Which to purchase
szelller1721
Member Posts: 2
Good day forum members.
I am in need of advice. I am looking at purchasing my very first classic car and deciding between the Mustang (67-68) or Cougar (67-69). My question is NOT which car to buy. What I am troubled with the amount to spend. You see, I have budgeted around 30-35K for this vehicle which I know would land me a very nice ride. However, I am wondering if it would be preferred to find a vehicle that would cost 15-20K so that I may take it through the restoration for major issues in order to create the dream car of my choice. I have come across several reasonable cars in the past few months which are more budget friendly and have imagined me making a purchase and then restoring and/or upgrading major components, including brakes, engine, steering, trans., etc.
If given the choice, would you prefer to drop it all on a high quality classic car or purchase the budget friendly model and make the upgrades over time with the $ you have left over?
FYI, this is not going to be just a show car--more of a weekend driver that will be well-cared for and garaged. And I am not in any rush or timeframe to have this up and running and I am happy to take the time to have it restored, so the latter is option is fine for me as well.
I appreciate your feedback and opinions!
I am in need of advice. I am looking at purchasing my very first classic car and deciding between the Mustang (67-68) or Cougar (67-69). My question is NOT which car to buy. What I am troubled with the amount to spend. You see, I have budgeted around 30-35K for this vehicle which I know would land me a very nice ride. However, I am wondering if it would be preferred to find a vehicle that would cost 15-20K so that I may take it through the restoration for major issues in order to create the dream car of my choice. I have come across several reasonable cars in the past few months which are more budget friendly and have imagined me making a purchase and then restoring and/or upgrading major components, including brakes, engine, steering, trans., etc.
If given the choice, would you prefer to drop it all on a high quality classic car or purchase the budget friendly model and make the upgrades over time with the $ you have left over?
FYI, this is not going to be just a show car--more of a weekend driver that will be well-cared for and garaged. And I am not in any rush or timeframe to have this up and running and I am happy to take the time to have it restored, so the latter is option is fine for me as well.
I appreciate your feedback and opinions!
0
Comments
I've sent up a flare to our regular posters, who I'm sure will be here shortly with all sorts of opinions.
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Cars needing major bodywork can take forever and shred your budget.
So a good looking driver with room left in the budget to play with.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Of course, you never know, you could get lucky.
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Only reason I ask the above is because I've had to ask myself those questions when I looked at a restoration project. I don't do them anymore because of my answers.
Now, as Q states, if you want something pretty nice to begin with and just need to do some minor part replacement, that's not such a big deal.
That said, a $10K budget for a full on retoration isn't going to get iyou much...maybe a nice paint job and a few cosmetic parts. And, believe it or not, $20K isn't all that much for a desireable car tthat needs restoration to begin with.
I know all the all the TV shows that show restoration (i.e. Gas Monkee) that show small budgets don't take into account that they already have all the lifts, the paint booth, the tools, the labor, etc to do a restoration. Plus, they have the expertise.
I bought the white Studebaker in my sig pic for $2,600 in 1988 as I wanted one. It was a thirty-footer (looked fairly nice). I wanted the sunroof and Avanti engine, both unusual. It was quite structurally rusty in several places. I found a shop 150 miles away that specialized in Studebakers, and his hourly body rate was $21 at the time (1993). He had the car two years and did a good job within my parameters (he asked what level I wanted and asked that I don't change my mind in the middle, which is reasonable). I like the guy and consider him a friend now but I would not do that with another car I owned.
Good luck...buy the best you can! There are lot of the cars you like out there, particularly the Mustang of course.
I believe in the theory that people that do a full restore can easily spend 2x what the final product is work. So find someone that did that, and take advantage!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
And I know you don't want advice on which car to buy, but I'd go with the Cougar. EVERYBODY has a Mustang, and the Cougar prices haven't really lit up as of yet- and the XR-7 has a beautiful interior.
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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
For me, there was lots of new old stock sheetmetal available for my car--I got both doors, both rear quarters, a trunklid, and grille panel and rear end panel, for something under $700--and I still wouldn't have all that bodywork done on another car!
Buy solid! Good luck!
Cougars are harder to restore than Mustangs because there is not the vast aftermarket (there is an aftermarket but not as extensive).
I agree, buy the best car you can afford. Very few people ever see their money back on restoration costs. I'd check in more detail on market prices though. I don't see why you'd have to spend that much money for 95% of all 67-68 Mustangs or Cougars.
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