Restore or Buy Restored ?

[ronn]

I agree with Billcnc-no question I would sell your car and buy a better car.

life is too short to putter around, and you will have to putter with whatever you buy anyway.
Even if just keeping it polished.

Besides, there are so many diff body styles to fall in love with..........
dont you wish you had kissed all of the girls in HS?

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Marc,

Also, in my humble opinion, Mr. Tom W. gave several excellent and wise Model A restoration opinions years ago:

1. For first time buyers wanting to restore a Model A, try to buy Model A that is at least in good enough shape to drive it.

2. Restoration? He very wisely recommended to do a little at a time ..... but try to keep it running and keep driving it ....... rather than tear all apart, let it sit for 5 - 10 years and become totally disinterested as often is the case.

3. As far as how to stay interested throughout the restoration years .... Mr. Tom W. recommended to stay focused and to do a little Model A work each day, no matter how little.

Try it ..... it works !!!

[Fred K-OR]

Marc, you have received a lot of good advise above. But it comes down to what you want to do. I have gone both ways-rebuilt the huckster (could have bought a brand new Ford pickup for what I put into that rig) and bought the coupe already rebuilt. Had to do a couple grand worth of work on the coupe to get it to run the way it should. So go for it any way you want!

[CarlG]

The term "Restored" means all the way from a spit & polish job to a frame off total redo. It's buyer beware in most cases.

[Kevin in NJ]

It is a simple thing to decide if you go by money.

To properly restore a car back to factory specs in the driveline and to paint and put an interior in and you do most all the work you will have about $25,000 into the car (note you do all the work means you have special tools to do the job right). I know this cause that is what I am looking at to do my cabriolet.

If you are patient and look around you will find very very good deals on well restored cars. Often you will expect to need to do engine and brake work. I know of 2 different people had bought 'professionally' restored cars and spent another $8000 to make the car reliable and able to stop (this was 20+ years ago).

The value is always in a restored car. Restoring a car is generally a losing (money wise) deal. The exceptions are on the low production cars that are desirable.

The other value is a nice unrestored car. These cars have the advantage that you do not car how people look at them. Food, dirt, scratches who cares. You generally just need to go over the mechanicals.

Now when looking at restored cars you need can add value when you find out areas were done by known sources. Like the engine was built by J&M machine, brake by Snyder... etc. You can quantify and add in the value of a known quantity.

[mhsprecher]

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I have been lucky. I bought two restored Model As and have been generally happy and have gotten good service out of them. My first was a 1930 Town Sedan, older restoration that I paid 11K for. It is reliable as the day is long. I had to replace the exhaust manifold and I added an alternator, but that is about it, other than regular maintenance. The clutch chatters and the transmission loses oil, but other than that it is great. It has scratches and dings and some cracked paint and worn upholstery, but that doesn't bother me much.

My 28 roadster has been more of a challenge, but I am still amazed at the quality of the older restoration. The brakes aren't great - steel drums and maybe some other issues, but I knew that when I bought it. It runs a little warmer than I like, but I have driven it a lot and it's a blast. I paid 14k for it a couple of years ago.

I thought about buying a car to restore, but I figured that I would never get it done, so I bought something I could drive home. One of the Model A videos I watched recently said it best. If you want to restore one, do it, but buy one to drive, too. Of course, that means two Model As, but what is wrong with that?

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

I'm sure the car I'm restoring right now will never be worth near my money investment. However, the enjoyment of working on it cannot be measured in dollars 7 cents.

Man, dat's de troof. I'm about $3000 under water for what I "think" I could get for my coupe (which includes the belt molding I got from you, Glenn). But The coupe is my favorite car to drive, so I put a lot into her, and I am rewarded accordingly in the pleasure of driving her.

The Model A for me started out as my daily transportation in high school. Over the years it has become a hobby. And who ever makes money from their hobby? When that happens, it becomes a business. I have friends who claim golf is their hobby. Not a one of them is in it to make a profit or break even.

Sorry, I've strayed off the OP.

[Railcarmover]

Build it its your car,buy it, its someones else's car you bought..me? I can fix and flip cars and buy and sell cars..but I build my own car..its like that rifle they hand you in the service,'there are many like it,but this one is mine'

[jim1932]

I always figured there are to types of enjoyment in old cars. Fixing them and driving them. I made the mistake of thinking my dad would like to have one to work on. he said he didn't have the patience to do it right, he just wanted to slap a fix on it and drive it.

I like to tinker with them more than I like to drive them.

Buy the one that is suited to how you enjoy cars. Don't worry about anyone who say's if you didn't fix it yourself, it don't mean anything. At the end of the day it is a pile of steel and rubber. buy what you enjoy. Don't try to force yourself into an area you won't enjoy.

