Why so many auto restoration projects get started and never finished ?

[bluefury361]

Many legitimate reasons mentioned above. I think it starts with a overwhelming passion and an impulse buy coupled with good intentions. Then the reality sets in and the issues mentioned start to snowball.

Probably a ratio of close to 10 to 1 of projects that are sold incomplete.

 

[tbm3fan]

Lack of real skills, lack of money, lack of free time, inability to stick to it and not be distracted by the next car and the next to name some.

Skills as in mechanical, bodywork, painting and rust repair.

Money as in when they find they are lacking the skills and find out what those skills really cost.

Time because you need to do something most everyday for one. Yet if you have kids you may be screwed before you even start. Last, forget this is a good father/son project.

The ability to stick to it is equivalent to me being able to sit on a deck and scrape paint for 7 hours. It is also the ability to keep one's mind focused. Too many look at at car, buy it, then see another they like, buy it, and so on. Sort of like a guy always having new girlfriends because he likes the chase but doesn't like to work afterwards.

 

[67-Fury]

In my area there is a 69 Charger and a 68 Dart GTS 383 that I would kill to own, Both been outside for years of course "Going to fix them up" but I sort of have that mentality sometimes your intentions are good but you just half to slap out of it and say you are not going to do anything with it and get rid of them to someone who will Do them justice. I have lost some interest before putting lots of work into something a feel like you are going nowhere with it but taking some time away helps or Seeing a picture of your same car that someone else has done with nice wheels or a Gorgeous color to really see what your car can become if you just keep at it Really lights a fire in me.

 

[rexus31]

They were never taught to finish what they started.

 

[Badvert65]

I 'inherited' a 72 Barracuda when my best friend had marital problems, followed by divorce.
Really sad sometimes.

 

[Tink]

1. Willpower
2. Parts
3. Unseen/unknown issues
4. Complicated, as it has to do with skills or imaginary skills.
5. As mentioned above,the wife. They cannot imagine the passion.

 

[Tink]

Another theory might be that restoration goals exceed the need. Not every old car with issues needs to completely disassembled. That was my bane to completion of a few projects. To satisfy my need to build/restore things, I built 5 kit CVA Kentucky pistols and restored a couple mil-surp rifles. I went small so the wife never saw a big pile of parts.

 

[patrick66]

Money. Period. Projects start out with the best of intentions; but for whatever reason, money ends up being the BIG issue.

 

[commando1]

Money. Period. Projects start out with the best of intentions; but for whatever reason, money ends up being the BIG issue.

For money to be an issue, then it was really out of greed a/o envy.


You know where I'm going with this...

 

[live4theking]

I bought a 70 Challenger RT SE in the summer of '96 because the price was right and all the numbers components were there. I knew that it would take $20-30k to bring it back to factory. As a poor boy my theory was that I would start collecting the needed parts and I did that why when it was time to hire out the body work I would have everything that was needed afterwards. When I bought this car I was 22 single and had a 68 NYer as a daily driver.

Now I'm married, four kids, and a mortgage. My wife gave me permission to start going after the restoration 6 or 8 years ago. I collected some more parts for it, but couldn't never bring myself to take the head long plunge into it. She always told me that I talked more about the NYer than the Challenger. Last fall I sold the Challenger for a healthy chunk of change to a guy that really wanted. This June I went and bought a 68 NYer 4dr sedan just like the one I had as a young buck. It runs and is in the garage up on jack stands in anticipation of a break job. I hope to have it rolling down the road before the weather is cold this fall. I'm resisting the urge to buy NOS parts for it like I was collecting for the Challenger. The NYer is a car that me and some of you can love and enjoy, but it doesn't have the appeal to the masses.

The Challenger I had become OCD about having it done just the way the factory did it. The NYer I intend to enjoy. The best part of it is that my 3, 5, and 7 year olds are enjoying it with me so far. I'm amazed how excited they get about riding with me moving it from the driveway to the garage or coming out to the garage to work on it with me. The only problem is that the questions they ask slow me down, but they are way more important than the car. This car will never be more than a nice driver because I want my kids crawling all over it with me.

 

[Wildaugust]

I guess it depends on who started the project. I mean, the reasons will most likely be a lot different, depending on the age, skill level and of course, financial status of the owner. A younger guy buys a car that he likes and wants to finish, but he doesn't have a secure job, he loses his job and has to sell, he's planning to go to school and has to sell it, maybe his girlfriend is pregnant, so, he has to sell.

For others, the car needs a lot of work that they can't do or it just needs so many things that they run out of money. They can't finish it or they decide that they've spent too much on it already and decide to cut their losses. Then there's the case of our C-Bodies, and quite a few other types of cars, that just don't have aftermarket support. The owner realises that they can't get parts or that the parts are going to be very hard to get and that it may take a long time, so, they decide to do a car that will be easier. Another reason is, no doubt, that they tried to take on a "basket case" that just needed too much work and was beyond their skill level.

Just my thoughts on it.

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Many legitimate reasons mentioned above. I think it starts with a overwhelming passion and an impulse buy coupled with good intentions. Then the reality sets in and the issues mentioned start to snowball.

Probably a ratio of close to 10 to 1 of projects that are sold incomplete.

+1

 

[patrick66]

For money to be an issue, then it was really out of greed a/o envy.


You know where I'm going with this...

