Restore or buy. What would you do?

[FJ5_440]

IMHO you almost always get more car for the money if you are patient and buy one as close to your version of perfect as possible.  Like Chryco said though, be careful that what you buy is really as nice as it looks.  Unless you do quite a bit of the labor yourself or get a good guy price from someone you know, having a car restored for you will add up awfully fast.  I am assuming you are just looking for a car "like" the one you currently are considering restoring.  If you want "THE" car you currently own, but in perfect condition, there is only one way to get it.  Do it or have it done.

If you are looking to get something now to just get you through while you put off your "dream car" restoration, do yourself a favor and forget it.  Find the exact car you want and buy it or have it restored ASAP.  Restorations are not going to get cheaper as time goes by, and you aren't going to get any younger while you wait to drive your ultimate ride. 

Some of the best deals I ever got on cars were projects that got half way there while the owner waited for "better timing".

[N96cuda]

Interesting. Looks like it's a tie so far  , 5 restore, 5 buy. The deal is that I have been waiting for a couple of years to get my car in a particular shop and they called for me to bring it in about the time I started to consider just buying a nice car, so now I'm having second thoughts. I will probably have it restored because it might take me quite some time to find the car I want to buy  and by then my Cuda could be ready. Besides another car means more insurance and expanding my current 4 car garage. Thanks for the input. 

[71340RT]

I hope you restore the Cuda as I have bought 2 cars that were already done only to have bad body work come through within 2 years and had to put more money in the car after paying good money for a done car.

[Chryco Psycho]

Wicked looking Bee N96   

[n9671x2]

Wicked looking Bee N96   

   Thanks Chryco.   I bought it as a roller this past Spring.   It was sitting inside forever with 35k miles.   It was very solid, considering it was a life long Milwaukee WI car!   Has origina trunk and floor pans, needed about the bottom inch or two on drivers quarter and extension.   The shell was dipped.  It is very highly optioned for a Super bee.   I converted it from an automatic on the floor to a 4 speed.   It is a factory 440 sixpack car and came as you see it, Purple, white top, white bucket seat interior and white C stripe.   It was also an AM/FM and sixway seat car, both are super rare on a 70 Bee.   Ramcharger hood, power steering, power disc brakes, wood wheel, light group option.

[n9671x2]

N96, sounds like you have a shop in mind, but believe me, you should really consider getting ahold of the guy who painted my Bee.   He is a one man show and knows E bodies like gophers know dirt.   There won't be any BS of it getting shoved in the corner and games with $$$.

[hemiken]

That is my favourite model Superbee.  Love those big White C stripes.

[n9671x2]

These 3 belong to the guy who painted my Bee.   He rotisserie restored these over the last few years along with a bunch more for other people.   They are all real, and all 4 speeds.   Two tx9 and one fm3.

[73Chally]

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you buy a car finished, you're paying out $50K+ in one lump sum (unless you take out a loan), whereas if restoring, you pay as you go.  I have put $15K into my car over the past year, but I never would have been able to do it in one lump sum.

[N96cuda]

N96, sounds like you have a shop in mind, but believe me, you should really consider getting ahold of the guy who painted my Bee.   He is a one man show and knows E bodies like gophers know dirt.   There won't be any BS of it getting shoved in the corner and games with $$$.

N9671, I agree, your bee could not look any better, but I live in Texas. I assume that you are in Wisconsin, I can't seem to find time to make the 4 hour trip to the resto shop here, much less another state. I don't need a concours resto either. I am curious as to what type paint was used and how much your guy charges / hour. Should I shoot you a pm. That is one beautiful Super Bee!

[n9671x2]

Shoot me an email at psrde@aol.com   and I will fill you in.   I am near Grand Rapids Michigan, Gary is near Cincinatti OH.   The Bee will be done very nice, but I am not going for concourse or nothing, just a fun sunny day driver and ice cream with the kids.   Maybe thrash on it once in a while at the two Pure Stock events that are near me every year.

[Oldschool]

If you have the money, and don't want to wait and do all the labor and parts gathering, then buy something already done.  You can usually get a nice car for around 60% of what the builder/owner has in it.  If you don't mind waiting and doing the rest of it, then restore the one you have.  I have done em both ways and there advantages and disadvantages both ways.       

[cudagirl4406pk]

Well i just have my husband restore one for me really cheap for me cause he pays for it all.LOL I told him i am worth it he said only if it was a GM he was building.I told him well i would chip in on the resto as long as it is a mopar.

michele

[willhaven]

These 3 belong to the guy who painted my Bee.   He rotisserie restored these over the last few years along with a bunch more for other people.   They are all real, and all 4 speeds.   Two tx9 and one fm3.

WOW, that pink AAR is hot shit.  I want it!

[BIGSHCLUNK]

   Thanks Chryco.   I bought it as a roller this past Spring.   It was sitting inside forever with 35k miles.   It was very solid, considering it was a life long Milwaukee WI car!   Has origina trunk and floor pans, needed about the bottom inch or two on drivers quarter and extension.   The shell was dipped.  It is very highly optioned for a Super bee.   I converted it from an automatic on the floor to a 4 speed.   It is a factory 440 sixpack car and came as you see it, Purple, white top, white bucket seat interior and white C stripe.   It was also an AM/FM and sixway seat car, both are super rare on a 70 Bee.   Ramcharger hood, power steering, power disc brakes, wood wheel, light group option.

A Milwaukee car, surpised I'd never heard of it.    Very nice paint work!!