[Greg Reid]

Originally Posted by b-man

Worry-free.

I like this Bart. Any satin clearcoat, etc., or just as is? I plan to go a similar route with this one after doing mechanical work to make it roadworthy and SAFE-

[GTOnly70]

Originally Posted by 66sprint6

I'm thinking people that own these cars have more cars, and the trophy piece will never see the road. They'll drive their other cars, which are probably nicer than a lot of other peoples cars as well. I'd love to be in that position and would do the same thing if I could.

Yep. And another fact - the guys in that position don't give a rat's ass about the opinions on this board regarding how they spend their money.

[skullbucket]

Originally Posted by Stuart

Holy cow, body shops must be expensive in your area.

The original poster didn't say anything about $100k Pontiacs, he may have been talking about restored cars in general. Even so, I'll stick to what I said earlier - it doesn't matter to me how other people spend their money. If it makes them happy that's great.

1: to reach $100000 on a restoration it would take stupid prices to reach that amount.
2: Since this is a Pontiac site one would think we are talking Pontiacs.
3: you should be worried about how much money someone pays for a restoration because if they will pay it that makes what work you want more expensive.

[unruhjonny]

good discussion.

I like restored cars at least as much as the next;
But what I really love are correct appearing restorations of cars, that actually get driven

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by skullbucket

1: to reach $100000 on a restoration it would take stupid prices to reach that amount.
2: Since this is a Pontiac site one would think we are talking Pontiacs.
3: you should be worried about how much money someone pays for a restoration because if they will pay it that makes what work you want more expensive.

Not so much the hourly rate, but the amount of hours - depending on the car and the amount of work required, 1000 hours of labor or even more isn't necessarily out of the question. Multiply that by the shop's hourly rate (say for example $75/hour) and you're at $75,000, and that doesn't include any materials or parts.

However, I don't think that someone else paying for a restoration of that magnitude has much for me to worry about. If I were to go through another resto project (I've done a few, but don't know that I'll ever take on another one), it's going to cost whatever it's going to cost...the labor rate will be the same, it just comes down to the condition of my car and how much work I want done to it.

[Slider]

Originally Posted by bird72

How do 40K survivor cars have extreme perfect engine paint? Rant over.

I think the same thing. This is what the engine looks like for a 53 year old survivor car with 36K miles on it that spent its whole life in a heated garage. Yup.....my dad changed the battery, hoses and belts on it as some point. Why?? Because it was a daily and then weekend driver to him in the 70's. Yup the engine has some rust on it. Yup it has the typical corrosion by the front timing cover.

So when it goes back on the road hopefully soon its getting new Gates belts, new heater hoses and fresh plugs and wires. I could give a crap less that it has the correct date coded wires, hoses and belts. I want the damn thing driveable and enjoyable. If I die in 10 years I hope my kid has the passion or sentimental value to keep his dad's (and originally his grandfather's) car and enjoy it. If they want to sell it the next guy can restore to 100% original. The 55 year old parts will be in the attic if someone wants them that bad.

[FULZGOLD]

Originally Posted by Slider

I think the same thing. This is what the engine looks like for a 53 year old survivor car with 36K miles on it that spent its whole life in a heated garage. Yup.....my dad changed the battery, hoses and belts on it as some point. Why?? Because it was a daily and then weekend driver to him in the 70's. Yup the engine has some rust on it. Yup it has the typical corrosion by the front timing cover.

So when it goes back on the road hopefully soon its getting new Gates belts, new heater hoses and fresh plugs and wires. I could give a crap less that it has the correct date coded wires, hoses and belts. I want the damn thing driveable and enjoyable. If I die in 10 years I hope my kid has the passion or sentimental value to keep his dad's (and originally his grandfather's) car and enjoy it. If they want to sell it the next guy can restore to 100% original. The 55 year old parts will be in the attic if someone wants them that bad.

Exactly.
Here is my 78 which has never had the engine out. just a couple replacement parts here and there.

[unruhjonny]

and a spray bomb(?) or two!?

is the intake thermostatic(?) switch blue, or painted blue?

[dataway]

Just so you know ... anyone that has a car that is too nice. I'm willing to accept it and take care of it for free. In fact I'll even pay to transport it to my house.

[R68GTO]

Personally I like several "types" of restorations in the car hobby. 1) frame off done back to what it would of looked like in the dealers showroom. Over-stickering every piece turns me off a little, but no big deal. 2) Day 2 type restorations that align with my high school days in the early '80's, 3) survivor type preservations - faded paint, a little rust is ok, crusty engine.
I get my "fun" by restoring a crusty part, driving the hell out it on the street, or just sitting in my garage on a bar stool with a cold beer in my hand just looking at the car and "bench racing" with some friends. Though I'm not into Pro Street, Tuners, or Restomods, I don't begrudge anyone for doing it - my guess is they are getting their own version of fun out of it.
Money-wise, I don't like to feel like I 'lost my a$$" on anything but as others have said, ya don't make any profit off a hunting trip to the Canadian Rockies either and that's a one time event. At least in this hobby I can get my enjoyment every single day I choose and it might only cost me whatever a 12 oz beer goes for these days