How much have you spent on restoring your Vette, to date ??

[SwaveDave]

I bought my 1970 BB already in fairly good shape. The previous owner did alot of interior work and mechanical work . However, i wanted to bring the condition of the car up to a higher level of standard , whereby everything worked / any very old part was replaced / the interior looked basically new / and all the mechanicals were in tip top condition , including a motor rebuild and some power-adder mods. I have now reached that point i was aiming for, i can proudly say . Ive had the Vette for 5 years now, and the total ive spent has come to : $12,000 . I paid $17,500 for the car 5 years ago. I dont have any intentions of selling the car, ever ... otherwise i probably wouldnt have gone so hog wild.

What did you pay for y our Vette , and how much have you spend on it ???

Dave

 

[JonM]

If I had all the money right now...it would be easier to weigh it then count it. :eek Thanks for the memories ad

 

[67HEAVEN]

What did you pay for your Vette , and how much have you spent on it ???

Dave

$6,311.55 in the fall of 1966....over $120,000 in the last 36 years......and, no, I'm not kidding.
:crazy

 

[matchframe]

I try not to think about it! I have a ways to go with this Re-Mod, so I shop smart, but try not to think about the bottom line. I would lose sleep if I did. At least this is a legal addiction!

Bill

 

[red70vette]

to quote 67 heaven
"$6,311.55 in the fall of 1966....over $120,000 in the last 36 years......and, no, I'm not kidding."

Heck that comes out $275 a month for the last 36 years. You could have been driving a Corolla. And think of all the fun you would have missed,

 

[Dave L.]

I have every receipt I spent on my car but I don't think I will ever total them up! I don't regret one penny I ever spent on it,I just don't want to know how much!!

Dave

 

[Classicvette63]

$17,000 for the car 3 years ago. About $55,000 since the wreck. :duh I know, I know.... Classic

 

[69MyWay]

We once added receipts on my old 85 383 stroker Vette after I sold it. Counting purchase price in 1988, then all the engine swaps, paint jobs, transmissions, rims, tires....we came up with $40K! I sold it for $8,500 in 1996.

We don't like to talk about what the 69 has cost. Doing 98% of the work myself.....hmmmm, $40,000 is a good start! This stuff adds up FAST.

I am still about $5,000 away from where I really want to be on the car. (six speed trans and some other goodies).

 

[JonM]

Chris...we are always just 5000 dollars away from where we want to be with our cars...even after you spend that 5K...

I am still about $5,000 away from where I really want to be on the car. (six speed trans and some other goodies).

 

[SwaveDave]

67 HEaven,

I think you get the dash plaque award (so far)!! . From the picture, it looks like you turned your vette into a racer - is that true ? Can u tell us of a few mods you did which would even put you in the range of $120 k spent ??? Thanks.

When you purchased your '67 vette in 1966, did you consider getting the L88 engine ?

 

[Ken]

I quit keeping a tally...

:L :cry :eyerole :cry

 

[king80vette]

I bought my 1980 last May for $16,500. Put about $700.00 in it so far. It has 12.5k miles on it and it's in good shape inside and out. It really doesn't need anything, but I'm trying to put it back to original condition.
Steve

 

[Justin_cv87]

You guys are scaring me with these prices!

$6,311.55 in the fall of 1966....over $120,000 in the last 36 years......and, no, I'm not kidding.

you could buy our house and our cavalier with that money!

do vettes break down like 10 times more than normal cars or somthing?!?

 

[67HEAVEN]

You guys are scaring me with these prices!

you could buy our house and our cavalier with that money!

do vettes break down like 10 times more than normal cars or somthing?!?

Only when you race them.......

Actually, several complete "high cost" engines, transmissions, rear differentials, dozens and dozens of tires, lots of extra wheels, complete suspension rebuilds, complete strip and paint more than once, tools, trailer, tow vehicles..... and now finally headed back to the street with $40,000 in new parts, including four complete special fenders, Richmond tranny, 8+liter big block, etc. Don't forget all those years of repairs, maintenance and upgrades. Racing fuel alone probably accounted for $7,000.00 of the total.

