[kilodawg]

Hi Gabe,

I'm no expert on all this (there are others on this site that fit the bill) but I don't really think you have provided all the info needed to give you the best answer you can get.

It might be helpful to take some pictures and post them so we could zero in on specific areas for discussion.

It sounds like the car will need a lot of work to do the job correctly. I will focus in on just one area that jumped out at me. Aside from the real impact of the rust that I'm sure others will chime in on.

You seem to say something that to me is hard to reconcile and that is "proper restoration" and "hot-rod look...3.2 motronic" etc.

While you can go the hot rod look and change motors and do a quality job at it, I wouldn't call that a proper restoration for an otherwise pretty original 73.5 T.

My personal opinion is that if you chance upon a car like this and are willing to take it on as a project restore it to it's original condition and configuration. There aren't many like this left and in the long run it's value will be higher if you do so.

If you want a hot rod go for a less well documented car that doesn't have the pedigree this one does. Again just my opinion, and if you get it do what you want it would be your car...

As far as value goes it's a tough call. I'd say anywhere from $6000 to $12,000 but that could surely be off.....