CLudwig wrote: I don’t know what don’t make sense to you.
Is it the term restore?

What I learned here is that:
1. An all original low millage car is the best investment, but I’m not interested in that.
2. Restoring will never be profitable.
3. Restoring with modification is even worse for resale value.

I was leaning towards option 3 in all 3 posts.

Well I guess that is exactly where I'm confused. you used terms like "properly restored", and you were talking about some very high-dollar figures. If you are talking about a "resto-mod", then your dollar figures are WAAAAY off. a very, very nice resto-mod car will never sell for anywhere NEAR the figures you were talking about. and by the way; it's not a restoration.
I remember watching another guy's car on here (I wish I could remember his name). One of the sharpest rest-mods I've seen. including a very ingenious and very custom brake setup, and some great motor work, as well as some truly subtle and well-executed body-work. And he couldn't sell it for $8k. Last I knew he was looking at $5500. that was about 2 yrs ago? ish?
Anyway....
I think you're on the right track here.... as these cars are much more fun as a resto-mod.... but don't expect to ever get even a third of your money out of it.
A decade ago, I tried to sell a customized Ducati I had built. It was flawless, but custom. I couldn't get $5k for it. So I parted-it and got well over $20k from the parts.
best way to sell your modified Fiat for a small fortune is to invest a LARGE fortune.

maytag wrote:best way to sell your modified Fiat for a small fortune is to invest a LARGE fortune

Good one Mat, that is exactly what is said around here with the small wineries cropping up all the time... make a small fortune you have to start with a large one.
This car has been posted here before.http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/c ... 65777.html I believe it has been on the market for close to two years now with a starting price around $17,000.00 The interior is all custom as well. I suspect the original owner had spent many thousands to get it to this point but is unique to his tastes. Any bets as to what it might eventually sell for? Not my cup of tea for sure but someone in Alberta wanted the mods done and paid for it. If I remember it does have Marks headers installed.
Chris

narfire wrote: This car has been posted here before.http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/c ... 65777.html I believe it has been on the market for close to two years now with a starting price around $17,000.00 The interior is all custom as well. I suspect the original owner had spent many thousands to get it to this point but is unique to his tastes. Any bets as to what it might eventually sell for?
Chris

I've seen this one for sale for a very long time. Much longer than 2 years. He's gone from $17,500 to $11,500. He'll be lucky to get half that.

narfire wrote:I suspect the original owner had spent many thousands to get it to this point but is unique to his tastes.

And that's why a "resto-mod" sells for less than a restored car.

What I’d like to do with the car is this:
90% is going to be restored; by “proper” I mean using new parts not junk yard parts, and not cutting corners on paint or body work. Mechanical work: Replace all gaskets and bushings, new suspension, new breaks, fuel system, engine tune - all original spec.

Changes I’d like to make:
1. Remove the 5mph bumpers and install the thin chrome ones as seen in the original design for the car.
2. Lower the ride height by 2 inches, back to euro-spec.
3. Style-appropriate 15” wheels and new tires.
4. New aftermarket exhaust and headers
5. Leather warped Dash and center console. Same leather on seats.
6. Cloth top rather than vinyl.

So its a bit of a resto-mod, but could easily be converted into a restoration for those who prefer the US DOT version and like vinyl.

Those are the exact same mods i've made, expensive!

weekend warrior wrote:Those are the exact same mods i've made, expensive!

Nice!
Care to post a picture? I've love to see how my future car is going to look

weekend warrior wrote:http://www.flickr.com/photos/61432614@N03/sets/

Great looking car! Thanks for posting.
I like what you did with the dash too. Its that stainless steel?

CLudwig wrote:I like what you did with the dash too. Its that stainless steel?

Its 3mm brushed aluminium

Late to the discussion, but I'll go ahead and "beat the dead horse" a bit more. I think Maytag said it best: "best way to sell your modified Fiat for a small fortune is to invest a LARGE fortune".
Build the car YOU want, so you end up with a car you would never think about selling, thereby making the whole discussion of cost moot.

kmac33 wrote:Late to the discussion, but I'll go ahead and "beat the dead horse" a bit more. I think Maytag said it best: "best way to sell your modified Fiat for a small fortune is to invest a LARGE fortune".
Build the car YOU want, so you end up with a car you would never think about selling, thereby making the whole discussion of cost moot.

Exactly.

You can, like many, spend upwards of $15,000: It'll never be worth more than $5k to someone who isn't you.

..."And loving it",
Mark

opus10583 wrote:

kmac33 wrote:Late to the discussion, but I'll go ahead and "beat the dead horse" a bit more. I think Maytag said it best: "best way to sell your modified Fiat for a small fortune is to invest a LARGE fortune".
Build the car YOU want, so you end up with a car you would never think about selling, thereby making the whole discussion of cost moot.

Exactly.

You can, like many, spend upwards of $15,000: It'll never be worth more than $5k to someone who isn't you.

..."And loving it",
Mark

As a general rule, you’re probably right.
Then again, Weekend Warrior could sell his car to me without loosing.

I would like to "put some spices to this poridge" ... here is one nice 1970 BS example (like one in my posesion), on Italian Ebay. It could be interesting for us to see what price will reach.

http://www.ebay.it/itm/Fiat-124-Spider- ... 4600b4ae1f



P.S. It is 5000 euros at the moment.

Cheers!

12 years ago there was a local guy selling his black spider it went for 10k
it sold quickly and i havent seen it around since

There are exceptions in my collection of keeper cars. However all of them are worth more than i have in them. A 124 spider can be the car you want it to be without having to take a loss if you decide to sell and upgrade to something different. You must have the correct contacts of people that do mechanic work, interiors, paint and body. and search for what you need.. If you take it to the local import repair shop, forget it. It will be a week before you have buyers regret.
These good cars that need some restoration work are increasing in value and the trend should continue. My 84 Azzura is off the charts and still increasing. Anything Pinnafarina is going to be worth having.

When I see someone selling a car for 30K and they say they have 45K invested, it's bad money management.

Have fun and make good investments. Many people to not know what they have.
You need to know much more than they do to be successful . That is what gives me the most enjoyment with my vehicles