Generally, I consider buying restored as the people in the business know a lot more about it than I do. I only want to end up with a very fine working model (in my case it is the 65 wildcat). However,to restore? ...and that is a BIG question,...My local restoration shop has done some pretty spiffy stuff in his off-frame total restorations. Since the money bags haven't fallen out of the sky quite yet, I need to think hard and fast. Since restoreable options are available, considerably cheaper, I may be able to get into it sooner. I ask others out there, How much money do I need to have inplace to A) buy, B) have in the coffers to pay installments to the builder, C) what about the parts suplies out there in 65 wildcat kingdom?? Then,.. isn't it usually better in the long run, financially, to buy already built, but find that more desperate seller, to dicker with? There is the variable of "pandoras box" as well, which is usually less with the already restored cars. Opinions are very welcome. Manfred:idea2:
I bought my Skylark ten years ago and it was a low milege car but needed a paint job, new exhaust, and a few little odds and ends - definitely a nice driver but not a show car. Got a good deal on it and have been able to drive it all along for the next ten years while fixing it up as I like it. Probably have $10,000 total into the car now which includes buying it, the paint job, and other things I have added to it. If I had tried to save up to buy a really nice restored car I would probably have had to wait another 6 or seven years instead of buying it when I did.
Restorations are like icebergs....the problems you see are only about 20% of what is wrong. Restoring a car takes a lot of time, patience, money, and perserverence. And, the amount it will cost is usually at least 25-50% more than you thought. So, my recommendation is to buy the best body and frame you can find. That is where the most expense goes. Also, buy a complete car. Some of the parts are "chicken lips"....ou:
Id say buy done ive been waiting 3 yrs for my gsx clone to get painted not to mention the money involved. im considering selling it and buyin a restored car.
Restored or clean original (like the 72 Skylark in the 'cars for sale' section). Like Paul said- 'an iceberg'. These darn cars nickle and dime you to DEATH. Ask anyone here who has purchased a $2000-$2500 'project'. Bumpers, core support, fenders, quarters, floors, paint... Right there is roughly $10,000. Then ad suspension, rims, tires, interior, driveline.... My advise, for what it is worth (nothing), save your change, put a little aside each week and purchase a car that is finished. Good luck- which ever way you decide!
I bought a 71 lark 350 custom 6 years ago with the intention to restore it & make it a 455 Gsx Clone. I bought the car for $1400. It needed fenders, 1/4 panels, Big block, pretty much everything. What it did have was good floors, trunk pan & dashboard. Also it had a ratty vinyl roof which kept the roof in good condition (surprisingly). I did the complete restoration myself and learned so much in the process. Also it reconnected me with my father. He became my helper & he learned alot also. I was 30 at the time we started the resto & he had some old school knowledge & I brought some new school to the project. Long story short..I get a lot of satisfaction in the fact that I built it. Dollar wise my out of pocket cost is around $18-$20k over the 4 years. And I swithced it over to a manual transmission. I want to build another one. I get as much enjoyment out of building it as I do driving it. This is the car in my avatar.
Hi Chris, yeah,... O.K. That's a point well taken. I see that someone in Jacksonville has a car that I could restore, but it would likely be an off-frame total restore, but i'm not certain. There are others, with almost nothing needed, but at a higher cost. It always boils down to $$$ available, doesn't it! Thanks, Manfred
hi Paul, Now your reply sends up enough red flags to want to get a restored or good driver car. I DO know what you mean about hidden costs. I might have to wait, but then again, sometimes good deals just pop up when your looking. Meanwhile I'm saving my pennies. Manfred
That sounds sooo wise! I mentioned in my original thread that it can be like a pandoras box (check wickepedia for meaning). So much time and hidden costs that can deflate the love-of-car-balloon pretty quick. I'll probably buy a done car, or a good original. Manfred
It is almost a universal principle of owning muscle cars that it is cheaper to buy a quality resto than to restore. For the do it yourself owners who say this is not always true, they so often fail to include the time value of their money and labor during the resto period and they fail to include the hourly cost of their own labor. So when you hear someone say they came out cheaper doing the resto themselves they mean in out of pocket dollars. This is not the same as the true cost of the resto.
