well.. i have a 1951 2door belair hardtop and am at the point of deciding the direction. do I do a near perfect restoration with the six banger and tree on the tree, OR, do a really nice job on the body and interior and put 350 and 700r4 in it? why, what do you think will get the best return on the investment either way........... --------------- the old man
Sell the car to someone who appreciates it as a car, not as bank ... buy a Mustang or some Hemi thing if your money comes before your car
the irs does not seem to care about cars for taxation... i was curious which way is more desirable to the largest cross section of people and which one has a better cost to sale ratio. even if the sale cost of one is less than the other...
Depends on the individual car...what does the car say to you? each cars has it's own personality. If you are looking at a car as an "investment" then you're in for a rough time. Get out now while you can!
We are about building cars here, not what they are worth.....just sell it as it is and find another hobby and go away!!!! John.
As an investment? I think in the next five years we will see a trend towards original stock cars. A 51 Chevy hot rod? Not all that valuable unless it's a hellacious custom. And that usually takes alot of heart, desire, imagination, and a definite lack of common sense. Something that you may have too much of for this hobby. Good luck.
Modify it, then get it into a few magazines, then the owner will have to die some bizarre death, hide it for decades, then you will be able to make a serious profit off of it. Good luck! Hopefully you sell it so you aren't the owner that must be sacrificed
yikes........ well i think this is a viable question regardless of the car or person. Even if you are going to rod out something you should get some return for it other than enjoyment. why not have both if it is a 1985 caprice 4 door it is unlikely to have any value ever. i appreciate all of the input but these are things people should think about. i have a 1947 chev p/u, 1951 ford flathead 2 door coupe, and a 1951 chev fleetline that is scary, 1951 styleline. and a this 1951 BelAir i just picked up. I do all of the work myself when i am home.
Well you say you have all these cars, I would think you should know what would be the biggest return on investment would be! Or are they all waiting on us to tell you how to build them so you can make money???
A first class restoration is far more difficult and expensive. I am not talking about blasting and painting it. I'm talking about knowing what van nuys plant was doing the particular month the chevy was built proper. I chose the middle ground, mods that can be put back to stock. My model A is just too damn nice imho to chop up. If I decide to part with it I don't have to find a buyer for my particular taste also. Which is a huge deal when it comes to highly modified cars.
i have had these sitting around for a while and they are not in great shape, i am trying to decide what to do.. as well as maybe help some other people, i don't think i am the only one with this concern....
I guess what puzzles me is this is a website for HOTRODS and KUSTOMS and your asking us if you should restore your car or Hotrod it to make the most money! WE ARE ALL HOTRODDERS AND KUSTOM GUYS! OK Iam done trying to explain the whole idea of the H.A.M.B to you!!! Good Luck!
To be successful, you have to have a passion and be committed. That's not a slam on you in any way. Without those 2 items you will end up losing interest 1/2 way through. (don't ask me how I know) I think most everyone that has been doing this for a long time will admit to getting started in a half hearted project only to sell it because IT wasn't there for them. To each person the IT will be different. Find out where that IT is for you. Only then will you have a chance at being successful. Just the fact that you are asking us our opinions means your heart isn't in it. While I don't think you should be stuuupid and ignore financial aspects entirely, if profit margin is the main factor then you have a job instead of a hobby. Don't start a major project without the passion that a long term project requires. You are only doomed to fail like the millions of others that have gone before you. Just look at the classified for all the unfinished projects. Don't get defensive. I'm not insulting you. It's just human nature. I was infamous for not finishing projects until the "right " one came along.
I never finished anything after I started it probably because my heart wasn't in it UNTIL I got my 55 chev.This car was a total project from frame up and for once I saw it all the way through because I was focused on it and thought about the car almost constantly for what direction to take it.Finishing a car to your liking is what's important NOT what it's worth to somebody else.If you don't have the vision, time,effort or whatever then don't bother.As said before, this is a Hot Rod forum for people to help people that are building or modifying rods to drive not to sell for the most profit.Pick a project and do it your way or sell it as a roller so somebody else can build it
302, you are my new hero! james, i vote "not to restore", as far as return goes. that all depends on who's looking at it when your trying to sell it. here's one thats "not restored"
50mercfan forgive my ignorance,any more pics of the hard top? Re restore or not....bit like people who ask " how many miles to the gallon?" definately in the wrong hobby.
you're new here! what your asking is "To HAMB or Not TO HAMB" let us know how it went when you come back from your next session with the chevy restorers board. what ever you decide will be right for you.
You guys are rough. LOL I think its a legit question. I dont have a lot of $$$ so when if I sell my current car it, the proceeds go to fund my next project. Nothing like sinking 20k into a car, and when your dream ride shows up in the local paper you can only get 10k for the car.
We're trying to tell him to NOT sink 20k in it if it's not his dream car. Basing your decision on what to do with a car on $$$ value concerns, rather than what you really want the car to be, is just plain weird to me. Although there are folks here who are only in it for the money.
wow - tough room... I thought it was a legit question also. Depends on if you are gonna drive it or pamper it, use the right pedal or the emergency blinkers, worry about people dinging it the parking lot or load it onto a trailer whenever you want others to "admire" it... I think. I don't build anything I can't drive like a thief, so I suppose if it's an investment/return you are looking for, restore, if it's fun, rod it.
I don't feel that I was tough, someone with 7 posts asks a question and he got it answered. I think that if he had been on the board for a while he'd ask what to cut first. if he has thoughts of restoration, ask a restoration chevy board, either way he'd get honest answers
51 Chevy is a losing proposition financially for all those options. Just depends if you wanna lose 50%, 75%, or 100% of your investment. Wrong car to start with if finished value is important. Otherwise, stock resto is the best return for most already complete cars. As long as you're just refurbishing what's already there, doing it (yourself!) to a cruise night presentable level, and finishing it in stock but attractive colors, it's possible to do OK financially. Just not with a 51 chevy. If you're starting with a half-complete basketcase, stock restoration offers less return on investment. Personally, I love those cars done in more of a goodguys type of theme. They just look soooo good in lipstick red, show chrome, and 17" billet all laid out on the ground. Please don't shoot me HAMBrs. I can't help it. good luck either way. It's all about the journey.
The Jalopy Journal
