Restore or Buy Restored ?

[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

[700rpm]

I'd say restore what you have. It's the devil you know.

[Russ/40]

Which action would bring you the most joy? Do that. Making a fiscal decision can bring regret later.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

Which action would bring you the most joy? Do that. Making a fiscal decision can bring regret later.

Exactly! And if you buy restored, definitely verify the quality of the restoration, or you could end up, in pretty much the same situation, only with less money in your wallet.

[Patrick L.]

Thats a hard decision to make.
What do you want to do ?
How do you know if a different car is really 'restored'?
Do you like that type of work enough to finish the job if started ?
Do you like the car and body type you have or would you like a change ?

[mike657894]

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I would put it this way. If you are paying for the labor buy a restored car. If like me you want to brag that you did this all your self you have to do it yourself. I have my grandpas car so I feel I have the only car I can have. And any other car wouldn't be the car i sat in as a child.

[JohnLaVoy]

You are right about being able to buy one for less than you would spend. You need to decide what you want with the car. Is this a "show" car and not driven a lot then buying one would probably work best. If you plan on touring, then you need to look at how the car is equipped, overdrive, rebuilt engine with high compression head etc. So building it for what you want from it is probably the way to go unless you find one that you know how it was done and are willing to spend the money.

[Clem Clement]

Cars are people. You know the ole girl and her faults When she belches you know why.

Buying shine is only skin deep(The old adage "You can't polish a turd is not correct: You can roll it in glitter")

If you have to have a better looker, buy one but keep your old A. It is illegal to have only one Model A anyway.

[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.

[Bill G]

My car has a long, long way to go. Just look at my avatar, and that is a pretty good indication of its current looks. I have brakes that need attention, and I jut replaced the clutch and engine. Brakes are the next obvious issue, because our priorities are to get the car mechanically sound and safe.

I think by the time I am done, I will have more into it than one I could buy that had been gone through already.

My wife and I have had many conversations about this. We are in it for the fun and hobby of working on the car. I am a fair back-yard mechanic, and I have much to learn, but I am having fun and a few frustrations. I can say I am learning a lot and having a great time.

Several people in the club have advised against adding up all the receipts for everything I have put into the car, and I can see why. It will likely shock me. I did not buy the car to flip it or show it. If I sell the car down the road for less than I have into it, so be it. That's kind of the price of the fun.

If, on the other hand, I bought a car that was already "restored", as indicated above, not only would I not really know how well the job was done, but gee whiz, it would only see the light of day when parading or in a show.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Marc,

For your question:

"So...what to do ?"

Humble Opinion: Caution, Caution !!!!

1. Most of the evaluation of this buying Model A's restored or buying Model A's un-restored, appears to be most dependent on "who" performed the frame off restoration.

2. For example, just go over the past 20 years of Model A Forum messages, read and analyse the thousands of questions asked, and you will get a good idea of the level of mechanical expertise of "who" is restoring these Model A's.

3. Next read the thousands of Model A comments like:

I have a fully rebuilt engine, and after driving 200 miles, I hear knocks, and/or the engine overheats because the pistons get frozen in the cylinders ....... What should I look for?

4. How about some "Scrooge" who rebuilt his Model A with "cheap" Ebay reject parts that came from some guy's parts collection from the mid 1950's when poor quality parts were sold.

5. Not much has changed in life ..... old horse traders years ago sold and got rid of blind horses and horses dying with cancer ..... they knew many honest people thought everybody on earth was honest.

6. Never a bad idea to investigate "who" is selling these restored cars, and "who" restored it, etc.,etc., because an off frame restoration Model A could be far worse than a well worn un-restored Model A Barn Find.

7. Not to mention any names; however, believe it or not, lots of Model A parts suppliers, professional engine re-builders, and Model A Club members know "who" performed a certain Model A restoration.

Hope this helps anyone to evaluate and decide which way to go.

[WHN]

There are some really good cars that get sold because of changes in the owners life. Quiet a few are really good 20 footers that have been well cared for by loving owners for many years. If you can find one of these, now you will have to make a decision.

My personal opinion also is that there are a lot of unsafe, not well maintained, and over priced cars out there.

The devil known as they say. Enjoy you car.

