Just wondering, as I am exploring all options, how any of deal with the never-ending lack of funds. New and old cars are expensive. I like my wagon but it's frustrating to see it every day knowing it needs a restoration. Have any of you financed the restoration of your old wagons?
That's a nice looking wagon already. Don't know about others but when I worked for a living family and normal things like food, diapers, and bills came first. I worked as much overtime as I could to work on my cars. Sometimes I could even afford another old car I didn't need while buying parts and fixing up the other. Now that I am retarded there is no more overtime so things get done slower. To me doing as much as I could myself was most of the fun. After all that's why I got into this hobby. Not to give Shadetree Joe my hard earned money to do shoddy work. Not bragging, I did everything but chrome and replacing glass. Actually I did replace the glass after a glass shop cut it and installed the new chrome myself. I was never a body man, apohlsterer, or painter. (Or speller) But I got by with my cheap tools and did things over until I was happy. I never cared if others liked my cars. I built them for my family. Do what ever you can and farm out what you have to. But try to save cash or trade your own labor or parts when possible. The guy down at the bank will give you money. But he will expect more in return. Above all, spend some time in the salvage yards and swap meets. That's where old timers got their parts. Not some catalog. Then you can narrow it down from money, money money, to money!
Cat's right. I would not go in debt for one of my cars. It's a hobby. Get to know others in the hobby. I see you have an AMC. Is there a local AMC club? People in specific clubs (usually) are a great help to all in the club. Looking at your pictures, I don't think your wagon needs much. I've always had great friends who were always willing to help me, guide me, teach me..........and now I'm so old, I try and share what I've learned with others. The more people you get to know, the more you can learn. Don't expect it to always be on your car, you can learn a lot by helping a friend work on his car, too. Bill
I'm not nocking your wagon, OK:2_thumbs_up_-_anima. But you should show up the rust area pics that you posted before so everyone could give some better opinions.
When you say your wagon needs a restoration, what exactly do you mean? Is it drivable? Does the engine work as can be expected from a 40-year old car? Sure it won't be a new engine, but does it run relatively reliably? Does it stop? Do the brakes work safely and as they were meant to? If the answer to those two questions is yes, then drive it, enjoy it, love it, show it off. In my wagon, the springs squeak, the engine pings sometimes, the radio crackles, the antenna doesn't work right, there is rust starting on at least two doors, the body is covered in little dings and dents, the chrome is starting to lose its luster, and the list goes on. There are a ton of things wrong, or going wrong with the car, and if I wanted it new, I could take out a loan and take the car to a shop and have them to a complete, frame off restoration for $60,000, or more. But, what I do is to drive the car every day and enjoy the drive. As long as it drives and stops, I replace the little things only as I can afford them, or as they become necessary. So, my question for you again is, why does it need a restoration? Does it need restored to be driveable, or does it need a restoration to be perfect? If you want a perfect wagon, I guarantee it is much cheaper for you to buy one that someone has already restored. If you want a driveable wagon, then just fix what it needs to be back on the road, and don't worry about things like rusty panels. If it is already roadworthy, then you're good to go!
I'll admit I couldn't see a lot of detail. Often a wagon looks worse up close and personal. But now that home Mig Welders and compressors are very reasonable most people can do a fairly good job if they take their time. It helps to practice on an old fender or hood, or a neighbor's car when he's gone. As Buster Bill wrote many of us learned by helping and watching others. So you burn a few holes in the metal.More to pactice on. My first welder was a Sears stick welder and a Model A coupe. It must have had 50 holes in the firewall. By the time I got them all filled in and ground down I'm sure at times there were a 100. But with patience and a grinder I finally had a smooth firewall. Just make sure you are in a safe environment with no clothe, plastic fuel, etc nearby. I bought the welder and small compressor in 1965. Still have them both and many others have used them both. Whenever Harbor Frieght opened in the midwest my wife bouht my first wire welder that uses gas. Now i also have a gasless wire welder. None of these are real expensive and will pay for themselves after a few jobs. It's fun burning holes in metal and figuring how to do it right. Also that's what friends are for. Dont tell any one. I've cut out rust, pop rivited in metal, and bondoed to make like new repairs. Drove an old Chevy van that way for seven years and it never did rust or crack. My reason was I didn't want to remove the interior. Fibreglass is also your friend. Real body men will laugh. But that's where I learned to use a metal patch and Bondo, watching it done in body shops on late model Cadillacs. What do you think Barris and some of the others used?
