Driver quality restoration - new post

[JoeGrapes]

The problem is you are asking a question that nobody can answer for you.  But maybe if we look at it differently. Put the daily driver term out of your mind for a minute. Like all of us you want a nice car that you would be proud of whether you drive it every day or not. To me anything on a level above a daily driver is a trailer queen and that's more an investment than a fun hobby. I learned a lesson with my car. When I bought the car 17 years ago I paid 3K for it. I was so excited. The next morning when I went out to look at it more closely I thought my god what did I get myself into! So I rebuilt the motor and went to a local car show with my buddy. After looking at my car and then the other cars at the show I knew I wanted to be at least on their level. So I took the car all apart and started from scratch. After about a year and much more body work than I thought I went back to going to local car shows and started to win awards. Much more enjoyable.
You seem to be concerned a lot about resale value. So do you plan on doing all the work yourself? I don't mean just the mechanical work but the body work also because that's where the money is if you are planning on paying someone to do it.  Don't think about the cost of your labor. Your labor is not worth anything unless someone paying you for it. Time is time and it's just as gone whether you are working on your car or sitting on the couch watching tv.
So if you are going to pay some one to do the expensive work you might as well spend the money on a car that has a higher resale value than the one you have. You will spend more now to get that car but in the long run you will feel better about the money since you know the value of the car is also more. The cost of the body work is the same with a high option 440 six pack car as it is with a plain Jane Barracuda.

[74 challenge]

The problem is you are asking a question that nobody can answer for you.  But maybe if we look at it differently. Put the daily driver term out of your mind for a minute. Like all of us you want a nice car that you would be proud of whether you drive it every day or not. To me anything on a level above a daily driver is a trailer queen and that's more an investment than a fun hobby. I learned a lesson with my car. When I bought the car 17 years ago I paid 3K for it. I was so excited. The next morning when I went out to look at it more closely I thought my god what did I get myself into! So I rebuilt the motor and went to a local car show with my buddy. After looking at my car and then the other cars at the show I knew I wanted to be at least on their level. So I took the car all apart and started from scratch. After about a year and much more body work than I thought I went back to going to local car shows and started to win awards. Much more enjoyable.
You seem to be concerned a lot about resale value. So do you plan on doing all the work yourself? I don't mean just the mechanical work but the body work also because that's where the money is if you are planning on paying someone to do it.  Don't think about the cost of your labor. Your labor is not worth anything unless someone paying you for it. Time is time and it's just as gone whether you are working on your car or sitting on the couch watching tv.
So if you are going to pay some one to do the expensive work you might as well spend the money on a car that has a higher resale value than the one you have. You will spend more now to get that car but in the long run you will feel better about the money since you know the value of the car is also more. The cost of the body work is the same with a high option 440 six pack car as it is with a plain Jane Barracuda.

I don't care about resale. If this car were in mint shape I wouldn't even consider getting rid of it. Im concerned thatIi will be making a poor decision to stay commited to seeing this car through.

I'd do all the work myself except the body work - I know my own limits of patience and it would quickly turn into anger and frustration when the panels came out looking like hell.

I'd re-use most of what I have except a few things like a new wiring harness, some new suspension components, headliner, vinyl top etc.. I would need a serious sheet metal order form AMD.

I'm a numbers guy and so many variable screws me up. I love working on my car and the process of restoration should infuriating but so rewarding in my eyes but I am not sure I have the right car to undertake that. I do want to restore the car while I am younger and not "put it off for when I retire", because that will just turn into a pipe dream.

the more and more I write this i realise that I have no plan, no clear numbers but and end product in mind.

[JoeGrapes]

This is a tuff hobby for a numbers guy. It's expensive.  Like all hobbies, on a purely numbers stand point it's hard to justify the cost. So what does it cost to make you happy. We spend money to make the car what we like or buy the car we like. In my opinion you have already answered your own question. You are questioning the car you have and if you choose to fix up that car you will never stop questioning it. Go out and get the car of your dreams, within your price range.  You will never regret it. 

[dave73chally]

I'd start writing down the cost of everything you need/want to have done. Get quotes on bodywork from local shops that are reputable, talk to local car club members for references etc. Get a close idea of how much money it'll actually set you back. If it seems within what you want to spend, go for it and if not, it might be the factor that helps you determine to sell. Also, I'd get a good gauge on what you'd like to get out of the car if you did sell it. While I was pricing everything out and coming up with a plan, I'd have it posted for sale locally for a price that I would love to sell it for. Never know, someone might bite and send you on your way to a newer project.