How much does a restoration really cost?

[SS4Real]

Ok, here is the scenario. Let's say, for example, you have a typical SS396 Chevelle or Z/28 that is all there and numbers matching. The car is a typical 30+ year old car that is in good condition with no major rust and all of its parts, and runs decent. What does it really cost to have a frame off restoration (engine balanced and blueprinted) to bring it to show quality? Let's assume reproduction parts are ok and it's not critical to have paint dabs and chalk marks. Just make it like new and one that can driven on special occasions. What is a ballpark cost to have something like this done?

[micky69396]

Car by car is different and different levels of restorations out there but driver quality probably around 35K. Concourse cars start at 45 and up.

[skierkaj]

Well, I'm no expert, but the resto my car by itself costed me around $3,000 for: a back window, total exterior resto (primer,bodywork,paint), and a very nice interior using original seats (a little vinyl dye wont hurt), with new carpet and radio, and all new weatherstrip. The engine will probably be the most expensive part (based on your performance wants), and I would say that a frame resto isn't too hard to do by yourself (I didn't, since my car was practically perfect), but again you might want some performance upgrades in braking. Take in mind, I did all my own bodywork, but hired out the final coats of color paint and clear, and also paid to have the new window put in. Hope this helps out!

Hey everyone, try to beat that price!

[SS4Real]

So, if the car is pretty common and parts are readily available, $40-$50 grand (plus the car)would get you a really nice frame off good for all but national shows? Micky, what's the typcial time to do one, 12-18 months? And how do you establish price without an open checkbook? Thanks.

[MadMike]

The resto is as open ended as the price would be. It would be an open checkbook deal.

"send me the bill".

Unless you do this yourself. I probably peed away $15,000 on my car and I'm just throwing it together. (and I'm not done yet).

My friend was quoted $9000 to paint his 71 firebird. With a 9 month waiting period. The car would be completely disassembled, cleaned, painted and re-assembled.

There is no such thing as a "common, readily available" anything when doing a concourse restoration. You'll be spending big $$$ and hunting all over the world for date coded valve stem caps, clips, fasteners, coils, springs, exhaust pipe clamps. Wait until you spend $200 for the correct exhaust clamps. If that's no big deal, then get your checkbook out.

Probably the best advice you've heard already is buy something else that's already done. After you do this, you won't be able to enjoy the car (like someone like me would). Some folks enjoy the ownership of a car like this, or enjoy seeing it in a museam or hauling it all around the country to a show. I'd prefer to hammer the hell out of my car and not worry about kicking the rods out the side of the block or blowing rubber all over my quarter panels.

If you enjoy doing this type of work, then you can take a jalopy and subcontract the work out to competant facilities with references from some of the guys here, and do most of the bitch work yourself. For $60 - $100/hour, I can do a lot of bitch work and save a couple bux.

Lastly, have all the $ up front. That's probably what it'll take anyway before a competant shop will touch the car. It would suck to run out of money and only be 1/3 of the way done. Because of this, most shops won't work unless the job is pre-paid.

[70 copo]

I agree. I have gotten open ended questions like this before and all you do is set yourself up by answering. There are too many varables in condition of car, type of parts to use, model of car, type of restoration desired,
condition of parts that are intended to be refinished and reused...... The list goes on and on.

Best to look the car over, provide a labor rate per hour, do some dissassembly, see the full condition of the car to be restored and then provide an estimate in the + or - range in a dollar area that you and the customer can live with -if you (or the customer) screw up and underestimate the final cost. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beers.gif[/img]

Phil

[micky69396]

As I said before, every job is different, more rust, more cost involved to fix. What parts can be reused or restored, how much repro or NOS, whats missing, what are your realistic expectations and how much will you drive it? A experienced shop can give you a ballpark quote and normally be with 10%. I do this and after we strip the car I can tell if we need to revise or we our on estimate. I dont know of any shops that require more than 50% down, most are less unless its a partial job. Most good shop are also booked more than a year out also. Normal job times can run from 12-16 months or more, again depending on the situation. If your looking at having a car done, talk to people, talk to shops, look at cars that have been done so you can be comfortable on your investment into your vehicle.

[skierkaj]

I got my "paint job" for $630 at the local body shop. The guy did some exceptional work. That's a base-clear job with 3 coats of clear! Not to mention that he got me in the shop in under 1 week. That's service! He said he really liked doing those "old cars" for "us kids" (I was 18 at the time). I'm still not sure if the money went to the shop, or if it went right into his pocket, but I don't give a sh*t. I could justify spending an exceptional amount on paint, but when you start talking over $8,000, that's just crazy.

[micky69396]

skierkaj, what your talking about doing to your car is a rebuild, not a restoration. You comparing apples to oranges so to speak.

[Salvatore]

You must of been 18, 30 years ago. Even on a non-frame off you spend $2000 to $3000 just for the material. If you could get a car non-frame off painted for $7000 and it makes it a very strong #2 car, than you are doing something. I have all receipts for my 1969 Z/28 with doing the engine and paint with all used or new parts you are looking at least $20,000 plus buying the car. Everything becomes itemized. Making the car very nice does NOT mean that it is very correct! What do you think it costs just to get things replated or oxided? Hood hinges, brake booster, coil bracket etc.? How about the correct horns rebuilt? My interior is original except carpets and dash pad and I still have $20,000 in receipts. I don't think you can get anybody to paint stripes on your car for $630.00. Just my opinion. P.S. It might be crazy,but that is what it takes! I am just talking a strong #2 car! sam