So You're Thinkin about a Restoration Project for the New Year?

[asphaltgambler]

Sooooo.........................My very good friend who owns a garage (private) that is large and has enough equipment and lifts to do just about anything you'd need; frequently hosts his buddies projects / work there. He's retired as is most of his friends and his place is really more to hang, drink and shoot the breeze than work

I'm the 'young' technical guru who has 24-7 access and occasionally helps the guys out. Yesterday, I go over there to test fit a set of headers I had modified and this is a newly arrived project from one of the guys:





Me: "Who's ride is that?"
Him: "Claude's"
Me: "You know, there's not 1 section on that car that is not rusted out or bent"
Him: "Yeah, I know - told him as much"
Me: "Is it a factory big-block car?"
Him: "No"
Me: "4-speed car?"
Him: "No"
Me: "Factory drag-pak car?"
Him: "No"
Me: "What then?"
Him: "Nothing special I know of"

[asphaltgambler]

A few more.............................................

[Scuba Steve]

I see somebody likes their cars extra crispy.

[asphaltgambler]

[ckelly78z]

A true victim of a lifetime of salted roads, that car looks like more work than it's worth. It's too bad that the chassis/drivetrain isn't something special, because a Dynacorn body would help save it.

[asphaltgambler]

The back story is this guy always wanted a 70-ish Moostang and after seeing all the cars and builds at my buddy's garage decides he's going to 'do' one. He bought this from some guy in West Va last month for $3K, had it blasted, sprayed some primer and ...................viola!! Ready-to-restore!

[M.D. Holloway]

You might have better luck finding the original stamp and bending your own... that looks beyond help

[Scuba Steve]

Hope he's a good welder, and that he's able to keep all the leaves and rain out of that bucket so he doesn't get more rust to play with.

[strupgolf]

Be on the road in no time.

[asphaltgambler]

I told my close friend to tell Claude that he could buy a nice example for high 20's or so. He'll have that much in welding rod and patch panels just to get it rollin...........


"Hello - Goodmark? yeah I'm in need of some replacement patch panels for a 1970 Ford Mustang fastback. Which panels do I need? Uh,............................................... ............everything except the roof?"

[sc_rufctr]

That car reminds me of some of the before pictures of "project" 911s posted here.

I really don't get it. Aren't you better off buying something half decent to start with?

[sugarwood]

What do you think the odds are that this turns into a driveable car?

[wildthing]

A true labor of love if he does it...

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

I told my close friend to tell Claude that he could buy a nice example for high 20's or so. He'll have that much in welding rod and patch panels just to get it rollin...........


"Hello - Goodmark? yeah I'm in need of some replacement patch panels for a 1970 Ford Mustang fastback. Which panels do I need? Uh,............................................... ............everything except the roof?"

I see a hood in the passenger compartment. So roof and hood?

Three grand. Thanks for the perspective, I needed that!

[Steve Carlton]

What's the return policy?

[fastfredracing]

Is he " one of those guys" who really has no idea what it takes to make something like this happen, but watches gas monkey every week, and sees his friends pull off the occasional resto , then thinks he can do it, not realizing that it will take a year of full time work and a huge pile of $ to do it realistically?
I just went over this with my buddy on his 73 VW. It was under water in a flood in 95', then sat under a tarp outdoors ever since. there is not one use able piece ib the thing. He wants to restore it .

[stomachmonkey]

Appears to at least be a Mach1 for whatever that's worth.

[J P Stein]

UGH....looks like a more money (& time) than good sense project.

[rfuerst911sc]

My estimate is 15 - 18 gallons of Bondo should do it ( insert green font here ) .

[sugarwood]

Actually, my guess is these guys are serious lifelong gearheads who are pro caliber wrenches.

Money is obviously not an issue. If you're broke, you don't buy a project..and everyone knows you lose money on a mustang project. These guys have serious money.

Time is not an issue since they are retired. They have a real facility in which to work. No limitations.

They have hardcore skills. You don't buy a tub like that unless you have serious guns in your arsenal.

Anyone can buy a sensible hobby car that won't break the bank. But, it takes a special combination of skills, time, and money to have the balls to undertake this kind of no ****s given money bleeding bakery case project.

My guess is these guys could have their own garage TV show. Or, they're just clueless teenagers.