Which way would you go doing a restoration?

[rlsbee]

I've always been of the school... its your car..... make it how you want it...

I agree...make it the way you want it. My car is not original but could easily be restored to original. I keep all original parts. It is a numbers matching car but I've done a few non-original things that please me. You can't do better than being happy when you drive it.

 

[Photon440]

So what you are saying is technically a fully restored car can't possibly be original?

I guess what I am thinking is a restored concourse car fetches a boat load of money even though it's technically not original anymore?

In that case wouldn't it be considered a resto mod?? or just a resto I think I'm confusing myself now....

Well, unless you can figure out how to restore it with the original paint...

 

[shart70rt]

I go with the earlier reply - do what you want, but keep the original parts for the future. I'm adding a bunch of new stuff to my 70 Charger RT, and the original parts are being cleaned, lubed, boxed, and put away. Doesn't really matter what others think, do it for you. I need A/C and reliability now.

 

[Sweet5ltr]

My opinion is that you will NEVER see a profit on a restoration. To get a basic restoration done, to get the car drive-able while doing all the work yourself is going to cost over $20,000 (trust me!). To get the car in "show quality" condition, very few individuals can do all the work themselves. Just a high end, base coat clear coat paint job is going to run you $3,000-5,000 for a SINGLE COLOR from a reputable paint shop. Nuts and bolts alone are going to cost well over $1,000. I would build the car like "I" wanted and not care about the resale value. It's a hobby, not an investment like it once was. For the price you could make it "all original", you could have in place a modern 6.1 Hemi with a six speed and disc brakes all around, etc. This will get you FAR MORE looks at ANY car show than a plain ol' bland restoration project. More people surround my car because of the roadrunner decals and pistol grip shifter than they do a $120,000 Corvette ZR1. Personality is what a muscle car is, and always should be. Don't make it into a car that you cannot enjoy because it is too nice to even take out on a sunny day. Hope you do the 'right' thing, and stuff a big inch' hemi and terrorize the streets like the car was designed to do! Take care.

 

[RamNBee]

If you want to get "Top Dollar" for it, you are going to spend "Top Dollar". If you want to make the maximum profit, give it a good detailing and sell it now. I used to work in a restoration shop and can tell you that every one from a "budget"job to a high end job was more than estimated. Either from hidden damage and rot or the owner not knowing or having a good plan as to what they wanted. It is very expensive to make changes midstream. My .02/
Norman

 

[chev1171]

My 2 cents

Having been "there" be ready to probably dump a large amount of money depending on your mechanical skills. When I did my Dart , my frustrations were "where do I stop". Remember that there is more to a car other than the exterior. Deal with the interior, engine bay, tires, glass , mechanical etc. The other factor is how rare is the car . Some cars , no doubt will allow you to potentially recover some of your investment, whereas others are just a money pit. Do what you want to do to enjoy it for yourself and not what other people think. IT'S YOUR CAR. If I were to do it over again if the car didn't have any sentimental value ( like it was your first new car etc) I'd buy a turn key car. Have you prepared a rough budget as to what you can expect? But that's what makes us all individuals. Whatever the outcome GOOD LUCK and ENJOY !!!!:headbang:

 

[2059]

Look, first off it's your car, do what you want. Second, there are SO FEW true "matching numbers" cars out there, I'd restore it to orig. Either way, have plenty of cash because every time you so much as look at it, you may as well throw a wad of $100 bills at it. Good Luck with your decision and project. keep us posted...

 

[citadel]

thank guys this is all great feedback. I have most of the interior stuff already taken care of.. I hope

I get the cluster back from Auto Instruments next week. I had the seats redone- new foams, blasted and painted the frames and redid the covers. The radio came back form Ward's Radio about a month ago. The dash is pulled and blasted and will be painted next week with the correct suede paint I got from Mike Mancini. All the dash pads were cleaned and them painted with SEM black. The ash tray, heater control switch plate and the dash control switch plate and rockers were sent to Performance Car Graphics and should be done in a few weeks. We even redid the VIN plate with new paint and the dry rub logo.
We have new ACC carpet, new center console, new emblems, new correct restored wood grain steering wheel from Steering Wheels by Mike, completely restored heater box from the heater box guy, etc.... Basically the entire interior will be restored or replaced with Legendary or Year One stuff.
I know there is tons left especially after we see what is there after media blasting!

 

[Bruzilla]

I look at it this way: if it were 1969, and I was looking at the car in a Plymouth dealership, would I buy it or would I put my money into a car with better options? If you wouldn't have dropped a lot of money into that car in 1969, why would you want to drop it in there now by keeping it original? To appease other collectors? To protect resale value?

To the first, they aren't paying for dick, so who cares what they think. To the second, there's no guarantee when it comes to market value, so you end up driving a car that's less than you want for as long as you own it, only to find when you sell it that the market has gone down. There is no guarantee prices for these cars will stay high, but, you can guarantee you will enjoy the car more by modding it.

