Need some suggestions...

[NoCar2023]

#4 or give to me....this decision maybe causing you too much stress.......just looking out for you.

 

[Don selleck]

#5 sell it to me

 

[wldgtx]

I am surprised it took someone this long to comment this way...

 

[wldgtx]

@Don - I appreciate the offer, but I am good.

 

[zyzzyx]

Not too long ago I read a story about a guy out in California that found a Boss429 mustang in this guys barn.
He thought about restoring the car, but the parts for doing that would have cost more than the car was worth
when done so he opted to leave it as he found it except forgetting it running and cleaning up a bit. The car as
it is will always "Appreciate", and he will own it until he decides it's time fore someone else to be it's caretaker.
So, if you don't have the drive or cash to do it right, just keep it and enjoy it. Someone will come along with
the time and money to do a nut-an-bolt and you will have a chunk of change. Just my 2 cents!

 

[wldgtx]

Not too long ago I read a story about a guy out in California that found a Boss429 mustang in this guys barn.
He thought about restoring the car, but the parts for doing that would have cost more than the car was worth
when done so he opted to leave it as he found it except forgetting it running and cleaning up a bit. The car as
it is will always "Appreciate", and he will own it until he decides it's time fore someone else to be it's caretaker.
So, if you don't have the drive or cash to do it right, just keep it and enjoy it. Someone will come along with
the time and money to do a nut-an-bolt and you will have a chunk of change. Just my 2 cents!

I am no stranger to restoring cars, investing in cars, or putting in the money into them. But most of the cars I restored or owned were in a different group, being that this car is a hemi, it has me questioning my approach. That's all.

 

[Richard Cranium]

If you go to nuts on a restoration, it'll be too nice to drive & the fun will be gone.

 

[Budnicks]

1. Full tear down, complete nut and bolt restoration
2. Full tear down, restore with cost in mind, keep within reasonable budget
3. Rebuild engine, Paint, minor items trying to maintain originality
4. Get it running, do the best with paint, and enjoy it.
View attachment 741595 View attachment 741596

it's your car do with it what you want
But;
since you asked, what should you do

I'd go with option #4

they're only original once, enjoy it, drive the hell out of it
maybe you won't worry about it, so damn much either

But;
I'd also get different wheels & tires, 1st thing
like torque thrust or Polished slots etc. something era correct of course
(sorry I' not a fan of that style, you have now)

 

[wldgtx]

@Budnicks - The wheels were on the car when I got it and have been on the car since 1983. They WILL be the first thing to go...

 

[1967coronet]

Just looking at the car pictures and reading your description I have to agree on the get it running and keep it as is. Hemi car is a rare car for sure restored or not, But a well kept original one with only maintenance items changed or redone is a whole different level.
Great car, I love it.

 

[Budnicks]

@Budnicks - The wheels were on the car when I got it and have been on the car since 1983. They WILL be the first thing to go...

glad you took that the correct way
some might be offended easily by that comment

 

[zyzzyx]

I'm sorry, I think you have one of those cars that you can only do harm to if you restore it.
I think you're very lucky to have found this beauty, and you should enjoy it knowing that
there quite possibly is not another car out there like it! Everyone reading this post wishes that
they were you! Think wisely before you decide. Good luck, and keep us informed!

 

[GetX'd]

This is my car about 5 years ago. Same color and everything. Sans the hemi. I did a ground up and of course spent more than I originally intended to. When you start of do this you’ll find you’ll also want to do that. Given the car is a hemi I would go with option 2 especially since you can do a lot of the work yourself. That wasn’t the case with me. Do the car justice. Not many 68 GTX Hemi cars out there. Just don’t go to the extent that you won’t want to drive it. Good luck and keep us in the loop.

 

[munger77]

#4, and replace wheels and tires. just my opinion,

 

[Beep!Beep!]

Try option 4 first then if not happy option 3 . If its not drivin it not livin

 

[gdrill]

I would only ad my 2 cents. Do you want to build it or do you want to drive it? They are not the same.
If you build it, you will not get full driving enjoyment. The investment is simply too much to justify driving and risking damage. Every time you drive, you will be nervous. Rightfully so.
If you drive it, (which I would do), you will simply need to care for and maintain the car as you get full pleasure of the car for what it was meant to be. The investment is much less, and the smiles per gallon are way up. There is a lot to be said for the car before it becomes a show piece.

 

[mopar 3 B]

To many cars get stored in boxes and never driven. If it needs something fix it if not don't. I am all for option #4.

 

[wldgtx]

Thanks everyone. I think the path I am going to take is to address the items that are most needed and get it on the road to enjoy.

 

[64BEL]

Very cool car, wldgtx! My opinion is that there are enough low mileage museum pieces that don't get driven. These cars are meant to be driven. I'm to the age that I'm not saving miles on my car for the next owner. I drive it and enjoy it. When you have a valuable car, you can get sucked into the burden of worrying about what it's worth or would be worth or getting your money out of it in the end. Sounds like you aren't in that camp, so you're free to just enjoy the car.

I get asked a lot if I'm going to restore my Satellite. I don't have that intention for several reasons. The main one is I just want to enjoy it and not have it off the road that long. Another is I think it's more interesting the way it is rather than restored. Rust and all. Finally, when I think of the cost of restoring it, I just can't fathom it. I'm looking toward retirement in the next 10 years. I don't want to have to work longer to support a massive auto restoration bill. I get the same thrill out of banging through the gears with the rust on the car as I would if it had a perfect body. In fact, probably more because I'm not driving a delicate china doll I have to worry about all the time.

Good luck with your car - it's fantastic! Love the color, too!

 

[wldgtx]

Very cool car, wldgtx! My opinion is that there are enough low mileage museum pieces that don't get driven. These cars are meant to be driven. I'm to the age that I'm not saving miles on my car for the next owner. I drive it and enjoy it. When you have a valuable car, you can get sucked into the burden of worrying about what it's worth or would be worth or getting your money out of it in the end. Sounds like you aren't in that camp, so you're free to just enjoy the car.

I get asked a lot if I'm going to restore my Satellite. I don't have that intention for several reasons. The main one is I just want to enjoy it and not have it off the road that long. Another is I think it's more interesting the way it is rather than restored. Rust and all. Finally, when I think of the cost of restoring it, I just can't fathom it. I'm looking toward retirement in the next 10 years. I don't want to have to work longer to support a massive auto restoration bill. I get the same thrill out of banging through the gears with the rust on the car as I would if it had a perfect body. In fact, probably more because I'm not driving a delicate china doll I have to worry about all the time.

Good luck with your car - it's fantastic! Love the color, too!

Let's be honest whether the car was $10k or $100k, the very last thing I would ever do is buy or restore a car to just sit in the garage or barn. I fully intend on banging gears and having fun with this car, my opinion is that they were built to enjoy. But I respect that the definition of "enjoy" is different for everyone!