Cheapest car to restore?

[TreySmith]

Just curious as what would be the cheapest to restore and pull the most profit.. Being a high school kid, Challenger's and first gen. Camaro's are out of my league..

So far I have seen solid late 70 f body's in the $2000 range. Also seen Cougar's in this range also..

Is there any other cars I should look at? I have found one nice T/A I am about to jump on but I would like some opinions on what direction I should go..

Also, what would it cost for a complete interior resto if I did everything myself? $1000?

[mazspeed]

Is this the same kid who says the shop you work at cut, replaced a quarter panel, primed and painted a high end paint job for an entire car for $2500??
Well I think you're smoking something if you think anyone believes that, but here is what I will say. This is far from a good economy and I would not attempt this if you're just looking to make a profit. It's hard to do it in a good economy, let alone a bad one. If you choose a cheap car, no one is going to give you any money for it, because it's not desirable. Unfortunately the higher end you go with a car to start with, the more expensive it will be. I would not attempt this to make money.

[TreySmith]

Well, here is what has rolled through here recently.. Just because it looks high quality doesn't mean it is :_paranoid .. You wouldn't notice a difference from "most" other places.. Except for the Mustang that they painted today, my god it looks horrible. The guy asked for just paint and no body work.

Yeah, they will do it cheap, if you are willing to way a ****ing year :faint: Money isn't really the issue, it is the time, I want to make the most of my years.

Camaro: $600

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/5456/picture598.jpg

Chevelle: $2300 I think

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2285/picture572.jpg

Camaro: Not sure, I think $700?

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/9834/img0641.jpg


Mustang: Not sure, couldn't have been more than $550


http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/2720/picture605.jpg

[Vegas69]

Photos can make a pile of crap look appetizing. I can spray paint a car for 25 bucks. I agree with Mazspeed, flipping a car now is almost impossible. Do it for the love or forget it.

[TreySmith]

I am doing it for the love, but it is just that I have to work my way up the ladder :thumbsup: It is also why I am getting a ttop trans am if anything. I just looovvee ttop cars and made the biggest mistake of my life by getting a hardtop camaro.

Whatever I get will by my daily car for a while and I am going to enjoy it. I am not just in it for the money. But I am trying to earn enough to restore my two 69 fastbacks. Making one to give to my dad some day, and the other I will always keep.

Anyways I guess there isn't much this thread anyone can help me with, but still curious about the $$$ of an interior resto?

[almcbri]

Just curious as what would be the cheapest to restore and pull the most profit.. Being a high school kid, Challenger's and first gen. Camaro's are out of my league..

So far I have seen solid late 70 f body's in the $2000 range. Also seen Cougar's in this range also..

Is there any other cars I should look at? I have found one nice T/A I am about to jump on but I would like some opinions on what direction I should go..

Also, what would it cost for a complete interior resto if I did everything myself? $1000?

$1000 will get you the (stock) basics done on an interior. door panels, carpet, headliner, seat covers. If you start adding up the little parts, you will spend a lot more than that.

Finding a cheap car for the biggest return..... You have to find a car that people want, they want the camaros, birds, fastbacks, cuda's ect. In all honesty, a fastback mustang is the route to go if you have one to restore. The repop parts are reasonable. Be patient and find the car you truly want. I got my camaro when I was 17 in 02'. 1400 hours of work and it still isn't finished. good luck.

[jcal87]

if those cars are really that cheap please give me the number so i can buy 2 or 3 of them for parts and future projects

[f1shman]

if those cars are really that cheap please give me the number so i can buy 2 or 3 of them for parts and future projects

He's not stating the cars are for sale for that price, he's stating that the cars were repainted for that price.

As for the question of the cheapest thing to rebuild, I'd say pick up an older chevy truck. There are a good amount of them out there so they are easy to find, and there is a decent aftermarket for them.

[TreySmith]

if those cars are really that cheap please give me the number so i can buy 2 or 3 of them for parts and future projects No, that was the price for bodywork/paint.. :rolleyes:

Also I have an older chevy truck, and a blazer :)..

The Fastbacks need too much work to be on the road. The $2500 I have could get them there, but I wouldn't have any money to do anything with them.. But I am the kinda person that thinks a car looks better in rusty lime green than fresh lime green. :D They also don't have titles. Not a big deal but it takes a while.

