I am now at 35k and the car is painted. It still will need interior, and reassembly. Proably another 5k. So, 50k in a 67 RS! Good thing I love the car huh. When do you say enough is enough??

that's a lot of money, but enough is never enough. It's never ending project, there is always something new and better coming out that you might want to get and install or something that needs to be redone or cleaned. For me enough is when i run out of money. But two weeks later there is another paycheck so enough moves up few dollars.
Any latest pictures?

Yes it is a lot of $$$, but at this point I would just stop thinking about how much it cost. Finish the car they the way you want it, not based on how much more it will cost, or you will not be happy with it.

I can identify with your dilemma. I guess finish it the way it should be done and enjoy driving it. No matter how much you stick in them they will still have flaws that only you will notice. After a while the money issue will fade.

Hey you can't get a little pregnant. At this point you are in for the long haul if you either want to finish or get a good amount of money out of it. I was faced with a plain jane '67 that would take more than it was worth to rebuild so I went the route of the recreation but will still be in for $45 or so by the time I am done...

Here is the latest on the resto.

http://klassicrides.com/67%20Camaro.htm

Hey, still cheaper than a mistress... and more faithful, eh?:)

capt

As long as it doesn't 1) take food or other necessities away from your family or 2) force you to a point where you can't meet your other financial obligations (pay your bills), or 3) threaten your long-term financial security in the future (retirement) then I say spend away. I used to invest all of my spare cash in "the market" like the financial guru's advise you to do and then I got "corrected" out of a substantial amount (like everyone else that was investing). Several nice Camaros worth of cash just floated away. Then I noticed that the financial gurus were still driving new Porsches and I had nothing but a worthless piece of paper. So in a round about way, I was still funding car purchases (albeit not my car) with my investments...so I decided to eliminate the middle man and buy what I wanted and enjoy. I still invest properly for the future (as I think everyone should) but now I also enjoy spending money on the things that make me happy. Let's face it, owning a stock muscle car is way more fun than owning a stock. We have a close knit group of "car guys" here at work and we always kid each other that some people need to go to the Betty Ford Clinic for their addictions but we need to go to the Henry Ford Clinic for ours. That pretty much sums it up.

How much is too much? -- I suspect the Mrs. will answer that question for you :D

I am now at 35k and the car is painted. It still will need interior, and reassembly. Proably another 5k. So, 50k in a 67 RS! Good thing I love the car huh. When do you say enough is enough??


Here is what I did in this dilemna:

I added up all my receipts and the cost of the camaro to see my bottom line SO FAR.

Then I looked at every new car on the market and asked myself what I'd rather have and it was a no brainer (for me anyway)

Do this strategy and see what you come up with. If you've spent that much already then I'd bet your car would be your pick.:beers:

I think 50 would be the number. The way I look at it, I saved a classic from the crusher, and will have a nice car when completed. It was an original car, but with all the sheet metal thats been replaced, can you stil call it original?? I am leaving the original drivetrain in it, considering I have all the paperwork. New sheet metal, interior and paint, is it policticaly correct to call the car original??

I friend of mine just passed from a heart attack at 52. My grandfather lived until he was 73 and worked every day sacrificing everything to make my life better.

Do what you wish, only you know what your limits are. In the scheme of things we are only here for a short time. I am 29, invest in my family's future and do everything i am supposed to do. Anything extra, well....I'm going to live like my grandpa always wanted to...and he liked cars ;)

It could be worse, I know many who have 80-100k in a Jet boat!!

WOW !! good job :hurray:, did that car have sentimental value to you ??? looked like it had some major work, but I've seen worse.

No, just a bad car to start with. When we media blasted, she was pretty rusty. I told the guys to remove every piece of rust in the car, and they did. Quaters, roof, deck lid, fenders. Patched the floor panels because they wern't that bad. I didn't have to put the hood on it, but a cowl hood at 200.00 more what the hay? I knew it was gonna be expencive, and have since talked with people who have 80 to 90 in restorations.
You guys who have the skills, welding and metal working don't realize how lucky you are when it comes to this. 60.00 p/hr and all that metal work adds up. One good thing is the car is in paint, and is being sanded and buffed this week. Only the inside left, and that can't cost that much or I will do it myself. Kinda curious about how long it takes to hook up all the new wiring and getting everything working. Any of you guys have any ideas on the wiring harness times??

I am now at 35k and the car is painted. It still will need interior, and reassembly. Proably another 5k. So, 50k in a 67 RS! Good thing I love the car huh. When do you say enough is enough??


At least you have a RS. Chip Foose has a RS, a black 69. That is my first criteria for a 1st gen. So I think you are doing ok, though you can never sell it unless you find someone willing to pay big. I would take a RS 6 banger over a SS I love them so much.

