We bought this car from a body shop where it was at. The puchase price was 5k for the car $3500 to finish the body work ready to paint and $2700 to paint including trunk and engine compartment. It had new front fenders and doors (had the original doors and hood also) one new inner fender and new rear spoiler we bought a new hood and trunk deck.
What it didn't have was was a motor/tranny front seats or much of the interior.
At this point we picked it up with most of the body work done so we can paint the sub frame/bottom and rear end. We just got the trunk/bottom/rear fender wells media blasted, have a virgin 69 327 and a TH400 plus almost all of the exterior parts and we are at around $9500 plus the paint cost.
I don't see many cost/progress posts here so I thought I would share and see how bad or good we are doing :confused:

Here are the pics in build order to this point:

As we bought it (more pics) (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=f335&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/my_photos%3furlhint=actn,del%253as,1%253af,0)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/691.jpg

Stripped for body work (more pics) (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=edc2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/my_photos%3furlhint=actn,del%253as,1%253af,0)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/694.jpg

current condition so we can do the sub frame/bottom/trunk before paint (more pics) (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/album?.dir=3235&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s30119@sbcglobal.net/my_photos%3furlhint=actn,del%253as,1%253af,0)
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69prime8.jpg

Mine has already become the most expensive vehicle that I have ever bought, and I have not yet painted the car.
Money pit? Oh yeah!

I bought a pretty rough 69 for $6500. It had matching 350 and TH350 trans. I paid $7500 for the body work (new quarters, trunk pan, and front right fender) and paint (Z28 type-Fathom Green with white stripes). Put in 700r4 tran (guy gave me the trans but $500 for rebuild). Bought wheels off ebay and this was about the only thing I feel I got a deal on. Rebuild of the motor cost about $1100. Rechrome of bumper was $400. I then bought a bunch of parts mainly from Rick's (ask for a guy named Gary Clark). I am sure I have $6-8000 in parts (includes new hedders and new muffler system). So how much is that? I hate to add it up. Well looks like that is about $24000. That is a lot but the car is really nice-looks new from the ground up-bottom and all suspension parts have been blasted and painted. Bottem of car is clean as the top. I did a world of work on this car over the last 12 months. If I had had to pay for that work I could never have afforded the finished car. I could probably sell the car for more than my total cost. However I would only get about 10 cents an hour for my labor. I had a great time doing it.
Mike

I found mine in the local paper for 2 grand obo. I was the 1st call on the car out of 27. I went 4 towns away to go look at it and ended up buying it right away. It had been sitting for a few years and needed almost everything! I spent the last 4 years fixing it up and funneling $$ into it. I think I have ~10k into the car including the purchase price, so I'm "money ahead"...but the only things I didn't do myself were: upholstery and vinyl top. If I had to pay for paint, engine work, etc. I'm sure I would be 20-25k into it. I have enjoyed most of the work, but wanted to drive it off a cliff on a few rare 'kodak moments". The thumbs up and comments are well worth it, and well earned ;)

Dano :beers:

Let's just say my starting price is where most of you guys are ending. Add to that all the rare crossram stuff and a full frame off restoration and I'm way up there. I'll be into my car and restoration for 6 digits easily by time it's done but as of now it's not even painted yet. But I'll have a very unique car which is what my goal was from the very beginning. Here's a link to some pictures of the body stripped down and getting new metal.

69 Z28 JL8 Restoration Pictures (http://cjcfo.fbody.com/members/jeffhansbury@comcast.net/JL8/)

I started off with a driver with new body panels and exceptional paint for about $13K. THEN the pro-touring bug bit me and I have since AT LEAST dumped another $15K in the car: 17" Budniks, 4 wheel Baer brakes, hydraboost, stainless steel braided lines, aluminum radiator with dual fans, DSE dash w/ Autometer gauges, Corbeau seats, Street & Performance pulleys, new 12 bolt, SS brake and fuel lines, GW UCAs, Marquez Design pieces, 200R4, new interior, etc, etc, etc. When it is all said and done I will end up around $30K. Yes it is ridiculous, but it is what I want.

