What Old Car To Restore?

[TrevorK]

OK, my dad just told me he's gonna teach me how to fix up cars, and agreed to restore an old car. I know it's gonna take a couple years probably, but I figure it'll be worth it...

Anyways, I'm stuck deciding what to restore. I want an old car, like a 454 Chevelle or maybe a Mach 1 Mustang. The only key is, it has to have a lot of power and not be really rare (I'll need to get parts for it). If any of you guys have experiences with restoration before I jump in, please let me know. Also, any pictures of awesome cars that I could restore would be great too....



Trevor

 

[N8Magic]

Go for a late '60's Camaro SS, or a Mustang of the same vintage.

Sweet cars.

 

[RSI]

NEF

 

[TrevorK]

Do ya think it'll be hard to restore an SS though? Are they really sought after?




Trevor

 

[jemcam]

If you go with a GM product, the parts are easier to find and much cheaper. Ford parts for some reason cost more. The Chevy shortblock is a very common engine, so it's popular in hot rodding circles. Hi-Perf. manifolds, headers, cams, etc. are a dime a dozen.

The Oldsmobile engines prior to about 1977 or so (the "rocket" motors are sometimes hard to come by parts, same with Cadillacs, Buicks, and Pontiacs. I think Pontiac quit making their own blocks sometime in the early 80's. I'm not sure about Buicks and Caddy's, but they're all different. Stick with a Chevy if you can, you'll soon see what I mean when it comes to resto work.

I had a 63 vette that I could buy most mechanical parts for by going to my nearest parts store. I quickly learned to tell them I had a mid-60's truck instead of a vette. The parts were usually the same, and cheaper too. If I told a counter clerk I wanted say, a master cylinder, he'd tell me right off the bat he'd have to order it. A pickup? Sure no sweat, I've got it. He'd go back pull it out, and it'd be identical. I did this with a heater core, waterpump, master cylinder, brake cylinders, etc. and they always had them. GM shares a lot of common parts in the 60's.

 

[jemcam]

The SS's are highly sought after, but it's easy enough to make a look alike by buying a reproduction hood and some emblems. The real SS collectors will know the difference in a heartbeat, but your average Joe won't. Also, you'll pay about 10-25% more for a true SS over a regular Chevelle. '69 is my favorite year. I'd love to have one of those, but it wouldn't have to be an SS. It would have to be a big block 396 though.

 

[LAUST]

69 Camaro SS, good choice, thats the one I want to do also

If I was rich I would get a 69 ZL1, but I doubt any of those need to be restored

 

[nateholtrop]

67 Lincoln Continental things look like pimp mobiles when done.

nate

 

[ToBeMe]

Ah.....go for the "Real" muscle..................'70 Plymouth GTX Hemi!!!

 

[jjones]

66 vette; sweet ride

66 vette

 

[minendo]

definitely a late 60's Camaro SS

 

[DuffmanOhYeah]

Personally, I think the chevelle would do you nice. Could prob find a beater on the cheap too.

 

[minendo]

i would love to restore a 69 Camaro SS, but dont have the time or money. when I was younger my dad and I restored a 60 Triumph TR-3. it becomes my car as soon as i graduate college.

 

[Ornery]

I figure it'll be worth it...

It's worth gaining knowledge on how to repair a car, but I doubt the effort will really be worth it. This coming from a guy that has NEVER owned a new car in over 25 years! I've owned a '66 GTO and '68 Camaro. I learned more about repairing cars with my '66 4dr Belair, though.

If I were going to get a muscle car, I'd buy one as close to original as possible. That would put the price at about $20,000 for one in good shape. It should hold that value if you merely maintain it. You'll learn plenty about cars just doing that. Any classic car will have available parts. Buy one you LOVE, not one that's easy to get parts for. Hate to say it, but Camaros are a dime a dozen. A nice '72 Hurst Olds could be almost as fast, more comfortable and unique. The Mopars were slick looking, fast as hell, but built like tin cans. If this is something that's going to be in your family a while, go for quality.

Honestly, I think the most bang for the buck would be to restore a Cadillac Brougham. If it's not too old, you won't have to fight with the rust. Personally, I LOVE the lines on that car. Buy one that has a shot engine for $1,500.00. It will take a Chevy 350ci. Build the engine a bit before you put it in. You'll have a very comfortable car, with A/C, quiet smooth ride and all the electric bells and whistles. With a massaged 5.7 Liter, it should move well enough too. Oh well, that's what I'd do... and I just might!

 

[nateholtrop]

ya but ornery you are old..he's at most 19...so what would you do at his age...camaro ss with his pop....

nate

 

[Zenmervolt]

<< 69 Camaro SS, good choice, thats the one I want to do also

If I was rich I would get a 69 ZL1, but I doubt any of those need to be restored >>



Got a buddy with a beautiful '69 L-89. Same 430 HP as the ZL1, but with a couple hundred more pounds to carry since the ZL1 was basically an aluminum version of the L-89. That is an amazing car. Before he did a complete restoration in the '80s, the guy had it up to 140, and he ran out of nerve long before the car 'Vette did. After he put all the effort into it during the restoration, he hasn't had it past 90. The car's one-owner too, he bought it new in 1969. My 914 can take him in the curves, but not nearly enough to make up for the way the 'Vette kicks arse in the straights. The old Chevelles are nice cars, I hope you find a good one to work on.

ZV

EDIT: <<when I was younger my dad and I restored a 60 Triumph TR-3. it becomes my car as soon as i graduate college.>>

Lucky bastard.

