Why $$$ restore ???

[TR6oldtimer]

All this hand ringing on the cost of restoring a classic. How much do you lose on most new cars? 10%-15% just driving one off the lot? Then how much each year? At least a restored LBC goes up in value.

I have the money to go the max on my six and not lift a finger. But that would not be fun for me. Others may enjoy strutting around a "perfect" car they never drive and put no sweat into, but not me. So I plod on, knowing I will not have the perfect car, but it will be mine.

Just remember it is a hobby, spend what you can or want, to get to the level of enjoyment that will please you and all will be right.

 

[Basil]

All this hand ringing on the cost of restoring a classic. How much do you lose on most new cars? 10%-15% just driving one off the lot? Then how much each year? At least a restored LBC goes up in value.

I get your point, but I think it depends on the car. Not all LBCs go up in value, at least not enough to warrant a $10 paint job. In my case, I wring my hands because my little Spitfire will never be worth what I'll probably end up sinking into it, so if I can reduce my cost of "restoration," but still enjoy the car, then I'm happy. My Jaguar and Daimler are different stories, because they both will be worth something someday (I hope). Not so my Spit, which is probably worth less restored than what I paid for it 15 years ago.

 

[Brosky]

Perfection is also in the eye of the owner. It is ultimately derived from many hours of pleasure in working on the car and or driving it.

And there is no such thing as a perfect car. One can find a flaw in a Pebble Beach winner if you look hard enough. The perfection comes in how it fits each of our goals and objectives, no matter how you get there. I got sick of working on cars years ago when I had to do it for a living and I now pay to have a lot of my work done because I don't have the time or care to do it myself. But I've had my fun with other cars and can fix anything that needs to be fixed if it breaks. Others enjoy working on their car daily, which is fine. Both avenues are still part of the hobby.

 

[WA1KWA]

Price automotive paint lately?

You're around $2,000 in materials alone for a properly done repaint. Not a quickie respray. Repairing body damage in a 30 year old car, prep sanding, rubber grommits, trim that will need to be replaced. priming, sanding, prime again, sand again, etc., etc., etc.. Same with the paint coat. And most of the material ends up in the shop filtration system, not on the car. Multiply that time by the labor rate you will pay.

Now, you haven't even touched the mechanicals, electrical or interior.

And our cars, as previously mentioned, are cheap, readily available. So are the parts.

And you're upside down, like the rest of us!

Like the vast majority here, I do it because I want to, not to put my kid through Harvard.

Colin

 

[TR6oldtimer]

I get your point, but I think it depends on the car. Not all LBCs go up in value, at least not enough to warrant a $10 paint job. In my case, I wring my hands because my little Spitfire will never be worth what I'll probably end up sinking into it, so if I can reduce my cost of "restoration," but still enjoy the car, then I'm happy. My Jaguar and Daimler are different stories, because they both will be worth something someday (I hope). Not so my Spit, which is probably worth less restored than what I paid for it 15 years ago.

Basil, I have to disagree with your notion that a Spit will not go up in value, all you need to do is live a long time, well maybe a very very long time. So here's to you having a long life and prospering.

 

[Bob Claffie]

Thanks to all for your ideas and insights. I may have given you the wrong idea, I do not have to make money on a car after I get tired of it but it irks me to have to sell at a loss to "pay" for my enjoyment in restoring it.

A couple examples of being turned off on the resto "fun". When I wanted to get my newly built Cobra replica painted the local shop refused to even give me a quote because "we make a lot more money doing insurance work". Or more recently, a former friend (a professional welder) who charged me $250 for about 20 minutes of welding on my AH front shroud.

Yes, local trade school classes are good. Couple years ago I took a 10 week welding course, got pretty good at it. Do I want to buy a 6 or 8 hundred $ Mig so I can replace rocker panels? Absolutely not.

The reason for wanting a Spitfire is because years ago I raced two of them with the SCCA and I still have a soft spot in my head for them, also because I know them backward and forward. I realize the chances of recovering my investment with a "big" TR are light years better but I have no desire for one.

Being many years retired and able to do pretty much whatever I want, maybe this year I will take a break from the hobby and enjoy the Cruise scene with my fake cobra and vintage Corvette. Bob

 

[roofman]

Not for you guys with concours dreams, but for those that just want a nice atractive car don't forget about Maaco and similar places. I have had 3 of my work trucks painted at our local Maaco over the years. Some of these places employ dang good painters. I have paid around $400-$500 each time and I have been more than satisfied each time. The paint jobs I have had are good, and they hold up, as each of these trucks are never inside, and it is real hot here in the summer. Check out the cars coming out of your local shop, and see for yourself. I wouldn't hesitate to use the one here on a $5000 or so car. Note that it will cost more for painting in the trunk and door jams ect. but even if it got closer to $1k it is still a bargain.

