[JUDGE3]

In seeing the recent thread I didn't want to rob the enjoyment of, got me to pondering the title of this thread.

I noticed the $55,000 restoration cost estimate. I'm out of the loop on restoration shop costs as I do everything myself. do it yourself or a restoration shop, wonder if most drop the car off at a shop? do partially the work, then drop it off?

ultimately do most care about being backwards as the enjoyment of the car is most important? for me I prefer instant equity as to one reason I do my own. couldn't afford shop costs anyway. I enjoy the entire process of do-it-yourself. I love seeing cars saved and returned to circulation regardless of the restoration choice.

so you buy a car at the right price, the restoration done by a shop puts you a bit backwards. worth it? scared to drive it afterwards? all must be pondered!

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by JUDGE3

In seeing the recent thread I didn't want to rob the enjoyment of, got me to pondering the title of this thread.

I noticed the $55,000 restoration cost estimate. I'm out of the loop on restoration shop costs as I do everything myself. do it yourself or a restoration shop, wonder if most drop the car off at a shop? do partially the work, then drop it off?

ultimately do most care about being backwards as the enjoyment of the car is most important? for me I prefer instant equity as to one reason I do my own. couldn't afford shop costs anyway. I enjoy the entire process of do-it-yourself. I love seeing cars saved and returned to circulation regardless of the restoration choice.

so you buy a car at the right price, the restoration done by a shop puts you a bit backwards. worth it? scared to drive it afterwards? all must be pondered!

I haven't been backwards in any of the restos I've done so far. It helps greatly when you do most of everything yourself.

You're right about doing it yourself. There's a true enjoyment that comes with it, and once the car is completed, and you stand back and look at it, it becomes more than a car.

You make your money on the purchase, but you also make it on everything that you can do yourself. For me, it's absolutely worth it, and I drive the wheels off them!

[JUDGE3]

perfectly spoken! agree 100 percent. now, personally I don't see anywhere near $55,000 to restore said car doing it yourself. and it'll be worth way over that.

[RAIVJUMB]

I am not a check book guy, that said I love the hunt of parts and meeting all of the people along the way that is half the adventure. I do most every thing myself so I can only go so fast, My Son and Daughter help and my son is doing his own with me now. I never really get too giddy over auction prices, I build what I like and do it how I like, which for the most part is stock stuff. I have 2 that are a bit different from bone stock but I like them that way. I don't think I have ever worried about being upside down in a car because I do them for myself and by doing them myself I am usually not. I guess I just really like these cars, I treat each part of the resto as a separate project and each completion as a small victory.

[3tas4me]

For me, I can't do the body work. So, what I do is take the car apart, do all the mechanical reconditioning and reassemble after body and paint is done. I agree that doing the work is part of the fun.

[RAIVJUMB]

I really enjoy the body work so that becomes my get away from stress activity

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[necdb3]

I always think, if someone is buying a car and worried about having too much in it, they are in the hobby for the wrong reason. There are too many investments that are better and make more sense than a car.

The self satisfaction I get from working on them is as good as driving them, perhaps even better.

[6869GTO]

No better feeling for me when someone say's "Wow your car looks awesome" and you did it yourself . Money can't buy that.

[tom s]

Sure it can!Tom

[Judge273]

They also say...you must have a large garage with lots of tools.

I will say it's rewarding yet there are limits as...which bolt goes where. Course vs fine. Plating and welding not easy stuff..

Body and paint, AC, headliners, trim, exhaust, tires, alignment better left to experts

[JUDGE3]

I haven't been backwards on any of mine but usually just broke even. I enjoy these cars so much I could care less if I did get backwards on one. does take a lot of tools but hey, its fun accumulating tools. the whole process is downright relaxing to me.

[ramairthreegto]

The majority of people lack the space, time, ability, tools, equipment, and skill to completely disassemble a car, rebuild the engine and transmission, and do paint and body work.

The people that can are in the minority.

Plus with some of those things there is an art to it. I have done a new wiring harness, rebuilt carbs, new distrib, welded in strut braces, rebuilt front ends, and a couple of driveway paint jobs, new alt or starters, replace radiator, gas tank, etc. Basically enough to make some cars run. But nowhere able to restore a car.

The reality is,
With my 69 plain Jane GTO that has been built into a RA, manual trans, Judge clone, the little body work it needs and the new paint it is due for-
Kind of would put it over its value.

My 74 RR and 71 Javelin as well. I can’t replace the engine and get a real paint job and restore the interior on the RR without being way more into than it would sell for.
And the Javelin as well.

I am not a flipper or in it as a business, but many of us are reluctant to drop 20k or more into a car what would sell for less than that.

The sales ads are full of run of the mill Camaros, Chevelles, etc. with 30k of work into a car they could realistically sell for 20k.