I am getting ready to restore my 67 coupe, but first I want to work on a budget. It's just a base car with a 327, but I've had it for 20 years, so it has some sentimental value, but I don't want to shell out a hundred grand on its resto. Does anyone have some detailed cost breakdowns (spreadsheets, perhaps?) of your own restoration projects that I can take a look at to help with my budget numbers? That'll also help to make sure I don't miss anything in the process. Thanks!

Ron Durling

I've done seven NCRS-level Corvette body-off restorations and built six other cars nearly from scratch over the last 30+ years, and a pattern emerges; add up the cost of all the parts and purchased services you think you'll need that you can't do yourself, multiply by two, then add 50%, and that will usually cover it. :thumbsup:

The guy who makes out on a full restoration is the one who buys it when it's done; you can usually buy the restoration and get the car for free. Do it for pride of workmanship and because you really like the car, not under the flawed assumption that you'll make any money on it. :)

multiply by two, then add 50% :)

Wow, that is exactly what my wife says when i tell her how long it'll take to comeplete a hunny-do! (and pretty darned accurate, too)

I'm with JohnZ. I have a folder with every single receipt for all of the parts that I have purchased for my resto. I know that there is no way in a million years that I would ever get what I have spent back on the car.

But...When I fired it up for the first time last weekend (after almost 5 years of working on it) ...the last thing on my mind was what all of those receipts added up to.:D

Probably around $30K...

A lot of it depends on the car and what it will be worth when its done.

It takes pretty much the same amount of work/$$ to restore a non #s X44 car as it would a #s Z or SS to the same level. Of course that wouldnt include a Z or SS with most of the "unique" parts missing.

Generally, you'll lose money on having a car restored by someone else. But with the way the market is, it very possible to get youre money back out of the right car, even having it done by someone else.

dave

I started a spread sheet, but it became too tedious....not to mention depressing.

Also, as my wife became more computer literate, I was afraid I might be discovered.

Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm not worried about losing money, since I have had the car 20 years and plan to have it for another 20 years. I just wanted some idea of how much I should expect to spend so I can budget accordingly. Or, as in Unreal's case, so I can make myself depressed. ;)

I look at it as a hobbie and not an investment. I tell my wife that, " I could be spending our money in a bar drinking it away rather than putting in to my car". She usually agrees. Caution - do not use this methode to many times, it'll run out of steam! Keep a folder as posted before - it helps when you need to return something. I recently recieved $3 for changing my stock fuel pump. Aparently the price of a new pump has gone down!

My car was an original clean car and I spent $35 to $40K after the rotisserie resto. Most of it was buying missing correct dated parts and body shop time. Part of the reason why cars are going up is that you would have a tough time restoring one for cheap with body shop hourly rates and the cost of parts. I didnt care on my car as it was my first car I bought when I was 17 back in 1980 so it has sentimental value to me.

Jonesy,

Nice score on the 67 Z. I am jealous beyond words. Do you have the original engine and tranny?

Lynn

Thanks Lynn, I dont have them yet. They are supposedly held hostage in a machine shop out in WA state. The old owner and the machine shop owner are at odds and the guy wont give them up. I really dont know the whole story.

Hope you are able to get them and reunite with the car.