First Try at Car Restoration.

Bugeye Sprite.

Mechanically simple and physically small. Parts should be readily available and even if you chose to re-wire the entire car, it wouldn't be an impossible task.

The real plus is that the prices haven't really taken off yet. They've gone up some in the last few years, but I think they've got a ways to go.

 

The Sprite looks like a very quaint car indeed. I was in your shoes a few years ago and picked up a 924. After $23,500 I still have $11,000 to go before the car is ready to be a reliable daily driver. It has a lot of room under the hood, simple mechanics but some things do take a long time to repair/ switch out like a 9 hour clutch {if you've done a few already}. I didn't have much experience with repairing cars as I've always been the one who drops a car off at a dealer and takes another car to work. I thought it would be fun, informative and relaxing but it is only one of those at a time, it is only occasional and brief.

The car was in good shape and 28 years old when I got it, all I have left is the interior, a motor rebuild and paint. Everything else is either new or less than 5,000 miles old. If I was back in 2002 I would not have bought this car it simply wasn't worth the time or the money. Perhaps if I choose a better car {see; car that would be more fun to drive once completed} I would have had more fun and would have more fun owning the car.

I think I'll stick to buying cars that are already fully functional and ready to drive.

 

Just be careful you don't get $30k into a car that's worth $5k when you're done. You will be stuck with it after that because of the investment vs. resale $$...

The joke with 928s is "you are $10k away from having a $5k car..."

 

Musta read my post.

 

The Bugeye (Frogeye to the Limeys) probably has the most long-term appreciation potential. It's not substantially different from the other choices (the Midget/Sprite is very similar).

All are simple cars but could be deceivingly difficult if you have rust problems. Nothing on any of them would be challenging to me but I've had them all down to the bare-bones before.

Those $20 parts aren't $20 anymore.

 

1969 camaro. You just take alot of pictures and such to help you peice the car back together.

 

You are putting $35K into a 924?? Is there something very special about this car? Are you modding it? I am lost..

They do say, there is nothing more expensive then a cheap Porsche...One car that I would love to do someday is a Porsche 914, with a 911 motor.

 

I don't know if I'll finish the car, I can leave the paint and interior out of the math and also just do a "light rebuild" to the motor to get it running just right. No there isn't anything special about the car to me although it does have a fiberglass body and unique wheels. Other than that it isn't modded and will be sold for what I guess will be $7,500 in the spring.

The money was well spent now I know I don't want old cars any more, too much hassle and time on a hoist.

 

Note to Uro: A car junky needs to have at least one friend who owns a metal-fab shop. There's nothing better than being able to hog-out those parts made of unobtanium.

Did you enjoy the Bugeye??? I have always wondered if it would be one of those cars that was more fun to want, than to own.

I'm still looking around for one, but it seems most are total junk, or have to be re-built as much as the junk ones do to shoddy, incorrect "restoration" along the way.

 

Camaro or Mustang is a great choice.

 

MGA

Hemmings Buyers Guide
http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/2006/07/01/hmn_buyers_guide1.html

MGA Guru - on Tech page, for starters. He provided many details on above link.
http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/

Active MG Forum below is the one NAMGAR http://www.namgar.com/ links to
http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&mode=tlist&subject=6

I picture you in a VW Rat Rod, though.
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Kitty looks scared.

 

Bug eye would be my choice out of the one's listed.

 

I have been quite taken with the looks of the MG TF 1500, with aero screens. Dunno if that is a little too 'charming' for your taste, or whether there is real upside potential for the right project. I would suspect that the old adage about buying someone else's project, after completion, is far cheaper, but it sounds like you want to get your hands dirty and are willing to pay for the privilege.

 

If not *ahem* Bug-eyed at the prospects

 

I don't know which one I would pick, Doc, but I will tell you this... I "restored" my twin turbo C4 Corvette... well, actually I bought it in rough shape, gutted it and built it how I wanted it. I will say this - it's a LOT LOT LOT easier to fix mechanical problems than cosmetic ones. The car I bought was mechanically good and cosmetically bad. If I did it over, 10 times out of 10 I would pick a costmetically good but mechanically bad car.

People tend to see wear on the car and think "ohhh that's not big deal" - like worn seats, cracked dash, missing/cracked trim pieces. On the other hand, they feel a thump when they push the brakes and they think "oh my god! The car is about to fall apart!". You will spend tons of money and tons of time trying to track down all those little interior bits. Once you have one nice shiny new looking part, you will want to fix everything else. I was shocked at the sheer quantity of pieces of trim inside most cars, and the expense of obtaining them, and the difficulty of installing them.

On the other hand, mechanicals either work or they don't, and I find it much easier to diagnose and fix a problem with the mechanics than with the interior and body. Just my .02

 

Well OK then.

 

You can recover nearly $.50 per dollar when you go to sell it, not counting labor, of course. Unless it is a 14-louver TdF, in which case, I'll buy it. BMC's at this point are rust granules held together by electrons. The Heisenberg Sportscar principle.

 

Uro,
This un's too fer gone,innit?
And that's too bad cos it's a GT6 which was a 'good' Spitty...
anyway,cheers
RE
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I know these aren't on your list but why not do a replica Cobra or Porsche 356? Relatively cheap to build and you end up with something 'new' and you more then likely won't lose your shirt when it comes to sell. Might be a great alternative if you're looking to get your hands dirty and learn new skills.

 

Get a porsche 914...

Cheap parts, easily available, going up in value, and can be tracked. Tons of forums for support. You can go from a mild 1.7 to stuffing in a 993 motor. And resale value is pretty good.

Buy for $5000...dump in $5000 plus your free sweat and tears, and you can probably sell for $15,000...

Hoot to drive too...

The only problem with "restoring" a cheap car, is that you eventually feel like its a waste of your time. It takes the same amount of time to fix an oil leak on a 914 as on a testarossa. Same sweat, same nicks and bruises. But on the 914 I am merely saving myself a $200 VW mechanics bill...on the testarossa, I am "saving" $2000 or more...

If you have the time to restore, pick up another old ferrari (or 930 turbo?)...at least there is a good chance that at some point you will recoup your money .