Restore vs. buying restored, was Replace Mrs. Blueberry and make her a parts car?

[dardal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Bill, what you say is true.  It also works its way backwards.  Spending a bunch
of money restoring a car will never pay off when you sell the car (unless may
be its a muscle car which is desireable and relatively easy to restore as there
is very little there to be refubrished).  However, sometimes its not the make
and model of the car we are attached to, its the very car itself due to our
history with it.  In my case for example, I had this 68 sedan for several years
now, and it always ran and performed very well, but needed a lot of cosmetic
work from day one.  I recently bought a 68 LeBaron that is in much better
condition inside and out (but still far from perfect), and better optioned too.
 In order to refubrish the sedan to the  condition of the LeBaron, it will
probably cost me about twice the purchase cost of the LeBaron (the work would
be mainly external appearance and interior, as the mechanical is for the most
part acceptable for the Sedan).  So, I am very reluctant to start its
restoration.  The logical decision would have been to sell the Sedan or keep it
as parts car and avoid insuring two cars.  However, I have had that car for too
long, so I can't just let it go.  

Sometimes, our decisions are not based entirely on reason.    

D^2

Quoting Billimp68@xxxxxxx:

> Hugh,
> 
> Though not always possible, the best way to buy an old car is to buy the best
> 
> one available, one needing nothing.  Even with an excellent car, parts are 
> always needed, so a good parts car can be worth a lot, plus it can eliminate
> a 
> lot of worry and frustration.  I think a lot of shops stay away from working
> on 
> old cars because of the lack of parts, or the wait for parts, so having parts
> 
> that are available immediately can speed the process of any work by a great 
> deal and lower costs.  As you know, I have several Imperials, and the ones
> that 
> cost more initially, due to their condition, turned out to be the cheapest, 
> due to the fact that they needed very little in the way of restoration or 
> refurbish-ment, in fact some needed nothing, not even a tune up, so I was
> able to 
> enjoy these cars at once, not several years.  It seems that once you have
> made 
> up your mind, and started, to either restore or refurbish an old car, you
> must 
> stay the course, even when costs seem to go through the roof, and they 
> usually do.  Wishing you and Mrs. Blueberry the very best.
> 
> Bill/Imp, a few 68's.
>