Professional Body Restoration. Worth it?

[68spitfire]

Hi all,

 

This will open a can of worms no doubt.

 

I will cut right to it.

 

I have owned my 68 Spitfire for nearly 3 decades, and spent the first 10 years restoring it all by myself in a garage. Everything was done to the best of my ability, including bodywork and paint job.

To be honest, the paint job looked pretty damn good considering it was done with cans all those years back. Not the typical can Finnish but quite a reasonable shine to it.

 

Anyway, another 17 years have past and the bodywork is in need of some TLC, though we are still rust free.

 

The clear coat has yellowed (white car) and I do like the colour (now) actually as it has a very light sort of Jasmine-esq colour.

 

The filler I used to blend panels has shrunk down slightly and contracted with the effect of causing cracks to the paint.

 

To be honest, I now am not cut out for a full body refurb in the garage again. I have neither the stamina or the fitness to do it.

 

Mechanical / electrical stuff of any sort is not a problem, it is my bread and butter.

 

So the question, is a professional body restoration worth the money, of should I let the car move on to someone with the skills and desire to make a good job of it.

 

Mechanically the car is 99% right. Its only done 4100 miles in those 17 years and the engine and everything else is sweet.

 

I contacted a long standing and reputable Triumph restoration specialist on the south coast and with a finger in the air estimate (without seeing the vehicle) of the work that would be required i.e. new panels to remove all the repair stuff etc. I was told that their body restorations including paint would start at £5000

 

Now I am not questioning that quote as I have seen their work, they have a talent for excellence.

 

But do I want to pay that? for a car that would probably never re-coup that investment?

 

I know it boils down to how much you love the car and how long you are going to keep it.

 

Anyone else gone through the same decision and took the plunge for a professional job after owning a car for some time.

 

Your thoughts welcome.

[Guest]

Hello.

 

I think you have answered your own question:

 

But do I want to pay that? for a car that would probably never re-coup that investment?

 

Regards.

 

Richard.

[AndyTV8]

if you think with your head (will i ever recoup the money?) then the answer will always be to move it on,  if you think with your heart then you'll invest the money for your own enjoyment rather than for any potential future profit.

 

The other part of the equation is, if you take your nominal £5k refurb-fund,  add that you the cash you'd get if you sold your 'tired' car (£2k?) can you buy what you want for the combined total (£7k) and be happy ?  

 

choices choices..... 

 

.... andy

[68spitfire]

Hi Richard, Andy

 

You both make valid points and observations.

 

I have never been a 'concourse' person, so I am not really interested in polishing my engine or little seen suspension components, however I do like the car to be presentable.

 

Not saying the car looks like a shed, which is does not. But would benefit from a little 'professional' fettling I believe.

 

As for value, I don't really think that our cars (I say our cars as in Triumph generally, not TR's ) have really appreciated in value over the last ten to fifteen years.

 

Honestly I cannot see them getting any more valuable. Thats why we look after them for the joy if using them opposed to monetary motives.

 

Difficult decisions, to restore and keep, restore and sell, or sell and buy something in better fettle.

[Guest]

Sorry, I do not know your name.

 

Before making any decision, how about posting some photos on here for us to have a look at. My feeling is that your car will attract comments wanting you to keep the car and work on what you have, rather than taking on another unknown which may complicate your options even more !!

 

"The grass is always greener" springs to mind.

 

Regards.

 

Richard.

[TomL]

Hi 68Spitfire,

 

I can understand your dilemma;  I have owned my Vitesse for a similarly lengthy period and whilst I have sorted out almost every aspect of the car over the years - doing most of it myself - it could still do with more work to make it how I'd like it, and I realise that I don't have the time to do it.  I think that the cost, versus the car's value, is not a consideration as I have already spent (mainly in time but also in money) far, far in excess of the car's value!  But it's my hobby and I enjoy it.  I think if I could get a good paint job to tidy up her appearance for about £5k, I'd give it serious consideration.  It would only enhance my enjoyment.

 

So I think what I am saying is, spend the money and see the job that you started, all those years ago, completed.  I think it'll do wonders for your enthusiasm for the car.  Saying that, though, my reply is of course completely biased, but then it'd be a bit odd if the club's forum encouraged a member to get rid of their car!

 

Let us know what you decide.

 

Tom

[DerekS]

Values of cars are a funny old thing. We all value the ones we have and it could be argued that a car offered for sale with the history yours has, before or after any refreshment work, would be of special interest to a buyer. Also, these (hypothetical?) figures of 2k and 5k, where could you personally buy a car for that combined figure that you would know and trust as much, with as much history AND be happy with?

