Original vs. Restored
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Douglassville PA
Original vs. Restored
Don't know if this was ever brought up, but I'm looking for a '70-'73 Stingray and wanted to know what's a better deal.. an all original car or a restored one? I'm leaning more toward a restored one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
what's a better deal.. an all original car or a restored one? I'm leaning more toward a restored one.
I think you'll find a broad range of opinions on this one and depends on many factors. Perhaps the best way to evaluate is to consider the pros and cons of each:
Original:
No one has tinkered with stuff
You know what you've got
Get in at less cost
Learn more about your Corvette
Satisfaction of doing it yourself
Restored:
It's done!
More cost
Not sure what's been done
Tests your ability to know what you are looking for
Don't learn anything
This is a starter list and I'm confident in the next 48 hours...you'll have a nice laundry list of pros and cons.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
Depends on the overall condition of the original...if unmolested, then the car is a good candidate for NCRS' Survivor award. Though a survivor can be a rusted out bucket, non running car, torn seats, and remnants of the factory carpeting in place.
Advantage of buying a restored car, you have the immediate use of an eye appealing ride, vs. waiting a few years and pouring buckets full of cash into a project. It will cost you more in the long run to restore a car than to purchase one that has been restored.
Advantage of buying a restored car, you have the immediate use of an eye appealing ride, vs. waiting a few years and pouring buckets full of cash into a project. It will cost you more in the long run to restore a car than to purchase one that has been restored.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX.
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
My 73 is 99% original, only a few item have been changed out. The carpet and a/c components are new. The original suspension components and the frame where my main concerns, but I checked it out and everything was tight and and still very good and no rust anywhere. It has been repainted once to the original color. The engine has 78k miles on it, and stock, no problems. I found several other vettes that had been restored or partial restored for around the same price, but I wanted to buy an original so I would know what I'm buying and to be able to keep the original parts to rebuild. It is cheaper in the long run to buy one restored and let someone else put the money into the restoration. Has hunt4cleanair pointed out
Original:
No one has tinkered with stuff
You know what you've got
Get in at less cost
Learn more about your Corvette
Satisfaction of doing it yourself
The overall condition of my 73 is excellent so I can enjoy it now, and replace the parts has needed.
Original:
No one has tinkered with stuff
You know what you've got
Get in at less cost
Learn more about your Corvette
Satisfaction of doing it yourself
The overall condition of my 73 is excellent so I can enjoy it now, and replace the parts has needed.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Apsley ON
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
Read the following thread my personal experince with orginal vs restored
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=654542
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=654542
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 702
Likes: 1
From: Houston TX.
Re: Original vs. Restored (77-C3 & 89-C4)
I you want to drive and enjoy your vette restored is the only way to go, Orginal means its and old worn out 30 year old vette
Well, I'll have to disagree with that statement, as I stated, my 73 is mostly original and it is nowhere near being worning out. I drove it from Knoxville, TN. without any problems and would not have any worries driving it across country just the way it is.
[Modified by RC73, 12:30 PM 9/20/2003]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,326
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
Re: Original vs. Restored (RC73)
My 75 convertible is mostly original car also. The car has 73,000 miles on it and none of the drive line has never been apart. The engine runs great and doesn't use any oil. The trans is good and the rear has no posi chatter or the hum when you are on and off the gas.
The interior is original except for the front rugs. The seat covers are good for 29 years of wear.
The chassis is original and still tight, but I am going to do the A-Arm bushings over this winter.
Lets face it a 20+ year old original car that was well mantained and still in good condition is hard to find and well worth having. On the other hand a 20+ original car needing everthing is a money pit.
Remember this you can't restore a car for what you can buy one already done.
The interior is original except for the front rugs. The seat covers are good for 29 years of wear.
The chassis is original and still tight, but I am going to do the A-Arm bushings over this winter.
Lets face it a 20+ year old original car that was well mantained and still in good condition is hard to find and well worth having. On the other hand a 20+ original car needing everthing is a money pit.
