This hobby is EXPENSIVE!!!!

[1 Wild R/T]

If you like owning, driving and working on these cars, don't keep track of the $ and enjoy your car. If you are in it for the 'investment', the sooner you get out the richer you will be. lol.

Truth...

[71GTX]

Buying and restoring the cars, is an act of love....It's a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness...

[JH27N0B]

I had the great idea to do a ground up restoration on my car in the late 90s.  Hashed out numbers and such and came up with an estimate it would take $35K or so to do.
After numerous setbacks and lack of large amounts of available discretionary funds etc, the car is almost done and I am sure I have over $100K in the restoration. 
It gets out of hand pretty quick!

[Katfish]

Join the club, these cars are worth 3-4x as parts compared to the whole car.
I keep detailed records and have about $30k into mine, including the $5k I paid for it.
I'd be lucky to sell it for $15k

You're always better off buying the most complete car possible, projects are nothing but endless money pits.

[timbbuc2]

As you can see on my thread, my car was painted and a boat load of new parts came with it, BUT That was only the start. This car has been in the restoration faze for the past 2 owners and now me. I think I did very well considering what I have seen some here say just  a paint job would cost. The scary part is, the past 2 owners went through  a divorce, hope like heck the car is not cursed. LOL 

[EB3-GranCoupe]

I bought my Gran Coupe in 2004 for $4K.  I had an opportunity to sell it and break even at $20K (I wish I would have). Another Barracuda friend of mine, talked my wife into having me keep it (go figure!!) and do a full rotisserie restoration. I unfortunately picked the wrong body shop to take it to.  I told them my budget, and where I wanted to be (exterior painted, and all glass dryed in...I would do the rest of the assembly).  My guess is they padded every hour by 2, and I had to pull the car half done when my budget was exhausted.  I finally found the 'right' guy (wish I had found him first), and got it finished up.  Absolutely gorgeous, and 2012 First Place E-body Barracuda at Don Garlits show.  So, now I have about $55K in it and I might break even if I sell it.  But yes, it is an addiction.....

[dfrazz]

All the money I have in mine is worth driving the best muscle cars ever made, memories with the boys and the friends I've met because of my cars.

[moparstyle]

Seeing the resto costs you guys mention, i might be in a slightly better position.
Bodyworks, paint and chrome is quite cheap over here but the shipping costs and taxes on parts adds up. Bought my GC for $6000, have appr $43000 in parts and some outsourced works (my own labor is free) so say 50K totally.

Sweet thing is that due to an import ban on used cars and rarity of Mopars, i will surely get my investment back the day i sell. 
I was offered $100 000 last month for the car but i politely said no thanks. A load of cash but.. then what? I cannot find another E-body (or B-body for that matter) so if i sold it, i am just left with an empty space in my garage. She stays!!!!

[Mpdlawdog]

Like my dad said....if it has boobs or wheels its gonna be expensive

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site! No sane person gets into these cars figuring to make his fortune- Alan G excepted. LOL 

[nsmall]

Thanks for all of your advice out there. I am the original poster. Some of your comments are very funny.  Alan, thanks for all of your help.  You asked what I expected....well, I have learned (took me about 1.5 years) that this car is way more expensive to restore than what I originally expected.  This car has helped me realize I am more of a perfectionist than I thought I was.  One correction/improvement leads to another and another and another. 

I thought I was building a driver, but I don't see myself doing this again so I am building my dream car and its getting close to being "done."  Unfortunately I have recently learned from many of you that the car is never done and that is a scary thought.  Its running great, I have 90% of the parts to finish the look I have envisioned, but the car needs paint.

Looking forward to sharing the final product.  Its going to be another 6-12 months for those pics.

As always,

THANKS EVERYONE

Neil

[rUNCHARGER]

Actually: If you do the car right it will be done when you're done. Minor tweaking/tuning at first of course.

Sheldon

[Markp]

After reading this thread I am a little scared. Although I am not doing a original restoration like most of you I am doing a pro street. Still knowing that most of you guys guessed on a budget then went way over if not double scares the hell out of me. 

[anlauto]

You said "this hobby is expensive"
I asked "what did you expect ?"

Meaning....did you really think it was going to be cheap ?

Any advice I would have for a "newbie" wanting to join our Mopar rebellion for the first time is to do some research...price out detailing parts, interior parts, engine builds, paint jobs etc....make the phone calls, ask the right people BEFORE you buy that first Cuda....(or any Mopar)

[Markp]

You said "this hobby is expensive"
I asked "what did you expect ?"

Meaning....did you really think it was going to be cheap ?

Any advice I would have for a "newbie" wanting to join our Mopar rebellion for the first time is to do some research...price out detailing parts, interior parts, engine builds, paint jobs etc....make the phone calls, ask the right people BEFORE you buy that first Cuda....(or any Mopar)

Alan,

Would I be correct in my thinking that a pro street would be a little less expensive then a original restoration? I can mix and match parts and do not need original parts. I have figured around $30000-$35000 into the car should make one hell of a pro street. The car already has a dana 60 with strange internals 4.88 gears and QA1 coil overs, cage, tub. I have a 1968 383 motor that I would like to build  496 stroker out of. Also have a 727 trans. I figured $10000 for body and paint, $10000 for interior and components $10000-$15000 on motor and trans. I hope I am not in lala land.