SW bought a fantastic looking Blue Firebird.... then found out it was a bondo wagon under the pretty paint.... He's an AUTO DEALER....


But he also has the finances to make it right - which he did - in spades.


To be perfectly blunt --- you really can't afford any of these cars. And I'm not saying that to be mean. I'm saying it because we all know the pitfalls of these kinds of cars. I get that sense from what you're saying yourself... the purchase price eats all your funds - or you buy a cheap POS and blow the balance "saved" trying to make it half as nice as the ones that'll eat all your funds. Neither of those is a good starting point for buying a project type car.

Save it for a couple more years down the road. keep shopping - build a better base of knowledge for what these kinds of projects entail. It's not like these are only for sale this week they're like buses - there's another one coming along every 15 minutes.

Join the local Pontiac club and meet some buddies that are around with info and help when needed --- the friends you meet doing these things is way better than the car itself.

Intro makes some really bitchin' wheels for these....

I agree with Greg, be patient, become more knowledgeable, and buy the right car for YOU. Once you get there, it will be apparent.

NEVER, EVER, buy a classic car without a thorough inspection. A majority have been butchered by every wannabe mechanic in the land.

We all have different standards we can endure, I just don't think the car is right based on your posts.

If you are simply looking for affirmation, you came to the wrong place. hahahaha

Wise words. We've seen a lot of guys go down that road and watched it end badly. Make smart moves. Buy once, cry once kinda thing. Steady and slow wins the race in this game.

Very True. I'm interested to hear from Vince but...as you said, he's a talented fab'r and most likely the guy who does build $50K+ cars. I'm paying peanuts in comparison so I don't expect that kind of time from him, I was thinking more of a mom&pop/family business place.

Damn Greg, I wish you were my neighbor.

Ha! Nice thought! I built the last car for my brother in law last year..... I paid for all the parts and the interior... and he came up every weekend for weeks and weeks so we could work on it together. It started as a front end bushing replacement job -- ended up 16 months later -- and at least 50 grand out of pocket -- well - actually as I'm typing this -- it was quite a bit more than that - because the engine was 14 grand - and the interior was 20.... but that's not the point ----- I have skills - tools - a large place to work... and the account to keep the parts coming.

The thing that nobody that hasn't done this before understands -- is the "while I'm here" syndrome.... that is --- you start out to do something -- and then realize that while you're at it - it'd be way easier to do "X" as well because you've already exposed "X" parts/pieces and while you're there you might as well go ahead and update/replace/repair/improve them too...

Then the weekend is over - the wife is pissed because you're a dirty greasy pig - you've ruined some clothes - and you had fun while SHE sat waiting for you.... oh - and then SHE wants a new pair of shoes and a handbag - but you want door panels.... and then your neighbors get pissed because the POS has sat outside and you've worked on it til midnight -- banging on stuff and making noise.... Then winter comes... and then a year goes by...

Now --- if you have some prior knowledge and skills..... and some tools.... and a place to work on it..... and it's treated as a HOBBY -- and getting her done isn't a priority -- but just being around and hanging with friends and working on some part of the car and having fun gathering and hunting parts etc..... then that's an entirely different scenario..... but you want a driver NOW.... and that's where everyone on here will tell you the same thing. DON'T DO IT.

I didn't mean it for you to build my car, I meant it because you strike me as a mentor and someone I would definitely appreciate to have around.

you just never know what you get but it happens. I don't know how many cars come in and it gets torn apart only to find that its a well dressed rust bucket. I've seen it...$50K mustang vert, $30K 69 Camaro $22K 67 Camaro....all crap.

I don't know how many times I have seen guys blowing their load buying a nice looking car only to find an issue that is too much to fix and they always loose trying to resale.


The 71 Formula that Rickman bought for instance, at first check appeared to be a nice car. After poking around it had hidden rust and about 1/2" of bondo in some spots.

For me I like the cheap crap that you can fix and put parts on it cause you know whats in it when you get to that $20K mark. Most often you are going to replace 90% of the car anyways. I don't know anyone that's "just happy" with the car they find.

Caveat.....shop smart, stick to the plan and the budget.

Its like hitting the bar...never drop for the first piece, sit down for a bit and the right one will be very obvious.

BB seriously, are you looking to build a bad ass $90K pro-touring cone thrower or an average daily driver that will get you there but not get you some? That is what you are gonna get for $10K.

I don't need to throw cones. I've been very fortunate (stationed in Germany) and have actually done several weekends of driving on the Nuerburgring, which is way better than an any xcross event. I can brag about my lap times. My avatar pic is me driving.
I don't need the car to "get me some", Lol. Just something I can drive around and enjoy for yrs and possibly even hand down. I'm not thinking investment of resale, although I know I should as one never knows. But having a 71 Bird just has a special meaning to me.