 

[blackblazer717]

You asked so, here it goes. Me being a fellow ragtop owner. Being that these are as rare and acarce as they are i would "restore it correctly" not create a restomod. Thts what sattys are for

 

[moparstuart]

You asked so, here it goes. Me being a fellow ragtop owner. Being that these are as rare and acarce as they are i would "restore it correctly" not create a restomod. Thts what sattys are for

but they made just as few sattys

 

[Malicious]

For me it would be real hard not to go the numbers restored route. Having said that, I'd me to worried about the value to enjoy it, so I'd probably sell, but something that I could have fun with and modify without guilt. I know me and I know it wont be long till I get the bug and start modifying it!

 

[RS23VOA]

I've gone the resto/day 1 resto for 30 years depending on the car. I like a stock engine compartment with no chrome and bone stock looking. My cars don't get raced so i use stock converters, clutches, etc. I'm tired of spending all the time and money and putting the car in a garage and looking at it. My current project, my avatar, will be regularly driven and i will maintain the paint and mechanics as things happen.

I think the aftermarket valve covers and hoses and radiators and chrome alternators and big yellow coils are hideous and ruin the value of the car. I also think disk brakes that are added are a huge plus in that you can actually stop the car and makes it more enjoyable to drive. I don't mean the big truck master cylinder/brake components or the race stuff. Its easy enough to find stock components for a conversion. Power steering makes it more enjoyable to drive also. If you have the stock components, save them all in a safe place. You can have stock radios converted stereo so no one knows until you turn it on. Even headers and big/loud exhaust is ok if you keep the stock manifolds.

As far as cutting/hacking etc, then no, not a good idea. Black engine compartments in a color car is a no too!

 

[HT413]

Heres my answer. My car is a 69 belve original 318 2 door coupe. Was hit at some point and has a new driverside fender from a 69 sat. It was mini tubbed, 4 link, rust free but prob 50% non original sheet metal. It was never a high value car but all of that conspired to tmake it even less valuable to the point where i could afford it. Btw, it is exactly the car i've been looking for. You have a car with intrinsic value, dont devalue it by heading doen the one way street of cutting and welding. But paint it, put your air grabber hood on it, plug a tach into the cluster and have fun.

 

[pturner]

yours to do

its your car, do what you want. i am not restoring my 68 numbers correct, one owner Roadrunner for anyone but my wife and me. (it was her car originally).
i totally agree with Donny (Dr Blast), as my estimates at this point will be ~40K for the complete restore. the car is totally stripped going to media blast as soon as blasting guy is open.
i am installing a Reilly Motorsports front and rear suspension, custom 383 engine, March pullys, Classic Air, Keistler auto overdrive automatic, Atom MSD EFI, BUT, i am keeping all the original stock parts.
i want a sleeper Roadrunner with all the new advancements in automotive engineering.
just my 2 cents. i wouldnt expect many people to agree with me!
thanks
PT in Tennessee

 

[RustyRatRod]

So what you are saying is technically a fully restored car can't possibly be original?

I guess what I am thinking is a restored concourse car fetches a boat load of money even though it's technically not original anymore?

In that case wouldn't it be considered a resto mod?? or just a resto I think I'm confusing myself now....

No, it's restored. Restored is not original. Concours restored cars are not original. They are restored. Original only happens one time. Sorta like virginity.

 

[RustyRatRod]

All that said, I have a friend.....one of the owners of the transmission shop where I am helpin out. He has a numbers matching 70 Coronet Super Bee. Was reddish brown, 383 4 speed. This thing was such a complete and total rust bucket.....I am tellin yall. It would have made the best body man on earth run the other way. BUT, Charles fixed it....and he fixed it HIS way. He went back orange with the white Super Bee stripes, 440 six pack original 4 speed and rear end. He put so much new metal in the car, there's more new than old. He still has the numbers matching 383 in storage. He did the car his way and it looks GOOD. I asked him for some before shots and when I get some of both, I'll post them. As said, I would do it like you want to. Even though they ARE original only once, they are more fun if you have them like you want them.

 

[Lowhound]

I look at it this way. If you could go back in time & buy the car new; How would you have wanted it? Then build it the way you want but useing modern technology & parts if thats what you want. My Bee came factory auto but I wanted a 4-speed trans.It came with Fk5 paint,I like other colors better.Im also improving the handling some. If I could afford a Hemi it would have that to.Think about it then build it the way you want.

 

[Wylde1]

Build it the way you see fit. For me I'd add just about every factory option that I could and then have fun with it. But then again, I've never been a factory numbers kinda guy.



Wylde1.

 

[snakeyes]

:blob1::sSig_hihihi::sSig_welcometoourcl:reading:well lets see how about option #4 chop it channel it section it shorten it lower it bag it add a bell turbine engine narrow it add air horns , not sure if I missed anything , ha ha , build it your way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!