alsancle Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 You see the terms "easy restoration" tossed around quite a bit. My experience has been nothing is easy about restoring a car. I'm wondering what people's typical experiences have been? I have a few data points at two ends of the spectrum: 1. My dad has a Packard he has actively been restoring since 1965. There were lulls (measured in decades) but he was always going on it in some fashion. It should be done next year... maybe... 2. I have seen deep pocketed collectors hand a car to a shop and say I want it down as soon as possible. Even in these situations, where 500-800k is being spent the project still seems to take 2-3 years. 3. I have a Stutz that I bought in 2005 and have been actively working the restoration ever since. The work has been split between different specialists (engine, paint, upholstery, etc) and I have never told anyone to stop yet this project is over 10 years now and we are probably only 60/70% done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 I have been working on my first 1931 Dodge Brothers business coupe for about 50 years....life got in the way quite a few times. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 My dad purchased our Stutz in 1970 as a basket case (the prior owner took it apart in 1968) and it's still a basket case. We have spent 10's of thousands on parts over the years though. I have a letter my dad wrote to a guy who was reproducing exhaust manifolds in the 1980's (yes, he bought a set). In the letter he said "this is a 30 year project," well, we're in year 46 of the 30 year project now,. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 Jay Leno comments on this in some of his videos. If he really puts the pressure on he can have a complete restoration done in 2 or 3 years. Some of his projects have been languishing for up to 30 years. I doubt anyone spends more time in the shop, or has more resources of money tools parts and manpower than Leno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted July 4, 2016 Share Posted July 4, 2016 A rough estimate of a complete restoration is 2500 hours. Some will be half of that and others will be double or more. What kills the time line is when you discover, during assembly that a critical part is missing, which halts the assembly and takes six months to a year or longer to locate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39BuickEight Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) 6 1/2 years so far Note how the thread is title, how long have YOU been restoring your car. To clarify, my father and I have been restoring my car for 6 1/2 years. The only labor we have paid for is to have the engine rebuilt and the cylinder head resurfaced. Edited July 5, 2016 by 39BuickEight (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 November of this year will be 3 for me. Hoping to be done in 3 more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylormade Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Three years, two months. I hope to be done next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) Dad did a kaiser darrin in 18 months.. Not sure how many years he was looking for the parts... It was on three car trailers.. when he got it.. This car was a ground off restoration.. The first one was 13 years.. It is still stock.. Edited July 6, 2016 by nick8086 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Part time from 2003-2011, more or less full time since 2011. About one year to go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R Walling Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Five long months! Two more to go! Doc2.docx 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 My 15 Buick Speedster project car has been the "lady in waiting" for about 20 years. I bought this car in boxes along with parts mixed in from other cars. The restoration continues until I need another missing part or until another project car gets finished ahead of it (five other finished Buicks now keep her company in the car barn). I retired four years ago & have been working on my other cars to get them all in touring shape. But after this summer, I plan to finish this car for next year's touring season. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjamin j Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 I only do frame off restorations and I do it for fun. when I was in my 20s a car took two years to complete and I did several. I am close to sixty now and each car takes about four years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) You guys are all making me feel better, thank you. The attached has been in my garage (or more accurately three garages due to moves) since 1994, photos circa 2002, 2004, and current. I am doing all my own work and literally no other person has touched the car except the chrome plater and the machine shop. But as we all know life gets in the way, my job is 45-60 hours a week and we moved in 2005 (major home renovation) and 2013 (preparing for sale of property and kitchen remodel in new). Car was in offsite storage from mid 2013 to late 2015 while I waited for a new garage to move it to. I estimate over 2500 hours worked and the interior is still not done, but it is on the road and driving now. A part timer in his garage has to absorb little inefficiencies that take longer than a pro--when I was in a shop working on mostly prewar Classics we estimated a nice round 2000 hours for a restoration, which if you do the math means 1 year at 40 hours a week but that does not allow for delays for waiting on parts or suppliers, so 18-24 months to completion was a better estimate. When I hear the "Fast and Loud" idiot on TV saying he will restore a basket case in 6 weeks I am ready to kill him through the TV set. Thanks again to you guys for making me feel better here in the real world, Todd C Edited July 5, 2016 by poci1957 (see edit history) 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonMicheletti Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 How long it takes depends on a whole lot of things (like life). I do almost everything myself except plating and upholstery. A "modern" car can take a long time because of the complexity. i spent 3 years on a '57 Olds. But I did do a 1910 Buick model 10 in 3 months. A perfect original car that took almost nothing. It is a VERY simple car. And then there is a restoration that has been "happening" for 42 years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Well, I pulled my 1910 Buick Model 16 out of a field in Louisiana in about 1990, and it's not done yet, so that should tell you something. I've done a few cars in between, of course. Anyone who can restore a car completely in 6 or 7 months, wow, hats off to them.....my full restorations over the years averaged about 3 years, that was mostly big Classics (1934 and 1935 Pierce Arrow for example)..... Done correctly, down to each nut and bolt and bushing, it's time consuming. As someone stated once, "you don't get much done in an hour"....... