A really stupid idea that won't go away

I really fancy getting a 240Z perhaps as a restoration project with a view to possibly selling at a profit or maybe have it as a summer car. I see fully restored ones make a damned good sum, there seem to be a few in the states but not so many here. Is there scope for a cheaper way to owning a decent one? I know absolutely nothing about them save the engine size and the fact I think they look fantastic. Any constructive thoughts about where I might start or reasons not to? I've seen a 260Z going really cheap on t'net but it looked a heap tbh.

Reply to
JohnR
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Nobody ever makes a profit on a restoration project. Unless you price your labour at near zero. If earning money is the object, stack shelves at ASDA.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

It isn't the object at all, i said possibly for obvious reasons - i already make enough money not to need to stack shelves, not that I wouldn't do it. I'll look into it, i've seen a haynes manual on EBay. A virtual project, that's a start.

Reply to
JohnR

Unless you are a good mechanic a descent restoration will come to more than the car is worth, it's true for virtually all cars.

Reply to
Depresion

At the end of the day if I was to do something like that, I'd look at it more like a hobby that ended up having a net cost of very little, or possibly a little bonus at the end, rather than making any real money out of it. Which is a damn sight better than a lot of hobbies that just cost an arm and a leg, and all you get back in return is enjoyment and pleasure. With car restoration, if you enjoy it (and you'd be mad to do it if you didn't!), then you get enjoyment and pleasure as well, and there's a fair chance of getting a large proportion of your money back as well (quite possibly more than you've laid out).

So what if for the time you'd put in, you'd make more money stacking shelves at night at a supermarket - it's a hobby and you get to restore a cool car as well.

I'm guessing this is your viewpoint as well.

Peter

-- "The humble bic biro draws 13 beards, 9 devil moustaches and 49 penises on newspapers in its lifetime."

Reply to
AstraVanMan

Restoring a car should be looked on purely as a labour of love. Otherwise, frustration awaits. So make sure you get a car you actually like. If possible, drive a good one before purchase so you'll know what you're aiming for. An owners club can be helpful here as in other ways.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

It certainly is, i'm looking into it. I get the odd pangs for different cars from time to time that quickly pass, usually for practical or financial reasons but this one's really bugging me. I havent got the space just yet but i've got some good mates who know a thing or two and would help out with the storage. For me the bonus is the satisfaction of ending up owning a road worthy motor car like that. You know what they say about journeys and single steps, i'll get that haynes manual.

Reply to
JohnR

Yeah, thoughts of profit really aren't the thing that's motivating me on this at all, I just flippin like them (a lot).

Reply to
JohnR

A mate from work bought a semi-running 260Z (actually it may be a 280Z if there is such a thing, its a 2.8 lump anyway) last year which he's busy not getting round to restoring. It looks cool sitting in his front garden, in a pikey Starsky & Hutch sort of way....

Reply to
Pete MC

Yeah, yeah, I know. :D

Reply to
JohnR

Yep. Even if you price your labour at zero most restorations are large pits that you can throw money into.

Fraser

Reply to
Fraser Johnston

Well yeah, but that's virtually the definition of "hobby"! Of course, if you're actually doing it in an attempt to make money you're a monkey, but the OP obviously isn't doing it for those reasons.

Reply to
Pete MC

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