I bought my '69 convertible for $5K from a coworker. All it really needed to make it a driver was a radiator and carb. I drop them in and drove it for a few months. It spun a cam bearing coming back from a show on Thanksgiving weekend. I ended completely dismantling the car and going through a frame off rebuild. It took about 18-24 months and cost me over $40K. I spent $15K alone on the bodywork and paint. I still end up spending about $1K a year on the car changing something.

It was something that I always wanted to do, so I did it.:) I'll be finished with my '55 pickup this week and it took about 7 years and probably more $$$$. I'm going to do house remodeling next and enjoy the 2 rides for a while.

I bought my 69 in 1982 for $1800.00. Back then 1st & 2nd gens were quite plentiful. I didn't know 67 from 69, I just knew I wanted a Camaro and the one I bought was in the best shape of the 3 or 4 that I looked at. Bought from the daughter of original owner who was a doctor.

Now I'm quite partial to the 69's.

That was my 1st car purchase and was a daily driver for quite a few years.

Between 1982 and last winter my guess would be spending around $5000.00 on various stages of resto. (big block, 4 speed, 12 bolt, sheet metal etc.).

Although I haven't added up my receipts from the past 10 months, (affraid to)
my guess is probably close to $12,000.00 on this last go around. I had a friend do body and paint while I restored interior.

I have it insured with Hagerty with an agreed value of $21,000.00.

Brian.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/hairboy69/IMG_1560.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/hairboy69/IMG_1540.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/hairboy69/IMG_1538.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/hairboy69/IMG_1535.jpg

30000.00 into mine and climbing.

going to put an alcohol 355 blower motor in this winter.
http://webpages.charter.net/harrycoon/dawgs.jpg

http://webpages.charter.net/harrycoon/000_0003.jpg


so after that itll be another 25 grand

It adds up quick...I am at around 40k with the purchase of the car...getting ready to lower it with 17 and an ls1, magna charged, and a 5 speed...it will never end...anyone got 100k they could spare?

We bought this car from a body shop where it was at. The puchase price was 5k for the car $3500 to finish the body work ready to paint and $2700 to paint including trunk and engine compartment. It had new front fenders and doors (had the original doors and hood also) one new inner fender and new rear spoiler we bought a new hood and trunk deck.
What it didn't have was was a motor/tranny front seats or much of the interior.
At this point we picked it up with most of the body work done so we can paint the sub frame/bottom and rear end. We just got the trunk/bottom/rear fender wells media blasted, have a virgin 69 327 and a TH400 plus almost all of the exterior parts and we are at around $9500 plus the paint cost.
I don't see many cost/progress posts here so I thought I would share and see how bad or good we are doing :confused:

everytime I see a post like this it freak's me out just as much as the first one , 5K for the car (WHICH IS OK) $3500 TO DO BODYWORK ! $2700 TO PAINT !

WOW!!!!!!!!!! did I say WOW!!!!!!!


I don't believe it , nope it can't be it just can't this is like the loch ness monster some can think it's true if they want I just can't believe it ,

did I say WOW!

everytime I see a post like this it freak's me out just as much as the first one , 5K for the car (WHICH IS OK) $3500 TO DO BODYWORK ! $2700 TO PAINT !

WOW!!!!!!!!!! did I say WOW!!!!!!!


I don't believe it , nope it can't be it just can't this is like the loch ness monster some can think it's true if they want I just can't believe it ,

did I say WOW!
You obviosly don't live in Ca. $10-20k is easy for a nice paint job in this state! It sucks, you have to be rich to own a muscle car these days!