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binger Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 I have been working on a model A coupe for 8 years. I did however take a 2 1/2 year break and rebuilt a '68 Chevy truck with my step son. I am in the middle of painting now. Hope to have it driving by the end of August. Upholstery will come next winter. Its hard working full time and having a family to get a lot of work accomplished. I am Lucky and have a wife who fully supports me and my hobby. She even comes out to the shop to help once in a while. She loves the upholstery and is looking forward to that part of this project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bhigdog Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 About two years and 2000/3000 hours. Did 4 and I'm sick of it..............Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 This is really a great subject. I am still "restoring" my first car, started on this one in 1884 when I took it off the road, since then I had restored 4 others for myself and was heavily involved on 3 others with my friends. I had just retired and so I was ready to start now that I have more time. At the time I did not want to lay into it until I had all of the hard to find NOS parts, which I had acquired. So I was ready to go, not so another car has gotten in the way. I have had a lot of practice anyway when I get to it I had done some damage to my 60 Impala a few years ago loading into the trailer, The car still had most of the original paint so I wanted to have the original lacquer paint blended in in as well as a few other spots. I owned this car 32 years and had great family memories with it. Well the paint did not blend in well at all, looks like two different colors. so last year I pulled the body off did the frame, went through the mechanicals again and I am taking it to the restoration shop tomorrow to get painted, just have a few more pieces to prep. So my 62 Impala has to wait again...... Finding the time and money is always a problem. When ever I had money I had no time I was too busy working to make the money, when I had time I had no money to spend. TODD I LOVE THAT PONTIAC! GREAT COLORS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdillinger Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 (edited) This August marks three years since I bought my '26 Model T. I spent the first year piddling around with her, rebuilding the rear axle, yard driving and sorting out what needed to be repaired. The second year she basically sat. Last summer I pulled the body, completely rebuilt the engine and transmission, suspension, and repainted everything. Literally every nut and bolt has come off this car. I know... its a nickel-era Model T and not really worth the money but I bought the car with some money my Dad left me when he passed, so its important to me. I hope to have the car done by the end of August, but that relies heavily on the lead times for the upholstery kit and seat springs. Edited July 5, 2016 by zdillinger (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 I finished a 100 point restoration on my 36 Pierce 21 years ago, but its never finished. With 20k on the clock past the restoration, its time to spend some more money and labor to get her back to 100 again. just so I can drive it another 20K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 2 hours ago, John348 said: Finding the time and money is always a problem. When ever I had money I had no time I was too busy working to make the money, when I had time I had no money to spend. TODD I LOVE THAT PONTIAC! GREAT COLORS Thanks John, the green two tone is as original of course, with matching leather interior forthcoming. When I got the car with faded original paint I was not thrilled with a green car and when I went to my first Pontiac convention the old timers assured me that fresh Limefire Green would pop and it does. I appreciate your statement about time and money, I have dealt with that paradox my whole life too, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 37 minutes ago, zdillinger said: I know... its a nickel-era Model T and not really worth the money but I bought the car with some money my Dad left me when he passed, so its important to me. I hope to have the car done by the end of August, but that relies heavily on the lead times for the upholstery kit and seat springs. I think it is great and look forward to having a Model T myself someday, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Zetnick Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Bought my '29 Dodge w/ paper route money in '71...from '73-'77 I did a restoration the best I could w/ my low funds and drove her everywhere, including to college.....she sat for about 20 years during career and several moves and I started doing a 2nd restoration on her in '08. Here's a photo of her just last week getting back from paint & bodywork. I still have chrome, upholstery and other small things to do and hope to have her finished for more driving by the end of the year. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edhd58 Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Its been 4 summers now, I don't have heat in the garage. Its a "just gonna have fun with it" project, so while I've been working on it I was not about to attempt a PROFESSIONAL restoration. I don't have the $$$ or the expertise. I've been lucky so far asI was able to find all NOS parts or OEM reproduction parts. I am about to get it street legal I am just deciding many of my budget $$ i am going to spend on tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Huston Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 My only collector car is a1929 Studebaker President Brougham that I purchased in October 2000. The President had been in storage for over 30 years, in non-running condition, when I acquired the car. I spent the first winter getting it running and road worthy. For the past 16 years, I spend every winter doing something to upgrade the condition of the car making sure that the project is completed in time for the next years driving season. So far, this has worked out for me and I have never been unable to drive it on a spring, summer, or fall meet. This method makes it possible for me to enjoy the hobby while slowly restoring the President. Here are pictures of the President when purchased and on a tour this past September 2016. The recent picture was taken at the top of a mountain pass in California when I drove the President 959 miles during a six day tour. The President performed flawlessly. