If they were dropped in your lap then your cost may be next to nothing and you can most likely sell as is for a profit or, you can bust your butt for how many hours fixing rust and unknowns, spend way more than you anticipated for parts and sell the car for how much of a loss?

I think maybe I gave you guys the wrong impression that I am trying to build a 50-100k car ...I am not trying to put that type of money into a car.

I appreciate all your feedback I am just wanting to build a nice streetable semi pro-touring car on a budget (I know pro-touring and budget SHOULD NOT go together in the same sentence LOL), I was jut trying to get opinions on BODY STYLE recommendations between the two cars.

Skylarks are the Chevelles of the Buick world, I guess I must be looking at it from a different point of view when it comes to 64-72 skylark especially when the suspension, brakes basically everything on the chassis is the same as the Chevelle down to the fuel tanks........I guess compared to some of the beginning projects that appear on this board where you see a RUSTED HULK of a shell and they have to buy ALL new sheet metal and have about 3-5k (MAYBE EVEN MORE) in sheet metal alone and compared to the body repairs of the 2 cars that I am dealing with I guess to me I consider myself lucky.

Again I realize that I will not get out what I have into the car but at the same time I realize that, so I am being realistic in which ever body I decide to go with ....again thanks for those that chimed in and offered up there thoughts.

FWIW - I didn't think you were going high dollar.

Sit down with note pad and start collecting realistic parts prices, factor labor, and other build related consumables then research the resale market. I just can't see how you can turn a profit on a car that's relatively low demand.

The only way I could justify the project would be if I was going to keep it a reasonable length of time and enjoy driving it.

I get into a project and usually end up adding another 10% to the cost just in new tools etc. :D

Sieg, I will take your advice on that notepad and pen :thankyou: , granted when all said and done it will probably only appeal to a smaller market (Buick lovers)_ and hopefully done tastefully enough it may appeal to others as well. I am definitely going to be enjoying this one for awhile (lol I cannot believe I just said that)!!

It might help some of these guys trying to help you out if you layed out what your plans and expectations are for the car.

The 67 has a lot of money in metal work to be done. Alot of that metal will have to be fabricated or taken from a donor. That can get pricey.

I know you are doing most of the work yourself but time is money and the longer you take the more money will sit.

Parts cost money, are you gonna rebuild our current power plants? Are you going to upgrade?

In my eyes as a garage builder the 65 shows more potential. With less un-rust work and a nicer body.

As for resale and investment. Buick guys are funny like Mopar guys. It either has to be some numbers matching rarity or a balls out resto mod for those guys to get out of bed to drop some coin.

So what are you doing really?

Vince the goal is to upgrade the suspension, brakes, interior and drivetrain. The car is going to be used as a semi-daily driver is going to have aftermarket AC all the creature comforts of a newer vehicle which I already have in the garage. As far as the drivetrain is concerned I have a 2005 5.3 with the transmission I'm still debating if I want to set the car upto do some auto crossing, right now the car main purpose is to just have a fun reliable car that I could hop in and drive to Vegas if I wanted to and not worry about it breaking down on me.

Ok well that clears it up..abit...

I see
5.3L with auto trans
Swap Oil pan
Mount kit
Engine Harness
PCM program
Air intake
Headers
front drive system
LS swap radiator
Hoses
Exhaust system
EFI fuel tank
Fuel pump
fuel sender
fuel lines
fittings
clamps
filter
regulator
Lokar shifter
driveshaft
trans cooler
hoses
fittings
Vintage air system
Dynamat
Gauge set
new front seats
carpet
headliner
dash pad recover
American autowire update kit
Kore3 C5 13" front and 12" rear brake kit
Manual Wilwood master
Wilwood prop valve
Right stuff brake plumbing
overhaul the rear end with 3:73 gears
fill and paint firewall
clean prep and paint frame
or powder coat frame
tubular front suspension
overhaul steering system
Delphi steering box
adjustable rear suspension
front and rear coil over kit
sway bars front and rear
18" wheels and tires
replace trunk
driver paint job
bedliner under carrige

Wow, ^^^^ that sounds almost exactly like the parts list on my car!
I agree totally with Vince. Use that list to estimate. I like the 65 better also, but I'm biased :D

I love reading this site. The builds are amazing. However, coming from a very different income bracket than most, I take a very different approach. You could easily get away with $20-30K into this car and come out with a nice ride. You could roll with factory manifolds to save hundreds, make your own harness for next to nothing, if motor is going to be stock use a factory Y or F body pump, use the factory truck accessories and remount the alternator to fit under the hood (you may need a 2008+ truck water pump for the relocated inlet), use a Y body filter for a cheap returnless system. That gets you a complete running engine for a couple of thousand and since you own the 5.3 already you are way ahead.

I personally really like the '65 and think you should use that one.

Driver quality paint and a stock "Legends" or similar interior just ate half that number.... you've yet to buy tires and wheels - A/C and on and on. Unrealistic number crunching is why these projects sit on jack stands for years.

Let's use your 30K number.... that's 30 MONTHS (2 and a half years) of spending or saving $1,000 per month.... net after taxes. That's with no hiccups. More like $500 a month for 60 months -- which is FIVE YEARS of labor and savings/spending.

People always underestimate the actual costs of building projects. They never count on the gas tank needing to be replaced -- oh doing EFI?? There's a pump and sump tank... There's just so many "little" items that nobody counts on...