Looking for something to restore

david29dpo

The best cost cutting methods? DIY.
If you have to pay someone else, forget it.
I am restoring a Austin A35 for someone at the moment, cost him £5000 so far with thousands to go! only worth £4500 when finished!
Best cars for beginners? British mainly. Parts will be easier to get and cheaper. Try getting parts for your 1960s Lancia.

bartelbe

Can you weld?

If you can't forget getting an old car, unless you are certain it is 100% bomb proof as far as tinworm goes. Nothing is more expensive than bodywork repairs.

The garage will charge you to strip out anything in the way, the welding, then you will have to get the area reprayed.

If you get an old car, do your research. make sure the parts are available.

I wouldn't go old and British, classic British cars from the 50'/60's/70's go for stupid money these days. Unless you want something truely dreadful like a Marina. 1980's British cars were awful. A 1980's Merc 190D might be a good place to start.

Not fast, but tinworm resistant, cheap to run and can probably be insured as a classic. Not sure about parts prices.

richard734

define what you mean - you can buy a poorly looked after car and repair as you go, simple cosmetics, swapping out for scrapyard or ebay finds etc, or do you wanta full on restoration project?

YoungBusinessman

Cosworth Simple.

droopsnoot

Equally, though, steer clear of something too modern that relies on expensive things that you can only get from the main dealer.

But yes, not enough information to give a decent answer.

bluesnake

I drive a 1991 Honda estate, that always starts first time, only starting to rust very slightly. Much better than an 89 fiat, just passed it MOT in Dec without any issues again. Could be yours for the right price

moneyspender1981

With the risk of getting burnt myself I don't agree.

I have restored a number of classics from old landrovers to mini's, im not a mechanic, and I can weld, but couldnt when i started. Yes you can spend alot of money, unless you take your time.

I got into restoring cars/bikes as I was a gambler and needed to occupy my time. I bought an old mini (brilliant cars) as there as basic as they come. if your not in a rush take your time, ebay for your parts or local forums.

I do my cars like a project i keep track of what i spend and always keep an eye on what it would be worth. The first mini i did was a rot box, so i bought a second hand welder £60 and got to work, welding isnt that hard.. you just practice.

I couldnt paint so learnt a technique where you hand paint and rub it down and polish it up.

I have also sold my last two minis for £800 profit.... there just really sort after... dont get me wrong if i counted my man hours it would be approx 50p and hour:-) forum are a great help.

and you could be spending money on worse things.

so my advice, if you see something you like, see how much the aprts will be, can you do it yourself.

Also start small.. as you will see on ebay there are plenty of unfinished projects. that what i tend to buy as money has already been spent.

good luck

andygb

If the OP has never done this before, then the end result will not be a concours winning car, it may well be an acceptable renovation (NOT restoration), and it could possibly be very rewarding to drive and good to look at.
If I was restoring something (which I have done before and may start doing again), then I wouldn't go earlier than 1990, because although I can weld, rust is a horrible, cancerous thing and the reason why so many projects are abandoned.
I would go for something solid and interesting - Sierra Cosworth/4X4, XR3i, Alfa GTV 2.0 coupe (916 model).
You need a good toolkit and a compressor and loads of practice spraying. You also need to learn a lot of other skills to undertake a job like this.

thebullsback

I have an o2 vauxhall vectra that you could restore if you wish .I would be eternally great full if you did a top job and it cost me nothing .