Sundeep - I can't agree - if you're very, very carefula resto can be done economically - but you REALLY have to know what you're doing :wink:
Probably the best thing I can give you is the example of my 356 'A' Carrera restoration.
I've owned six of seven 356's and know them reasonably well - although Early 911's will always be my comfort zone - I bought the car in 2000 after researching it extensively - there were only ever five 356 'A' Carrera Four Cams made in right hand drive - and mine, being a 1955 manufactured made it very early and very rare.
I was confident the car was solid - but knowing it had been a race car in the 50's and 60's, reckoned on having to do some work to the shell ha ha!
First - got the car home and realised the gearbox needed attention - a £1k check it over turned into a £5k rebuild. HOWEVER the company (who shall remain nameless) did it incorrectly - so it's just been rebuilt again - for another £5k.
The engine needed love and care - I assumed max. £10k for a thorough overhaul - once we got in there, we discovered the roller bearing crank needed overhaul - £5k alone. Going this deep in, there was only one option - to completely rebuild it - bill stands at about £40k - yes - you read that right forty grand.
Having decided we were going so deep - seemed senseless to not do the job properly - so the brakes were rebuilt - Carrera drum brakes are special and rare - another £5k. The suspension and remaining drive train all overhauled.
Decided we should really see what's under the paint - had it chemically dipped and discovered all manner of horrors - the worst of which is that the car was rolled in the 60's with a half cage in - the front 'A' pillars had collapsed and been replaced - INCORRECTLY - so the 'A' pillars were too short - therefore the roof line was wrong - which meant the door gaps were incorrect.
The shell 'tin work' rebuilt will be around £35k by the time its finished - then add £10k for prep and paint.
Then I've got to reassemble, and of course retrim, replace trim pieces, refurbish instruments - probably another £20k all in.
If you do the maths for me (I'm too scared to work it out!) you'll see this is a HUGE amount of money - when added to the purchase price (which would have bought a brand new 996 GT3 in the day!) this has been a scary project.
BUT - firstly, it's my car, I know it intimately, I've spoken to the sons of the original owner - who remember learning to drive in it, going to the factory in it, watching dad race it etc., etc. It's irreplaceable - there are only two other RHD T1 356 'A' Carreras in the World - and I adore it with a passion.
So who cares - like Ade said - "it's only money!"
:wink:
If you're serious about buying a 2.7RS - buy a restored one - the cheapest 'refresh' NOT restoration of one of these cars is going to be £25 to £35k - an engine rebuild is £10k minimum - a repaint £10k etc., etc.
A restored car will - provided it's been done by the right people - will always have cost the owner more than the car is worth - so buy when they've paid the money.
My 356 'A' Cab cost someone £40k more than I paid for it to restore
Or take the view you'll never sell it, so who cares :wink:
Philip
Migration info. Legacy thread was 136556