When I looked at Camaros, I didn't even look at anything other than 1967 RS. Had to have those hideaway headlights. Now getting them working might be a challenge, but the guy restoring it has a degree in Machanical engineering. That might be a big plus on the hours on the lights.

Your car looks good now ,just focus on that....Not the expence
By the way, you saved a 67 so it was all worthwhile.

Yea, I know I need to get over it. I will be done in a couple of weeks and I will have the car in its new place already picked out in the garage.

I am 52, and used to have a 67,68,69, Camaro, 66 SS Chevelle and a bunch of other old muscel cars when I was young. The fever never left, but the prices are a little higher. I paid 1600.00 for that 66 SS Chevelle, 396 4 speed car when I was in my 20's.

As I got older, priorities change, and the old cars got gone and work consumed my life. Now all I want is one old Camaro, and I think when you go about this the way I have its overwhelms you. I Bought the car, took it straight to the shop and said restore it. Now if you have unlimited means, thats fine. But when you are down to wondering if you have enough left to finish is where I am at.

The day will come soon when I get the car done, and all this will be over. Then I will enjoy the car, and forget about the money.

As you said, Ronnie, just be happy that you're almost done with a long process and be grateful you've been able to afford what you can.

I'm in the process of having to restore mine on my own. Because I have limited funds, I'm having to gloss over a few things now. I figure I'll do the best I can, get everything looking as good as I can, and hopefuly have it on the road in a year or so. Otherwise, I'd be looking at a LONG drawn out process. I just don't have the funds at the moment to do it "100% right". In the end, I guess if you're not in the so-called vintage car "business", you're doing it because you love vintage cars and yours in particular. You can't really put a price on happiness in my book.

Anyway, enjoy the car and be proud you saved a '67 RS!

Nothing is to much you are doing what you want to it i have 35k in mine and mines not painted.

You know, I went through this too on my 69. I showed it 3 weeks ago for the first time (purchased it in Dec 2005) and ended up 3rd best of show out of 315 cars, then went to a cruise in and a radio station asked to take pics of my car and before it was over I received tickets to a Braves game...my family is goin' nuts now.....and I put new metal on the entire car and all custom interior..:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I just returned from the shop and they have my hood and fenders buffed out. I have never seen anything so beautiful. The car will be done, and I dont care about the dollars now. I can see the light at the end of the tunnell, and its been a long one. Even the shop guys are talking about how nice the 67 looks with the red I choose. They should have it completly buffed out and the car put back together next week. I feel like a kid at christmas.

What color of red is that?

What color of red is that?Paint code or what make & model.

I don't know what the code is. They had a 1960 Austin Healy in the paint shop and I told them to use the same paint. If you need it, I will get it for you?

here is a pic of the hood with final buff.
http://klassicrides.com/full_size_images/67%20Camaro%20%20Ronnie/67Camaro0131_L.JPG

I try not to look at how much I have in my 67 std coupe. I am still building, and always
see some goodie for it I must have.

Enjoy the car and I figure about 10 to 12 percent a year appreciation. Heck I have bought several new cars over the years and have spent enough to build several Camaros. I never made money on the new ones I bought.

It's looking great...worth spending whatever it takes IMHO!
Be thankful you are in the good ol US of A...you can double the price of everything over here (in the UK)- labor, parts- the lot!
I imagine I'll be looking at a total spend of around $50-60k once my 68 is painted, interior freshened etc etc...and that's not frame off- just cosmetic resto/mod!

I will NEVER get that money back over here (the nicest camaro's over here won't go above $40k- except a YENKO or COPO)...but what the hell- It's the car I want, and it's been done the way I want.

Enjoy!

Hey Guys,
The 67 RS is about done. Needs glass and all new electrical harness's hooked up. I will add some more pics this evening.
http://klassicrides.com/full_size_images/67%20Camaro%20%20Ronnie/67Camaro0143_L.JPG

http://klassicrides.com/full_size_images/67%20Camaro%20%20Ronnie/67Camaro0145_L.JPG

http://klassicrides.com/full_size_images/67%20Camaro%20%20Ronnie/67Camaro0149_L.JPG

I think I will have my car done for 15k including $7500 for the car. This does not count the 10 -15k of "sweat equity".

If you are paying a shop to do all the work that was done, 35K seems pretty cheap.......
It looks beautiful!

Well, You said it All "You Love The Car"
and so do I, Love my Wife, Kids and Camaros! (sorry not to much the 74-77 but the rest)
and lest I or we, do this mostly not for money but for the love of the cars and spend time with are Wife and Kids on the cars with some thing in comin and the thrill of driving and car show in the summer and it naver done.....
Larry