[TerryO]

I bought a project 30 Coupe nearly 25 years ago and have worked on it when I could for several years but I bought a 31 Tudor about 6 or 7 years ago so I could enjoy driving a Model A while I completed the Coupe. Meanwhile I recently bought a 31 Sport Coupe to enjoy while I complete the Coupe but the 31 came with another 30 Coupe project, so now I will have to work twice as hard to get the Coupes completed. The moral of this story is I have the best of both worlds, 2 to enjoy driving and 2 to enjoy working on when I have time and feel like it. If I don't live long enough to finish the Coupes then my son will have to finish them

TerryO

[Roger Green]

Model A'ing takes all kinds:
People who like to restore!
People who like to shine & show!
People who like to drive!
Figure out where you fit in & have fun!
Random ROG
PS: I'm a driver.

[CWPASADENA]

There are "Restored Cars" and then there are "Restored Cars".

If you really know what you are looking at, there are some very good cars for sale at a very fair price.

There are also cars that look good but have major defects that can not be easily seen.

If your car is sound, body with very little or no rust and the undercarriage is straight and not all badly rusted and you can do some of the work, I would be inclined to fix what you have.

When finished, you will know what you have and will feel good that you were involved in the finished product.

Anyway, this is just my opinion.

Chris W.

[Mike V. Florida]

Originally Posted by marc hildebrant

Group,

I have been going back and forth over the next steps for my car.

It's in "good" condition, but it could be much better. I.E. the interior is worn, but useable. The engine is good, but could be better. The brakes are good, but...well you know.

So, if I have the car really fixed up, back to the way it was sold, I could spend some serious money. However, I could also buy a car that was restored for less than what I would spend for my car.

I have looked on many classified listing, and a frame off, totally fixed car can be had in the $30 K range...less than what I could spend on my car.

So...what to do ?

Marc

Time = money

Less time you use in the restoration you pay someone else for their time.

The golden rule with Model A's is that you will not get the money you spend restoring the car yourself back at the selling of the car.

So where does that leave you?

Do you like working on cars?
Do you have the space?
Are you in a rush?

Please don't take this the wrong way but since you brought up the question I think you would be better off buying a restored A and just do the basic maintenance to keep it on the road.

If you do decide to get one that needs work we are here to help!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

I think you would be better off buying a car Marc. Most quality restoration shops that I know of have a waiting list of about a year before they can begin on yours. Then factor in the resto time on yours, and you can see where I am coming from.

Now as far as the money goes, I generally ask someone on the fence about this dilemma if they typically buy new vehicles or used vehicles when they trade. A professionally restored Model-A is typically like a new vehicle where everything is within spec and everything functions correctly. Generally speaking, a used vehicle is a compromise. Folks know this, and as such they know what they are willing to accept personally.

As mentioned above, most Model-As that I have seen that were purchased as 'restored' are really just a vehicle that was "repaired & repainted". It is rare that a top quality one ever hits the market. From my experiences, the good restored ones that Start, Stop, & Steer reliably get passed down thru the family because they get used and aren't just collecting dust in the garage or basement. The others that are truly a top quality restoration generally have several people waiting in line to buy them so we rarely see those hit the market.

It is a tough decision to make, and I wish you well in whichever direction you go.

[al's28/33]

Make it SAFE to drive on the road in busy traffic.
Make it SAFE for anyone to ride in your car.

[Bob Bidonde]

A totally restored car (not fine point show) will cost significantly more than $30,000 even if you do a lot of the work yourself. Recent experience indicates about $60,000 including doing a lot of the work yourself for a touring class car.

I would keep what you have and get it mechanically safe and good running. Then do the cosmetic stuff that makes you happy. I am guessing you can get it all done in the neighborhood of $22,000:

Engine Rebuild $3700
Mechanical overhaul $5000
Upholstery kit $3000
Body work & paint $10,000

[ronn]

Bob,
for 22k there are some pretty nice A's to be bought out there. No work involved.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

If a rear end works, MANY "sellers" jist PAINT it & hang a tag on it, "REBUILT"---It's HARDER to see the TAG, on the TRANSMISSION--LOL---The HORN is easier to see!
Bill Careful

[Gary Karr]

I have done both, completely restored car(s) for fine point as well as purchasing an older restoration Model A. You can be dollars ahead if you purchase a restored Model A. If I was in the market for another Model A, I would consider two currently on the MAFCA website for sale. There is a 1930 Tudor with 46,000 miles and a known history from new, rebuilt engine, older repaint. By the picture, it is a solid, straightforward car at $12,900. The other is the original '29 Fordor for $15,500.
Unless you are looking for the hobby of doing your own restoration, and have the knowledge, tools, space, time, and money to sink into it, go for an older restoration, especially one from the 70's. That's what I did with my '29 OCPU. I knew the person that restored it in 1969 and remembered the truck. It took me about 30 seconds to make the decision to buy it and I haven't regretted it a bit.

[marc hildebrant]

Gang,

Thanks for all the good comments.

Marc