Shawn..as far as the costs , uughh , thanks for makin me think about it:) !
I bought this car from a shop in New York in East Aurora...misprepresented as far as condition..never sent all the parts with it, and what was sent was junk....I decided to continue on with the resto anyway..fortunately my Cuz is a hot shot attorney in New York and is iching to put the hurt on this guy...I have documented it extensively and will continue to move forward..I plan on giving the guy one last shot at stepping up.. after that it's not about money but principal.. in the end the bottom line is another first gen will be restored to its former glory..that is the most important thing.

As of last week..


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/ChevyThunder/Daytona%20Yellow%20%20X77D80/c8c5d8d9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/ChevyThunder/Daytona%20Yellow%20%20X77D80/b887b500.jpg

hummmm east aurora new york ? I got my car from east aurora new york , they didn't happen to deliver it to you did they ? they delivered mine but all the part's and all the paperwork they had for it dissapeared ? this guy's name isn't BOB by any chance is it ?

hummmm east aurora new york ? I got my car from east aurora new york , they didn't happen to deliver it to you did they ? they delivered mine but all the part's and all the paperwork they had for it dissapeared ? this guy's name isn't BOB by any chance is it ?


Why yes it is...my paper work was missing too...interesting

everytime I see a post like this it freak's me out just as much as the first one , 5K for the car (WHICH IS OK) $3500 TO DO BODYWORK ! $2700 TO PAINT !

WOW!!!!!!!!!! did I say WOW!!!!!!!


I don't believe it , nope it can't be it just can't this is like the loch ness monster some can think it's true if they want I just can't believe it ,

did I say WOW!

Well if you do some simple math it will be clear to you. The last car i did included dissassembly,strip to metal,including jambs, make repairs including rear body panel,trunk floor,repro doors,reassemble and align sheetmetal ,block to perfection and shoot base/clear,sand and buff. I had 250 hours in that car.Say a shop rate is $40 which is cheap,most resto shops are more like $55-$65. So at $40 the labor would be 10k. Now add your parts and quality paint and materials. My paint was $360 for a gallon of basecoat and $190 for a gallon of clear.$100 or better for a top quality 2k urethane primer.$40 for top grade urethane reducer. Plus tape and masking paper, sandpaper(priced quality tape and sandpaper lately?) a roll of stikit Da paper is about $40 and you need at least 3 different grits, File sheet paper is about$20-$40 a box you need at leat three different grits.not to mention wet sand paper in various grits.Compound is better than $20 a bottle. You need a few different grades. A 3M buffing pad will set you back $20 and you need the foam polishing pad too. I could go on.... So with the car in question,$3500 + $2700 is $6200.So assuming he paid $40/hour(again a good price) he paid for 155 hours of labor which is not out of line.Now i dont know if he included the price of the paint in there. Try doing a full strip and paint and i'll time you and we'll see how long it takes ya. :)

Why yes it is...my paper work was missing too...interesting

yea I understand this guy (WE WILL CALL HIM MR HARRIS) is bad for this , over the years he has developed a good storyline that is always similar in that he has documenting paperwork (IE BUILD SHEETS PROTECTO PLATES) and he ALWAY's deliver's the car's or HAS them delivered I bet he was tied up and could not deliver it himself ? somehow this paperwork get's lost in transit ? part's can either disappear or wear out traveling down the road stored in the trunk , let's say a set of crack free head's can become cracked in transit FUNNY AIN'T IT ,

all my paperwork was in my car, it just didn't show up with it. Fortunatley I have some very good information and have documented everything on this car from the first time I saw it so I am in good shape when it all comes down...just a shame that some people operated the way they do .. I have never had a person put the paperwork in a car that I have bought ... and I have never put the paper work on a car I have sold in a car.It always gets sent seperatley...by the way this is the third BH story for TC members that I have heard .. all by chance.. I wonder how many more there are?

lol, before we raise the BS flag too high the shop we bought the car from and is doing the work just had a 69 for sale on this site (which actually had the original sub frame and rear end out of our car in it) they bought both to build but only decided to do one and sold us the other one.
They have around 100 hrs in our car so far but the other side of this is we do a lot of major shows during the year with our other car and we have agreed to let them have a credit plaque in this car when we go to shows with it. They also gave us a total for the work before they stripped it since it was their car to begin with. The more people that are posting what they have in the body work the more I see we got a pretty good deal.

