38 replies to this topic

[Ice]

How long is a piece of string
anything to do with car rebuilding aint cheap

[purrlx]

As above at least 30k
Cheaper to buy one done unless you can do a fair bit yourself

[jd lj]

In my opinion. In the end it's best not to add up the total you've spent over the years. I myself don't want to know, but all hobbies cost something. And you don't want the household finance minister to know either.

[Dr Terry]

, and a whole new engine placed into it so that the mileage would be reset. 

This is not correct, mileage doesn't get 'reset' just because you fit another engine. Mileage is about the life of the car as a whole. You might replace the motor, but what about the gearbox, clutch, tailshaft & diff. What about wheel bearings, brakes & all of the front & rear suspension & steering parts. Then there all of the electricals, door hinges, door locks etc. All of these have a 'life' & that's what the age & speedometer reading is supposed to represent.

 

To answer your question regards cost of a rebuild, well it depends on how much you spend on each of those items that I listed above. Also I missed out on the biggest expense of all, body & trim, you can spend $20,000 to $25,000 (or more) on these 2 items alone. I've known people who have spent well over $100,000 on restoring a car (to original, not modified) so the sky is the limit.

 

You have to decide on not only your budget, but also what the use of the car is. Is it a daily driver, a weekend cruiser, a club race car, historic rego maybe, or an all out show car. If it's to be your daily driver, stop now & work out how much cheaper & more reliable it would be to get a cheap late model (OK boring) 4-cyl car & drive it while you tinker with your Torana properly while its off the road & spend your money wisely by learning to do a lot of the work yourself. Done properly you will get more satisfaction & save heaps of $$$.

 

Dr Terry

[TerrA LX]

As TBM say's spend your money up front and buy a nice clean 6cyl that does not a full rebuild.

If you want people to notice then fit louder mufflers to the car.
Very cheap effective way of attracting attention.

[BIG KEV]

My advise would be to shop around and buy something that you like that is already rebuilt /restored to your liking .....

Parts for these older cars are getting thin on the ground so trying to find replacement parts and panels is very hard and the cost of rebuilding a car is endless

I don't keep taps on how much I spent ....but if I had to guess I could of owned a big house in a rich area ???? but then I wouldn't own two SLR's

Keep it real and for your dreams .....

[rexy]

Take on someone's unfinished project that already has reasonable paint on it.
In 2005 I picked up the hatch for six and a half grand. Ran but didn't drive. Ok paint for me for a streeter. Finished it off and on road for under 10k.
Changed a few things since then.....

[Redslur]

I agree with Rexy. Buy something that has mostly been done and then personalise it yourself.  My last two builds were budget builds and both cars owe/d me around 35k including paint and driveline.  But I am a mechanic and have losts of contacts which helps a lot. My suggestion is to buy something that has had the panel and paint done to a decent standard for around 15-20k, then go to town as much as you have to spare :-)

[WA1TNC]

Dude, if you got the money for a half decent torana I'd get in now & just find a place for it up on stands & out of the weather, because the longer you hold off & wait, the more expensive & harder to find these cars will become. Trust me, I sold my 1st car which was a LH for $3k that was mint 10yrs ago, got older & wanted another one & I brought another LH 5yrs ago for $4.5k that wasn't even half as good, then while it was at a shop getting worked on I got offered $10k for it & I basically hadn't touched it. You get where I'm going with this long winded story...

Cheers, Nig.

[BIG KEV]

If I was you I would keep an eye out for something that's in your budget as these things are getting rare ...try to buy something complete and running to make your job easier and good luck with your project

[Swarbs]

http://www.ebay.com....=item20e0e1eba3

 

http://www.ebay.com....=item3f31daa3f8

 

Hi Darryl

As the others have said spend the extra up front and it will save you money in the long run

They are still out there and you just have to be patient and have the cash ready to go when the time comes

 

The second of the two above is my pick  - yes it is expensive but look at what you dont have to spend and weigh it up against what you would have to doing a resto

You could buy that and not have to buy the second car

Do it up to how you want it without having a million bits laying round

Decent set of tyres and rims and you would start pulling chicks automatically

 

Just using it as an example - it may not be your colour and yes it is an auto

 

Welcome to the forum and dont be scared to ask the "silly" questions

[BIG KEV]

Swarbs.....that looks like a mint condition white sedan ...you couldn't go wrong with that but I think it would be best saved as is .....

[Swarbs]

Yeah agree Kev

Hence the "just an example"  - nothing else available i could find

 

Just trying to get across the benifits of saving for the right car

If the gold coloured one had more photo's and checked out ok body wise etc  - perfect... as it is what he already wants

 

Not much to go on with the 1 pic though

[Potta]

You don't have to spend the 30-50k, thats just what it might cost you to go a full resto, top paint job and new monster 6.

 

If you are patient you can probably find a nice restored replica for around the 15 k and then upgrade your motor, wheels, interior etc as funds become available.

 

There is more than one way to skin a cat. (Just a saying, I don't condone cat skinning)

[BIG KEV]

I love cats .....DEAD CATS