Thread: Restoring Cars

Originally Posted by loanrangie

This is my baby, 1958 FC Special. Bought just before my 17th birthday, been thru a few different guises and running gear but sitting on commodore diff and HQ stubs with VN discs, LH Torana rack and pinion steering.
Hadfield chassis kit and toyota 5spd box, 78/79 Buick 3.8 V6 to go, the BMW rims suit the style but were only intended to get it rolling.
Diff is not centered and awaiting some saddles to be made and welded in.

THAT is Awesome!!!!!!! How long have you had it??

My dad had an FE many years ago[ now 67]

Originally Posted by cactus

wow. didn't realise this thread was so long and I may repeat what others have said. if its a passion for a particular car ,what it costs is irrelevant . if its for profit one day choose wisely. I have a fb holden wagon. had it for years. just about to get a freshen up. ie paint and rebuild the grey motor etc. until recently, if I spent 5ooo on it I may only just have got my money back but over the last few years ive seen good restos of early holdens go for 20000. values can change in time of you have enough of it. next car was an mgb that I acquired for free as it came in safeway bags, like every single nut and bolt had been removed and never gone ahead with over the following 20 years. fortunately ? I was made redundtant at my job at the time so had funds and time to restore this one. 6 months full time work. new floor pans, sills etc. doing ALL the work myself except reupholstering the seats ended up costing me around 6000.. it was valued at 28000 when I finished it. that one was good money but if you factor in 6 months of no wages ?? still cars are a passion for me and I had 7 years of fun m in that car..


currently im doing a 1960 karmann ghia for an old lady who has a history with it and expense is nothing. no one else would take this project on for her and in a moment of weakness I said I would do it for her in my "spare" time. its been 6 years now and almost finished. every panel from the waistling down was rusted beyond repair and needed replacing. I learnt a lot about forming panels by hand with this car and spent lots of time away from it as it became a chore . never again for a customer . may have been paid what seemed like good money in the beginning but factor in time and never being able to enjoy the fruits of my labour, no more.
oh and costs? owes her around 15000 finished and worth around 20000 .


I worked for the healey factory in melb for a while and saw many cheque book restos. 200 grand for a jag etype convertible... 150 grand for the average healey. unjustifiable to me but for people who can afford to have it done, I guess it kept a company going well to this day.


moral ? just do it if it makes you happy and you can avoid selling the kids to finish it.


cheers chris

x2..WELL said mate, and my family and friends give me soo much grief for having 3 Lj suzuki's

Non classic car/4wd enthusiast WILL NEVER understand!

Originally Posted by 4x4 MORE

x2..WELL said mate, and my family and friends give me soo much grief for having 3 Lj suzuki's

Non classic car/4wd enthusiast WILL NEVER understand!

The amount of family and friendswho have on many occasions said to me, "why don't you sell them all and buy a nice new car and go on an overseas holiday?"
Yep, they don't get it.

So I'm not the only one..

Do we need to start a support group?

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Do we need to start a support group?

Your ON a support group

I bought the FC 1 week before i turned 17, coming up to 46 so i'll let you do the math .

Originally Posted by cactus

moral ? just do it if it makes you happy and you can avoid selling the kids to finish it.


cheers chris

G'day Chris, thanks for that, very interesting little adventure for you.

But are you sure I cant sell the kids??