At 04:33 PM 12/21/98 EST, you wrote:
>I recently got married and my wife has a 1975 Bricklin that has seen better
>days, the motor only has 9,000miles and runs good but the car has been losing
>pieces, the rt. door needs new skin, there are cracks in other parts of the
>skin, the dash is missing, etc. She really would love to have this back
>together again and on the road. I restore old classic muscle cars for a hobby
>and if I saw one in this condition I'd pass and not even try to restore it.
Mike,
You should see mine? It was a fugative from a chop shop.
>I've seen some prices for used Bricklin's and it just doesn't seem to me that
>it's worth fixing. I'm trying to keep peace in the family so any suggestions
>would be greatly appreciated. thank you
The Bricklins are like Morgans and several other cars. There just aren't that
many and are all restorable. Parts are readily available. If you restore
muscle cars, while their prices are up there, I still don't think you can
restore a car and have it be finacially feasable. You do it for love.
Take for instance my Morgan. I've had it since I was 19 (now 50). I
restored it from 88-92. During that time I spent about $6,000 on it. Now
with the $1,500 I paid for it way back when I have about $7,500 in her.
Now to get a National AACA 1st, it took another $3,000. So we are now looking
at $10,000 for a car that has been appraised at about $25,000. Not too
bad. Except that I did all the work and have over 1741 documented hours.
If we talk labor and $20/yr (which is cheap but about right) your looking at
something over $45,000 for a car that is worth $25K.
The Brick. falls into the same catagory. Hopefully they WILL raise in value,
but even if they don't they are very unique. So far I'm at over $9,000 in
my Brick., had it since 88, and never driven her.
So to keep peace in the family, I'd say go for it. Give you wife what she
wants, and hopefully she'll give you or let you have what you want.
John
>mike
>
>
John T. Blair WA4OHZ email: jblair@exis.net
Va. Beach, Va Phone: (757) 495-8229
48 TR1800 65 Morgan 4/4 Series V
71 Saab Sonett III 75 Bricklin SV1 77 Spitfire
www.team.net/www/morgan bricklin.shel.olsy-na.com/bi
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