They are very solid cars, just some surface rust.. No holes in the floors or trunk.. Primer car is in amazing shape, quarters would need a small patch but that is cheap and easy since I could do that myself.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3364/imgp0616.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1238/imgp0618.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2994/imgp0612x.jpg

[ProTouring442]

I think what we have here is a young man who has not been exposed to the kind of quality that most of us are trying to attain. A good example is the blue Camaro, with its "tape it off and paint it" paint-job. most of us, having the experience of either painting a car, or spending the big bucks to have someone do it for us will instantly see the primer spot behind the front bumper, and we know that a real quality job cannot be done with the bumper and grill still in the car. He, not having the experience, doesn't see such flaws.

As for the question concerning what car to build, if it is for a profit, forget it. The odds of being able to pick up a car and get it rolling for a profit are pretty slim. Having said that, if I were to try to build a car on the cheap, I think I would look to Fox-body Mustangs. The engines and suspension are fairly cheap to build well, and the myriad of parts available for them is staggering. Play the Craigslist game and you could be well on your way to building a very nice car for somewhere in the 5K to 10K range that will prove to be quite reliable.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[Harri-76]

I think what we have here is a young man who has not been exposed to the kind of quality that most of us are trying to attain. A good example is the blue Camaro, with its "tape it off and paint it" paint-job. most of us, having the experience of either painting a car, or spending the big bucks to have someone do it for us will instantly see the primer spot behind the front bumper, and we know that a real quality job cannot be done with the bumper and grill still in the car. He, not having the experience, doesn't see such flaws.

As for the question concerning what car to build, if it is for a profit, forget it. The odds of being able to pick up a car and get it rolling for a profit are pretty slim. Having said that, if I were to try to build a car on the cheap, I think I would look to Fox-body Mustangs. The engines and suspension are fairly cheap to build well, and the myriad of parts available for them is staggering. Play the Craigslist game and you could be well on your way to building a very nice car for somewhere in the 5K to 10K range that will prove to be quite reliable.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

You got it right on:thumbsup: No way anyone is going to make those Mustang roll back to the sunny roads of Texas with couple of tons in a year or two. It would take many years and ?(2-10)0.000 dollars to do that... I think you shoul listen to us how have done it for once or couple of times.

I have to say that I was 17 when I got my Vette and I have spend a fortune to build it up and it has taken 7 years so far and it ain´t ready. No way I´m going to get even my money back with that and I haven´t even uset the fanciest parts to built that car. Most of the work, mockups and fabrication is selfmade by me. It´s good to have dreams but prepare to take you time and work hard to earn some serius money for this up comming project. Don´t forget to give time and money for other important things in life!!!
:lateral:

[TreySmith]

Yeah, they would take way to much to make pretty, but they were free and will be a project for me one day, far away. If I can have a spare $1000 and can get a good deal media blasting the shell, I might have it done over summer and painted to keep them from rotting and really seeing what I have, but it will be years before I really start on them. My uncle saved one so it is motivation to me. Pics of it later.

It is one thing if the car can drive, then it isn't a big deal if it takes a year or two to me.. But I can't drive the lemans I have, so basically any money I put into it just seems pointless to me which is why I am trying to get rid of it. Plus there isn't any emotial tie to it for some reason. I wouldn't get anything from restoring it.

Well, I am going to look at the 78 T/A this weekend. It doesn't have T-Tops which sucks, but it has a rebuilt engine and transmission. It will be my daily driver so it is a plus. Will put some pics up later the guy sent me, but it seems like a good buy at $2500.


Also, the Chevelle was the only car that had a high quality job, but also notice the price difference. When I get my next project painted, I am taking everything off the car and painted seperatly. It is amazing how much more labor and money it consumes to have it done "right". All the other cars were drag cars or personal weekend warriors, so taking all the parts off was pointless to the owners, but the Chevelle was a show car.

But yeah, they were high quality to me, I know they aren't the greatest, but your everyday person wouldn't notice the difference. I still can't justify dropping $15000 for a paint job though, just for small detail stuff unless it was a born and raised show only car, but there is no fun in that.

[Harri-76]

Yeah, they would take way to much to make pretty, but they were free and will be a project for me one day, far away. If I can have a spare $1000 and can get a good deal media blasting the shell, I might have it done over summer and painted to keep them from rotting and really seeing what I have, but it will be years before I really start on them. My uncle saved one so it is motivation to me. Pics of it later.

