and take longer than you imagined. Do you want new brakes, new wheel bearings, new suspension, fresh engine and drivetrain, ect or do you just want to repair as needed? Can you do body work? What about paint? Do you weld? While it sounds very rewarding to take on a "project" and turn it into a complete "restoration" there are losts of pitfalls in between. In the end the cost and the time will be greated than you planned for. Are you preppared for that? That's why so many have said buy the best car you can afford. That comes from experience.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 8
From: Attleboro Falls MA
I bought my car as a project as I had race cars in my garage for years to work on and then the last one went to my brothers shop, so I had a lot of equipment and nothing to work on. So I can understand you wanting a project.
I wanted a black 68-72 Convertible. Found it on this forum 5K knowing full well it would take several years and some cash to do it. It had a perfect frame and most of the important parts, but had body damage, shot interior and motor that needed a rebuild and lots of parts to repalce.
Well it took 5 years, countless nights and weekends in my garage and more money than I planned in $ by at least triple.
Make sure you get a car with a solid base to work and don't buy the first car you look at but take your time as this decision will be with you for years.
Before
After
I wanted a black 68-72 Convertible. Found it on this forum 5K knowing full well it would take several years and some cash to do it. It had a perfect frame and most of the important parts, but had body damage, shot interior and motor that needed a rebuild and lots of parts to repalce.
Well it took 5 years, countless nights and weekends in my garage and more money than I planned in $ by at least triple.
Make sure you get a car with a solid base to work and don't buy the first car you look at but take your time as this decision will be with you for years.
Before
After
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 745
Likes: 66
From: Hutto Texas
If you like the chrome bumper cars there are deals out there. See the Ebay auction below that just ended this weekend. I think this was a good deal. Of course without seeing it up close you never know.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
As said earlier, buy the most complete car you can. If you buy something and do not get to drive it for several years you will possibly get burnt out on the project before it is finished.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
As said earlier, buy the most complete car you can. If you buy something and do not get to drive it for several years you will possibly get burnt out on the project before it is finished.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 113
Likes: 8
From: Attleboro Falls MA
If you like the chrome bumper cars there are deals out there. See the Ebay auction below that just ended this weekend. I think this was a good deal. Of course without seeing it up close you never know.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
As said earlier, buy the most complete car you can. If you buy something and do not get to drive it for several years you will possibly get burnt out on the project before it is finished.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
As said earlier, buy the most complete car you can. If you buy something and do not get to drive it for several years you will possibly get burnt out on the project before it is finished.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
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Likes: 1
From: Northeast Ohio
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Plymouth MN
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There was a very nice 68 L79 for sale last week on CF for 10k ... if i was looking for a project, that would be a tempting option for me
