A second look at often ignored project cars

[Ron Sutton]

While my favorites from that era are the 442, Laguna S-3 & Pontiac Ventura ... I'd love to see someone do something like the Dodge Aspen RT you drew.

[GregWeld]

Ben -- Ya know I love ya -- love your work....


I also know you didn't wake up in a cold sweat one night dying to design some mid 70's iron...


Having said that --- the cars from that era are hardly worth a rattle can of restoration. When all is said and done - what have you got? A pile of parts nobody really respected or wanted... and it costs the same to paint and upholster one of these as it does a car someone actually wants.


Your renderings made them look "nice" - but when I look at this era of car - I still see poor performing - poor fit and finish - plastic where it never belonged ill mannered gutless pigs. Even if you did put some nice lipstick on 'em.


LOL

[Hdesign]

Greg-I don't disagree at all. As far as I'm concerned there are very, very few cars that are worth owning, let alone building up after '72. PHR approached me to do these to accompany an article they were running. Knowing that I render roughly 30+ 1st and 2nd gen Camaros each year, I jumped at the opportunity to stretch my legs and spark some interest even if an idea ends up on another car that we see regularly. It's fun and cheap (free) to do it on paper, building and trying to sell one of these for any decent money is delusional.

[hp2]

That is all true if you build cars for perceived value and resale. If you build them for a passion you have, then I don't see them as worthless. Yes you will face different challenges with these because of the lack of aftermarket support. But the lower interest level means it is easier to acquire parts cars to use in the build.

But perhaps that is because I have owned a couple of vehicles from that list. They do respond as favorably to similar mods that more desireable cars take, and elevating them to that same performance level, in my experience, always was met with disbelief and respect of their potential. I found it quite satisfying when my disco era smogger put a more desireable muscle era car on the trailer after a run and the usual conversation after that was enevitively "no way is that a small block" and "I didn't think those could be made to run like that."

[GregWeld]

The point I was making wasn't that it couldn't (or shouldn't) be done....


The point was more -- WHY BOTHER.... the costs are the same -- the end value is considerably less. The effort is probably the same or more due to the lack of readily available parts and pieces.


Most of us aren't doing this because we're trying to make money off the builds we do... But there's not much sense in doing something just because you care to be different and loose your arse in the process.. I guess... unless you're just made of money. Or Charley.

[Ron Sutton]

I think the different viewpoints in the last few posts are based in the each individual's differing philosophy of ...

A. Am I building this for myself, don't plan to sell it ever, so don't care about resale, want to build something unique ... and probably became a teenager & fell in love with cars during this era.

-or-

B. I building (or buying this car) for myself ... AND want it to be popular & bring high value when I sell ... and probably don't like cars from this era.


I'm a tweener on those two viewpoints. I'm 50 & love those styles from the 70's, because I grew up with them ... along with 50's hot rods & 60's muscle cars.

I wouldn't build a mid 70's PT car for myself. While I like "unique" ... I want to be able to sell it at some point & build my next project.

But I love to see other people build unique car models with TLC & flair ... and of course ... real G-machine type of performance.

Our individualism is what makes hot rodding & car building so interesting.

[GregWeld]

Ron -- Totally agree with you. A hot rodder should build whatever and however something turns him on. You will never find me arguing that point.


I've actually owned some of those mid 70's cars -- bought brand new.... I was a road rep - and changed cars annually to keep the miles low. Funny how people don't like a one year old car that has 50 or 60,000 miles on it... yet it was started far far fewer times -- and the brakes were used less... than on a 10,000 version -- but that's a different debate!


I think that having owned these --- is why I question "why". They really were truly a low point in automobiles... I don't question for a second - the fact that they can be made into decent running and driving cars. But paint is paint - motors are motors - upholstery is upholstery... as far as costs go. You sink 50 or 60K into one of these --- and my guess is you'd be hard pressed to get back 15... The same money in another car might get you 45 back... and that's my real point. Nothing more. You gotta love that car a LOT to do these.

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

But paint is paint - motors are motors - upholstery is upholstery... as far as costs go. You sink 50 or 60K into one of these --- and my guess is you'd be hard pressed to get back 15... The same money in another car might get you 45 back... and that's my real point. Nothing more. You gotta love that car a LOT to do these.

Agreed. I love El Caminos. But sink the same money into a Chevelle & it's worth 50% more. You'd better plan on keeping it ... or losing a lot of money when you build unpopular styles.

Take care !