Paid $2000 for the car.
Spent $6083 on the body off resto.
Total=$8083

 

Well... lesseee, here....

$11k for the car (woulda been $9k if I had looked at the brakes and bearings like I should have! :mad )
$3k for the crate motor and various while-I'm-at-it stuff
$2k for body repairs and paint (did all the prep myself or it would have been $4k)
$3k for complete suspension rebuild - all poly bushings, new everything
$1k for rebuilt trailing arms with new bearings, rotors, and SS park brakes
$500 for ss calipers and new hoses, etc.
$500 for misc. parts - radiator, wiper motor, chin spoiler, etc., etc.
=========
$21,000 :eek:

... and next year, she'll get her new carpet, door panels, and leather seats with new cushions... that'll be another $1700...

So in another year I'll have the insane total of twenty three grand in this car. I'd be lucky to sell it for half that, the next day. But I knew when I bought it that I wasn't buying a car, I was buying a hobby I could drive. I don't go to bars, I don't play golf, I don't even hunt anymore or fish very much. My wife and daughter always know where to find me, and they argue over whose turn it is to go for a cruise with me in the Vette. Hell, my will says the car goes to my daughter when I die. Think I'd sell it, even if I found a fool who'd pay $23K for it? :lol: geez... "I think I'm still even" BWAAAhaahaaha...

 

Lordy...

Let's see initial price was $11,000 back in 80', rebuilt the LS5, sold LS5, built the LS7, sold M20, bought an M22, 2 sets of SS Calipers, drilled rotors, brakes, wheels, suspension, cooling, redid the interior, paint.... Figure say about $20,000 over the years in mods, etc... and sold it for $14,000, hmmm somthing just doesn't add up...

Yeah it does - I lost my butt, but what the hell, I had fun :lol:

 

If I had the money and was looking, I would have bought that one off you....I loved the paint scheme ! :yesnod:

 

Before I read this I was embarrassed that I'd spent so much... Now I'm ashamed. :(

Dalannex, you win the prize for getting the Most Bang For Your Buck :yesnod: :smash: :D :) :)

 

i payed 4500.00 US for mine and have put about 2500.00 in rebuilding the rearend, frontend and misc. interior parts. so about 7000.00 not bad i think!!


Rod :cool:

 

I spent $6800 for my 80,kept a spread sheet that tabulates the cost per year and the total spent. Been six years now,two engines,two transmissions,a rear,complete suspension,etc.......$12,000.
I get light headed when I look at the numbers. But I looked at the price of a new Camero the other day and chuckled. My Vette has given me 6 years of joy,a few grey hairs maybe,130,000 miles since I've owned it,over all trouble free. Most of the money was mods,not fixes.Handles better than most new cars and has over 450hp to boot!

 

I feel good about now:

$12k for the car
$4k to ressurrect it to safe daily driver standards
expect to drop another $10k over the next several years to repaint and convert back to total stock.
Car sells today for $30k + - I should always come out ahead
:cheers:

 

Wow, compared to some initial purchase prices here my wife should be clickn' her heels! :lol: :lol:

Initial purchase: $7,600
Wheels & tires: $1,300
Front suspension parts: $600
Misc: $2,000
454 rebuild projection: $4,500

Which totals about $16,000, BUT I'll have a BB! :yesnod: :yesnod: :p:

 

A bunch of $$, but I don't plan on selling so I guess it doesn't matter. :cheers: :cheers:

 

purchase for 77 in 1998 $5,100.
Repair & replace $6,500
New engine, tranny, rear (Complete) A/C, Brakes, calipers, pwr steering, electrical, bla bla bla , too much over the years.
NOW it needs interior& paint .When does it end dear god :smash:

 

I got my 73 for $0. My mom was the original owner and she wanted to keep it in the family.

My offer was that I could afford to take on the car and its normal upkeep and maintenance, but couldn't afford to pay cash up front for it.

After many years and when it just got to be to much for her to take care of she turned it loose on me.

That was 2.5 years and $18,500 ago. All that remains from just about a total frame on restoration is a good paint job.

About that break even comment... ummm, not in my lifetime. :lol:

We all gotta have a money pit or we would all be millionaires and bored to no end. :U

 

Being even would be awesome... hell 5000 over even would be great. I'd be happy with 10k over even... But it never stops... and it never will... so I'll just be happy and quit counting recipts!!! :cheers: :smash: :smash: :smash:

 

Don't be, I think I've got you beat in that department. :bb In 81 my Dad and Grandfather found my 72 in somebody's backyard. It had been wrecked but only had damage to the front fender area, frame was good, most of the parts were there....grand total $800. They blasted the frame, redid the brakes, my uncle rebuilt the engine, and all I've done is buy basic things like water pump, belts, etc. So far the gas tank was the only major part I've had to buy. Then fun stuff like seat covers, carpet, vinyl top and a used hard top. Luckily we have a paint booth and my brother paints, so I think I've only put about $1500 into it so far. I'm sure once it gets on the road I'll run into all kinds of things. Next step new tires....one day new wheels. I've also done most of the body work myself, hopefully my first attempt isn't too terrible. It has been a family project and I don't think I'll ever sell it, so I've got years to add new chrome and dressup, and upgrade the engine. BUT it's not anywhere near original and probably never will be.

Still, overall total, is probably under $5,000 for a decent looking daily driver.

 

I do ALL the work myself, and that means ALL. from rebuilding engine, tranny, and rear end, to trailing arms, paint, and interior. I even bent my own stainless steel brake and fuel lines. :yesnod: Of course, I used to run a factory that did that, so that was an easy one. :lol: I'm telling you, I'm a master at getting the most bang for my buck. People who look at the car don't believe I have so little into it. Good for me I kept track of every nickle on a spreadsheet. Of course, this car wasn't all that bad when I got it either. Most of the damage was a bent frame and body damage.

 

More than I can get back!! I figure my total with the original outlay plus repairs, including rebuilding an engine for more performance when it didn't really need it! (stupid eh?), I'm up to about $17k in US currency over three years. I'm probably a few grand past market value.....but then my 2000 4Runner has dropped a lot more than that and it doesn't give me the smiles the Vette does!!

Would I do it again?? You bet!