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Restoration Advice

220 messages,  Last post on May 31, 2009 at 5:49 PM

You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright

What is this discussion about? Performance Mods, Auto Body, Auto Repair, Classic Cars, Coupe, Convertible, Truck, Sedan, Wagon


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#189 of 220
Re: Market Value [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
May 27, 2009 (9:07 am)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 27, 2009 8:50 am)

I'd say it could be worth high teens in today's rather slumping market. A knock-out landau might break $20K but it would have to be quite a car top bottom under, over, inside, in all ways.
 
A clean driver '66 Bird coupe with a decent "street level" paint job is worth about $10K.
 
Any '66 Bird needing work dives in value considerably because these are expensive cars to restore.
#190 of 220
Re: Market Value [Mr_Shiftright] by hpmctorque
May 27, 2009 (10:05 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 27, 2009 9:07 am)

If we take a figure of $15,000 for a reasonably good but less than great one, I guess I'd be hesitant to spend $7,500 on a paint job. I'd only do it if I absolutely loved the car. I think the '66 Thunderbird is nice to look at, but it's not worth in the high teens to me. Although I like the styling, the main deficiencies for me are excessive weight, a suspension that's too soft and steering that's too light. These drawbacks don't matter all that much if you drive the car only occasionally, but I would never buy a car for just occasional use. Some people do, though.
#191 of 220
Re: Market Value [hpmctorque] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
May 27, 2009 (10:55 am)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 27, 2009 10:05 am)

Most of the owner's of really nice JetBirds that I've appraised have owned them a long long time.
 
A $15K coupe would have to be pretty close to "great" in condition. Most of the ones I see have nice paint, pretty clean interiors, clean but less than spiffy engine bays and old unpainted/undetailed/unrebuilt undercarriages. That's a #3 car and not a $15,000 one.
#192 of 220
Re: Market Value [hpmctorque] by isellhondas
May 27, 2009 (1:13 pm)
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Replying to: hpmctorque (May 27, 2009 10:05 am)

Unless a person is REALLY attracted to these cars, I have to say that there are better choices, I happen to love the 1965-1966 T Birds especially the non landau models but I am well aware of their weaknesses too.
 
They handle like an overloaded cruise ship. They are hard on suspension parts and tires, they wallow around corners and they have boatloads of electrical and vacuum leak problems.
 
If I were tempted to buy one (and I could be), I would pick one that is already done. I would never change the color of a car and, no, I'm not a "purist", I just don't like the results unless HUGE money is spent and 7500.00 plus is way to much for a T-Bird that will never be worth big bucks.
 
But, that's me.
#193 of 220
Re: Market Value [isellhondas] by hpmctorque
May 27, 2009 (3:30 pm)
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Replying to: isellhondas (May 27, 2009 1:13 pm)

I agree with what you said.
#194 of 220
Re: Market Value [isellhondas] by euphonium
May 28, 2009 (9:44 am)
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Replying to: isellhondas (May 27, 2009 1:13 pm)

Purists buy what they want & usually have the means to support their choices.
 
The restorer is honor bound to be dictated by the I D tag, buck tag, & any other factory labels on the car. To do otherwise is similar to not getting an A+ on the test.
 
After factory "add ons" lead to missrepresentations, for example, today there are more 65 & 66 Mustang GT's than the factories built.
 
Be correct and be cautious when restoring anything.
#195 of 220
Re: Market Value [euphonium] by Mr_Shiftright HOST
May 28, 2009 (2:53 pm)
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Replying to: euphonium (May 28, 2009 9:44 am)

it's your car, you can do what you want with it (and you take the consequences if there are any). Some factory colors are just ugly and i think warrant a change, and some factory colors are so commonplace that people rather enjoy seeing something different.
 
As for originality, you'd be crazy for instance to keep the turboglide transmission in a '59 Impala or bias ply tires on an old T-Bird.
 
What you don't want to do is start chopping into a car or welding on it. These I would agree are no-nos unless you are going full-bore custom.
 
But in my book, anything "reversible" is fair game on an old car.
 
And let's face it---many old cars are not historical monuments, they are just old cars. Some history is not important enough to preserve with intense accuracy. That's what "survivors" are for.
#196 of 220
Re: Market Value [Mr_Shiftright] by euphonium
May 28, 2009 (9:45 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 28, 2009 2:53 pm)

My verbiage earlier pertains to restoring a classic that would qualify for insurance with Hagerty.
 
Old plain cars are not included in my post as they are in yours so there is validity in what you say when it comes to the non classic clunker. With them, do anything you want.
 
 The 57 Bel Air is more of a classic than the 59 Impala so I would go original on the BA. The 58 Impala is more of a rare classic than the 59 so keeping it stock would increase its value as well.
 
I question the value of adding an after market continental kit to anything.
#197 of 220
A few more questions... by tbird8
May 28, 2009 (11:53 pm)
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First thanks for everyone's advise. I intend to use this tbird as a weekend car and a vacation car, quick run to vegas or such. I drive a small Nissan for everyday and its just not roomie for a six hour drive. Is the 428 motor worth paying extra for? I realize it will need a rebuild and hardened valves and the trans gone through. I was told that a Edelbrock manifold, carb. and mild cam will give it a kick and still run smooth. What do you think of the 1967 to 1969 birds, I like them but was told they would never be worth much. I'm not a rich person and would like to lose as little as little as possible. Sounds like I better find a tbird that's close to what I want in color and options, a 7500.00 paint job is out of the question right now, I just want a really nice and dependable cruiser that can move out when given the spurs.
#198 of 220
Re: Market Value [Mr_Shiftright] by isellhondas
May 29, 2009 (5:23 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (May 28, 2009 2:53 pm)

The Turboglide (1957-1961) just may have been the worst automatic transmission ever made. Most were converted to Powergldes when they failed as they always did!

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