Restoration Project

[Srobinson4]

I have a numbers matching challenger 1973.  It is in the process of being restored.  Will be mild custom.  There has been some body work, no paint yet and engine has yet to be rebuilt. Car is basically gutted.  Additionally, I have transformed the car from a 727 to a 4 speed.  I wanted to keep price total around $15, 000.00.  Am I too optamistic  about getting the work done for this price.  I am not doing any of the work myself.  The gentleman restoring the car is a professional and I do trust his I would like as many opinions as possible however. 

[4Cruizn]

Sounds reasonable to me.  I guess it depends on what level you plan to take the car too?   

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Sounds reasonable to me.  I guess it depends on what level you plan to take the car too?  

And how fast you wanna get there!     Go for it!   

[72hemi]

Usuall a great paint job and body work alone can hit 15 k easy. It all depends on how niceyou want to make the car.

[go-fish]

Paint? I thought he was talking about the engine. LOL
No really, if the car is gutted meaning you don't have very much that can be re-conditioned or salvaged, then you have an expensive road ahead of you. If you have things like interior, chrome, and components that are there but just need to be touched up or refinished or rebuilt then you don't have it as bad.
Also by custom, you are implying that you are not to worried about going back with OEM parts and factory correct stuff. This is even better for you because you will have the freedom of acquiring parts from other sources such as a rear end from another car or Summit seat vice expensive originals (that is if your car is "gutted" of even the seats).
There are ways to get around the stuff that alot of people see as being necessary for their restoration. I don't refer to my project as a restoration, that would imply that I am restoring the car to it's original state, which I'm not. This allows me to get those Summit seats because they hold my butt better and their cheaper than searching eBay for decent seats and then going to Legendary to get skins, and so on. However, I am splurging on alot of components that take my total waaay up there.
If you want a cool cruiser that isn't factory detail, well then you can do alot for 15K providing your guy is decent on his $/hour. If he is running around finding you parts and doing anything but real hands on labor then you are not going to be as happy with where your 15K takes you. If you can invest the hours looking for needed parts then you aren't investing the money in him to do it for you and he could be back at the shop block sanding or something.

[Cuda Cody]

15K is low if you are having someone else do the work.

If you get someone to do it for 15K , they will need to cut corners to make any money at it and you will be left with ? ? ? ?

[Srobinson4]

Thanks for all advise

[Mopar73340]

Usuall a great paint job and body work alone can hit 15 k easy. It all depends on how niceyou want to make the car.

   To get the body done right with paint you are looking at a good part of the 15K. Since it's gutted, Unless you are putting it back together you are going to have another 10-15 in it just for labor. I just finished assembling one of my cars and I couldn't even beging to tell you how many hours I have in assembly.

[SilverChally]

Guess it depends on the condition to start and labor rates.  Also how much detail you want.  10-15k for just the body, I'd be a rich man if I got that