So, what have you gents and ladies found is the average price for a full restoration? My old girl is at her twilight years, and I would love to freshen her up. General issues: Aging body(very minor rust) a ding here and there Interior needs complete restoration Replace wiring and all seals etc.. Curious about what you have seen. She does not have to be a perfect show car, just a stunning daily.
Cheap- $50,000 Average- $75,000 Damn!- $100000 Case and point... Some dings, rot in the quarters, faded paint, interior. Quarters replaced, some straightening, interior, new paint, bumpers supplied: $47,953.xx
That is alot, but nothing compared to the cost and labor(especially labor) these days! Restoration is extremely labor intensive. Not to mention, fishing out old toys from a kid who decided to stash them everywhere in 1999 (oops lol) to the body work that has to be corrected. Would a four door posted sedan add to the cost?
Average 1000 hours labor for full frame off restoration plus parts and materials. $50/hour (which is cheap) you're at $50,000 in labor. You'll easily double that for parts and materials. Not for the faint of heart.
Well, it is definitely a case of "sentiment over sense" for me lol She has been wrecked twice before, with extensive damage. Just a case of doing the whole restoration lol
If you have the time, patience, and space... Interior isn't too bad (many youtube videos and facebook groups that can walk you through it). Polishing brightwork is time and patience. The biggest hurdles would be mechanical (engine rebuild), trans, and rear end. Even then, you still have bodywork and paint.. I think will still put you in the 40K range...
Also depends on the country you're living in. Shipping costs and import taxes will add up very fast when you're living in Australia or Europe.
Luckily, the engine is quite healthy, as is the trans. She only needed rings and new valve seals. So that may take some of the hassle out. I live in the US, midwest.
If the drivetrain is good and you’re just into disassembly, body, paint and interior you could probably get away with $25k for a frame on restoration. If it’s frame off and you also need suspension and brakes add another $10k easy. Then there’s the old thought....”estimate the budget and add 50%”. Some say “double it”. Have fun whatever you decide.
Thanks for posting this as I am going through the same thought process. My car runs and drives great, and has had lots of mechanical attention, but looks awful and needs metal work and a complete interior. The costs are astronomical and the value of the finished product doesn't justify them in my case ('68 GS Cal). I am attacking as many projects as I can myself. This includes the interior and maybe metal work too, although I am a terrible welder, so there is that. Currently stripping down and attacking rust in Trunk. floor pans and Battery box. The roof is going to be a problem as it's a vinyl top with rust, so I need to figure that out... I am too cheap to pay 50k to restore a car that might be worth 30k when perfect.
50k for a restore on a car that might be worth 30k when done.. Buy new car for 50K in 1hr its worth less than 30K... Whats the difference??
I just have a "you can't put a price on family" mentality I suppose. I don't want a new car, nor do I really have any ambition to own another car.
I also have a serious sentimental attachment to my car. I bought it over 30 years ago on a trip to visit a girl in Seattle (I lived in Boston at the time). I could not believe all the nice clean old cars rolling around here with Grandma behind the wheel. I purchased it and worked on it here (on the street), until it was running well enough and not leaking anything. I drove it back to Boston (the long way) and then decided to move back to Seattle. I packed all my stuff into it, and headed west. My wife (different girl), has enjoyed the car, but won't go near it in it's current state. It has basically been out of service since my oldest was born, but she is 16 now, and driving my daily, so I am back to the Buick. It means more to me to fix it myself (it's kind of my thing), although I will hopefully find someone with more experience to do the finishing...
That is my worry. When I am old, I don't want to worry myself into a heart attack over rust and long term damage. Rosaline has been there since the beginning. I grew up in the back seat, my father had his last moments with me there, she has kept me in food and drink (jobs too) over the years. her 50th birthday was last year, (yes, my goofy self threw a party) so I think I should do something nice for her.
I suppose I wouldn't care too much about the new one, but if I put $50K into my Buick, I would be nervous about using it(can you park it at the Supermarket?) The car has to be usable for me or it's pointless. I am working toward dealing with the rust, and then new paint and interior, and I know I will end up putting more than 20K into it, but if I do it myself I will feel better about it. Truthfully, I have never owed a new car (See too cheap above). I have always bought older messed up ones and fixed them myself. I have purchased new cars for my wife (She wrecks them, LOL).
I mean, while I do understand the fear(people ask me why I drive "that old car" all of the time) they are made to be driven. I just park in the back, or where I can watch.
After investing a large amount of money in the car are you going to garage it? If not, I would focus on preservation vs beauty or accuracy. In other words focus on future rust prevention and water intrusion.
