Restored cars

I'm nearing the completion of my Alpine White campaign.

I've read a lot of resto threads and in total awe of some of the projects on here. There's so much work and new parts go into our car projects they look fantastic and the hundreds of hours that must go into them. 

I wonder if sometimes cost way way exceed expectations.

I'm one of those that I'll clean up and/or paint up some bits, repair broken bits etc. Yes my restoration won't be perfect and to the concurs guys it may fall far short. I've reused whatever I could duly cleaned and refitted and yes not as good as new parts - but then it starts getting like Triggers broom off Only Fools. It's the same broom but it's had 8 new handles and 10 new heads.

I did buy it as a rolling resto 5 years ago but as usual there was far more to do than first envisaged and thought well I'll have to do it from scratch to know I covered every corner. The majority of panels/parts are the original albeit some not perfect. The body work/paint looks are fine to my eye.

I think I've spent about £5,750 including purchase price and body work/paint. There's more to do yet so reckon on about £6k done, subject to the MOT.

Just wondered what folk think on here - does a resto have to look perfect or as long as it looks ok and useable - that will do. ?

Thoughts ……

Either way it's another of our cars preserved 😊


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I guess it depends on what you want to do with the car, drive it or store it in a garage and polish/clean it every day and only take it out twice a year then trailer it to a show.

I'm all for keeping them usable and on the road as to me cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed.
Like you I cleaned and painted as many original parts and did not worry if some of the bolts/nuts around the engine etc had a little surface rust on them as I wanted to drive my Mk1 Scirocco and not worry to much if it rained on it or I drove down a road covered in mud. I've not restored my Mk1 Golf and it's still wearing it's original paint from 1988.

A lot of new aftermarket parts are no where near as good a quality as original parts so most of the time you are better keeping with the old stuff.

I take my hat off to people who restore their cars with in a inch of its life and everything thing is shiny and new and glad there is some cars out there like that for us to look over at shows but that’s not me. 

If you counted the hrs and charged accordingly theres little chance of making a profit even on an 'in demand' car like a MK1. So best viewed as an hobby that poss overtime you might break whilst having a fun car to drive around in.

Does get scary when you start to do the sums and it's £100 a week you are going thru for a year +

Agree, best repairing as much of the orginal as poss, to keep original and many replacents parts are rubbish.

I try and use my cars as much as poss so for example the GTIs engine has 20 years of waxoyl and grime, looks a mess but better than rust and rot.

I agree with making them sound, tidy and reliable, and using them.

I had to repaint mine so I had no choice in that, but everything else is being checked over and only being restored if needed. I want the car to be reliable and useable. Trouble is, just about everything needs fixing !!!

I am in for over £6K  so far,  not accounting for 90% of the labour time.

I'm the same as you Adolf. I thoroughly admire some of the restorations that have been done. I'm in awe at the work that Pistol has done on his, but from the outset of my project, I wanted a useable car that I could use regularly without worrying about it getting overly dirty and chipped - that and I'm cheap! I sometimes have to have a word with myself when I've got a scabby, but functional, part in my hands. Mine will be far from perfect, but it will do for me. I have no idea how much I've spent, and to be honest, I don't really want to know - it keeps me busy and my mind off day to day stuff.

Do what you can afford in both time and money. But keep enjoying it.

I try to get mine looking as well cared for as possible. Having parts powered coated and replaced.

Although would love to have a complete strip and rebuild, I don’t have funds or space. Plus I am too impatient to drive it places like caffeine and machine or the owners club show.

I do believe that if you remove something then it should go back clean and if possible a lick of paint to make it look fresh. But beyond that then it’s back to cost.


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I like OEM.  I like to drive my rides. Typically I bought them with 100K on the odo.  Now one has 225, and the other had 187.

I too take the time to clean things on removal and paint the things I need to make them look pretty.

Before


after








Me After, and usually I am dirtier, but happier…

A nut and bolt restoration is going to cost something like £20k.   So now you have an "as new" car for £20k which doesn't sound so bad, well unless you like taking stuff apart

If I was in the market for a car and had £20k to spend and I could walk into my local VW and buy a new Mk1 Golf for that, it would be on my short list.