Four Reasons NOT to Restore a Car

[red_dog007]

#4 can be taken out of there depending on the person.

Plus depending on who you deal with, you can make a BUNCH of money off of a restored car.

Its a hobby just like anything else. Any hobby costs money, and depending on which car you have, you can have a really cheap hobby. I go to a computer forum, and these guys put more money into their computer per year then how much money I put into my truck per year just for gas.

1.) You never make money off most hobbies. *Don't rebuild that computer, you wont make money off of it!*

2.) Usually happens in every hobby

3.) Have someone else do it in a week for you instead if you don't want to finish you lazy bum.

4.) Its a hobby and it might even be sentimental. If my dad had a kicka$$ Ford truck from the 50's that I grew up with, I would keep it if given to me even if it needed $25,000 worth of work. Hell, I would even restore that puppy, and give it back to my dad. I might be able to get him to cry this way. Sentimental value means much more to me and my family than money.

[beandip]

John Coffey's posted article really nailed it. The Truth some times hurts when you don't agree with some information that is contrary your own wants or desires. I know on my Z for an example . She cost me $500.00 to start with. She is now mostly completed. Almost all the work was done in my garage by me. I had help from my friend EScanlon , lots of help. My project took about 38+ months to have the Z up and roadworthy . I did all the mechanical and much of the body work and most of the prep for paint . I disassembled the car with the exception of the dash , EScanlon R&R ed the dash. So I didn't have much labor costs involved, I calculate about $500.00 out of pocket for welding . Parts and supplies are a different matter. I don't count my time spent on the Z or the time at Bone Yards and such . My Z is now a good looking driver , not show quality, but nice. I sat down and started listing all the things that I have replaced and or rebuilt and it covered two legal pages and I wasn't done. I didnt rebuild the engine either. I did replace the L-24 with a '82ZX engine that had been rebuilt and had 35K on it. My Z I redid for me. She is not period perfect and I was never aiming for a restoration . Would I do another one ? If I were younger maybe. But now I would rather help someone else on there car and drive mine . Sort of like having Grandchildren, you get to play with them and have the fun , then they go home with there Parents. My 2cts Gary

[astrohog]

Nobody has thought of this yet......

If nobody restored cars (because you cannot make any money doing it) than there would not be any restored or almost restored cars for the rest of us to purchase.......

SO.........

Continue on gentlemen, and have FUN doing it!!!!!

Now where did I put my tool box and those new parts.......

Regards,

Astrohog

[Fun_in_my_z]

Half the problem is this country's lasy streak. If people would get off their asses and do the work then their would be more cars.

[ChrisA]

How about finding a 1964 289 Cobra in a barn and NOT giving it a complete restoration......

http://www.motortrend.com/features/consumer/112_0704_1964_shelby_cobra_289/

Chris

[sblake01]

I didn't purchase any of the vehicles I presently own with the idea of making money on them. I don't have as much invested in any of them as some do. But there is the sentimentality issue on the truck. In 1980, my father loaned me the money to buy it. It was only $100, the truck was in pretty rough shape. When I went to give him back the money, he said "never mind, think of it as a Christmas present". I had purchased the truck on 12/24/80 and it was about March or April the following year (81) when I attempted to pay him back. He passed away in January 1982. I doubt if I would ever sell it due to that link with my father.

[Mr Camouflage]

Bought my first 240z for $2500. Spent around $1000 restoring it (I did the panel and paint myself, only paid to get the seats re-trimmed). Sold it a few years later for $4200. Not a great profit, but I wasn't doing it to make money.

Bought a car for $15 once, restored that, and sold it a few years later. Cant remember how much for, but I didn't loose money on it. Again I wasn't trying to make money, I just wanted that particular type of car at the time, and am handy with bodywork.

So if you are careful, and you just want to tidy up the car, as opposed to a full concourse restoration, you might not loose money.

Though its probably easier and quicker to spend the money and buy a car that someone else has spent the time and money restoring. Then you could enjoy driving it, but then you may as well just buy a brand new car.

I enjoy fixing up old cars, though I don't really have any time to be doing it lately

[bpilati]

I'm not restoring my Z, but I am repairing it. I don't do it because I think I can make money, although fixing up a car that appreciates about 5%/year, is better than fixing up a car that depreciates about 10%/year. It's a classic and a dream I've had for many many years, and it has an awesome legacy. I'm trying to keep it stock to the most reasonable extent that I can afford with some minor improvements. I think people appreciate a classic car that is in good shape as a great hobby and a way to celebrate history.

[wishihadaz]

We all spend money for something.

I hope most of us aren't foolish in believing that this undertaking is an investment.

I have a sick addition to these cars, so I really don't care as long as I can enjoy the Marque.

John's Betamotorsports pages are full of priceless memories too!

[240znz]

Anyone who has done a complete rebuild/resto on a S30 would think twice before doing another one. Not because it is probable going to cost more than buying one already done, but for the shear time commitment it takes to do it right. Oh, and the space required to store those parts.

Also if you worked out what it would cost you before you did it, then add 30% because that is what it will cost extra, then that would kill many of the best intended resto projects dead.

But heh, I'm doing mine because its been a childhood dream to own one. To make it worse, I found a low VIN one and that to my peril makes me feel as though I should do it right. Emotional about a lump of metal, yes. Weird, yes!

[Fuzz260z]

i knew when i bought my Z i wasnt going to make money, i never plan on selling it.i never plan to stop spending money on it, and i KNOW i will never finish it, there will always be somthing to do on it. i dont see these 3 reasons not to restore a car, i see them as three reasons why i should restore a car! i love working on my Z no matter what the task, and i it makes me happy knowing i will always have somthing to work on. every cent i spend on my car, i dont see as wasted, its money well spent. and as for selling my Z to make a profit? that just horrifys me, ill never sell it!!

Fuzz

[John Coffey]

The only time I ever made money fixing up my own car:

Purchased a 1961 Ford Falcon with no interior for $5. I screwed a beach chair (found next to someone's trash can on trash day) to the floor pan with self tapping sheet metal screws and painted the car with $12 of rattle cans. Sold it a week later for $100.

I do make money fixing up other people's cars, but I would take home more money if I had stayed in the software industry.