How much are you guys spending on restoration?

[ItDoRun]

Do like I do...switch jobs every 18 -36 months, negotiate a healthy signing bonus, save your vacation (so your company has to cut you a check), don't tell the wife about the bonus and vacation check, and then go buy lots of parts! Just kidding...but it does work!

[tellyv]

If you think thats expensive you should build a mopar holy crap I'm a true gm guy but I came across a cuda that I couldnt pass up. I just sold my 69 camaro its the blue and silver on on the left of the home page and I already spent more on the cuda's parts than I spent on the whole camaro and that not including the price of the cuda, I still have wheels and tires, gauges and some interior stuff, so just be glad your building a camaro, when the cudas done I'm going back to gm. So if you plan on selling these cars I think the only way is to do mostely everything yourself or have some talented friends. good luck

[camsdad]

Originally Posted by Moabdude

My 68 Camaro is "under construction" for the last 2 years. I can't do the bodywork mysellf so I have someone doing this for me. First I had body man #1. Then we started argu-ing about things. Now it is at body man#2. I am very satisfied with his approach and quality but he works really slow. I is not his work, he just does this as a side job after work hours.
It will take at least an other 3-4 months before it is ready for paint.

The only thing that keeps me motivated are the pictures of Steven Rupp's 69 Camaro. That is my big example. That is how my 68 should look like!

My Camaro has been done body off and restoration was done in a rotissery.
the following welding/bodywork has been done:
- new quarters (left and right)
- new door skins (left and right)
- new rear panel.
- restoring the old left fender
- customizing the lower valance panel with 69 turn lights
- welding up the heater opening in the firewall to make a smooth firewall
- welding up the holes in the floorpans, partly welding in new floorpans
- welding up the holes in the rear window panel (between rear window and trunk)
- lots of small welding jobs which take many hours to complete (like tailoring the gaps between the doors, hood and trunk, etc, etc.)

I already spend $ 10.000,- (including the sheetmetal and primer paint etc.)and an other $5.000,- will come for making the car ready for paint (sand blocking it an straighten it out with bondo and putting on the primers).
Paintjob will be at least $ 4.000,- so the total for restoration will be around $20.000,- .........
I am not even talking about the wheels (Intro's), suspension (airride), brakes (wilwood) and all other parts I bought.........
pfffff, now I really have to keep the car forever because I am never going to get that money back.

It seems that I will be spending twice my budget and it takes about twice the time I calculated...

what do you guys spend on your restorations?

Every project is different. I'm 6 1/2 years into mine.
I have changed directions several times during the process.
I have been told way more than once that I'm a perfectionist.
I really don't think that's totally true. I just don't wan't a halfassed job.
So I'm doing it myself,saving money, buying some really cool guy tools and learning a great deal along the way.

You will know the answer to your question when you are done.

[BritishGreen68]

if you plan it correctly you can actually do it somewhat cheaply..(?) whatever that means.. i bought my camaro about 8 years ago for 6800 and sold the motor out of it for 3000 so i was 3800 into the car, and it was pretty rust free so i didnt have to replace any panels and i was able to do the paint myself for about 2500 (just materials really).. i figure when its done it will cost me about 20K to build it with some pretty nice parts. I built the 4 link myself similar to the art airbar for about 700 in materials, and am using CPP's big brake kit, and bought a 9" ford off of craigslist that was already narrowed with custom axles and stuff like that, i just try to wheel and deal my way into what i need. Sometimes i buy parts i know i dont need so i can trade them for stuff i do need and save a bit of money.. find people who rebuild tranny's that trade for parts or beer.. that type of thing..

[tones2SS]

Interesting thread.
Will be following closely as I hope I will have a '69 Camaro for a pro-tour treatment.
I know I will need more that what I am originally thinking it would cost.

[cluxford]

Live in Australia and try to build a high end Camaro....

Car US$9,000 = AUD$16,500 landed and sitting in my yard
My car is incredibly custom
I have over $100,000 (AUD) just in parts in it.
Mind you there is $15,000 (AUD) just in shipping and tax and duties fees
I haven't worked out exchange rates fees but probably another $10K+ in those

All that and we still have only JUST started paint prep.....

and I thought I started with a realistic budget ($180K AUD). I will exceed and on forecasts by about $20-30K.

Note I do absolutely NONE of the work myself, everything is outsourced for 2 reasons (but adds a LOT of cost):
1. I have absolutely no show quality skills and I want this car to be killer quality
2. I have pretty much no time, I work very long hours

But all up, I wouldn't have it any other way, this is a once in a life time dream for me, building this car the way I wanted it from the age of 12 !!

[96z28ss]

okay mods need to delete this thread incase significant others read this!!

[rogue]

People always dance around in these threads, I assume because people are afraid of admitting how much they have into their cars...

I have just under 50k total into my car, including car price, all labor, all parts, everything in a spreadsheet. I don't do much of my own work except for the small stuff.

Started with a 69 z28 with a missing DZ302
Mods/Parts for the car:

ZZ502 Deluxe Crate Engine
Window Rollers Repair
Rebuild Gear Box
Electric Fan
Slotted Front Brakes
Holley Fuel Pump
Chrome Alternator/Brackets
Rewire Engine Compartment
Install Kill Switch/Shiftlight
Install Steering Wheel
New Horns
Misc Hardware/Brackets
Holley 4150 850cfm Carb
Mcleod RST Clutch
Hooker Headers
Modo Innovations Pedal Covers
QA1 Coilovers with Adjusting tool
Hotchkis Sway Bar
Window Crank Kit
Rosewood Steering Wheel Kit
Rear View Mirror
Moroso Solid Motor Mounts
Lokar Midnight Throttle Pedal
Lokar Throttle Cable Duo Pack
Driveshaft Safety Loop
Aluminum Radiator
Recaro Speed S Seats
Seat Sliders/Brackets
Schroth 5 Point Harness's
Subframe Connectors
CCW Classic Wheels/tires
Rear QA1 Shocks
Hotchkis Leaf Springs
MSD 6AL Ignition Box
MSD Pro-Billet Distributor
MSD Blaster 2 Coil
Scott Drake Convex Side Mirror
Rear Drum to Disk Brakes
Dick Guldstrand Control Arm Mod
Dick Guldstrand Track Alignment

So here you have it, a 50k pro-touring 69 camaro on somewhat of a budget.



Keep in mind, my car hasn't been 'restored' cosmetically and I don't see why many people feel the need, especially if the car is driven as hard as they're built it to run. I'll be happy with a driver paint job I don't have to worry about while spinning out at Laguna Seca.

[z4me69]

lol i quit keeping track the day i ordered all the dse suspension quadralink minitub speed kit 3 connectors everything and thats the same day the budget went out the ol window. i'm just lucky enough to be able to do it all myself that saves a bunch .

[Bryce]

im currently at 28K, needs paint and interior needs finishing. And i still need to build my rear suspension.

built 289
built C4 auto

i did all the work myself. except for engine machine work. It has also been a 9yr project