No, where are you going? Sometimes, a guy will find a car that he just "can't live without", and dive into the project with the best of intentions, then realize those few little trim bits and such are going to cost more to obtain than he paid for the whole car! Or, the air conditioner breaks on the house and suddenly he's spending four grand to make that right. I don't see greed and/or envy anywhere in the above examples. Yet, the lack of required money shut him down.

 

[Mr onetwo]

One word.....impulse. The American lifestyle and economy, for that matter, is based on the "impulse buy". Maybe it was Dad's car, a fantasy car or just to make a quick buck. People begin with the best of intentions and then life gets in the way or they way overestimate the skills they possess and way underestimate the work and money involved. Marriage and divorce are big factors also. The car shows tend to make it look so easy and it is not! People buy into that when the real purpose of all the shows is to move product for the various sponsors. In my case I have been derailed by medical problems and costs that have sapped my strength and cash. But I have not given up and will get my car on the road come hell or high water!!!!

 

[blackmamba]

I think one of the recent reasons are all the "Car Fix It Up" shows that show just how easy it is to restore your car! LOL! These shows are just showcases for Parts Dealers and Manufacturers! They get a group of guys all worked up on restoring that old whatever and then the reality of all the dirty, greasy, oily, grimy, tedious, bloody knuckle jobs, that have to be done and done right, if you're honest with yourself.

 

[MrMoparCHP]

Money. Period. Projects start out with the best of intentions; but for whatever reason, money ends up being the BIG issue.

Money is the only reason, everything goes back to money.

"Life" Get married, have kids... if you have money this isn't an issue (pay somebody to do it.)
"Lost Interest" Back to money, if you had more money you could have kept the pace up and you wouldn't have lost interest.
"Difficulty" Find out you can't do then pay somebody, back to money, it was why you tried it yourself in the first place.
"Overwhelmed" See above
"Skill" again see above
"Facility" (My biggest gripe, no space) Money buys you space, heat, protection from the elements, accessibility...
"Rust" just more time and material which go back to money, cant fix yourself, again money.
"Time" as the old saying goes "time is money", you don't have the time then pay somebody.

This one may not be about money all depending on why you are abandoning the project ie rust
"Priority" So you get another project (for whatever reason) and abandon this one


Like I said my biggest gripe is space, I rarely gripe about time or money.
With more money I could empty the garage and have space.

I gripe because i can't find tools and parts or the constant shuffle to have work space. With more space I could be a little better organized.


Alan

 

[Zymurgy]

One that has been brought up is that the lack of after market parts. I honestly was surprised and nieve about this. I feel so lucky to have started with a complete car.

I used to have a list of cars of various manufactures but I find that interest is gone and now it is c-bodies only. There will be no settling for close. It will be complete, minimal rust and my must have options.

Fortunately I already have one in the garage and honestly I didn't know it fit my current criteria until after I did my research and that was after I brought her home.

 

[68Nwprt]

My project is going on 4 years, but this was anticipated. I bought it to have something to work on, when I am in the mood to putt around with something mechanical. It helps keep my skills sharp. My only criteria was that it would always be a running, movable under it's own power... project, and not turn into an overwhelming pile of parts. Some days I become overwhelmed, and a little discouraged but, just the fact that I can here it run...things seem to get better.

 

[72Fury]

It's fun to buy. I have several friends that have accumulated many, many project cars. Not a chance in the world that they will all be fixed. They are reserving their right to have that particular car, something along those lines, is what they say. It make sense, in a way. You can always sell it later if you chose, and in general everything seems to go up every year. The flip side is so does the restoration cost.

 

[mr. fix it]

I know this is an older thread but worthy of bumping up again. - All the valid points have been covered here as to why resto projects fail.

Let's talk now about why they are successful!

Thinking back on the car I saved here from the scrap heap or the dismantler's was in fact a project possibly of sympathy for a decaying formerly beautiful representation of craftsmanship from an era gone by and to never return.
Sure they were built as cheaply as possible back then. We're talking Mopar here! Not a Ferrari or other foreign auto of the day.

I did succumb to curbside buyers "kid in a candy store" syndrome when I first saw this car when I saw it on Kijiji then in person knew that if it didn't get into the right hands that his car would become a victim of time and inattention.

Looking back after all the work I did to this car?
Yah, I should have walked away and looked for something easier to take on.
Would I have found another in better condition? sure! But it would have had a whole different set of things that needed attention...
Would I have learned about the next car as much as I learned with this one? No probably not.
Would everyone here have learned what I learned working on this car? Not a chance! LOL!!

My wallet is lighter than it should be for the value of the car currently because of it and I proved a number of people wrong here that it could not or should not be saved.
It still needs a proper body and paint redo along with windows slider tracks replaced, eventually a new top and some chrome redone... The list never ends!!!
Did I mention the dash rewire? What about the head light relay bypass?

I believe if I keep the car and maintain it I eventually will get my money less interest back but I'm not in the mind set to sell any time soon.
I still have some upgrades (disc brakes & PST Steering box) to do to make this a car that I feel very comfortable allowing my family to drive.

I realise my wife will never fully appreciate what I have done but other car guys will. Some women are out there too that will (probably guys in disguise) LOL!!!
She did support me though even though there were a few heated discussions about me taking it too far. We all spend money just in different ways right?

In conclusion to this, I'm glad it's done and hope for many years of enjoyment & others seeing our cars & bringing back memories of their youth when the cars we have were common place on the streets and in their parents driveways.

Plus these cars are just freaking COOL!!!!