To restore or not?

[dwmmustang65]

I am a new member to this web site and about to start a complete restoration maybe! My 65 fastback is a standard fastback with no frills. Everthing is out of the car and has been bagged and tagged, Right now it is sitting in the mustang shop waiting for me to make a decision. It needs new front clip, floor pan, both rear frame rails and some reworking on the rear quarter panels. I got an esitmate from the guy who is doing my work and of course it was a lot higher than I thought(But a fair pricefor the amount of work) and by the time I am done I will have more money in it than it's worth! I could part it out and make some money because I have no dollars into it as of now.

Ok now the kicker, this car was my dad's car. This car joined the family in 68 and I remember riding around it in when I was a kid. I have heard the stories and recently the jokes about rebuilding a car with sentimental value attached to it that it becomes the money pit on wheels so I need your help, please give me your two cents worth on this subject.

Thank you!

[MetalHead]

dude, calling a car a money pit is all about point of view. any car you own is going to cost you money but if you love the car enough then you won't care or mind spending the money. And it makes it a lot easier to spend the money when it has as much sentimental value yours does. besides, 65 fastbacks are cool, i would definitely say keep it and restore it, even if you have to pass it down to your kid someday. just my opinion.

Jason

[nicolette]

I completely agree with Jason. My 'baby' cost me $800 within a month of buying her for new brakes, and the guys at the shop literally laughed at me when they found out i'd actually bought this 'heap of crap', and wasn't just getting it checked out before i bought it. Ok so i probably should have done that! but i wouldn't trade my 'stang for ANYTHING, and i don't regret spending a cent on her. (Esp since she's run great for me since i got her!). If you love it, you can never spend to much on it. It' s definately worth the money to have a car you love, and although probably not really good! , it is SO much easier to spend the dough on a good beast, than on some no-personality clunker. Also you have the advantage of a family car. You know it's history. I say restore!. and ENJOY!

[thunderbolt]

Ya know, I was going to suggest selling it and looking for another, but then I read your last paragraph. With that kind of history, and if it were me, I think I would plan to pony up and get it restored. If it wern't for the history I would let it go because extensive rust is expensive to fix and as you say, way more than the finished product is worth. But in this case I would keep it.

[mustangman65_79]

I would defently do it. But I'm the kind to sink money into any mustang, just to see it run again.

[The Deuce]

I remember growing up my father had a '65 coupe. Turns out the car started life as a k-code. It took me a few years to forgive him for pulling the motor and dropping in a real 1970 Boss 302. I always thought that motor actually made 290hp v the 271 in the kcode.
Turns out the 302 dynoed at 400bhp. He sold the car when I was 15, and I have spent the past 7 years (since I was 16) desperatly looking on the internet for it. Car was last seen with the 69 c stripes on it in Los Angeles.
Basically you should keep the car, because you will spend a whole lot more money trying to find another one just like it. Good luck with the resto.

[69fastback]

dude i would defenilty restore that car and keep it. My mustang was bought on my parents honneymoon. I got the car in 96 and have spent tons of money restoring and it is worth every penny. It is something i will have for the rest of my life.