 

[emmett1010]

How about a bug eye sprite!
You've got a corvette and a cobra. Enough speed- Buy something camp that will not go down in value.
You can soup it up if you want to.
You can leave it in primer-
Emmett
I've always wanted one

 

[Brosky]

So have I. That and a black, bumper less TR3 & TR4. Brothers parked side by side in a big garage, with the TR6 beside them. The TR3 would be red inside and the TR4 would be all black.

The Bugeye would be some exotic color, TBD. I fell in love with them two years ago when a buddy broke down in his at the Cape Cod show hotel and he and I fixed a broken wire in the generator by flashlight that night. I like the way the front end lifts up as a unit.

 

[tdskip]

Something like this maybe? <grin>

 

[Brosky]

Tom,

I was actually thinking of a wild candy apple red, just about like that, with a little gold flake in the base to jazz it up.

Oh well, back to reality. No more car projects for a while. The house takes priority for the next two years.

Now back to Bob and his scheduled program. Sorry for stealing the thread Bob!

 

[NickMorgan]

Bob,
You have done very well if you have managed to break-even or make a profit on any restoration you have done.
I have made money on cars in the past, but two of those were moderns that were wrecked, which I rebuilt in my younger days using parts from a breakers yard.
Strangely the other car that I made a profit on was a TR4A that was "fully restored" (like Cryptie) by the previous owner. After then rebuilding the chassis, bodywork, a re-spray, new suspension, re-trim and soft top I used it for five years and sold it when prices went silly at the beginning of the 90s. I only made money because the prices of cars had gone up so much and the buyer didn't argue with my asking price.
I then bought a TR3A - total wreck, although mostly rust-free. Having previously needed to rebuild my "fully restored" TR4A I thought that I would start from scratch. Unfortunately, everything on that car was useless. It took me 8 years and cost me more than $30,000. I sold it for half that!
I don't know what is the best thing to do. The classic car press recommend a rebuilt car that has already had the money spent on it. They say not to buy a car that is reasonalby OK as it will cost as much as a wreck to rebuild.
I think that unless you enjoy working on cars it would be best to take up another hobby. It is certainly not worth trying to make money out of old Triumphs unless you are doing the work for someone else.
Nick

 

[Brosky]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]The classic car press recommend a rebuilt car that has already had the money spent on it.[/QUOTE]

That is very true, Nick and what I alluded to above. The key is finding a car that had the money spent on the right areas. If you can be sure of getting a car with a good frame and solid engine, that was not covered with bondo, the brakes, interior, suspension, etc. can be done by most guys with a little help.

The scary cars are the ones that I see at club events that have a ton of money in them and the poor quality is shining through. That scares me as to what can't be readily seen.

As usual, it's caveat emptor, even if the seller has a pile of receipts in his hand.

 

[mrv8q]

That and a black, bumper less TR3 & TR4. Brothers parked side by side in a big garage, with the TR6 beside them. The TR3 would be red inside and the TR4 would be all black.

Paul, here's a pic for your wish list.... this is about the nicest restored stock TR3 I've seen.... Owned by a guy in one of our local clubs. I'm ashamed to park my unrestored 3 next to his.....

 

[TR6BILL]

That is gorgeous. Exactly the same as my 59 I used to own. Well, not exactly. Mine was not quite that nice.

 

[angelfj1]

That and a black, bumper less TR3 & TR4. Brothers parked side by side in a big garage, with the TR6 beside them. The TR3 would be red inside and the TR4 would be all black.

Paul, here's a pic for your wish list.... this is about the nicest restored stock TR3 I've seen.... Owned by a guy in one of our local clubs. I'm ashamed to park my unrestored 3 next to his.....

That looks like Don Elliott's TRusty! or a clone?

 

[DNK]

The next classic car I buy will already be done.
Course ,said that before.daughter wants a 3 and I want a XKE or,god forbid,
a Ferrari 308. Black with black leather.

 

[Brosky]

Kevin,

It would be a crime to touch that car except for service as needed. That would have to be driven as is for a long time.

And Don, a 308 Ferrari for me would have to be red and black inside, although B/B looks great too.

 

[DNK]

Naw, red says "How big a ticket do ya want"

 

[Brosky]

If either of us end up with a Ferrari, there will be no question as to how big the tickets will be, no matter what the colors are.