Cheapest car to restore?

[Harri-76]

Originally Posted by ProTouring442

I think what we have here is a young man who has not been exposed to the kind of quality that most of us are trying to attain. A good example is the blue Camaro, with its "tape it off and paint it" paint-job. most of us, having the experience of either painting a car, or spending the big bucks to have someone do it for us will instantly see the primer spot behind the front bumper, and we know that a real quality job cannot be done with the bumper and grill still in the car. He, not having the experience, doesn't see such flaws.

As for the question concerning what car to build, if it is for a profit, forget it. The odds of being able to pick up a car and get it rolling for a profit are pretty slim. Having said that, if I were to try to build a car on the cheap, I think I would look to Fox-body Mustangs. The engines and suspension are fairly cheap to build well, and the myriad of parts available for them is staggering. Play the Craigslist game and you could be well on your way to building a very nice car for somewhere in the 5K to 10K range that will prove to be quite reliable.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

You got it right on No way anyone is going to make those Mustang roll back to the sunny roads of Texas with couple of tons in a year or two. It would take many years and ?(2-10)0.000 dollars to do that... I think you shoul listen to us how have done it for once or couple of times.

I have to say that I was 17 when I got my Vette and I have spend a fortune to build it up and it has taken 7 years so far and it ain´t ready. No way I´m going to get even my money back with that and I haven´t even uset the fanciest parts to built that car. Most of the work, mockups and fabrication is selfmade by me. It´s good to have dreams but prepare to take you time and work hard to earn some serius money for this up comming project. Don´t forget to give time and money for other important things in life!!!

[TreySmith]

Yeah, they would take way to much to make pretty, but they were free and will be a project for me one day, far away. If I can have a spare $1000 and can get a good deal media blasting the shell, I might have it done over summer and painted to keep them from rotting and really seeing what I have, but it will be years before I really start on them. My uncle saved one so it is motivation to me. Pics of it later.

It is one thing if the car can drive, then it isn't a big deal if it takes a year or two to me.. But I can't drive the lemans I have, so basically any money I put into it just seems pointless to me which is why I am trying to get rid of it. Plus there isn't any emotial tie to it for some reason. I wouldn't get anything from restoring it.

Well, I am going to look at the 78 T/A this weekend. It doesn't have T-Tops which sucks, but it has a rebuilt engine and transmission. It will be my daily driver so it is a plus. Will put some pics up later the guy sent me, but it seems like a good buy at $2500.


Also, the Chevelle was the only car that had a high quality job, but also notice the price difference. When I get my next project painted, I am taking everything off the car and painted seperatly. It is amazing how much more labor and money it consumes to have it done "right". All the other cars were drag cars or personal weekend warriors, so taking all the parts off was pointless to the owners, but the Chevelle was a show car.

But yeah, they were high quality to me, I know they aren't the greatest, but your everyday person wouldn't notice the difference. I still can't justify dropping $15000 for a paint job though, just for small detail stuff unless it was a born and raised show only car, but there is no fun in that.

[Harri-76]

Originally Posted by TreySmith

Yeah, they would take way to much to make pretty, but they were free and will be a project for me one day, far away. If I can have a spare $1000 and can get a good deal media blasting the shell, I might have it done over summer and painted to keep them from rotting and really seeing what I have, but it will be years before I really start on them. My uncle saved one so it is motivation to me. Pics of it later.

It is one thing if the car can drive, then it isn't a big deal if it takes a year or two to me.. But I can't drive the lemans I have, so basically any money I put into it just seems pointless to me which is why I am trying to get rid of it. Plus there isn't any emotial tie to it for some reason. I wouldn't get anything from restoring it.

Well, I am going to look at the 78 T/A this weekend. It doesn't have T-Tops which sucks, but it has a rebuilt engine and transmission. It will be my daily driver so it is a plus. Will put some pics up later the guy sent me, but it seems like a good buy at $2500.


