Hello,
My opinion is: Unless you enjoy the actual process of doing the restoration
work, it's
not worth it. My own car is pretty sound and rust-free, but it could really use
a paint job. But to do that properly, it would need a lot of little dents and
dings fixed up.
If I had access to a all the tools I would need, and enough time, I MIGHT do
it, but for
now I work on the car according to the following priorities:
1: Keep it running reliably and safely.
2: Fix anything (e.g. paint damage) that might allow rust to get started.
3: Fix things that are especially ugly or make the car unpleasant to drive.
4: Improve handling and power (the car is a stock '72, the slowest year for US
spitfires...)
I rarely get past steps #1 and #2....
Doug Braun
'72 Spit
At 10:53 AM 3/6/00 +0100, Bernhard Rauner wrote:
>I am owner of a 1971 spitfire MK IV with approximately 90.000 Mlles.
>Approximately because of the speedometer wasn't working the last 10.000 Mlles
>or so.
>
>Did you ever ask yourself - Is it worth it? Should I repair a broken
>doorhandle or a scratch in the bonnet? Or should I start a complete
>restoration including all the work of dismantling, cleaning, an so on?
>You must know - my car is in original trim - first painting, first engine
>(runs very smooth!, first gearbox, original clutch!) But almost 23 years of
>living on British and then 7 years on Austrian roads (better than you would
>expect!) leaves a few bumps and bruises.
>
>So I ask every listener - is it worth it, to start a complete restoration on a
>healthy car? What is the advantage of a restorated car? All I did up to now
>since I bought this car in late 1993 was to change the exhaust system to a
>twin system with two endpipes, change the airfilters to a k&n system for
>maximum air intake, renew all bushes and seals and bought a set of
>center-locked wheels. Austrian winters are pretty long (October to April) so I
>had a lot of time to work.
>
>Please tell me the experience you made while restoration, how long it took to
>restore a MK IV spitfire or similar and - last but not least - was it worth it!
>
>Bernhard Rauner
>71 MK IV spit
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