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Esprit80 wrote:
Hi V8 brothers,
I have a 56 Clipper Deluxe as you all know... .
The car has a Belgian license plate for daily use, so that means that the car may be used whenever I want.
Good. Then by all means drive it.
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When I check American websites where cars are sold, I see that Clippers in a good to near perfect shape always are sold for prices lower than 15 till $ 20,000.-
Decent Clippers can be had for under $10,000. One like yours that runs and drives reliably, probably about $5000-$8000, but of course depending on how much someone is willing to accept and someone else is willing to pay.
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Right now my question: Is it acceptable to make such big costs to a Clipper??
Do I come from another planet or is the price offered by that man totally absurd?
Depending on what the man intended to do (sounds like a complete body-off 100 point restoration) it would be acceptable to SOME PEOPLE who want concourse quality, hang the price, and don't want to have to do anything but get out their checkbook and hang around the garage.
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Maybe I should better get rid of the car and buy something in a good ( better ) shape???
I wouldn't, good drivers are hard to come by. A lot of people seem to think that cosmetics come first, and hang the mechanicals together with bailing wire.
Generally, I look at a good price guide for a ballpark figure, try to buy the car for a little less than that as long as it's a driver, and try to make every purchase to restore it make economic sense, looking at the next higher level in the price guide. If I can get to that level while spending little more than the added value, I've got a good deal. Think of it as an investment, your goal is to at least break even or maybe make a little while you still have use of the car most of the time. Get shop work done in bad weather months, when you wouldn't want to drive it anyway.
That is, unless you expect the car to be a lifelong project without regard to the eventual amount you'll have "into" it.
Personally, I start with creature comforts and drivability. As long as parts aren't falling off the body. That means making sure all the accessories work, the windows are all good, the brakes are excellent, etc. Even if it isn't perfect cosmetically, a reliable driver is more fun to own, and easier to sell.
If you're into looking cool, a cheap "interim" paint job protects from further weathering and will make the car more attractive. No one gets down to look at the rust unless it's falling off underneath, or they want to look like experts-- or they're thinking of buying.
Do things to enhance YOUR enjoyment and safety, and think about the other stuff as projects to do a little at a time, during which you can hope that the car is appreciating in value whether you lift a finger or not!
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