$218K To Restore A 1965 Riviera?
#1
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '06
$218K To Restore A 1965 Riviera?
I'm wondering - how do you possibly spend 218 thousand dollars to restore a 1965 Buick Riviera. I mean, the car is gorgeous, but...
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/appli...&aid=304&pop=0
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/appli...&aid=304&pop=0
#2
Team Owner
I'm sure that most top-flite restoration shops easily charge $125-150 an hour, for labor on the car, searching for parts, upholstery materials, etc. I can see how it could cost over $200K to restore the car, the question, however, is why??
#3
Racer
My deceased Dad had one back in the day and she was a runner !!
Last I heard his best friend in C.C. Tx ...Dub Rollins gave it to his daughter as a graduation present years ago....
I'd like too see if she's still got it after reading this
but I ain't paying that much to get it back
Last I heard his best friend in C.C. Tx ...Dub Rollins gave it to his daughter as a graduation present years ago....
I'd like too see if she's still got it after reading this
but I ain't paying that much to get it back
#4
Team Owner
Your local dealer charges 125 an hour. A true top flight resto shop is more around $300 an hour
#5
Team Owner
#7
Team Owner
Anyone that buys a car at BJ is generally less than interested in finding a good deal. It seems that buying a car at BJ, no matter how ridiculously priced is a badge of honor among those with more money than automotive sense.
Last edited by Chevy Guy; 01-24-2010 at 12:00 PM.
#8
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Not to mention that there's a good chance that a lot of parts were replaced with NOS with the correct date stamps, rather than cleaning up the exisiting ones or using repro parts like you'd do for a "normal" resto. And that the paint job probably cost more than most people's cars.
Top level restorations get astoundingly expensive very quickly, especially if it's an open wallet one rather than the owner doing most of the work. Which, if you're trying to come up with something that you can take to a major concours, is probably way past the abilities of most seasoned home restorers.
Top level restorations get astoundingly expensive very quickly, especially if it's an open wallet one rather than the owner doing most of the work. Which, if you're trying to come up with something that you can take to a major concours, is probably way past the abilities of most seasoned home restorers.
#9
what some "car guys" spend THEIR money on go figure... its still a free country...
#10
Team Owner
#11
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#12
It's always cheaper to buy a car restored to the degree you desire than buy an original unrestored example of the same car and have the work done professionally. But it's often harder to sell that lump purchase sum to your SO, causing many to sneak a project along piecemeal for months or years.
Even if you do the labor yourself, chances are you'll have at least as much tied up in your project as the already-finished car costs. Of course, doing it youself means YOU get to pick the colors and make other build choices that are already done on the finished car.
Even if you do the labor yourself, chances are you'll have at least as much tied up in your project as the already-finished car costs. Of course, doing it youself means YOU get to pick the colors and make other build choices that are already done on the finished car.