I've heard it said that the old car hobby is a sickness and that we (all of us involved) will put more money into fixing up a heap than it will possibly ever be worth only because we don't consider the value (dollarwise) of our own time. Perhaps it's true, but who cares.
Which brings to mind a related (lengthy) quote from a web site dedicated to hobby lathes:
https://www.mini-lathe.com/Mini_lathe/Start/start.htm
"Tool Envy Syndrome (TES) is a serious condition that afflicts, in varying degrees, nearly all men who are interested in mechanical things. It is very important to recognize and deal with this condition before it becomes serious; left untreated it can lead to a far more serious condition: Inflammation of the Credit Card (ICC). TES is known to strike under the following circumstances:
Browsing the latest tool catalogs or sale flyers
Visiting stores such as Grizzly or Harbor Freight (Warning: while much less than in earlier years, the tool department at Sears can still trigger small attacks)
Visiting the shop of a friend who has more or better tools than you have,
Surfing the web site of someone with a well-equipped shop
Seeing a well-equipped shop in magazines such as Home Shop Machinist.
Tool Envy Syndrome tends to strike young men particularly hard, due its close relationship to a similar condition: Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). Over time, in most men, both of these conditions tend to lessen in severity. In fact, it can be shown that gradual accumulation of tools and gear over a period of years can control both conditions while minimizing the risk of Inflammation of the Credit Card (this is known as the Mature Phase). It has also been widely observed that getting married and having children can moderate the risk; primarily, it is believed, due to counseling from a loving wife and the sobering effect of having lots more bills to pay.