How often do restoration grade Dino's come up for sale?

Restoration grade means wildly different things to different people so it really depends on your standards and expectations. IMHO restoration Dinos are normally way too far gone to make it economically viable to restore even if you do all the work yourself. These cars normally have a lot of rot and rust that is extremely expensive and time consuming to repair. I have recently shopped for a gt and found that the cars in the 120-150k range have a LOT of work needed to get them right regardless of what the dealer or owner tells you. FCA Platinum cars rarely come up for sale, normally change hands without ever hitting the market as the owners have a list of buyers ready, and command hefty premiums over the average cars out there. I do all my own work and my brother just bought a gt. He bought a car that shows great at 10 feet and most would call mint. To us this car had really good bones to start with and we will restore it right to Platinum for the fun of it. Given today's market, he got a great deal so there is enough cushion for us to restore the car and still stay within the range of the market. This of course is with all of our labor free It can be done but most people think that they can scoop Platinum cars for regular car money. Fact is just getting the shot a buying a Platinum car is rare and you WILL pay for it. The only other option is to do it yourself with the trick being to start with a car that is the best possible at the lowest price knowing that you will be going through it anyways. I hope this info helps.

 

It's true, platinum grade Dinos rarely do come up for sale. When they do, the lure of buying a "restoration grade" Dino and taking it to FCA Platinum quality for less than the platinum car costs seems hard to ignore.

If someone wants to take the journey of restoring a Dino, I support the desire having done it myself. That being said, those last 5 to 10 FCA points will drive your costs well above buying somebody else's FCA Platinum car. So if you can't do a lot of the work yourself or don't realize how much making a Dino Platinum will set you back, consider yourself warned.

My car scored FCA Platinum three times, won the 2002 FNA National Dino Award and was a real labor of love. I've been talking to some folks about selling it recently and as expected, the low price of restoration grade Dinos always seems to creep into the conversation.

PM me if you want to get some additional insight into the lessons learned (or bypass the lessons learned and buy my car!).

Cheers...Keith

 

Troy - I love your avitar photo...

Pietro

 

these three responses are accurate and honest. You're commited to the journey now and every one here wishes you luck, I am sure. I am restoring mine after having the car sit since 1982 and it certainly isn't going to be a platinum car by any means. Mechanicaly perfect , ok. Good luck and communicate w/me anytime for whatever help I can be.

clay

 

Especially that one ... it is close to my heart.

Cheers

Pietro

 

Yes - pictures taken by Patrick Ernzen here in AZ.

You are absolutely welcome - here is a link for more photos.

http://desert-motors.com/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=101

I wish you luck in your quest. My advise: find a Euro model if you can. No emissions stuff so less to go wrong and easier to work on.

Pietro

 

:-(

I think photo #1 on the Desert Motors page is one of the most beautiful and striking auto pix I have ever seen

 

How often does the same car get restored?
I know, I know, how long is a piece of string?
But lets say a platinum car, how long will it remain such before it needs to be done again?

 

If we assume that the quality of the restauration is really good, it depends mainly on the usage/storage of the Dino. If the car is only driven in dry wheather and sitting the other time in a dry garage, there will be no change in the body condition.
I restaored mine 17 years ago and there is no real change in its condition.
After a high mileage in some yrears I will have to rebuild the engine again.
On the other side I have seen a top Dino bought very expensive on an auction in Monaco and driven by an idiot the next whole salty winter in germany.
The car was 2 years later ready for the next restoration.....
Regards
Nicolai

 

Troy Dino is REALLY beautifull.
Silver is the most sensibel colour for any weakness in the paint or body structure.
There ar e many pictures where the sun refections would show dents or any not perfect surfaces, but there is NONE!
The pictures also confirm that there is NO bad angle for a Dinos view.
I like pictures 8/18/21/26, but 27 & 28 are really awesome like chrome.
Congratulations Troy!
My 246 is also an "M" Series from 71 and original delivered to Italy, which no. has your Dino?

 

Mine too is a 1971 "M" originally delivered to Italy...SN 01712

 

Wow, that´s close!
Our Dinos must have been in the same production line and maybe born on the same day.
There were only two cars between, mine is SN 1706.
Mine was build on the 18th of march 71 and sold on the 2nd of april 71.
When was your fist registration?
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