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I bought mine with very nice 5 foot paint. It had some nicks but it was nice. As I drive it the hood is starting to crack...ALOT but I really dont car anymore. If I wash and wax it it stll looks great from 5 feet. I talked to my friend that did my decals about paint and he said its $8k just to look at a vette for paint and it goes steeply uphill from there. He suggests just enjoying it until you HAVE to get it painted. Once its painted it will be too nice to drive and I'll be worrying about every little nick and scratch. So I drive it and have fun. Maybe someday I'll get the hood redone and the fender ding fixed and buff the rest...not wprried aobut it now.
My advice to the OP is buy the car you love. Drive it like its yours and just keep it clean. THe paint will fade and crack eventually put every nick will have a story and a memory that you can tell your new friends about and remember with your old friends. I have rebuilt an engine almost every winter since I got mine in 2015 ...first winter was a get it running well with a full tune. Second was better heads and bigger carb. After that was a different cams, experimenting with aluminum heads, headers, fuel systems and what have you just to give it more torque and horsepower. Last winter was pulling the milkshaked motor and going big block. THis winter is rebuilding a 427 to my 500/500 specs and then moving on from the motor debauchery every winter to other parts of the car or other hobbies.....maybe.
Just buy what you like and make it yours. Have fun now cause you might not be around to have fun tomorrow
This is what has me looking at Corvette's, again. I get the fever every so often but then talk myself out of it.
I bought an old Harley project after my dad died, for the same reason.
I prefer older vehicles and I don't care much about the looks. I like it to run faster than it looks like it should.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Just find one with a paint job you like and doesnt need to be sprayed right away. THats the most expensive and time consuming part of these cars. Once you have that car its all motor time!!!!! Thats what I like to play with
I have both calibers of cars. I get enjoyment out of both. The 70 Trans Am I'm building is a rotisserie resto, totally numbers matching from carb to pan, radiator to rear axle. Completely detailed with chalk marks, correct color clips, springs etc. I get enjoyment out of trying to prefect a build, but I also get enjoyment out of driver quality cars.
My other T/A has just ok paint, worn seat covers, and is a mix match of random parts. I usually drive it about 4,000 miles a year and love every minute of it. It gets dirty, I take it to stores and on random road trips whenever I feel like.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Originally Posted by Tranz Zam
I have both calibers of cars. I get enjoyment out of both. The 70 Trans Am I'm building is a rotisserie resto, totally numbers matching from carb to pan, radiator to rear axle. Completely detailed with chalk marks, correct color clips, springs etc. I get enjoyment out of trying to prefect a build, but I also get enjoyment out of driver quality cars.
My other T/A has just ok paint, worn seat covers, and is a mix match of random parts. I usually drive it about 4,000 miles a year and love every minute of it. It gets dirty, I take it to stores and on random road trips whenever I feel like.
I guess it boils down to what makes you happy.
I would be paranoid of driving your rotisserie build, not because of what I AM going to do to it, because its a car, they are meant to be driven. Its what that stupid clown on 95 is going to do to it while they are talking on the phone or on Main street when the blow through the stop sign because they are listening to Waze or Google Maps...or texting like they arent supposed to do
But I love to look at those cars and touch them. When I rebuild my motor or get my car especially clean , I love that just perfect look....and try to not see the dings and scratches. I know the perfect angles so I dont see them. LOL
anytime ive gotten damage to a car its come out of the shop better than it was
nothing funner than driving a perfect like new car in todays age.
Myrecently finished resto of my orig 02 1500 lasted less than a yr...stolen and damaged bad
Pissed and will take a huge loss...but its just a car theres more out there. Fun driving something that looked/drove new for awhile anyways lol
I let a ZR-1 sit in a garage for yr after paint too busy working. A rat got onto a shelve knocked over a paint can and chipped the fender bad.
Things age or go bad even sitting in the garage
I would be paranoid of driving your rotisserie build, not because of what I AM going to do to it, because its a car, they are meant to be driven. Its what that stupid clown on 95 is going to do to it while they are talking on the phone or on Main street when the blow through the stop sign because they are listening to Waze or Google Maps...or texting like they arent supposed to do
But I love to look at those cars and touch them. When I rebuild my motor or get my car especially clean , I love that just perfect look....and try to not see the dings and scratches. I know the perfect angles so I dont see them. LOL
Yeah, it will be a little nerve wracking. I don't mind 95/495 in my not perfect 71 though. I jump on and move toward the left side and maintain 80mph. lol
I mentioned in another thread, I do like to see them the way the looked rolling off the assembly line.
If I could afford a new one I'd drive the wheels off of it, if I had a chrome bumper car that was restored to show room new, I'd be afraid to get near it.
I don't know what the difference is to me, rarity I guess.
To the OP if you buy the car get the paint code so you can touch it up if you get a rock chip.
Most of my hot rod projects were frame off with really nice paint. Per the sage advice of an old timer body guy pick a stock GM, Ford or Dodge color so it can be easily matched in case of a rock chip.
Because I'm in MN my hot rods are summer time cruisers. I'm careful where I park them so I don't get door dinged.
I think the hobby would be more enjoyed by all if they just stopped worrying, and drive the car. It was meant to be driven, and they are a joy to drive. Too bad so many miss out because of personal obstacles.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
ya .......I agree but a $10.000 paint job is kind of a big personal obstacle to some of us. I am on your side though. I drive the crap out of my car, sometimes like I stole it
Just the opposite of the frame off projects I've done is my latest 1980 Camaro project. 28,000 original miles. I'm the second owner. All original paint is nice but 1980 GM nice. I plan to drive it a lot next summer. I'd hate to get a door ding but I will still drive it.
much like do you think you can? if you think you can or can't, you are right. if you think it is too nice, it is. for you. so, either buy a cheaper, rattier car, or raise your standards...
I took 9 years to restore my 68. I throughly enjoyed every bit of the process. It was a great sense of accomplishment. I have had it on the road for a year and a half now. I drive the **** out of it. Enjoy the exhaust note along with the qudrajet opening. I drive it as spirtly as I can while staying safe. I do not treat it as a trailer queen. But I do respect it. Never abuse it. I'd say buy the best condition car you are comfortable paying for and enjoy it with no regrets.
