I see a lot of people restoring old cars - namely ones 'worth' restoring like old 500s from the 50s and Jaguar convertibles etc. Pretty cool.
How much does it cost to restore a car on average?
Though considered a replaceable, unworthy candidate I'd love to keep my Panda for example and rather than save for a new car save for a full restoration. That's if it's still serviceable and in tact a few years down the line.
Unlike many older cars there's good availability of parts and engines and this is likely to continue with Fiats use of the same components on many of their latest models today. Though, also unlike older cars it's got a lot of computer controlled aspects too that depend on a moody BCM computer which so far has been fine, but in the future may be impossible to replace..
We have the space to strip it down ourselves if needed. Down to the metal body. Then, we have means to transport it. Finding a body shop up for the job of patching rusty areas and refinishing it, and respraying it seems the most expensive and difficult part. But if done, I'd have a physically rust free, in shape Panda. Some new panels sprayed at the same and glazing and rubber parts and the outside would be as new.
Then rebuilding the engine up and giving it a clean. With new exhaust, and anything else that looks tatty or worn.
Some reupholstered seats, interior plastics and a new carpet which could also be remade without paying Fiat list prices and it's a new car.
Call me crazy, but if I could do it for under seven thousand I'd be all for it because small cars made today are bigger, reportedly not as good and just generally less appealing to me.
Of course this is just a dream to me and the point of this thread is to hear from some of you here how feasible or not and costly it would be.
Thanks for reading
How much does it cost to restore a car on average?
Though considered a replaceable, unworthy candidate I'd love to keep my Panda for example and rather than save for a new car save for a full restoration. That's if it's still serviceable and in tact a few years down the line.
Unlike many older cars there's good availability of parts and engines and this is likely to continue with Fiats use of the same components on many of their latest models today. Though, also unlike older cars it's got a lot of computer controlled aspects too that depend on a moody BCM computer which so far has been fine, but in the future may be impossible to replace..
We have the space to strip it down ourselves if needed. Down to the metal body. Then, we have means to transport it. Finding a body shop up for the job of patching rusty areas and refinishing it, and respraying it seems the most expensive and difficult part. But if done, I'd have a physically rust free, in shape Panda. Some new panels sprayed at the same and glazing and rubber parts and the outside would be as new.
Then rebuilding the engine up and giving it a clean. With new exhaust, and anything else that looks tatty or worn.
Some reupholstered seats, interior plastics and a new carpet which could also be remade without paying Fiat list prices and it's a new car.
Call me crazy, but if I could do it for under seven thousand I'd be all for it because small cars made today are bigger, reportedly not as good and just generally less appealing to me.
Of course this is just a dream to me and the point of this thread is to hear from some of you here how feasible or not and costly it would be.
Thanks for reading