I'd like to get my wife's 64 Valiant convertible restored for her. Budget is around $40k, so I need someone who isn't exclusive to big $$ restos. Not looking for an OEM-spec resto, don't care about detailed underside, inspection marks, etc. It will need lots of metal work (rear floors, quarters, rear body panel, and straighten a poorly repaired rear collision), full interior, all weatherstripping, new top, rebuild the /6, freshen the trans and rear axle (the latter 2 work fine, but I can't see not going through them during the resto). I have almost all of the parts that would be needed, but for some of the sheetmetal and the new interior soft parts/weatherstripping.

Any suggestions? Would prefer to stay in the Northeast/Atlantic coast area, or the Midwest.

I don't mean to be disrespectful in any way but your money pile is not big enough. Find one done for much less cost.

X2. 40k into a car that would fetch not even a third of that in the end??? Very small following in early a bodies.

I hate to say it but I also agree. Take the 40K and buy another one, that should buy the best one on the planet and leave you some pretty good change.

Half that budget should buy a really nice one, shouldn't it? But I suppose there could be serious sentiment involved.

I'm not so sure what was so hard to understand about my original question. I didn't ask for your opinions about what I should do with my money, or with my wife's car. We have the money, my wife loves the car, and we want to have it redone. Why do any of you care what we do with our money or our car? Instead of answering the question, climbing up on the soap box and start lecturing. Typical Moparts. And I'm sure NONE of you has ever bought or restored a car that you were upside-down in, right? I'm also sure that with the $2,500 we paid for this car 13 years ago, we'd be far less upside-down that some of the high-$$$ restos on Hemi and 6 pack cars that have been done, too.

If you can do some of the disassembly and assembly yourself it will save a ton of money. One place to try is http://hodgerestorations.com/?page_id=128 They do full restorations and will also work with you on partial restorations and build to your needs. Their work is nice.

I don't have time to do most of the work that I would be able to do, and honestly, I don't much like working on cars anymore. I would do some of the detail work myself, since I don't care about OE details. Engine compartment detailing, trim installation, that kind of thing. Thank you for the shop recommendation.

I have done more than a few cars in the last 30+ years in business that had people underwater. Here is my opinion on that matter. Most of those cars had some sentimental value which can't be valued. Others were it was the car they wanted, color, engine, trans, ect, and in the end you can't take it with you. As some of you age you'll find that money is not the hear all see all it was when you were chasing your tails off to earn it. Comes a time when there is less in front of you than behind you and you just want what you want. To the original poster. What is your time frame?

I'd be fine with a 12 month timeframe, but only from a reputable resto shop. At a collision shop, or at a shop that's going to do it as side work, 12 months = it will never get done.

So true!

Talk to this guy. ^^^^^^




You do know your on Moparts right ?

Clark Classic Restorations in Greenville NC does great work and will also work with you with a flexible time frame or do partial restoration. Walt Clark will treat you right.

I understood the your post, $40,000 = about 700 man hours in a shop, no parts or materials.

Extensive rust repair on a 50 + year old convertible uibody that has little to no parts availability.

my experience says complete rotisserie overhaul and the media blaster will not be friendly.

This is one of those cars that you need to have 5 to 10K paid ahead of the bill to work on it so when the owner bails on the project your not left holding costs and a car no one wants to finish.

('64 Valiant drop-top listed on COL...


'Sold'...


Ten five...

That's a nice looking car. My wife's is a darker blue. I love the original wheel covers, too, but hers has front discs, so it needs 14 inch wheels, and those are 13s.

Talk to RJ Cars in Arkport NY, he's geared towards the enthusiast looking for a restoration that's "affordable", yet well executed to the customers requests/budget

Mike

Sounds like you need a junk yard not a body shop.

LOL took you almost a full day to come up with that.

I know you don't want to hear buy another car but its the best advice. I made the mistake of getting involved with a big shot shop, price started at 20 grand for paint top and bottom. Ok no problem, slowly turned into 30, then it just felt like they were feeling me out to see what I would spend, AFTER its in pieces. They took car and did panel fit, were supposed to check frame for any tweaks before we start. Car was never mounted on flat plate by pinch welds.... and has minor rear rail damage,I found it while scraping tar off, but they charged me for it. Anyway have my car back and am going to part it out. The car... 440-6 4-speed superbird 41,000 miles I have owned since 1978. So seriously, keep that car and buy a nice one, put something off of it on the new one and call it good.