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Buy it Done or Restore It ?

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Re: Keep an eye on your wrench to ride ratio.

After considering these questions for awile now, I think, at least in my case, Restore a basket case for the first one. Anything that follows should start as a runner.
 
Re: Keep an eye on your wrench to ride ratio.

OK, I'll join in. I choose #2 and that is what I did. Fully restored car with only 600 miles on it. Had PO bring it to Healey Surgeons to look over. They found additional things to do and I said do it. I wanted a problem free, just turn the key and have fun Healey. Had the car delivered from Maryland to California. As Healey Surgeons said, car was in very nice condition. Even though the paint was shinny new, you could tell it was painted at a so so body shop. Looks like an old car when you look down the sides. I'd say a 10 footer.

The body shops told me, all it needs is a little block and sanding. Well, long story short, blocking and sanding turned into a full body bead blast. Then the nightmare of please work on my car so I can have it back. Down side, it took them 19 months "in between jobs" to work on my car. Deep down side, I only had my car two weeks before sending it for the one month block/sand paint job. (insert ouch here)

Now the good news. I ended up getting involved in the tear down and now I'm putting her back together. I've learned so much about this car and have gotten to know some wonderful people here because of that. Up side, I'm not afraid to wrench on her and can drive with more confidence because I have spent some quality time knowing how she was made.

A friend of mine goes with the ignorance is bliss. She runs good, looks good, she's good. I found that along the way, the more I found out about my Healey, the more I found I didn't know, or found the PO did wrong. The paint job became a restoration of sorts. And I'm glad it did. I'm finding out what a truly wonderful car she is. And I want her to be all she can.

As always, I thank the wonderful people here that help each of us along the way. What a great forum. Roger
 
Re: Keep an eye on your wrench to ride ratio.

[ QUOTE ]
OK, I'll join in. I choose #2....

[/ QUOTE ]

Its sounds a little like you ended up with a 1 5/8 rather than a full 2.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

Mine, unfortunately, was probably only fractional...less than 1.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Re: Keep an eye on your wrench to ride ratio.

Now that's my kind of car.

It is in better condition than the BJ7 I finished two years ago and much better condition than the BN7 I am building now. I never have the discipline to save for a large purchase so fortunately I have some of the talent to build one from scrap.
 
This is the ultimate question for anyone considering a
classic car. My first and third big Healey were projects.
Healey #2 was a turn-key car, and I drove it for many
years.

The answer really depends on the buyers skill (real or
perceived), financial situation, and enthusiasm.

My answer....I'd get a fixer upper and restore it the way
I want it restored. May take many years, but its worth
the time, grief, and money IMO.
 
Re: Keep an eye on your wrench to ride ratio.

I think I would drive a Mini Van before I'd attempt to save that one. (wouldn't mind robbing a few parts from it though} /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
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