Topic: Restoration

[ltlsusieq86]

My Grandmother had a 67 coupe and gave it to my father to drive shortly after she became sick.  He drove it till about 1973 when he got married and things starting wearing out ( mostly the breaks, I think).  My parents had little money, therefore could not repair it, and parked it in our backyard.  It is now behind one of our machine sheds, where it has been for over 30 years.  I always wanted to restore this car, having seen it just about every day for 20 years, and am now realizing how much this is going to cost...alot!  I am trying to get a guess-timate on the cost of this endevor.  It has been sitting out side for 30 years at least, very rusty around the fender area, I am unable to get the hood open to see under there, holes in the floor boards, and Im not sure about underneath, but that is probably not too good either.  Would I be better to just scap it and use some salvageble parts or what?  I realize that no one can give a good answer by not seeing it, but just how bad is 'bad'?

[Soaring]

You have done a marvelous job of describing the car.  It may seem like a job that can't be done, but I have heard of worse case scenarios.  The mechanical part of the car is relatively cheap to bring back to originality as compared to the body.  It sounds as if you are going to have to replace all of the panels such as fenders, quarter panels, doors, floors,  hood, trunk lid, etc. 
Now, if you have a place to work on it such as a garage or barn where you can leave the parts out and get to them when you can, then you are way ahead.  If you have welding skills, that's great, but if not, then you can take welding courses.  You will need a good set of wrenches of all types, and of course a welder, cutting torch and air compressor with all the tools to go with it to include a paint gun. 
If you are starting from scratch tool-wise, and if you don't have a place to work on it, you may want to wait until you get those things. 
Also, if it is a plain jane coupe, you probably will have way more into the car when you are finished than it will ever be worth, but if it is a convertible or fastback, you may come out about even.  I would say that when all is done, to include a new body, overhauled V8 engine, rebuilt transmission and rear end....and of course a new interior to include new glass and rubber all around......you are looking at around $15-17 thousand dollars, if you do all the work yourself.  The problem, as you have already stated, is that we don't know the actual condition of the car, and we don't know your skills.  If you have no skills, and aren't willing to learn and have everything done by somebody else, forget it.  You will wind up with a $40 thousand dollar car worth 15.   

[Russ]

 Hey first of all welcome to the site, I know you will find what you need here with this new project. First you started this job back when it was parked in your back yard; everyday you took even if was a quick peek at it. Over time it grew on you, and now it is time to get her to where it once was, back in purring condition.

It has history, and you cannot let history fade.
 
Is it the car of your dreams?

Do  you have the slightest working knowledge of cars?

Do you have everything you need to start even a small project on her?

Can you put it in a garage, or even carport with side covers?

Do you have a little bit of money to throw her every day, week, or month?

Do you have a passion or desire to she it start up again?

Do you ever find yourself going out back just to look at her one more time?

If you can answer yes to one of those questions, then I said start it getting it going. That car has been in the family way to long, to throw it out now. Even though coupes aren’t the rarest muscle car, they have that certain pop that appeals to the public, but you have a very good story when you roll up to that car show which I think makes it worth it more than anything.

  I would tell you that part are easy to find for those years brother and there are a lot of guys on here that even own those years and could and would walk you on sites and the best places to get them. I would ask that you take some pics of her and share them with us so we can see what you are spend your time looking and maybe point you in the right direction.