Help! Should I restore?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta Ga
Help! Should I restore?
I have a 72 Coupe, 350, 4 speed, no AC, decent paint, good engine and tran, matching numbers engine, transmission and body. Interior is fair, the body is in good shape (a couple of nicks).
Here is my delima: I have about 6,000 invested. There is frame damage that will require a frame off restoration and the estimates I am getting are for about 10,000. The price on the restore is high because the shop said once you pull it off you going to want to replace so many things.
Will the car be worth 16,000? I don't mind if down the road I loose a couple thousand but I don't want to take a bath on this.
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Here is my delima: I have about 6,000 invested. There is frame damage that will require a frame off restoration and the estimates I am getting are for about 10,000. The price on the restore is high because the shop said once you pull it off you going to want to replace so many things.
Will the car be worth 16,000? I don't mind if down the road I loose a couple thousand but I don't want to take a bath on this.
Thanks in advance for your opinions.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
Do you really like the car? Can you do some or most of the work yourself?
If so, keep an eye out for something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6767
If so, keep an eye out for something like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6767
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,050
Likes: 124
From: Wichita KS
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
The estimate of an additional $10,000 may be too low. For example: If the interior is in fair shape, and you are going to replace it, then it costs about the same as one that is in poor shape. As you take the car apart you will find other ($$) parts that need to be replaced that you had not planned on.
It is also easy to get in the mode of "as long as I'm doing this, I ought to do ...." That runs the bill up!!
Now, with that said... What kind of new car can you buy for the same amount of money? Will you feel the same about this car as you would about your new Fxxx Taurus?
Sounds like you don't have to repair everything at once, and that you can continue to use your car during most of the restoration, that is a plus. A longer time line lets you spread the $$$ pain out.
In addition to good used frames, you can purchase new frames for your car. There was a thread about this recently.
There also was a recent thread about the amount of money Forum members had in their C3s. May give you another perspective - many were significantly more than your $16k estimate.
It is also easy to get in the mode of "as long as I'm doing this, I ought to do ...." That runs the bill up!!
Now, with that said... What kind of new car can you buy for the same amount of money? Will you feel the same about this car as you would about your new Fxxx Taurus?
Sounds like you don't have to repair everything at once, and that you can continue to use your car during most of the restoration, that is a plus. A longer time line lets you spread the $$$ pain out.
In addition to good used frames, you can purchase new frames for your car. There was a thread about this recently.
There also was a recent thread about the amount of money Forum members had in their C3s. May give you another perspective - many were significantly more than your $16k estimate.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 43,136
Likes: 155
From: Thomson Georgia
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
Tough question... I recently could have bought a coupe 72 in good shape great paint and new interior .........For 7500 bucks but I passed cause It needed some suspension work.....I guess it depends how attatched you are to the car.One day i am sure itwill be worth more than 16k
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,971
Likes: 9
From: The reason time exists is so everything doesn't happen at once
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
I just saw a 72 coupe for sale on the forum. He's asking $15k, so your total outlay of 16k is not unreasonable. BUT, are you sure it will only take 10k to do the restoration work? These things have a way of spiraling out of control real fast.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 7
From: Lawrenceville PA
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
I just swapped my 72 on an 86 Pace car because after spending in excess of $15k on chassis restoration and engine rebuild the car still needed more money than I could pump into it. I loved the car but it just got to be one thing after another and when you have to farm out all the work, due to my mechanical ineptitude, she got to be a money pit. If you have the knowhow and tools to do it yourself, go for it. Just be ready for lots of frustration, because it seems like no sooner than you fix one thing, three other problems pop up. C3's are beautiful cars with classic lines and are increasing in value, but chances are you'll never break even when it comes time to sell.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 252
Likes: 0
From: wellington N Zealand
Re: Help! Should I restore? (Samson77)
Having restored and rebuilt a variety of vehicles over the years, I never ever managed to sell them for anything near what they owed me in time or money.
Thats why my 77 is a fix as you go. I try to keep it on the road and only do small things at a time.:yesnod:
Frame repairs sounds like a bad road to go down and once you head down that road its difficult to make a u turn as you have spent so much and it just needs "a little more". :nopity
Good luck, I would flick it and invest in a better one that someone has sunk their money into.:D:
:cool: :cool: :cool:
Thats why my 77 is a fix as you go. I try to keep it on the road and only do small things at a time.:yesnod:
Frame repairs sounds like a bad road to go down and once you head down that road its difficult to make a u turn as you have spent so much and it just needs "a little more". :nopity
Good luck, I would flick it and invest in a better one that someone has sunk their money into.:D:
:cool: :cool: :cool:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,530
Likes: 0
From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Help! Should I restore? (tippi58)
If it truly is a fine example of a "frame off" restoration, that car could easily fetch over $20k with the right buyer. Even with a "damn good" restoration, these cars are getting $15k and over, and the prices on the steel bumper C3's are going higher all the time. If you can get a frame off for $10k, you better ask for some references, because that is really, really cheap. Yeah, you'll get your money back.
If you decide to sell, let me know!
Brian
If you decide to sell, let me know!
Brian
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