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Can it be Restored?

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Just a thought; the description includes a "hardtop" but the photos clearly show a soft top on the car. If "hardtop" is really a surrey top, or even just the bones of a surrey top; it would be worth several times the current bid.

Honestly, it doesn't look that bad to me. Certainly not where I would want to start for a concours restoration, but I think it could fairly easily be made into a "2 footer". You could probably even pay yourself minimum wage by doing all the bodywork in fiberglass and Bondo, slapping a coat of paint on, maybe a pretty new dash & some seat covers; and flipping it.

Except for the surface rust & dash, it's not a lot worse than my current project (which is currently at Earl Scheib for $1700 worth of body work plus $1000 for paint).
 
That's about the same shape mine is in. Kinda like the quote I saw somewhere on a LBC site "I found a good bolt and restored a car around it". I am doing mine a piece at a time as the budget allows.

If you are planning on doing the majority of the build yourself, and were going to replace virtually everything anyway, then it may be a decent deal. If you are the type that farms most of the work out, then might as well pick up something that has already had that farm out work done.
 
But bargains are still around. Went with a friend to look at a 4A he was considering. Turned out to be a one-owner car with original paint and California black plates. Paint was faded but I could not find any rust in the usual places... trailing arms etc seemed sound... engine was not seized but not running either.

Guy wanted 1200 for it, my friend asked if he'd take 1000. I got down on my knees and pretended to examine a tire as I could not keep a straight face.

He got it for the thousand -- on the ride home I assured him the front wings were probably worth that much.

If it was me I would have done the brakes and got it running & driving. He will do a complete nut and bolt -- but with a great car to work with.
 
:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

WE'RE NOT WORTHY!
 
It all depends on what you consider to be a "restoration project" and the skills, time, and money you are willing to devote to it.

If you work in a body shop or have a knack for body work, then your main focus might well be making the car look stunning, while wanting to invest minimally on the mechanics. In this case a car that runs great but has a few dings and rust might better suit your talents than one that needs an engine and tranny rebuild.

On the other hand, if you are clueless about bodywork but can hone cylinders in your sleep, then you will want to get a car that has a great body but could use a ground up mechanical overhaul, and you'll farm out the bodywork and painting to the pros.

And if you are complete anal retentives like my son and I, you'll dive into the project, insist on sewing your own seats, banging out your own bodywork, doing your own painting, rebuilding your own engine, and insisting that every bolt and part on the car be either new or rebuilt to look new. This means a lot of time spent on labor and money on parts.

If you just want to drive the car, buy one that someone else has restored :smile:
 
CraigLandrum said:
If you just want to drive the car, buy one that someone else has restored :smile:
Click to expand...
Like Dale did ?
:devilgrin:

Seriously, that is exactly why I spent the insurance money from the 3A on a 'project' car. I want the bodges to be my bodges, not someone else's !
 
TR3driver said:
Seriously, that is exactly why I spent the insurance money from the 3A on a 'project' car. I want the bodges to be my bodges, not someone else's !
Click to expand...

Yeah... there's something to be said for that... while my Spit 6 is turning into more of a project than I anticipated, I plan to keep it driveable for the most part. My 1800ES, on the other hand, makes this 4A look solid... and would be worth less if restored. I annoying part is I had resigned myself to stripping and parting it out, but now that I have it basically down to a rolling shell, the rust doesn't look as hard to fix... drives me nuts... :wall:
 
So I think the answer (working on a theme today) is that YES, it can be restored. Which is a good thing. The real question is this the right sort of project for you.
 
Buy it cheap, dip it in cosmoline, store it for 10-15 years, and you will make a bundle.

I wonder how much the front and rear bumpers will cost?

Anyway, it can be restored, with lots of money and hours.
 
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