George Oliver writes:
>Is this a basket case to avoid (my original reaction after seeing the car)
or
>a project car to restore (the position I was moving toward until I read the
>previous message)? ...
>Is there a consensus out there? Who's right TeriAnn or mg?
I've been observing this thread and think we've gotten to the subjective
decision-making part of the equation. This car is both a basket case
to avoid, and a project car to get. It depends on one's abilities and
funding.
If you have neither the mechanical skill to do the work yourself, nor the
money to pay someone else to do the work, walk away. If, however, you
have either skill (and time) or money, then it is definitely a good project
car.
But before you write the car off, remember you can easily gain skill in
in several ways. This list is a good start. Also, Continuing Ed. courses
at high schools or tech. schools teach bodywork, welding, etc. And there
are books on any skill needed to restore a car. So don't give up on a
project
car due to lack of skill. Time, though, is something you must have outright.
If you restore it from this condition yourself, you can leverage your
learning into savings down the road. There is nothing like a ground-up
restoration to teach you every quirk of a car, which comes in handy when
something breaks later on. And you will know that the repairs were done
properly, not something that can be said for a $3000 driver (gee, the magnet
doesn't stick _anywhere_ on the body, and why is there a can of Stop-Leak
in the boot =:-o ).
I guess what I'm saying is if you can accept the time and money drain of
restoring it, get the car. (And get a good MIG welder, too.) If not, let
someone
else pick it up. Just know what you're getting into.
Dave Williamson (silikal@aol.com) Spits in bits (but they're coming
together)
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