It is one thing if the car can drive, then it isn't a big deal if it takes a year or two to me.. But I can't drive the lemans I have, so basically any money I put into it just seems pointless to me which is why I am trying to get rid of it. Plus there isn't any emotial tie to it for some reason. I wouldn't get anything from restoring it.

Well, I am going to look at the 78 T/A this weekend. It doesn't have T-Tops which sucks, but it has a rebuilt engine and transmission. It will be my daily driver so it is a plus. Will put some pics up later the guy sent me, but it seems like a good buy at $2500.


Also, the Chevelle was the only car that had a high quality job, but also notice the price difference. When I get my next project painted, I am taking everything off the car and painted seperatly. It is amazing how much more labor and money it consumes to have it done "right". All the other cars were drag cars or personal weekend warriors, so taking all the parts off was pointless to the owners, but the Chevelle was a show car.

But yeah, they were high quality to me, I know they aren't the greatest, but your everyday person wouldn't notice the difference. I still can't justify dropping $15000 for a paint job though, just for small detail stuff unless it was a born and raised show only car, but there is no fun in that.

From my point of view your paint job is your least worry... I suggest you to consentrate into the tech side of your cars, so you can make them safe and good driving machines for your daily use. Also good paint is easy to mess up while upgrading the car laiter on!!!

Let us see some more pics...

[HWY Nova]

Cheapest car to restore???? That's easy: THE ONE YOU DON'T BUILD!


--Eric

[byndbad914]

I sold my 70 fastback to pay for college in 1997 for about what it takes to buy a rough roller these days.

Take the two 69s you have and if you can do bodywork cheap, get them straight and decent (don't paint them) and throw the rollers on eBay and get some money out of them. Or throw them on as is and just get what you can for now.

Then take the $2500 you will waste on the T/A and add it to the roller money or use it to get the two rollers straight and good enough to get $4-$5K each (69-70 fastbacks bring cash in rough shape, check eBay! cuz I have considering getting a tub for my next project and my jaw dropped what I see a crappy roller go for) and turn your $2500 and two free cars into about $8-$10K or so, then buy a 65-66 fastback in okay running condition with rough body, do all the work and a decent paint job and turn for $3K-$5K profit on a regular basis (when the economy is better).

My neighbor a couple years ago had 4 or 5 65-66 Mustangs in front of his house on average every month - he was buying rough ones on eBay, doing rust repair, etc himself, rebuilt engines at times if necessary, so forth and put a decent (at best) paint job on and would sell it on eBay 2-3 months later so he was pretty much averaging 2 cars per month flipped. He tore down his 2 bedroom house and built a monster on the lot with the money within just a couple of years...

and don't listen to the sour pusses and stuck ups with their taste for fancy paint jobs smack you down, I was your age once and we all start somewhere :thumbsup: and I admire a seriously sweet paint job as much as the next guy. Keep in mind most on this forum pay others to build their cars so it is always a losing proposition for them... flipping cars can be done when you do the work and the paint jobs you are showing are more than adequate for that. But stick to the obvious cars - the early 'stangs are popular and new repop parts are aplenty.

[youthpastor]

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??

[skatinjay27]

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??not a muscle car but when i think of cheap VW bugs come to mind for me...
pick up any vw mag and youll notice how cheap it is to have a bad azz bug.

[86TransAm]

I just picked up a pretty clean and rust free 83 Camaro for $800 less motor+tranny. I think that is a good deal considering how much anything 60's or 70 is going for,if you can get them in even close the same condition.if I had a choice I would have a late 60's-73 muscle car but for the price I am forced to go for the 80's or newer.they are easy to work on and parts are readily avaiable.one big key however as everyone on here has stated to being able to restore a car cheap is being able to do as much of the work yourself.

[youthpastor]

not a muscle car but when i think of cheap VW bugs come to mind for me...
pick up any vw mag and youll notice how cheap it is to have a bad azz bug.

my speedway catalog has a straight axle conversion to make em look like a rat - rod:thumbsup:

[youthpastor]

I just picked up a pretty clean and rust free 83 Camaro for $800 less motor+tranny. I think that is a good deal considering how much anything 60's or 70 is going for,if you can get them in even close the same condition.if I had a choice I would have a late 60's-73 muscle car but for the price I am forced to go for the 80's or newer.they are easy to work on and parts are readily avaiable.one big key however as everyone on here has stated to being able to restore a car cheap is being able to do as much of the work yourself.

they handle great out of the box and parts are cheap-

[DriverzInc]

my speedway catalog has a straight axle conversion to make em look like a rat - rod:thumbsup:

That's sweet.