 

[Jzero]

<< 66 vette; sweet ride

66 vette >>



I have the oddest urge to sing a country and western song.....
I was just out of the service thumbing through the classifieds
When ad that said "Old Chevy" somehow caught my eye.
The lady didn't know the year or even if it ran, but I had that thousand dollars in my hand.

It was way back in the corner of this old ramshackle barn,
thirty years of dust and dirt on that green Army tarp.
But when I pulled the cover off, it took away my breath....
What she'd called a "Chevy" was a '66 Corvette!

And I felt a little guilty as I counted out the bills,
but what thrill I got when I sat behind the wheel.
I opened up the glove box, that's when I found the note...
The date was 1966 and this is what he wrote:

He said my name is Private Andrew Malone,
if you're reading this then I didn't make it home...
but for every dream that's shattered, another one comes true.
This car was once a dream of mine, now it belongs to you.
And though you may take her and make her your own,
you'll always be drivin' with Private Malone.

 

[Ornery]

Hot Rod Lincoln

• My pappy said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin' ...
  If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln!'
  
  Well, you've heard the story of the hot rod race,
  When the Ford and the Mercury were settin' the pace.
  That story's true I'm here to say,
  Cause I was a'drivin' that Model A.
  
  It's got a Lincoln motor and it's really souped up;
  That Model A body makes it look like a pup.
  It's got 12 cylinders and uses them all;
  And an overdrive that just won't stall.
  
  It's got a 4-barrel carb and dual exhausts,
  4:11 gears that really get lost -
  Safety tubes and I'm not scared,
  The brakes are good and the tires are fair.
  
  We left San Pedro late one night;
  The moon and the stars were shinin' bright.
  We were drivin' up Grapevine Hill,
  Passin' cars like they were standin' still.
  
  Then, all of a sudden, in the wink of an eye,
  a Cadillac sedan passed us by.
  The remark was made, "That's the car for me."
  But, by then, the taillights wuz all you could see.
  
  Well, the fellers ribbed me for bein' behind,
  So I started to make that Lincoln unwind.
  Took my foot off the gas and, man alive,
  I shoved it down into overdrive.
  
  Well, I wound it up to 110;
  Twisted the speedometer cable right off the end.
  Had my foot glued right to the floor;
  I said, "That's all there is - there ain't no more.
  
  Now the fellas thought I'd lost all sense;
  The telephone poles looked like a picket fence.
  They said, "Slow down, I see spots."
  The lines on the road just looked like dots.
  
  Went around a corner and passed a truck;
  I crossed my fingers just for luck -
  The fenders clickin' the guard rail post;
  The guy beside me was white as a ghost.
  
  Smoke was rollin' outta the back
  When I started to gain on that Cadillac
  I knew I could catch him and hoped I could pass
  But when I did I'd be short on gas.
  
  There were flames comin' from out of the side;
  You could feel the tension; man, what a ride.
  I said, "Look out, boys, I've got a license to fly"
  And the Cadillac pulled over and let me by.
  
  All of a sudden a rod started knockin';
  Down in the depths she started a rockin'.
  I looked in the mirror and a red light was blinkin';
  The cops was after my Hot Rod Lincoln.
  
  Well they arrested me and put me in jail.
  I called my pop to make my bail.
  He said, 'Son, you're gonna drive me t' drinkin',
  If you don't quit drivin' that - Hot ... Rod ... Lincoln!'

 

[LAUST]

The Triumph will be fun too

 

[777joee]

<< OK, my dad just told me he's gonna teach me how to fix up cars, and agreed to restore an old car. I know it's gonna take a couple years probably, but I figure it'll be worth it...

Anyways, I'm stuck deciding what to restore. I want an old car, like a 454 Chevelle or maybe a Mach 1 Mustang. The only key is, it has to have a lot of power and not be really rare (I'll need to get parts for it). If any of you guys have experiences with restoration before I jump in, please let me know. Also, any pictures of awesome cars that I could restore would be great too....



Trevor >>



I thought you said "old" car. If you want old I think of the thirties and fortys. I once had a 1938 Pontiac Buisness Coupe now that was a fine ride. The first thing I did was to take out the whole wireing harness and build a new one. It took me about a week but in the end everything on the car worked including the radio!

However if you want something fun and easy to get parts for try a early sixties VW Beetle. I just did a body off the pan restoration of a 67 that my youngest daughter did as much of the work as I did. She has it at college now but now I don't have to worry I know if she has a problem with it she can get it fixed.


Have some fun with your dad you will be glad you did.

Just my $.02


BTW the 67 cost me about $5k and that included buying the car.

 

[notfred]

69 mustang mach 1, or a barracuda

 

[Daaavo]

Without hesitation, I recommend a 1973 or 1974 Volkswagon Thing (the 1974 looks better, IMHO). Go with the pumpkin orange color and then go buy a wiffle ball bat to beat the women off of you.

 

[Jzero]

<< Without hesitation, I recommend a 1973 or 1974 Volkswagon Thing (the 1974 looks better, IMHO). Go with the pumpkin orange color and then go buy a wiffle ball bat to beat the women off of you. >>


ROFL....dunno about the women part, but THINGs and Karmann Ghias are both very cool cars from that era.

 

[perry]

<< 66 vette; sweet ride

66 vette >>



I've always liked the 83 Vettes myself. Kinda hard to find though

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Oh man forget the vettes, the z-28's all those. Get a '59 Caddy convertable. Women will leave the ferraris, vipers, you name it and jump in your car. This car has soul.