Remember this you can't restore a car for what you can buy one already done.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 201
From: Waterford Mi
Re: Original vs. Restored (RC73)
It depends on what you want to do with it. A fully restred show car is a lot different than a restored daily driver. If you are looking for an all originl car to take to NCRS shows then be very picky when you look. I bought mine knowing it would be very hard to bring it to a " all original car" so I wouldn't have to give that any thought when I wanted to fix it up.
Some quick math to see what I have into it shows I have spent more than I could ever sell it for but I have had it for 10 years and enjoyed the heck out of it.
1993- paid $6000 for the car
1994- $1600 parts to fix up the interior
1995- $1200 replacing all A/C componates
1996- $4000 for drive train and suspension rebuilds
1997- $600 for tires and exhuast
1998- $400 for brakes
2002- $1500 for parts/ machine shop work to rebuild motor
2003- $1300 for edelbrock heads, $1700 OD trans, $700 parts to repair/replace body mounts
Add a few $'s for stuff here and there and you get my point.
Just get something you like and have fun :party:
Some quick math to see what I have into it shows I have spent more than I could ever sell it for but I have had it for 10 years and enjoyed the heck out of it.
1993- paid $6000 for the car
1994- $1600 parts to fix up the interior
1995- $1200 replacing all A/C componates
1996- $4000 for drive train and suspension rebuilds
1997- $600 for tires and exhuast
1998- $400 for brakes
2002- $1500 for parts/ machine shop work to rebuild motor
2003- $1300 for edelbrock heads, $1700 OD trans, $700 parts to repair/replace body mounts
Add a few $'s for stuff here and there and you get my point.
Just get something you like and have fun :party:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Douglassville PA
Re: Original vs. Restored (redwingvette)
Wow, this is turning into a hot topic..! Thanks for all the info so far. I am pretty much looking for something I can drive without worrying about if something is going to fall out of the bottom or are the gauges working properly, etc. with a 30 year old car. I plan on doing some mods to it, so I'm not looking for an NCRS type car. The car I want is something I can drive and enjoy, not having it in the garage all the time doing repairs and restoration work. :crazy:
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
Re: Original vs. Restored (77-C3 & 89-C4)
I you want to drive and enjoy your vette restored is the only way to go, Orginal means its and old worn out 30 year old vette
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,273
Likes: 14
From: Austin TX
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
If you plan on doing mods, buy a car with the components that you don't plan to change in good shape.
Whatever you consider buying, take it to a trusted mechanic and pay him to do a buyers check so you know what you're buying and to get some info for negotiating.
Whatever you consider buying, take it to a trusted mechanic and pay him to do a buyers check so you know what you're buying and to get some info for negotiating.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,135
Likes: 477
From: NM
Re: Original vs. Restored (OneHotV6)
One thing not stated in the question, so I will add this. For a restored car and an original car that are in equal condition I would go for the original.
tom...
tom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,135
Likes: 2
From: Dayton Oh
Re: Original vs. Restored (Tom73)
:iagree: with Tom73. My 79 was original with only 63K miles, right down to the fuel pump. Looked like only thing ever replaced was plugs & oil filter! Problem has been that I'm the one now having to replace hoses, pumps, etc. I tried doing this ask they broke...drive a little...work on car a little...drive a little. But got to the point that I swapped engines so that I can drive car while freshening-up numbers-matching engine. :cheers:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 397
Likes: 1
From: CORTLANDT MANOR NY
Re: Original vs. Restored (marshrat99)
For what you want get a restored car.
30 year old cars that are all original cannot be driven with regularity. The components don't last 30 years unless they have been stored most of the time. Storage is an enemy, rubber dries out, metal rusts, steel gets pitted, and things go wrong.
If you want to drive it make sure the suspension, drivetrain and especially the brakes have been refurbished recently. You can always buy a car that has been restored cheaper than it would cost you to restore it even if you do all the work.
30 year old cars that are all original cannot be driven with regularity. The components don't last 30 years unless they have been stored most of the time. Storage is an enemy, rubber dries out, metal rusts, steel gets pitted, and things go wrong.
If you want to drive it make sure the suspension, drivetrain and especially the brakes have been refurbished recently. You can always buy a car that has been restored cheaper than it would cost you to restore it even if you do all the work.