[TreySmith]

Pics below are my uncles mustang and the trans am I am looking at.. Hard to believe they drug those hunks of **** out of a field and got one ready for paint.. I can't wait until he decides to paint it because that means I get to drive it here :)..

Hopefully my Lemans will be gone and I can go look at the trans am in person.


http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/4804/picture031hr9.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7219/picture034sb7.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4841/picture035sn5.jpg
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4845/picture037ww1.jpg

[Harri-76]

That Mustang seems like a nice project car...:thumbsup:

[Musclerodz]

what is the cheapest car to restore? one someone else already did and you just bought. also the fastest way to do one.

[andrewmp6]

Cheapest i know is any air cooled vw.But the problem is selling it fast under 5 grand would be a lot of shotty work and using bondo to fiix it all.I couldn't do that but a lot of people do.I see a guy on ebay once a month with a mustang fastback that is a freshly painted shell makes me think hes trying to hide something or its a coupe with a fastback roof on it.Only way to make money flipping cars is forget anything old.Hit car auctions the ones from charities are nice people donate a car with a blown engine or tranny.So you get the car for under a grand a lot of times drop in a engine or tranny clean it up and you might make 1500 profit off it.if your not scared of body work you can get a wrecked car and fix it but if the title says salvaged your kinda screwed.My biggest cash cow is unmarked crown vics i get most for 2k or less clean it up and i make a grand profit easy and fast.My best one yet was a 87 monte carlo ss no engine they took the dog house off it 800 bucks put in a 305 for 200 shined it up got 3500 out of it.

[TreySmith]

My first fixer was a 94 Camaro. Got it from some guy for free and had transmission problems. Got some birthday money I had saved up and put in a new clutch, master, and slave.. Made $1000 off of it. Guy I sold it to pulled the engine and trans and is putting it in a Triumph TR4 or something.


But yeah, someone is hopefully coming tomorrow. God I want this thing gone so bad. I feel like that trans am is slipping through my fingers..

I just hope the person I sell it to doesn't cut it up, that is my only fear.

[brans72]

Good thing it isn't me cause i like cutting on cars! Hey i figure someone is going to and i have to get my chevelle ready for the wedding day! Oh who ever threw out Abody or chevelles are cheap to fix hahahaha tell that to my bilfold!!!!!!!!!!!You gotta pay to play in the game :lateral:

[skooli]

No, that was the price for bodywork/paint.. :rolleyes:

Also I have an older chevy truck, and a blazer :)..

The Fastbacks need too much work to be on the road. The $2500 I have could get them there, but I wouldn't have any money to do anything with them.. But I am the kinda person that thinks a car looks better in rusty lime green than fresh lime green. :D They also don't have titles. Not a big deal but it takes a while.

They are very solid cars, just some surface rust.. No holes in the floors or trunk.. Primer car is in amazing shape, quarters would need a small patch but that is cheap and easy since I could do that myself.

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3364/imgp0616.jpg
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/1238/imgp0618.jpg
http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2994/imgp0612x.jpg

Where are these fastbacks located? I'll be in Houston this summer and I'm looking to build a 69/70 Boss 302.

[TreySmith]

They are located in Anderson Tx, north of Houston, but it is a nice drive. No traffic and 75 mph speed limits.

Still not sure if I want to let one go, but summer is still far away. Contact me then and we can maybe work something out :thumbsup:


Also, if you are really serious, I am going to go pick up some engines at the local pick a part this summer. It is like $250 for an engine and transmission. Going to see if I can get a 351, but I will keep an eye out for some 302's.

[TreySmith]

Hey guys. I am picking up a 351W this weekend for $100. I am just wondering, what all I will need to get a car to the road? Let's say I am starting off from scratch. I am still not sure if I want to go through with the 69 'Stang just yet, but the engine is too good to pass up for $100. I can always haul one up here and do the bodywork myself, wont cost a penny besides a truck/trailer, so it couldn't hurt..