Edit:We bought the car from the shop and I suspect they had a lot less than 5k in it.

This is the sister car they just finished

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b50/s30119/69camaro1.jpg

I have a detailed spreadsheet of our ground up restomod for insurance purposes. About 32,000 Canadian with probably 2000 to go.

I paid 10k for my 'vert and thought I got a good deal. It cost me 1k to ship it cross county, about another 2k for an engine rebuild, $500 for wheels and tires, $1500 for a new overdrive trans, $1,000 for new headers and exhaust, etc,etc. I'm probably close to 20k into it with me doing most of the labor. I hope to be back on the road soon, and will look at starting the bodywork/paint next year. I just updated my web page so check my sig for pics.

$2500 for a 69 roller with new glass all around, new interior. I bought $1100 worth of suspension components, another $1100 for front brakes, and other items, $4300 last week for a 388 stroker. Brings my total to $9000, not counting various tools, etc. Oh, and I traded $400 worth of work for 2 TH400's and an 8.5" 10 bolt posi. (Does that count?)

I still have lots to do to the '69 before I can even start it. I'm on track for a 15k ride before paint. I think I'm doing fine. Gonna be badass for sure!!

Rut

I have three 69's :clonk: And if you take into account the fact that I'm in Australia they do get expensive !!! I think I will be selling the X11 and the X44 so I can get stuck right into the Pro Street I just bought :thumbsup:


Kurt

I bought a 1969 RS/SS what was advertised as "Fully Restored" on Ebay in 2001 for $16,100. Since then I've dumped another $1000 for interior, $800 for power windows, $600 for wheels and tires, $2200 in the motor, $1,000 in paint... and I still have a long way to go. I have $21,700 tide-up in her... and I'm sure I could get my money back ... but I'll keep her :)

NEVER again will I buy a car on Ebay without having it looked at by someone else.

HOT TIP! When you buy a car on Ebay...especially from a State that requires "Inspections"....make sure that the car's registration is CURRENT!

We are looking at 17-20k as a finish price after suspension, interior and wheels/tires

I am going to Iowa sunday to get the 69 327 from a friend of mine. It is a original engine that has never had any work done to it, his dad has had since it was new (not out of a camaro though). It has been sitting for a couple of years so we will have to see what it will need.

Bought it for $500 in '99..... in a million pieces.
Floors/trunk had already been replaced. Stripped it, then started from the bottom up.... fixed any rust and damage, blasted/painted the subframe and all components, drum-to-power disc upgrade, suspension upgrades, swapped in an 8.5" rearend, went through all wiring harnesses, rebuilt/recovered all the seats.
Then rebuilt and cleaned up an old 350 for it. Nothing left to do except bodywork and assembly now.

100% by me at a very reasonable cost. ;) The only things that cost money were the brake parts ($300), suspension and materials (maybe $1500 including rearend), interior ($1000) and the paint/cleaning/sandblasting supplies (I can't even guess...maybe a couple hundred). I'd say I've spent about $3500 so far.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/HwyStar/WheelsOn1_med.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/HwyStar/Engine.jpg

Your engine is dusty Joe. Get that thing cleaned off so it will run faster.

Plus the value will go up!
;)

This is where I am at:

Just sent it to paint prison. Getting 1/4 done, rear window panel, driver rear 1/4 patch panel, header panel. I bought all sheet metal. Car is coming totaly apart. Frame out, rear end and leafs out. Under coat inside of car, undercoat all of the underside. Paint 2005 Corvett Blue, with Z stripes. All this for $4000.00

Details on my 67 (http://www.camaros.net/cgi-bin/xchange/xchange.cgi?search_and_display_db_button=on&db_id=164&exact_match=on&photo_size=full)

Other post for the Engine top end deal I just got. Engine parts and cost (http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64983)

After this I will be buying a classic auto air A/C system and spending about another 3k on her. total with purchace I will have about 15K into it after getting 17x8 Vintage 45 wheels and tires. They will have to wait though. Over all I am very happy with what i will have into my lil 67.

