Anyone see that "updated" 69 on the Barrett Jackson auction block last night - I think it went for $41,000. It was fairly upgraded with brakes and 20s out back.

This has me thinking, what does everyone here think between an updated (ie brakes, fuel injection, suspension, etc) and an original type (numbers matching or not) restoration.

I think for the daily drivers here, they will lean on the updated resto for both convenience and safety while the weekenders will stick to originality.

For me, I think its a combination of both. While I am a daily driver, I want to eventually upgrade my car with some more modern conveniences and safety as well as some nice aftermarket while keeping as close to the original look as possible.

 

Think of what that 69 SS-RS would have fetched if it was an ALL original numbers matching car instead of a hotrod?

From an investment standpoint, restoration modieds, i.e. "restomods" will never get you back what you put into them. However a restored or original car will usually increase in value, especially if its numbers matching and you have documentation.

 

I like to have originality with minour modifications.
But, with my 1980 Camaro Z-28, that's a whole different story.

The tranny was upgraded to a T-56.
The brakes were upgraded to 4 wheel disc w/12" rotors.
Safety was upgraded with 5 point seat belt harnesses.
The suspension was heavely upgraded with Globalwest products from front to back and 17" wheels/tires.

I guess it depends.....when I purchased my 1980 Z-28, it was all original with # matching, etc. etc. but it was BORING!

Examples:

175 HP 350 LM1 (wooptie do)
3 speed auto TH350 tranny (hate auto's)
Basic Z-28 suspension (not much to brag about)

Now, if it were a rare, high HP factory tuned muscle car....that's a different story!

 

If the resto mods are within reason, you can do alright I think. But - what of the restored to original but NOT numbers matching cars?

Hey - did you hear their commentary about the AZ/CA 86 Corvette that was RUST free?

 

You mean Johnny Carson's Vette?

Don't get me wrong, for a daily driver like my son's blue 67 coupe, resto-mod is the way to go. So far I have more $$$ into it than what I have in my "original" RS. However that car has no POP, and although it does have a few "odd" original options, I'll never be able to get much more out of it than what I actually put into it.

Whereas, based on the current market, my RS is probably worth $10K more than I paid for it a year ago. Its only about 97% original (brakes, springs and wheels were changed), but the amount of documentation I have for it makes it much more desireable.

 

I say make the car you want. I thought about keeping my new 92 B4C 1LE stock, since there were only like 580 made, but what fun is that.

Who care's how much the car is worth. If you make a car you like, you'll never want to sell it.

 

Yes, but most people will end up selling their cars at some point.

Why not mod? Case in point made last night at Barrett-Jackson. Two 97 Vipers. One unmodified stock red coupe, one highly modifed (Hollaway) 600 HP coupe that cost over $100K new.

The "stock" red coupe sold for $48K, the modified blue coupe sold for around $51K. Sure the blue coupe is badder, radder and way faster.... but its not worth what was put into it.

An original, numbers matching, well documented car will always fetch more money. (Assuming its collectible to begin with.)

 

Maybe so; but you have to *****-foot around it; trailer it everywhere and only sleep every second night worrying about it. I say cut it up and drive the hell out of it. Cars like that were built to be driven hard and modifying them to make them perform even better is a way to make the car even more enjoyable to thrash.

Everyone has to decide what they are looking for in a car and what they want to do with it. I say do what makes YOU happy; whether that means 100 pt. concours resto or full on pro-touring race car.
I can apprecaite a meticulously restored and cared for rare muscle car just as much as a full on tube frame pro touring car, only in a different way. It's partly the variety of cars and opinions that makes this hobby so much fun. Which is the most important thing. Have fun.

 

Not true. Check out my link below. My gold RS is a numbers matching original car and its a driver.

I hate trailer queens as well.

 

There is always an exception to the rule guys. To me - I want a nice original looking car that has the conveniences I want. BUT I dont want to spend a fortune knowing I will not get what I put into it. Take those those guys who put $5000 Wilwood brakes vs a nice $1200 set of Brembos. Or that $6000 set of Fiske wheels.

My other reasoning for an upgraded vs a numbers matching is simply convenience.

 

I agree with building the car that makes you happy. i didnt buy my 67 RS/SS as an investment, but as a toy to build and have fun with. when its done and if i think of selling it, probally wont anytime soon, i probally wont worry about the money spent so much as the good times we had together.

 

All Frankenstien, baby!! This wouldnt be the case of course if I owned an original Z28 or SS, or an RS even. My car was just a 6 banger with no options, so I have no problem creating a monster, and a very fuel efficient, sweet sounding, high tech one at that.

 

It's easy, you need one of each. I'm loving the fact that the JL8 crossram Z28 sold for $112K so I know that all the money I have dumped into mine was not a waste. But I also love the idea of modern drivetrain in a classic body style and that's why I bought the 68 LT1 car I have.

 

I love them all for different reasons. I absolutely love cars like Mark Stielow's Mule because it is fast, looks incredible, and is chock full of cool engineering. And you can just tell that these cars would be fun to drive the crap out of.

At the same time, it's hard to beat a fully restored car, with every little detail in place, and ever nut and bolt spotless. It's just interesting to see a car exactly the way it would have looked new 35+ years ago, before I was born. I recently got see an original '69 Camaro ZL1 and a real '62 Pontiac Super Duty. Both were beautiful cars, and I am glad I got to see them since I may never see those two in one place again.

I guess I just like them all.

 

Hard to argue with that. You are a very wise man.