Also, the Chevelle was the only car that had a high quality job, but also notice the price difference. When I get my next project painted, I am taking everything off the car and painted seperatly. It is amazing how much more labor and money it consumes to have it done "right". All the other cars were drag cars or personal weekend warriors, so taking all the parts off was pointless to the owners, but the Chevelle was a show car.

But yeah, they were high quality to me, I know they aren't the greatest, but your everyday person wouldn't notice the difference. I still can't justify dropping $15000 for a paint job though, just for small detail stuff unless it was a born and raised show only car, but there is no fun in that.

From my point of view your paint job is your least worry... I suggest you to consentrate into the tech side of your cars, so you can make them safe and good driving machines for your daily use. Also good paint is easy to mess up while upgrading the car laiter on!!!

Let us see some more pics...

[HWY Nova]

Cheapest car to restore???? That's easy: THE ONE YOU DON'T BUILD!


--Eric

[byndbad914]

I sold my 70 fastback to pay for college in 1997 for about what it takes to buy a rough roller these days.

Take the two 69s you have and if you can do bodywork cheap, get them straight and decent (don't paint them) and throw the rollers on eBay and get some money out of them. Or throw them on as is and just get what you can for now.

Then take the $2500 you will waste on the T/A and add it to the roller money or use it to get the two rollers straight and good enough to get $4-$5K each (69-70 fastbacks bring cash in rough shape, check eBay! cuz I have considering getting a tub for my next project and my jaw dropped what I see a crappy roller go for) and turn your $2500 and two free cars into about $8-$10K or so, then buy a 65-66 fastback in okay running condition with rough body, do all the work and a decent paint job and turn for $3K-$5K profit on a regular basis (when the economy is better).

My neighbor a couple years ago had 4 or 5 65-66 Mustangs in front of his house on average every month - he was buying rough ones on eBay, doing rust repair, etc himself, rebuilt engines at times if necessary, so forth and put a decent (at best) paint job on and would sell it on eBay 2-3 months later so he was pretty much averaging 2 cars per month flipped. He tore down his 2 bedroom house and built a monster on the lot with the money within just a couple of years...

and don't listen to the sour pusses and stuck ups with their taste for fancy paint jobs smack you down, I was your age once and we all start somewhere and I admire a seriously sweet paint job as much as the next guy. Keep in mind most on this forum pay others to build their cars so it is always a losing proposition for them... flipping cars can be done when you do the work and the paint jobs you are showing are more than adequate for that. But stick to the obvious cars - the early 'stangs are popular and new repop parts are aplenty.

[youthpastor]

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??

[skatinjay27]

Originally Posted by youthpastor

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??

not a muscle car but when i think of cheap VW bugs come to mind for me...
pick up any vw mag and youll notice how cheap it is to have a bad azz bug.

[86TransAm]

I just picked up a pretty clean and rust free 83 Camaro for $800 less motor+tranny. I think that is a good deal considering how much anything 60's or 70 is going for,if you can get them in even close the same condition.if I had a choice I would have a late 60's-73 muscle car but for the price I am forced to go for the 80's or newer.they are easy to work on and parts are readily avaiable.one big key however as everyone on here has stated to being able to restore a car cheap is being able to do as much of the work yourself.

[youthpastor]

Originally Posted by skatinjay27

not a muscle car but when i think of cheap VW bugs come to mind for me...
pick up any vw mag and youll notice how cheap it is to have a bad azz bug.

my speedway catalog has a straight axle conversion to make em look like a rat - rod

[youthpastor]

Originally Posted by 86TransAm

I just picked up a pretty clean and rust free 83 Camaro for $800 less motor+tranny. I think that is a good deal considering how much anything 60's or 70 is going for,if you can get them in even close the same condition.if I had a choice I would have a late 60's-73 muscle car but for the price I am forced to go for the 80's or newer.they are easy to work on and parts are readily avaiable.one big key however as everyone on here has stated to being able to restore a car cheap is being able to do as much of the work yourself.

they handle great out of the box and parts are cheap-