I agree with most of these posts. In my case i have over 40k into my car and i haven't even started building it. I am hoping to start the break down of my car in the next few weeks... then start the building... and a new build thread. I am estimating that i need another 45k to finish my car and have it the way i want it (being conservative).

A commin problem i see is cmamros on here that are sitting in a garage as a skeleton with 15 body braces in them, How about buying a pretty nice car to start with and save the time and money in the long run!

If it was that easy.... even the fat chicks would be doing it. :unibrow:

Lots of people buy cars that were SUPPOSEDLY "done".... only to find out they were...."done". Done poorly. Done with bondo. Done years ago when nobody put the $$ and effort it takes to bring 'em up to todays standards...

I agree with your overall statement... buy the best car to start with. But that is easier said than done.

Exactly my case... I didn't help myself either by taking too many shortcuts.

I bought the shell of my 69 firebird off ebay for $15k. It was already painted (pretty damn good paint job too), mini-tubbed, narrowed leaves, shorter springs, powder-coated trim, Dakota Digital gauges, shaved firewall, DSE tank, new dash, DSE wiper motor, electric windows and locks, seemingly frame off resto, sub-frame connectors, etc etc.

When I bought the car, the guy I bought it from showed me receipts that totaled around $80k (assuming the receipts were legit) just to get it to that point.

Doing most of the work myself to put in an LS3, T56, wheels, vintage A/C, Recaros, new interior, roll bar, hydroboost brakes on stock discs, harnesses and a few other minor things to get it on the street, I think the grand total will be around $45k to $50k, including the initial purchase cost.

If you can find someone who has already started a project car (for example, someone who has already done the paint), you'll come out ahead every time.

How it arrived (mostly empty shell with the paint done) - Total Spent: around $16k to get it to my door:
http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4023/4...0a40d7be_z.jpg

Total spent: $45k plus or minus to get it on the street:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6...5131c14e_z.jpg

The process:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/modernm...7625160012981/



cliff's: find a car somewhere with half the work already done. Put the engine you want in it. Do the work yourself. Save big $$. If you see a deal, pounce on it, even if you're paying a bit more than you planned. By the time you finish a project, you'll have ended up paying WAY more than you intended anyway :lol:

Here's an exact and extremely detailed cost breakdown for Version 1 of my build:
http://www.69camaroproject.com/project_details.htm

I've added a few things since I put that page together, probably $2K worth.

Version 2, scheduled for next year, will probably set me back another $25K(about $40K for new parts minus $15K in sold parts).

The beat goes on.

Good looking Bird lets see some more pics.

All the pics I've taken are in that last link :)



edit: and here's the build thread...
http://www.pro-touring.com/showthrea...ird&highlight=

All I can say about the build of my 79 z28 is take the original amount x3. That is what I found out will be around what I will have. I have 38k or so in my car and have not yet drove it, the biggest mistake I make is changing my mind and loosing money on the new parts I have, Not that much but a lose. I say start the build how you want it and build it that way. Dont cheap out and say you will up grade later you will be upset...

I say do what you can and what you can afford, I have found out watching these forums over the years you will never have the badest car and someone will always have that new part that came out after you just purchased one. But thats how it goes.

I had my car on the way to being complete with all the parts I had and always regreted not doing a mini tub so I sent my wheels back to forgeline and had them made into 18x12's and now its just about done and Im out about 2k that i would not be if i would have just done it from the start but Im happy i did it now.

In a nut shell its your car your money and your the one that will have to live with the car so do it how you want!!! :cheers:

Well said!