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 On one of my cars I bought in 1992, but I wasn't in a hurry to do anything, then I bought a house in 1996 and did a house renovation. In 1995 with the house done I started the restoration in 2005 and pulled the body off the frame and did the frame and suspension and brakes. In 2006 the company I worked for and the company my wife worked for decided they didn't like our state anymore ( guess what state??) so I put the body back on the frame and sold the house moved to my retirement house. In 2007 I started a complete renovation of my retirement house. Between 2007 and 2010 the house was finished ( I do my own work) and I thought I would get to the car, but I began seeing funny things being passed in the state legislature that alarmed me so in 2013 I sold my retirement house and moved to a more friendlier to U.S. citizens state to buy my new retirement house. I ended up Building a 1632 SqFt garage/ shop and renovating the insides of the new house. Now that the house is finished I will finally begin to get on that car. Luckily I have five other finished antique cars that I was able to have fun with in all that in-between, and two of those (one of the cars I bought new) I have owned since the 12th grade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Gregory Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 Thanks everyone you make me feel a lot better about my 2 years working only on the wood structure . I showed the post to my wife about the length of time for some of the restorations on the posts and she said " how long ? ? " 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vila Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 I bought my 1962 Triumph TR4 in March 2008 and finished the restoration on Memorial Day 2015. 7+ years. I did almost everything myself to include the paint and installing the interior kit. Only thing I did not do was the chrome plating. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F&J Posted July 5, 2016 Share Posted July 5, 2016 3 hours ago, Mark Huston said: My only collector car is a1929 Studebaker President Brougham That sure is a sweepy body shell and roof for a 1929 car.... fantastic proportions and style Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 5, 2016 Author Share Posted July 5, 2016 13 minutes ago, F&J said: That sure is a sweepy body shell and roof for a 1929 car.... fantastic proportions and style Oh yeah. I love the patina and how you got the red paint off and preserved what was underneath. I might argue to never paint that car. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dei Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 I love what I am seeing so far! RESTORING????? How about maintaining? I bought this at 17 years old. Dated my wife and married her plus raised two boys with it plus now trying to get it ready for the oldest sons wedding this September some 43 years later...... Oh it needs restoring, but who has more fun but us car people? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JV Puleo Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 (edited) I bought this 1910 Mitchell about 6 months before my 60th birthday. I've wanted to do another brass car for 30 years and felt that if I didn't act soon, I would never have the energy. I'll be 65 at my next birthday and I've worked on this most days for the last 4 years, thus far mostly making engine parts like these... I did have one major setback... I thought reassembling this would take me 8 weeks. It took 8 months! The goal is a running chassis in 10 years... then I'll start on the body. Edited July 6, 2016 by JV Puleo (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 I found my 1930 Ford Roadster body in 1962, sold it around 1976, got it back 25 years later without a thing done to it. Cowl and doors are about 60% done, and I really don't care if the rebuild outlives me. Having the projects is the fun part, finished cars are costly to maintain. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted July 6, 2016 Author Share Posted July 6, 2016 I would imagine life getting in the way is the biggest obstacle to getting a car done followed closely by finances. Bob, I totally get where you care coming from. There are some real pluses to having a project car and not a completely done one. The biggest being that a finished car immediately starts the slow slide back to needing a full restoration again at some point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1937hd45 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 (edited) Quote The Stutz looks great, reminds me a bit of my Bugatti shop days. Besides the unfinished projects there are the cars that don't get driven, due to mechanical problems, and insurance costs, lack of trailer and tow vehicles are another reason cars stay at home. Question: how many "projects" can you store in the same space a finished car takes up? Bob Edited July 6, 2016 by 1937hd45 (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 1 hour ago, 1937hd45 said: The Stutz looks great, reminds me a bit of my Bugatti shop days. Besides the unfinished projects there are the cars that don't get driven, due to mechanical problems, and insurance costs, lack of trailer and tow vehicles are another reason cars stay at home. Question: how many "projects" can you store in the same space a finished car takes up? Bob The answer is none. A disassembled car takes up three times the space as a finished car minimum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooney3100 Posted July 6, 2016 Share Posted July 6, 2016 (edited) Between finding the NOS parts, 2-401K loans, A Picky Very Good Older Body Man, A wife that Hung in there with me the whole time, the Restoration took 10 Years on our 56 Chevy Truck, Started the restoration in 2001 and it was finished in 2011, just started this year taking it to the AACA National shows....And we both are having a good time with it at this point just showing it, the driving experience comes later....:) Edited July 6, 2016 by Rooney3100 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GK1918 Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 This one kind of special built for Hammond Organ Co. Boston. The raised roof- I suspect it was brought back to the factory (they did modifications like that) two weeks engine done 391 Industrial Ford with Allison 6 speed. So, something like this is "One foot at a time" some pics its former glory as it is now. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted July 8, 2016 Share Posted July 8, 2016 Flxible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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