[redmodelt]

If you have the pockets, one to drive one to restore. There are a lot of cars that the restoration was started 20/30 or more years ago and things got in the way. I find the fun of having these old cars is in the No.1 the driving and No. 2 the fixing. That does not mean for me car shows but club tours and just driving. (ok so I don't have an A I have a T but it amounts to the same thing) I know to each their own but I could never get my head around spending years to restore and never really drive it?

[Anteek29]

John LaVoy said it best!
In my case, being my first A purchase, I did not want a project car but wanted a daily-driver quality one that I could enjoy driving right away - without worrying about getting a little scratch or ding on a show car.

[Terry, NJ]

HL said what I was going to! And others too, "It's better the devil you know"! Very apt! I now have three Mod As, one my Town Sedan has been painted, My red wheeled coupe is getting painted, and my green wheeled coupe was painted. Trouble is, the "Restorer" didn't bother with primer! (Cut cost/ save time? who knows?) I didn't realize this until after I got it home. It looks pretty good so I have no plans to paint it. But there was a great gnashing of my teeth when I found this out. It's not like I got it at a bargain. When you do the work, you tend to do it correctly and the car is that much better for it. So I'm in the save it and fix it group.
Terry

[H. L. Chauvin]

After reading Model A Forum comments and questions for 20 years, it would never be shocking if a Model A restorer's comment would be:

A. I just totally rebuilt my Model A engine, transmission, and rear end, and rewired everything.

B. I am just about to install a battery for the first time and start it.

C. I did it all by myself and never looked under "Search" for anything.

D. By the way, which way does one screw in Model A spark plugs? Clock-Wise or Counter-Clock-Wise.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

MANY/MOST are used car "re-cons" being sold by "professional" used car dealers, for a QUICK BUCKS!!
Bill Leery

[BillCNC]

marc,

For what I wanted, it always came out to 20k no matter if I did it myself or bought it finished. So I opted to buy one that was 90-95% already restored. It gives me something I can still tinker on but for the most part, just drive it. I saved money buy not having to do a restore, but I got it on the cheap because it wasn't fully finished. For me that ws the only way I could come in well under 20k while getting what I wanted. That might also be an option for you.

Regards
Bill.

[H. L. Chauvin]

But .... also ........ in not to trying to appear extremely pessimistic, there are also many Model A buying stories with great happy endings for guys buying Model A's for the first time.

Often recommended herein is if buying a Model A for the first time, please contact a local Model A Club in the area to try to get their recommended Model A guy who can give an opinion on what is being bought and what one may expect prior to the purchase.

[TerryH]

I am probably somewhat unique in what I wanted and what I bought. I had my first Model A in 1964, and I put 30,000 miles on it in about 3 years as my daily driver. It was a decent, unrestored car, and was a standard 1930 Coupe. About 10 years ago, a couple of friends bought Model A's, so I got the hankering for another one. But I was over 60, with no spare garage space, limited tools & knowledge, and for me, I really wanted to enjoy having and driving the car......not spending years restoring it, as some friends had. I also wanted something nicer than my standard Coupe from years ago, so I decided I would buy a restored Model A; not to show or trailer around, but to drive frequently.
The car I finally found, on Hemings website, was in upstate New York, and the gentleman offering it for sale had spent 10 years on a total frame-off restoration. He was a retired master machinist and did all the work himself, except for the engine and paint work.
The result was a very, very nicely restored Model A, nice enough that many in our club suggested I correct a few minor things and show it. But I wanted a driver, and even thought about touring.....so I did add a Mitchell OD, HC head, and a very few other safety mods. The car still looks beautiful, I drive it all over Southern California, including on our freeways, I go to Costco and park in the lot there. In 10 plus years of driving, it looks just as good as the day I bought it, and I have had practically zero problems with it.....save a broken timing gear last year. I paid $18,000 for this 1930 Town Sedan, and he sent me all of his receipts.....which added up to more than I paid for, and did not include his 10 years of labor. For me, I really enjoy my car and driving it. I realize that I have missed out on the experience of restoring it myself, but, on the other hand, I have had over 10 years of trouble free enjoyment. And I understand that not all cars are restored to this level....I was very lucky!