I won't take on debt for my project. I will buy and sell parts to pay for what I need but, as others have said, its a project and the household comes first.
If you don't make enough money to pay for new parts out-of-pocket, you can't afford a personal loan. And if there are any items broken, buying some used parts puts you far more ahead than taking out a personal loan.
Just get it to where it is safe to drive,and enjoy it. Both of my wagons are the kind that look good from 20 feet away.
We assume this wagon is not your daily driver and is not intended to be. If it is, then that's a separate issue. If it's just a hobby, then you do the restoration as time and money permit. That's how it works. That's what a hobby is. If the car at least runs and drives, you can enjoy it while doing a slow, "rolling" restoration. If it doesn't run and drive, then, yes, I can see wanting to get it in at least that condition before you tackle everything else. But whether it runs and drives or not, you should not borrow money to pursue a hobby.
It looks like it does not need much, but I know what you mean!! I sold my old '69 Caprice sedan in '07 for $2200 and already had $2000 in savings, so when the lady that had my '72 Caprice wagon said she would sell, I grabbed it, not knowing the engine and tranny was shot, as well as rust issues! It was a long road. I finally got the engine rebuilt for about $400-500, still had a problem. The car set for years, lack of funds and know-how to work on it myself. I sold one of my cars (my '95 Town Car) and took that money and recently had the transmission rebuilt which was my problem all along. I had spent (blew) some of that money so wasn't much left after that, but at least it should be good to go. Now I am doing some finishing touches with some left over income tax return, but most of that was loaned out to a family member, but I did sell my '12 Honda that I won for a 100% profit, but that money will be used for a healthy down payment for another new car, but I may get out a LIIIIIIIIITTLE to do some work to the wagon. The rest like the body will be a little at a time as I can afford it. Windows have to come out, resealed, rust repaired, wood-grain removed, rust repaired, paint, wood-grain (new) put back on and new carpeting. $$$$ I am sure. I will have $8K+ in this car before it is all said/done. Good luck!
In the past I've picked up a few vehicles, including my 70 SS Chevelle, that were good cars taken apart for a restoration and the folks ran out of money and time to finish. Usually it is a combination of an endless money pit once the project starts. With the car part way finished it becomes an obstacle, it cannot be used, it is hard to sell, and often folks are working with a restoration shop or paint/body/interior shops who have you sort of over the barrel. The Chevelle, even though paint and body were all done, was otherwise totally disassembled and even with a lot of experience it was almost five years of working on it to get it done. The former owner had it apart for seven years and just could not continue. Also see this often with vintage trailers, they are functional, not perfect, and people tear into them, run out of steam, finances, find more issues than they were expecting, and tire of the work and end up selling for a loss. Your wagon is a good looking car - it may not be perfect but does it have to be to enjoy it? My thought is address any safety issues, make sure it runs well, then tackle the rest as time, money, and desire suits. Only do to it things you can complete within a short timeframe so it does not become an albatross. A car that sits for a long time, even during a restoration, deteriorates quickly unless it is in a heated, clean work area. If you are paying a shop to do the repairs then they have rent to pay, wages to cover, etc and it will add up very quickly. Life has a way of changing suddenly and a person does not want a major project part way done suddenly becoming an issue. The only person who wins in those situations are the next owner who buys cheap, and the shop who always get their money.
Mate, what everyone else said plus keep it out of the weather as it look a sweet Gigga and sometimes storage conditions make things cost more from Downunder
i would love to keep it in storage until i can get it finished. expensive is a relative term, but to rent a place costs more than my electric, water, and gas bill. thanks for all your input. regardless of what i do it will be a couple years before any substantial works is done on the matador
You may consider one of those vinyl and pole shelters. At least it will be mostly out of the sun and weather. Just replaced one I had up for several years. On sale at Tractor Supply $107 with tax. Harbor Frieght and others often have them on sale. $130 normally. I put two side by side on the cement slab in front of my two car garage to park my truck and do work. I put PVC stubs in cement blocks filled with concrete. Slipped the poles in and ran bolts thru the PVC pipe and frame. Have had some high winds. What rots them here is the sun. But several years is not bad. I don't even change the poles, just the white vinyl covers. Where it sits next to your house would offer some side protection and a silver tarp on sides and ends would help. Not sure if a tarp on ground would be good or bad. Anyway better than out in the open. You don't want it looking like another Florida member's wagon that's for sale.
