Restoration Averages

[AirmanPika]

OK so I'm almost done paying off the DeLorean and am debating how I want to proceede on getting my DeLorean fixed up. For the last 3 years I've been basically doing my own work but sometimes I feel like I'm not really getting anywhere (I probably am just finding new issues as I go which is causing this) and was thinking of just having my car restored by one of the shops. My car runs fine for the most part, but there are always areas I would like to work on. Frame is generally OK but has a few rust areas near the fuel tank that concern me, especially the crumple extension. Also I've never been able to get my doors to align right and they get jammed a lot.

For those with experience, what are people paying on average for a restoration from the shops? Superficial things like exterior and interior trim I can still do myself, its the big stuff and things that really need a shop that I need done. I guess I don't really know how to rank my car condition wise in the scheme of things.

[DMCVegas]

If you're talking a total restoration, you could easily blink and then suddenly see $10K and up worth of work going into your car.

If there are certain things that you need done such as doors aligned, or welding work, I'd just farm stuff like that out and tackle the rest yourself. Reason being is that way you have just a few small expenses here and there rather than a sudden debt. Plus it's a good idea to post to the boards and see if others can help you here and there with advice. Some of this stuff may not be as bad as it looks.

If nothing else, don't look on this as lots of stuff needing work and costing you. Just figure the expenses as you would a Car Payment and you'll see you actually are coming out ahead expenses wise.

[timothymoore]

i have a D that isnt really in too bad of shape other than being purple and some frame rust and i was estimated @ 30k from DMC, but this is my first D so im sure there is ALOT more that there is to it than just the looks. im doing little bits here and there while im in school, but once im out of school, the car is getting shoved in a garage for a frame up restoration. hopefully gonna beat the 30k price estimate .

[Nicholas R]

i have a D that isnt really in too bad of shape other than being purple and some frame rust and i was estimated @ 30k from DMC, but this is my first D so im sure there is ALOT more that there is to it than just the looks. im doing little bits here and there while im in school, but once im out of school, the car is getting shoved in a garage for a frame up restoration. hopefully gonna beat the 30k price estimate .

I'm confused. Are you saying it's worth 30K, that it will cost you 30k to restore it, or that someone will restore it for you for 30k?

[timothymoore]

I'm confused. Are you saying it's worth 30K, that it will cost you 30k to restore it, or that someone will restore it for you for 30k?

i was saying that it was estimated @ 30k to restore it..... sorry for the confusion. i would also hope that it would be worth that much if i had to drop that into it lol.

[Dracula]

i was saying that it was estimated @ 30k to restore it..... sorry for the confusion. i would also hope that it would be worth that much if i had to drop that into it lol.

Doesn't work that way; no matter what the car is (barring the fact of restoring a car worth $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 in restored state.) I see this all the time when I go to buy a car. If you spent $30,000 on a restoration of a car you paid $15,000.00 for, the car may still be worth only $25,000.00 despite you having $45,000.00 in it. It's always better to buy a car that's been restored already for this reason, if you can afford to, so that someone else has already endured the brunt of the cost. Typically, the only people who make money off of restoring a car are the shops you take it to.

[timothymoore]

Doesn't work that way; no matter what the car is (barring the fact of restoring a car worth $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 in restored state.) I see this all the time when I go to buy a car. If you spent $30,000 on a restoration of a car you paid $15,000.00 for, the car may still be worth only $25,000.00 despite you having $45,000.00 in it. It's always better to buy a car that's been restored already for this reason, if you can afford to, so that someone else has already endured the brunt of the cost. Typically, the only people who make money off of restoring a car are the shops you take it to.

you make a very good point. i never thought of that to be honest. however i guess i dont really care what it would be worth as i never intend to get rid of 10186 unless i absolutely had too for some odd reason.

[Dracula]

you make a very good point. i never thought of that to be honest. however i guess i dont really care what it would be worth as i never intend to get rid of 10186 unless i absolutely had too for some odd reason.

That's a good attitude and the same one I take for any of my projects that aren't intended to be re-sold. My DeLorean, 440-powered Monaco, and '70 Cadillac are examples of this. It's easy to go crazy with spending on a car; been there, done that, got the T-shirt, etc. If you go into it with a love of the car instead of the concern for the profit margin, then its a rewarding experience. Otherwise you start cutting corners for the sake of cost and wind up with a sub-par car that you're never truly satisfied with and won't grow attached to. Though, I'm at the point where there are only 4 more cars that I want to get that I intend to keep forever.

[Nicholas R]

Lol, reminds me of Pawn Stars. Pretty sure at least once per episode someone says, "but I paid this much for it," or "but I have this much in it." Answer is always the same, "doesn't matter how much you've got in it, this is how much it's worth, and this is what I'll offer. Cash money, take it or leave it."