3RD time is a charm/restoration thread, So many choices Options

[SUNAB914]

Ok, here we go. My wrecked 74 still sits in my garage, and then i find this 75 that has been in a garage for the last 8 years that came from Idaho and is amazingly rust free, and to boot the interior is mint! So my plan is to go ahead and get this one painted, what color is first choice. Do i stick with original or go with a complete color change that will require lots more work and money? Engine and trans out of 74, both have less than 10,000 on complete rebuild, easy solution for time being. I have just about a complete 5 lug set up with brakes and rims in boxes. Parts car should fill every need i might have, then a big sale on everything else. Sounds all easy, for some this could take years, for me, once paint is complete its all down hill as long as money issues don't arise too much.
Step 1: Finalize outcome of wrecked 914 in my garage.
Step 2: Scotty B, I will need a ball park estimate of same color and one for complete color change.
Step 3: Jump in!

[SUNAB914]

Thanks for info Tom, it looks good in pic, but it will have to be painted. The hood is a mess. I would probably have to use my hood off the 74 to replace it. Other than that no rust bubbles and i don't see and damage, just chips and small dents. Looks to be original paint from all indications, must have been taken care off most of its life. Solid longs, hell hole and battery tray. Even the rear trunk lid shows no signs of rust where it usually gets near latch. I checked under seals and no rust in channels I saw. More investigating to follow this weekend.
Good info you provided!!

[Tom_T]

Thanks for info Tom, it looks good in pic, but it will have to be painted. The hood is a mess. I would probably have to use my hood off the 74 to replace it. Other than that no rust bubbles and i don't see and damage, just chips and small dents. Looks to be original paint from all indications, must have been taken care off most of its life. Solid longs, hell hole and battery tray. Even the rear trunk lid shows no signs of rust where it usually gets near latch. I checked under seals and no rust in channels I saw. More investigating to follow this weekend.
Good info you provided!!

Hey Chris, I can't see it up close, but if the front lid can be properly repaired & resprayed by a true "art-teest" - or if only the front trunk lid were replaced with paint-to-match the aged original - & assuming the rest is restorable paint, then it would still qualify as "Unrestored" under PCA's rules & by most on resale price/comps valuation. Just so you know.

Assuming the interior is an original 10:10 & the paint/body can be brought back as original, it's still a numbers matching motor (& transaxle if recorded), & you restore it as an all original survivor (vs. a resto/mod with transplanted motor/etc.) -

...then you're talking the difference of an end value in the $10-15k range for a nicely done resto/mod vs. $20-25k+ for a refreshed survivor as Tod914 does with his 914s.

Even that unrestored 73 Marathon Blue 2.0 ("Grandpa's car) which needed a good bit of refresh/repair work sold to Germany for $20k as-is!

Tod is sorta near to you, so maybe he can take a look at it & tell you if it's worth saving, or can recco a NOVA CW who can do so? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I'm a keeper of cars - not a car seller/flipper/hobbist, & have only owned 5 (6) cars in my life since 1969 1st car & still own #3-5, & #6 was my brothers-in-laws then wife's & kids car that my son & I refurbed & is my son's now. So I'm not worried about resale value of my 914's resto/repairs & just want it done right & to last as best as possible, & I'm over-spending to get my long-time friend back on the road! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

However, even so - the comparable & insurance values are still important in order to get enough money back from insurance once the resto is done, in order to repair/replace, should anything happen.