Case in point, many people ask me why I was stripping my car because it looked so good. I could have easily sold it for good money as is and people would have said it was a good deal and a good car.
After you live with a car you start to see things not quite right. All these things start to add up. When I stripped it down my hunches were correct.
This car had been re-done in the 80's and it was a work of art....Sculpted out of bondo!. I have replaced metal in a dozen locations with fresh metal BUT-----The metal repairs I made are the same repairs that SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE when the car was done 20 years ago! I would say the metal underneath is no more deteriorated than it was 20 years ago but I attribute that to keeping the car dry over the last 20+ years.
SOOO, Compromise, buy a $35K Pantera, sink money into it now and then to keep it going, and when the little things start adding up do a full restoration or start with a $15K Pantera and do it right off the bat.
If you WANT to do a restoration; and I do, I think a car in this condition is a great way to start.
Another case in point. I have too many cars. I bough a 1976 Cutlass a while back. Not an overly collectible or desirable car but one I always liked and wanted. It is a good old car with lots of mileage. Solid for it's age but a few problems here and there.
One problem is the dash; it's warped and cracked in several locations. After market not available. So I happen to find a very very good dash on ebay with heater controls and wire harness and it is in very good shape. Do I spend a couple weekends replacing the dash only to tear the car down a few years from now and completely restore the car or just sit on the dash until I do the restoration?
No one can dictate an individuals situation. It works for me to do every nut and bolt. I like it that way. I can also tell you I am more proud of taking my MGB then the Pantera to a car event because I restored every nut and bolt and I fabricated 2-dozen individual changes in the car from 1999 Toyota window regulators to electronic heater controls. When I showed up with the Pantera before restoration people ask if I did the restoration. "No, I just plopped down cash for it". There is no pride in that. I am looking forward to showing up at the track or a car event with the changes I made with a car I restored and Painted.
http://www.rc-tech.net/MGB/gal/d1.jpg
http://www.rc-tech.net/MGB/gal/done3.jpg
http://www.rc-tech.net/MGB/gal/done5.jpg
But that's just me.
Gary
quote:Originally posted by DeTom:
I predict that in another ten years ONLY guys like Ron and Gary will be able to buy and fix up Panteras. Everyone else will be SOL as all rust free Panteras will be a thing of the past. People who spent a hundred grand on restoring their cars will be getting that and more IF they decide to sell, and guys like Ron and Gary will be in business for themselves, finding barn Panteras and making them like new.