Joe

I am over $20K in my car and I have just finished the major metal work on the shell. It did not help that two sheetmetal guys took me for $4k total in work I have had redone by them. Before it is finished I will have $40K-$50K in mine and I will have done 75% of the work including paint. There is very little left of the original car and it was rust free when I started.

Mike

This is the best post I have seen on this site for some time! I took the day off from "real work" today to spend some quality time with my camaro projects. I came home so depressed at the overwhelming work and cost I have been throwing at these cars I was ready to put them all up for sale and cut my losses. It seems every time I take one step forward I take two steps back. I call it my "radiator hose syndrome". If you have a hose that needs replaced it never fails that the original tower clamp screw snaps off. No problem...just pry it loose with a screwdriver from the radiator outlet. Now you have broken the weld on the radiator outlet...right? Well its time to recore it anyway so might as well pull it. I'll start by removing the fan and clutch and lay it on the work bench. Oh...No! the fluid is leaking from the fan clutch while laying flat on the bench....I think you get the drift. I'm glad I have this site and you guys who are as nuts as me :)

I just want to say this I'm close to 20.000 and did all the work myself and not finished yet.

one million dollars .....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/ChevyThunder/Daytona%20Yellow%20%20X77D80/car001s.jpg

Had mine for 6 years now and went through the papers this weekend. I am into mine for around $25K.

http://www.lateral-g.net/members/hall/scott%20(7).JPG
http://www.lateral-g.net/members/hall/PICT0087.jpg



Scott

Bought a "raced" '67, plain jane supposedly a 427 rat, S-T10, 4:11 12 bolt in '95 for 4 K. Since then, to be sure of what was under the lid, had a '73 454, opened up to 468 and filled with all the "good stuff." Body was all revamped and a tremec 5 gear added. Total so far is over 20K, but enjoyed every damn dime! Wish I knew how to post photos.... Warren Bushing

I'm embarressed to say that I have over $42K wrapped in a car that is restored only to driver condition, is not a real SS, and is probably worth about $13-$16K.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/mark1/69Camaro002.jpg

Clearly I Am An Idiot.

I'm embarressed to say that I have over $42K wrapped in a car that is restored only to driver condition, is not a real SS, and is probably worth about $13-$16K.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/mark1/69Camaro002.jpg

Clearly I Am An Idiot.

I'm a bigger idiot than you - I've probably got about 3/4 of that in mine, it doesn't even run yet, and it started out as a 6 cyl. Hope that makes you feel better! I think yours is worth a lot more than 13-16K.

I'm a bigger idiot than you - I've probably got about 3/4 of that in mine, it doesn't even run yet, and it started out as a 6 cyl. Hope that makes you feel better! I think yours is worth a lot more than 13-16K.

Thanks Mike....misery loves company :D
Now that prices seemed to have peaked and are backing down I doubt anybody would pay more than that for my car, but thanks for the encouragement.

I was just checking the pics of your '68.
You've got a great rotisserie restoration going there.
And I love 427s
Any idea when it will be running ?

Thanks Mike....misery loves company :D
Now that prices seemed to have peaked and are backing down I doubt anybody would pay more than that for my car, but thanks for the encouragement.

I was just checking the pics of your '68.
You've got a great rotisserie restoration going there.
And I love 427s
Any idea when it will be running ?

