Do you build your car to please yourself or hold value?

[SVO2SCJ]

Wow ! I really like everyone answers - so I'm not afraid to offer mine !! To the question BOTH ! (But not in comparison to mods/investment)

I too build my cars to my taste .............BUT this is "date coded, line specific historical restorations" and SO FAR everyone has held their value and or made 2 or 3X money spent. I make that statement NOT from the standpoint of "all work other than stock is a waste" OR bragging about results.

I respect the well built restomod, I too can see the FUN of a performance build. Here's the thing - I don't drive my cars! I get one out MAYBE every three to four years and take to shows, racetracks etc etc. Anyone with a collection knows the effort it takes to store, rotate prevent deterioration and keep running! That is a 365 day job - that when you restore a car a year or so often doesn't allow for anything more.

No one likes to loose money IMO ! I lost money on my first ten cars, broke even on my next 10. When I was young I thought I had to "save them all" ! IF I continued with that business model I wouldn't be able to buy, sell or assist others today. So for me the answer is BOTH!

Mark

P.S. How many of us know friends that "because the had a car/could buy a project" have gone down a VERY BAD path because they got in too much money to stop now? I say that because "knowing how to take a loss" is as important a trait as knowing how to make money from saving money. (on a dog)

 

[Don C]

For myself. My car already had some modifications, including a half-a$$ and half finished fold down seat conversion. I enjoy personalizing my vehicles, making them mine. The only one of our 5 vehicles I haven't made changes to is my wife's '17 Focus, and it's just a matter of time, we've just had it 4 months.

 

[goodnigh]

Build for myself. Try to keep as original as possible but would never sell the car.

The car is not numbers matching but is period correct including the DOAE block

and head markings on the Cleveland I stole from Don of OMS. By contrast, the

engine we removed, cracked cylinder wall, had a D1AE block, D2AE head and D3AE

head. Still ran great though.

mike

 

[rackerm]

As we all know, restoring these cars is generally a losing proposition. You have a better chance at walking away with some cash in your pocket with a roll of the dice at your favorite casino.  I say do whatever suits you, whether it's a factory, street, concourse, or a restomod project, as long as you enjoy doing it, it's all good!  

When I go to shows, I love talking to folks and hearing the passion they have for their cars, see all the effort and creativity they have put into them. For most folks I have talked to, it's not about the money or the time it takes, although most us have our limits, it's the enjoyment and satisfaction in achieving whatever it is you envisioned and set out to do when you started the project. It's the same for most folks on the forum here. I feel it is therapeutic in a way, and really no different in comparison to people who paint or sculpt. It's an art form and our project cars the blank canvas or lump of clay we started with.  

I've done three factory restorations over the years, each with some minor factory mod/upgrade that appealed to me.... ram air, dual exhaust, black top instead of white. I am now ready to get more creative with my next project. I am thinking it will be some kind of restomod and I will spend way more than I should. I just need to double that amount to fund the wife's projects and keep the peace at home!  :angel:

 

[Bill73Ragtop]

As we all know, restoring these cars is generally a losing proposition. You have a better chance at walking away with some cash in your pocket with a roll of the dice at your favorite casino.  I say do whatever suits you, whether it's a factory, street, concourse, or a restomod project, as long as you enjoy doing it, it's all good!  

When I go to shows, I love talking to folks and hearing the passion they have for their cars, see all the effort and creativity they have put into them. For most folks I have talked to, it's not about the money or the time it takes, although most us have our limits, it's the enjoyment and satisfaction in achieving whatever it is you envisioned and set out to do when you started the project. It's the same for most folks on the forum here. I feel it is therapeutic in a way, and really no different in comparison to people who paint or sculpt. It's an art form and our project cars the blank canvas or lump of clay we started with.  

I've done three factory restorations over the years, each with some minor factory mod/upgrade that appealed to me.... ram air, dual exhaust, black top instead of white. I am now ready to get more creative with my next project. I am thinking it will be some kind of restomod and I will spend way more than I should. I just need to double that amount to fund the wife's projects and keep the peace at home!  :angel:

+1 

 

[Mach_One]

I wanted a 71 Mach, but I didn't really want a project.  I bought my car already done.  The poor guy before me took the resto cost in the $horts, but he done a heck of a nice job fixing up my car for me, LOL!  There was no way I could have found a decent, numbers matching restorable J-code, then do the restoration myself, and come out cheaper than what I paid for this one.  I got the car because I'm afflicted with a disease that make me love Fords and our cars in particular. Not worried about losing money on it, they can sell it when I'm dead.

 

[Ginger_73 convertible]

Had a discussion with someone today about older cars, and thought it would be an interesting topic for today..

He thinks that for the most part cars should be keep stock, or at least changes should be to the way the cars were available unless doing a total pro-mod, ect..

I think cars should be built to please the owner. I told him some of my plans for my car, and he thought I am wrong for some of my ideas.

I am still going to do what I want. My question to everyone is, do you do what you want to please yourself, or do you keep future value in mind and not stray too far from original?

And just as a side note,  my car is a 72 coupe. Not doing anything crazy, just a 351w swap, putting a Mach I grill and hood on, with front and rear spoilers. Raise the rear some, with different wheels for an old school look.  Possibly going with a non factory available color to be determined, and some other small changes to make this car MINE! (Not like I am starting with a super rare car, lol )

So, just curious about others out there, how did you decide how to build your car, and did future value or original state influence your build? And if so, anything you now wish you did differently?

If your the type who only hang onto a car for a few years then move on to another classic car then leave it alone as you will never get all your money out of it.  But if your like me and will hang onto it forever then make it "just the way you want it" !

 

[rackerm]

I wanted a 71 Mach, but I didn't really want a project.  I bought my car already done.  The poor guy before me took the resto cost in the $horts, but he done a heck of a nice job fixing up my car for me, LOL!  There was no way I could have found a decent, numbers matching restorable J-code, then do the restoration myself, and come out cheaper than what I paid for this one.  I got the car because I'm afflicted with a disease that make me love Fords and our cars in particular. Not worried about losing money on it, they can sell it when I'm dead.

:+1:   Unfortunately, you can't take it with ya! My wife says she going to bury me in it.

 

[BeerDontCount]

I wanted a 71 Mach, but I didn't really want a project.  I bought my car already done.  The poor guy before me took the resto cost in the $horts, but he done a heck of a nice job fixing up my car for me, LOL!  There was no way I could have found a decent, numbers matching restorable J-code, then do the restoration myself, and come out cheaper than what I paid for this one.  I got the car because I'm afflicted with a disease that make me love Fords and our cars in particular. Not worried about losing money on it, they can sell it when I'm dead.

Amen.  You said it better than I ever could.

 

[will e]

With 33 years of ownership my car never stood a chance at being original. I daily drove it for about 8 years and put over 300K miles on it. The first real modification was sub-frame connectors, welded in. That pretty much meant it wasn't going to be restored. It had a rebuilt engine in it when I bought it and was already in need of a paint job.

I try to keep it looking 'original' but with the use of aftermarket parts.

Like most of you, if I had a special car I would more likely keep it closer to stock.

 

[Jeff73Mach1]

Neither, I build my car to piss off the neighbors!

 

[red351]

Why would I want a car that there is so few of, making it a rare ride that I can't take out of the garage, bang the gears marking my territory and put it back in like nothing happen....