I recommend you buy this car: It looks very nice and it appears to have low mileage. http://www.cars-on-line.com/29328.html Restoring a Wildcat will cost way more than they are worth in the market. Take it from me, I know! Good luck.
That is a great example of one you can get into cheap and still have a great car that needs little or nothing.
Well, I was going to type something like this, but it sums it up perfectly. Especially in today's declining market, it is less expensive to buy one ready to go.
The only way I see it being feasable to restore a rusty car is for the owner to give you the car, then throw in 20-30K to help you get started with the resto....makes cents to Buy one dun...
You know guys, I really appreciate all the good wisdom from either side of the street. I do know the wisdom of buying already restored, its just that a guy gets lonely for his dream early, if you know what I mean! Just selling my ford escape won't come up with the dollars I need yet. I happen to know the cars are at least around a dozen K if not more and my escape has to pay off some on my credit card as well, so I am waiting. The estate that is slowly coming my way will be the ticket, but The old man, my good father was also a buick lover (66 wildcat). He is precious to me as well. I want him to come to know the Lord before he goes. That is more precious than a car for sure. Lord willing. Manfred p.s. By the way, Ted, How much for the red beaut??? is it the same one that is on the other website with the black page? I love the turning lights. same as I had on mine in 1972 (4-dr 65 cat)
Buy a car that is in good shape, and can be driven. You can work on it and still enjoy it at the same time.
Sometimes when I hear this argument , it's not a choice between the 2 . Say you want a 71 GS 455 4 speed convertible. You don't have a choice of buying a restored or one that needs to be restored. Good luck finding EITHER . If what you want is a rare car to begin with , you might not find one in the price range you want (already done and costing too much ) , or it might need a frame off , ( no help if you'd like to drive it right away). I have seen and passed on a few cars that didn't have the options I wanted ,( A/C ) , or were a crummy color, which I wouldn't change from the factory color. Whatever your choice is, buying a finished car would be you best bet in my opinion . Drive it and enjoy right away.
Hey wait a minute! I should have noticed the trees in the picture! That's the one from Arkansas! I've been looking at that one for some time, just not the trees in the back picture. I should have clicked the last nights letter link from you,Ted, and I wouldn't have had the Ques for you. I already know what he wants, I've talked to him on the phone. Dang it, I'm so ready in my dreams, But I don't entertain the lotteries. It's good money after bad. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Manfred
You are right on this for sure-that is why I am restoring my 4-speed Wildcat- I have never seen one restored...if there are any out there that have been restored I would like to know about them! WildBill has the only thing close and TopCat is in "strong hands" :TU:
The most expensive car I ever owned was a $300 '69 Riviera. When I sold it for around $14K I had well over $25 K into it and it still needed more. I just had to stop the bleeding. If you can do a lot of the work yourself then buying a project makes more sense. If you plan on hauling the car to a restorer and letting them do all the work you will most likely be upside down on the deal before the bodywork is begun. Granted you will probably have a nice car but don't be expecting a return on your investment for a loooong time. I am a bit of a perfectionist and if I bought a "done" car I'd still be tearing into it redoing everything that I didn't like. My '65 Skylark was redone about 8 years ago. All told, I probably have around $18K into it. I did all the reassembly but none of the body or paint work. I also paid an upholsterer to do the headliner and seat upholstery kit. I didn't touch the bottom end of the motor but I did redo the heads for unleaded and installed a new timing chain. Skylarks have many more repro parts on the market than Wildcats. Mine has a completely new suspension, steering (including close ratio box) and aftermarket front and rear sway bars. I added front disc brakes along with a dual master power reservoir for safety. All told it added up pretty quick even with me doing most of the work. If you can live with someone else's work, I'd recommend buying a complete "done" car if cost is your big concern.