Good luck and best regards.

[68spitfire]

Hi Tom & derekskill,

 

Many thanks for your input.

 

I can see valid points in both of your posts. And to be honest I am beginning to sway the other way into having the bodywork refreshed professionally.

 

The car was totally restored by myself from 1989 to 1999 and as previously said, not being a bodywork expert (then and now) the end result was more than acceptable.

 

However, it is time to get it done right so it will last the next decade.

 

You cannot let something go that you have spent 27 years looking after, with blood, sweat and tears.

 

And especially as it is a MK3 it deserves the investment. With no disrespect to the MK4 or 1500, I don't believe I would be as attached to them as I like the earlier styling so much better.

 

I think I will contact Southern Triumph Services again and arrange for him to see the car for a full estimate as I never got round to following this up earlier in the year.

 

Mechanicals I can do, but bodywork is time to hand over to the professionals.

 

Will keep you informed.

[DerekS]

Hello again, I think you've answered your own question, 27 years is a very long time and no, you probably wouldn't be as happy with an "unknown" replacement; would you ever trust it? I often watch Car SOS, it's sometimes very touching when grown men see their pride and joy restored and come over all emotional. The point being is, can you actually put a value on all those years of ownership, the ups and the downs? As an aside, I took over a 1500 Spitfire 9½ years ago, the gentleman had owned it from new. There were 2 points, I was almost interviewed/vetted to see if I was going to look after it and the price was NOT negotiable. As you would if you had to part with a family pet I suppose.

Best regards.

[Eddie]

I am currently having the body of my 1960s Ford restored professionally. It is costing 2 to 3 times the value of the car when finished.

 

However I am not doing it as an investment. I have owned the car for 35 years and have no intention of selling it, as it is part of the family!

 

You will never recoup the cost of a professional restoration by selling the finished car, so it really depends on how much you want to spend!

 

Incidentally, £5,000 sounds cheap for a full body restoration!

[68spitfire]

Derek skill;

 

Many a true word spoken there, and also the guy who sold you your 1500 I can relate to as I had the same thing recently.

 

I had an offer from a friend who is a car dealer for another car with the MK3 as a part/ex , well the deal fell through as he was basically offering me nothing for the MK3 plus cash for the other car. So the new car was overpriced by a huge margin.

 

Anyway, after thinking about it I could not go through with it as 1) the new car was way overpriced and not a true classic yet, and 2) I could not bare to see my mk3 sold to some muppet or get dumped in an auction and going for pennies just for his bonus money.

 

 

Eddie;

The £5000 price I quoted was a "Body Restorations Start At" price. 

 

So it will be north of that. Having a quick look at Rimmers as a guide on panel prices, if the car needs what I think they will want to replace then I can see a bill for approx £1300 for panels straight off the bat.

 

Something else I noted was the price of panels now compared to 25 years ago. Though I guess inflation, VAT eat has taken care of that.

 

I also remember when rattle cans of Holts aerosol paint were £2.25 each. Now paint is around a tenner a can !

 

Times are a changing.

[dougbgt6]

"part of the family"

 

Yes, that's it. My daughters are already debating who gets the car!

 

I'm thinking I'll have to buy another so they'll get one each. At least, I tell myself that's the reason!

[AidanT]

Doug

Really good thought that one I like it ????

 

Son and daughter have claimed mine already and my wife wants a 2CV That won't help. ????????????

[efp]

Only you can be the judge of your emotional investment in your car, and what it's worth you you to keep it on the road and looking good (not necessarily the same thing).  I guess we all know in our hearts that we are all p*ssing away far too much of our money on a lost cause on an investment basis but doesn't that apply to so many other things?  Take, off the top of my head, gardening for example: do we worry how much that new rose bush or shrub will add to the value of our homes? No. It just looks good and gives us pleasure every time we look at it, and keep it alive. 

 

I've owned my Mk2 for well over 30 years, it gives me huge pleasure to be restoring it to as good as new, to be saving a bit of engineering and motoring history, maintaining memories of youth and by the by, depriving the Chancellor of the rip-off road tax. Yes, It's cost me a lot, but less than a top of the line BMW or something would depreciate in its first year of ownership. And to me, its far more fun to own and drive.

 

I could equally have spent just as much on restoring a Hillman Imp, Trabant or a Skoda, or even glugging fine wines, but this is how I've chosen to indulge myself. Really, only you can chose