Here is what I can think of so far:
Tires
Headers
Battery
Fluids
Right tail light
Radiator
Hoses
Brakes
Lock and ignition set
Driveshaft---
Trans.---- Can probably get these two from a junkyard.. $150 max for both
Eh, anything else I might need judging by the looks of the green car?

I think the RH headlamp bucket and fender are in the the cars somewhere. Those two parts alot are not cheap!!

[badmatt]

good tread if we stick to the question- what is a cheap car to build??

someone suggested an early chevy truck - good choice

s-10 square body style-- big motor

70's anything

60's a-body non chevy

78+ malibu

a wagon

any other ideas??

not always cheap.... me and Marty could tell you that.

[f1shman]

Hey guys. I am picking up a 351W this weekend for $100. I am just wondering, what all I will need to get a car to the road? Let's say I am starting off from scratch. I am still not sure if I want to go through with the 69 'Stang just yet, but the engine is too good to pass up for $100. I can always haul one up here and do the bodywork myself, wont cost a penny besides a truck/trailer, so it couldn't hurt..

Here is what I can think of so far:
Tires
Headers
Battery
Fluids
Right tail light
Radiator
Hoses
Brakes
Lock and ignition set
Driveshaft---
Trans.---- Can probably get these two from a junkyard.. $150 max for both
Eh, anything else I might need judging by the looks of the green car?

Bringing a car back completely from a shell will be more of a drain on your wallet than starting with a complete car to begin with. A lot of the small items can really nickel and dime your budget to death. I am not sure how strict the automotive safety inspections are in Texas (or even if there is one), but from my state they really give the car a look over to make sure its in a safe, driveable condition before they let you pass.

Along with your list you are going to want to check all the items on the car that need regular service. That includes all the steering parts (inner and outer tie rods, idler arm, rag joint, ball joints, sway bar bushings and end links, wheel bearings and seals), suspension parts (shocks, leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings), brake parts (master cylinder, booster, tubing, flex lines, calipers, rotors, pads, shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, drum hardware, emergency brake cables), lights (headlight, tail lamp, marker and interior bulbs) ...and it just keeps going from there. :faint: I am not saying that you'll have to replace everything on this list that you look over, just make sure that what is currently on the car is still in a safe operating condition.

Good luck with your project! :thumbsup:

[TreySmith]

Bringing a car back completely from a shell will be more of a drain on your wallet than starting with a complete car to begin with. A lot of the small items can really nickel and dime your budget to death. I am not sure how strict the automotive safety inspections are in Texas (or even if there is one), but from my state they really give the car a look over to make sure its in a safe, driveable condition before they let you pass.

Along with your list you are going to want to check all the items on the car that need regular service. That includes all the steering parts (inner and outer tie rods, idler arm, rag joint, ball joints, sway bar bushings and end links, wheel bearings and seals), suspension parts (shocks, leaf spring bushings, control arm bushings), brake parts (master cylinder, booster, tubing, flex lines, calipers, rotors, pads, shoes, drums, wheel cylinders, drum hardware, emergency brake cables), lights (headlight, tail lamp, marker and interior bulbs) ...and it just keeps going from there. :faint: I am not saying that you'll have to replace everything on this list that you look over, just make sure that what is currently on the car is still in a safe operating condition.

Good luck with your project! :thumbsup: Thanks for the list. Once I get it running, it will only have a few mile journey each day to school. But by the time it is running it will probably be summer, and all I will have to do is go to work, which is 4 miles or something.. But eventually that will all be replaced.
I am really starting to considering hauling one of them home. We are going up there the weekend after this one and I am going to thoroughly look them over. I don't want another rotted piece of **** like my Lemans. Then I will just sand the engine bay, have it painted, then find a cheap engine and drop it in and try to get it street able.

I want to sand and paint it first, but to me it gives the car pride. Personally, original lime green with surface rust is just so much cooler than a freshly painted car. It shows it has been through hell and is still alive.


Also Skooli I will try and get some pics for you. The primer car is an I6 but it has all boss 302 suspension parts. The car has everything a 302 car would have aside from the engine.

[awr68]

First order of business is to get the title....then you can start wrenching.

[TreySmith]

:faint:



Out of the like 7 cars I have had, none of them have had a title except one.. God damn lol.. But by the time I get it looking nice I should have the title. Body work costs me nothing so if something does happen it wont be a big deal.

[awr68]

File for a 'lost title' soon then so you can drive it as soon as it's ready!! :thumbsup: