Thread: It's funny what some people won't save

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I remember growing up before the internet was around. (Not nearly as long as like most of you) You had to stumble on to an actual rare car, or know someone who had or knew about it. Or, your nose was in the paper as soon as your delivery boy threw it on your porch so you could snipe those good deals up in the classifieds.

Where's this going you might be asking yourself? I grew up around guys that lived in the 60s and 70s that had these muscle cars, much like all of you. These guys were buying back their old cars and restoring them, or finding ones to replace them. It didn't matter if they were half rolled, rusted in half, they fixed them because they were true rare pieces.

My friend's Dad I talked about that had the body shop in Seth's thread, ended up being my employer for quite a while. He is one of them who fixed pretty totaled or rotted out cars. He had several 69 GTO judges over the years. It didn't matter the shape, he fixed them and sold them. He did several rare 69 Camaros, Novas, Pontiac Super duty's, Chevelles, all kinds of them. His friend Craig was a mustang fanatic and was into 69s. He had a 69 Boss 429 we painted for him that started out it's life as a back halved race car that had stupid low original miles. We put it all back to original sheet metal and that car was a 99 out of 100 Mustang club of America restored car. Craig was meticulous. He had a pretty sweet line up. He had that Boss 429, 2 69 Boss 302s, and 3 69 Super Cobra Jet Cars. He only got 1 of the 302 cars done, and wasn't able to finish the 2 cobra jet cars before he passed away. Another guy I ran into hanging around these guys was a guy named Dick Mathern. He used to own the Corvette hospital in Des Moines Iowa. Dick had stacks of picture books of the Corvettes he fixed over the years. It was pretty amazing to go into his shop and see 7 C2's being restored. Several were rolled, end overs, it didn't matter, he fixed them. He had the best corvette parts selection behind his shop too. Unfortunately he has passed on too.

When I was on power tour, I met some guys from Michigan that told me they won't touch any rust with a 10' pole no matter what it was. It just isn't worth it they said. I told them it must be expensive being picky. There were others in their group that had the same attitude. I had to go away. Haha Then, we took the Corvette to the race track back in July and I had guys telling me I ruined this car. After I told them the condition I got it in, they pretty much told me I was dumb for even saving the car. I just shook my head.

That leads me to my Buick project. I joined a Buick forum back in 2007 to start finding parts for it. I posted a thread on it, included pics of it's current status then, and 80% of the people whom posted on it said the car isn't worth fixing, it's junk. Granted, the car will need everything and quite a few parts are 1 year only. But, GM sure isn't making anymore, and it truly is an original GS400 convertible with some decent options. I told them if it was an LS6 Chevelle guys would be fighting to buy the dang thing.

It just got me thinking the other day at what some people think is junk and what other people will do with said junk. From my stand point, I start with nothing because that's usually what I found, or in my price range. Yeah, I could be going about it all wrong. But everything I want is stupid expensive and I don't buy to sell. I just love to build things. Plus if no one saves some of this stuff, how much will be left in 50 years?

I have the shell of a 66 Mustang in the back yard if you or anyone is interested and yes it does have a clean title.

My mom has a 68 my Dad hopes to start work on this winter now that he can walk around without hurting. What are the details on the 66?

I have a friend here that when he was up in LA working for another Kiwi building Hot Rods, he heard about a old dirt track racer using a Henry Ford 5 window Coupe body. Steve track it down and although it was a total mess, purchased it and the original frame. Then on his days off and after hours, visited swap meets and followed up on every lead he could to piece together the car so that he could taken on a trailer and get the paper work for it. He now has it sitting here in NZ in amongst his waiting projects to be rebuilt. Yes, the body has been butchered and cut up some what to fit the body over the roll frame that the old race car had but as Steve explains, it is genuine Henry Ford Steel so is worth saving. I had photo's of it but with changing computers lost them sadly but will try and get more. I actually believe I posted photo's of it here a few years ago of it sitting in his lounge.

The 53 was probably the worst thing I've done . When I looked for a early gen 2 Camaro, the price difference between rotted out garbage and a solid southwest car was about 2k so that was a easy choice for me. My rules for the Camaro search were it had to have factory air, and no rust ( within reason ) A guy stopped by our shop to show us his almost done 67 Camaro, fenders door skins ,quarters,pans and roof skin. The sucky part with all that is when your done, most of your car is made in Taiwan.

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

The 53 was probably the worst thing I've done . When I looked for a early gen 2 Camaro, the price difference between rotted out garbage and a solid southwest car was about 2k so that was a easy choice for me. My rules for the Camaro search were it had to have factory air, and no rust ( within reason ) A guy stopped by our shop to show us his almost done 67 Camaro, fenders door skins ,quarters,pans and roof skin. The sucky part with all that is when your done, most of your car is made in Taiwan.

So don't buy junk patch panels.................... Most are stamped over seas but thankfully the dies are updated or have been redesigned if you go with known good quality manufacturers. Tabco, last I knew was still made in the USA and fitment on their stuff was top notch.

Ryan, Your totally correct, if you have the time and patience have at it, I did that 65 mustang and had to put on 30+ patch panels and some of those where pretty large, if you are a professional shop and count your labor, yes you might not be able to make it work, but if its a hobby, its just that a hobby. Have fun is what I say and if body work is your fun you are in great shape! Matt

On another site there's a guy fixing a 53 Belair Conv that the bottom 6 inches was missing. He is great at working with metal much like MP&C ( don't know real name ) . I don't go over there much but once in awhile I like to find his thread and see how he's coming.He makes most of his panels himself and He's going to have an amazing car for a fraction of what a solid one would have cost him.

Originally Posted by 40FordDeluxe

So don't buy junk patch panels.

I wish it was that easy, most everything is new shiny junk anymore

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

I have the shell of a 66 Mustang in the back yard if you or anyone is interested and yes it does have a clean title.

I wish you were in Springfield MASS! I'd be right over!!! LOL..

Interesting thread Ryan. I had been thinking almost the same thing about Seth's thread for the 82 Camaro. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to "resurrect" such a car. But for me it wasn't a car worth having when they were new. I "assume" that when you guys were coming up as it were, these were the cars that you saw as desirable. I was from the Big Block Chevelle and Boss 9 days, so anything from the late 70's and early 80's just made me cry! I actually look at those with disdain and disgust! ( at least back then anyway! lol)

I was thinking about your Buick too. In my world "back in the day", NO-ONE would own a Buick anything! I worked for a gas station and the boss owned a late 60's gs400, I drove it a few times and while impressed with the torque.. it didn't do a thing for me. Then in the 90's I worked with a guy who raced Grand Nationals. He owned 2, a pure original stocker ( that could eat Mustangs for lunch ) and a full race, tube chassis - Indy car engine powered, 6 or 7 second quarter miler. Now those always impressed!!

So, like many things in life, it's all about the timing. What was popular during those formative years of your youth stays with you forever I guess.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I wish you were in Springfield MASS! I'd be right over!!! LOL..

And for Ryan too. It's a shell and it's been sitting in mostly the same spot since 1981 when I wrecked it. Over the years it's been used as a parts car for the one I gave my grandson. It has been tarped for the last 20 years or so but it is sitting on the ground.

Originally Posted by 34_40

Interesting thread Ryan. I had been thinking almost the same thing about Seth's thread for the 82 Camaro. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to "resurrect" such a car. But for me it wasn't a car worth having when they were new.

Someone has to care for the red headed step child

I'm very slow at body work, but I've seen what people paid to have done and I don't do hack stuff so I'll get it. I like to do rust repair, but it is dirty horrid work. Haha I hope to do the GS body shell in the winter. Less sweating.

Mike, I really don't care much for the rear wheel opening on the 68 GS, but I'll live with it. Since we won't be selling this car ever, I'm seriously considering shoving a T-10 in it and that might slow down my itch for a manual car. We'll see. I'm afraid Dad won't drive it if I do that. The coupe I found in Oklahoma must be sold because the dude quit responding to me. You have to love that. I tell ya what too. I didn't think these 68/69 Skylarks were getting hard to find until I started looking for parts and or parts cars again. I searched from Canada to Mexico, and from the Rockies to dang near the east coast. There are about 15-20 mostly drivers that are too expensive to use as parts cars. I guess if I keep waiting, it'll just get harder and harder to find those hard to find parts for it.

Here's a pic of a 1968 GS400 convertible with the rally stripes for reference.

Originally Posted by 53 Chevy5

Someone has to care for the red headed step child

Are we talkin' 'bout Ryan again???