[garfield]

and you could start all over with your camaro, which option would you choose:

- Buy a project camaro and spend years having it built the way you like

OR

- Take out a bank loan and buy one that's already finished



I myself chose to buy a project car a few years ago and do what I could to have it restored, but now I wish I would have simply taken out a loan and bought one already finished. Reason being is that I don't have all of the tools or knowledge to completely restore my camaro myself, so the things I couldn't do on my own, I was forced to farm out to someone else. Another reason is that with all the money I've poured into this car over the years , I could have bought one already finished and be happily driving it now instead of moving it from shop to shop waiting for it to be finished. Right now its being completely re-wired from bumper to bumper. From there its going to the paint and body shop where it will probably spend another year before shes finished. After that I still want to change out the front drum brakes with discs and upgrade the rear end from a 3:01 open end to a 3:73 posi. That part shouldn't take long, but its the fact that I wouldn't have to have any work done and wouldn't have to wait month after month to drive it if I have bought one already finished.

I'l be very glad when I can drive her again.

[DOUG G]

1st- I like to tinker.
2nd- I want the car to be mine.
3rd- I couldn't afford the going price of a driver (complete)

I did look at a few before I found mine and the one I remember most was a ground up restored, numbers matching 69 Z-28 for 13,500 (Remember 10 years ago?) and was way out of my range.Look at what they're worth today.

[69Mike]

I bought a 69 a year and a half ago. I took it to a one man body shop and he let me help him do the work on it. He is a real craftesman as regards body work and is an expert mechanic with much experience with this vintage vehicle. I spent almost all of this summer putting the car back together (with his help). I enjoyed every minute of it. However, I am retired and could work on it pretty much full time. Had I had a full time job, it would have been very difficult to get the end. I have a friend that has a 67 Chevelle. He has been trying hard for two years to get body work done on the the car (which is all to pieces). He is no closer than he was two years ago. He would have been much better off to borrow the $ and buy a finished car. So that is my recommendation-go ahead and buy the car finished. At the end of my Camaro project I have no less than $25000 in the car. It is really nice-like brand new. However it took a long time to finish and my circumstances let me work on it much more than someone who works full time. For $25k I could have bought a real nice finished car. So I say-buy a finished car and enjoy it.
Mike

[MrDanB]

If you buy a project...It's best to have one that runs and drives. That way, you can enjoy the thing while you're fixing it up. If I had to spend years working on it to make it roadworthy, I would get discouraged quickly! If you can afford to buy a 35k finished car (btw there's no such thing as "finished")
then do it and enjoy it I have enjoyed learning how to work on the car. With each little project finished, it gives a good feeling of accomplishment...

Dano

[jackr]

Building a car is 3/4 of my satisfaction with this hobby. Once they are done I tend to lose interest.

[Scott Taylor]

Originally Posted by jackr

Building a car is 3/4 of my satisfaction with this hobby. Once they are done I tend to lose interest.

I'm completely the opposite. I have absolutely no interest in spending thousands of hours in my garage building a car. I bought a completely restored car and I enjoy driving it every chance I get. I spend my nights and weekends playing with my two boys who are 4 and 7. When the boys get a little older I may take on a project and try to get them interested in it, but I'd be doing it for them, not for me.

[chip_127]

I bought a 68 about 6 months ago that is in really bad shape. It doesn't have a motor or trans, has tons of rust everywhere. If I had it to do over, I would at least save up more, and buy one that runs. At least it would have all of your mounts, wiring etc...

[MytMini]

Originally Posted by jackr

Building a car is 3/4 of my satisfaction with this hobby.

I'm with you on this one jackr. I only wish I wouldn't have totalled my daily driver back in February as I had to clear out my Camaro account to replace it.

Oh well... now I'm taking a painting 101 course so this delay may actually end up saving me money. LOL

[kleptopigdog]

i'm building mine from the ground up exactly like i want it .Hell i even do my own build sheet showing every option i choose.

[jacket]

I have done most of the work on mine with the exception of the body work and paint. If I had it to do over I would find a way to do it all myself. I know a lot more now than I did three years ago, I think. I've never driven mine except home from the alignment shop and a few laps around the neighborhood. So I don't know what I am missing.

[69camarofast]

Which option would I choose:

- Buy a project camaro and spend years having it built the way you like

OR

- Take out a bank loan and buy one that's already finished

I would take the option im still doing, building it my self. My reasons are i love working in my garage on my projects...there are times were my sons and i are all working together at the same time, installing differant parts or cleaning on the same car as a family, from my 12 year old to my 18 year old. It is nice to custom bulid these cars the way you want them built...you know what they say " IF YOU CUT YOUR OWN WOOD, IT WILL WARM YOU TWICE"...just my opinion...Chris..

[dragsterman]

I am tired of working on cars. I have had SOOOOOOO MANY projects over the years. I am hoping the next keeper I buy is a done car. But, I have this sickness. Projects just seem to attract me?

[Musclerodz]

I would take option "C" which you didn't list. I would take out a loan and build it faster than the 12 years it has taken so far.

Mike

[RamAirDave]

If I bought a finished car, chances are I would either sell it before long or take it apart and re-do it anyway. In most cases, at least.

I am WAY too detailed/particular on how I want a car done. It always seems that the more work done by someone else doesnt meet my standards/expectations.

Then again, I'm a perfectionist (or "crazy" might be a better word).

dave

[djunod]

A '68 Camaro was the first car I ever got to work on as a "kid"... so, working on my current '68 Camaro brings me a lot of joy, as well as moments of dejavu. Been working on it for 4.5 years now...