Anyway, details on the rebuild can be found in the link below. By the way, this rebuild is a "complete" body-off rebuild. The new parts to mount the headlight doors alone cost $700.00!!!......that's not counting the electric motors or the headlight buckets (doors)!!!! Four new fenders? $2,200.00 after shipping and taxes. New Vette Brakes Performance Plus suspension (front and rear) $2,400 delivered. New big block? Between $8,000-$10,000. Complete wiring harness? $1,400.00. Complete differential rebuild with new gear set? $1,200.00.

Then, there's all new brakes, rotors, calipers, spindles, u-joints....new stainless steel fuel and brake lines, gas tank, new chrome bumpers....new 10" wide wheels.....tires......new instrumentation.....media blasting.......new paint, etc. etc. etc. There's a whole lot more, but I'll stop now. You get the idea.

This is not whining or complaining. I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm just answering queries from earlier posts.

If anything, I'm more in love with this car now than ever before. Us old guys gotta have something to hang on to. :t

Oh, one more thing........$18,000.00 for a new 20' x 20' brick garage to complete the rebuild project in. Like I said, drop by the site for a peek.

 

[67HEAVEN]

67 Heaven,

When you purchased your '67 vette in 1966, did you consider getting the L88 engine ?

SwaveDave,

The L-88 was unheard of and unavailable in the fall of 1966. :cry

 

[SwaveDave]

67 ,

Thanks for the rundown ; i didnt consider some of the things you brought up. No doubt, racing a vette is an expensive proposition.

Justin,

Keep in mind that youre talking about a hobbie involving cars which are at least 20 years old . Restoration of these cars is expensive if you want it to resemble what it looked like when it was new off the showroom floor. Even if you just want to maintain the current condition or maybe go up one peg...it takes money , time, patience, and endurence. Very very few 16 year old boys get into this hobbie ; its mostly for middleaged guys (and some gals) that want to re-live thier younger days or...who never had the opportunity to afford a Corvette back when they were 20 years old. So..now, they have the financial means to do it. This is why most kids your age are looking at Mustangs as an entry vehicle to have some fun with , without huge outlays of money and time. My advice is to consider getting into older Vettes later on , and to look at something that is within your means and something you can immediately drive once you turn 16. Does any of this make sense to you ??

Dave

 

[LIRacer]

I"ll throw my 2 cents in too. I bought my '72 LT-1 for $24,000. Then a mechanical rebuild, EXCLUDING the engine was another $12,000 (the more I fixed one thing themore other things broke), now it is in the paint shop for $9,000. So what is that $45,000? THere isnt a $45,000 car that can stay with it.

 

[sscam69]

This is why most kids your age are looking at Mustangs as an entry vehicle to have some fun with , without huge outlays of money and time. My advice is to consider getting into older Vettes later on , and to look at something that is within your means and something you can immediately drive once you turn 16. Does any of this make sense to you ??

My got a my 79 vette as my entry level vehicle! :L Only 23 yrs.

Up to now I have spent around $5K on my vette. And that was just to get it back into running shape. The car needs a whole resto in my opinion. Going to make me a hot rod!!:L The car was modified by the previous owners to the point that making a #'s matching car would be to much of a PITA.

I loved playing with Legos when I was a kid. I look at my vette as one hell of a lego set!:eek

BUT I think I am going to wait a bit on the resto. I have my eyes set on a 10 sec. LS1 powered Trans Am.

 

[mmvette80]

I bought mine when I was 19yrs old and over 8 years put in aprox. $12,000. I paid $6500 for it.

 

[Bob Chadwick]

I bought mine when I was 19yrs old and over 8 years put in aprox. $12,000. I paid $6500 for it.

This is where I am, only I'm 45 years old and did it in 18 months.