Restoring a Classic

[phiber]

I want to buy an old car and restore it (just something in the back of my mind, dont have garage space now to do it). Now i am quite the fan of the 65-71 model of american muscle cars. Anyone know where you can source any of the following??

Chevy Nova pref 70/71
Dodge Challenger pref 70
Dodge Charger pref 69
Mustang Fastback/Bullit/Sheby GT 500E (these are usually all quite over priced)

I have found 1 or 2 Chevys on line in excellent cond, and quite a few mustang imports and websites selling them but the price is EXTREMELY high for a weekend car...

 

[Fazda]

The problem with going American if you want to restore, is that the nice ones to restore are bloody expensive. The plus point....if you can afford it, is the fact that you can get all sorts of goodies from the States.

I have gone the British route and restored a 1967 Wolseley 6/110 - no hassles with spares - I email orders for spares and usually have them within a week. You can also pick up very nice Brits for very little money - unless you are looking at a Mk2 Jag, then that's another story altogether, where you need to be loaded to buy it in the first place

 

[ALFAHOLIC]

The cheapest form of restoration in recent times in the world of American cars or Hot Rods have been the advent of Rat Rods. Started in the era of Hot Rods but not recognised as such, because of its elaborate styling and general lack of "shine" if you are into restoration, I'd suggest you start by reading up on it. Watch shows like Jimmy Shine's Hard Shine, Est Coast customs, Boyd Coddington and a simple one, Wheeler Dealers!

If you are strapped for cash and realy want to live that Hot Rod or muscle car era dream - go for Rat Rod's 1st, then after that, sell the Rat Rod which I'm sure you'll be able to do, and have the cash to buy a Fastback or a Camaro or a worthwhile Muscle car to restore...

Here's some links to Rat Rods - I absolutely want to try this one day!
http://monsterguide.net/how-to-build-a-ratrod
http://www.meknows.com/how-to-build-a-rat-rod-153.html
ratrodstuff.com/

Also here's some pics of Rat Rods;

http://images.google.co.za/images?hl=en&source=hp&q= Rat Rod&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wi

Alternatively - there are tons of places in JHB and CT particularly for restoration of American muscle...I've heard complete restoration prices from 200k to 700k...so you can save up and alternatively buy a restorated car...but what's the fun in that right? When we used to put together Giuliettas while I was in school, the 1st start up, setting the timing and then taking it for a blast was the best, because hours and days before, the car was in pieces.

 

[HammerDown]

Yeap, as posted to do a muscle car is going to cost you, which is why good, restored examples are selling for R300-600k....

Then too, you need to know it is going to be hell if you are unlucky and find that a "creative" panelbeater has been there before you. Doing the work yourself is fun and fulfilling the first week, then it is just a slog if you want it done right. 2 years down the line your "quick fixer upper" has become a big stone around your neck and you can't walk away from it because nobody wants your half a car and there NO light at the end of the tunnel. Ask me, I'm right there, right now.

So if you have the money to send it to a good panelbeater, good, otherwise be very sure you want to throw away your weekends & free afternoons to rub down bodypanels, find missing bits etc etc...like I said the fun quickly fades as you hit the less fun stuff.

But when you are done and people comment on how sweet your ride looks....then you quickly forget about the pain and suffering...and start looking for the next hunk a junk to be a pain in your arse

 

[HammerDown]

And I forgot to add, the biggest downer is that in 99% of cases it is going to cost you at least 50% more to restore a car than what it is worth at any time. So unless you are willing to write off money, know that you will have that car for a while.

Which is why I should have taken my money and bought someone else's restored car. I would had my Saturdays for myself to actually DRIVE the car I spent money on....

 

[ponder]

Which is why I should have taken my money and bought someone else's restored car. I would had my Saturdays for myself to actually DRIVE the car I spent money on....

The restoring part part is most of the fun I would say. The quality of work is also directly related to you the restorer.

There is this old US pickup in standing in someone's driveway that I absolutely love, Ford or something and in need of some tlc.