Thanks Mark, your car is gorgeous, I'd give you more than that for it in a second if I hadn't already nearly bankrupted myself on mine! I'm hoping to get it home in the next week or two, and after I recover financially from this stage of the project, start making progress on actually getting it running. If all goes well it'll be running next spring or summer (I still have a ton of parts to buy). Hopefully get the paint and interior done over the winter of 2007/2008, and have it done by spring 2008. A lot of "maybe's" and "hopefully's" in there, though! I've got a thread going on the progress: http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=86718

All I can tell you is that I have probably around 40-45000 in mine and havent driven it in 10 years. 540 horse 427 BB, TKO 600, Intro wheels, just about all new interior and body panels, new glass, steering column, aluminum rad.,stereo,Mcleod bellhousing, SSBC 4 wheel disc brakes, are just some of the expenses. I spent so much on little parts and misc. That I dont even want to think about it. I would guess the car will be worth about 35 when done. Did you see the 69 auction for charity on Ebay? It is at 35000 and that car has alot of expensive goodies. I am amazed at how little alot of you have in your cars when even the little parts cost so much.

I have sooo much $$$ tied up in this car...I don't want to even try to put a figure on it.Bought it for $15K,painted it and replaced whole interior.Started with a $7500 Classic Industries order and went from there.

Then the 302 blew up...having to replace it with a $9K motor and,and,and has pushed my well over $40K.

Then those other two always need something....:sad:

Wouldn't have it any other way though.:thumbsup: http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01143.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01154.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01005.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01014.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01156.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01130.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01149.jpg

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p3/topfueljohn/DSC01151.jpg

Well, let's see:

I just got into this hobby at the beginning of this year and started from scratch.

First Car - Bought sight unseen - thought I'd take the plunge and see what comes of it. With purchase price, parts, pieces, etc. I guess I'm into that one for about 23k

Second Car - Thought I'd buy another one that runs so I wold have some fun while trying to figure out what to do with the girst one. . With purchase price, parts, pieces, etc. I I'm into that one for about 12,500k

Third Car - "Third Times a charm", right? This one I bought in pieces... literally. Every piece was off the car. Haven't spent any more money on this one ... yet! Have $7500 in this one.

By this time I figured I needed some tools, rotisserie, sand blaster, compressor, etc. So, if I have another 7k or so in this.

So, I'm in foir about 50 k this year. What do I have to show for it?

First car - It was complete and together when I got it.. now it's partially torn apart and needs to go back together.

Second car - It ran when I got it, and now it is either has an exhaust leak of worse... not sure yet.

Third car - It went from being torn apart at the sellers house, to being torn apart at my house.

Hind sight is 20/20 --- if I had it to do all over again I would have bought a "done" car. Now I'm in it up to my neck, trying to decide which direction to go. I wonder what 50k would have gotten me 10 months ago? But it's been an "interesting" experience. The most redeeming factor is that I have made some really good friends here, and that alone is worth it.

It's a big number that I don't care to calculate. Since it's my 'forever car' I figure it will amortize to a reasonable per/year expense :)

I'm embarressed to say that I have over $42K wrapped in a car that is restored only to driver condition, is not a real SS, and is probably worth about $13-$16K.

http://home.cfl.rr.com/mark1/69Camaro002.jpg

Clearly I Am An Idiot.

Or your just a lot more honest than most on here. That car is very nice for a "driver" car. I think yours is worth a lot more than 16K, and I also find it hard to believe how little most say they've spent. Also many of the estimates don't count the vast amount of labor they put in. Time is money!

After some upgrades this winter I will be near $40K, not including labor. Good thing is its all paid for....

It's a big number that I don't care to calculate. Since it's my 'forever car' I figure it will amortize to a reasonable per/year expense :)
Agreed. Probably the most expensive car I've ever owned. I have the receipts but I'm not adding them up...

Nice driver...$15K
Snowball effect...$XXK
Labor of Love, garage 'therapy', family trips to ice cream store, burnouts at will, memories for my sons and I in the garage and at the track, endless thumbs-up's from strangers...priceless.

Scott