By the numbers restore or take some liberties?

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eengledow

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What are the pros and cons to restoring to the level of factory or upgrading some things like factory manual steering to power?

Does it hurt or help value?

Does numbers matching really mean anything?

One reason I mention steering is that the manual gearbox is wore out and so far my research tells me that new ones are hard to come by and expensive.
Could you spend similar by installing power gearbox and pump?

Thanks for your comments
 
Depends on the car. If it's not something "rare" or off the beaten path I say do what you need to make it comfortable for "you" to enjoy. That's why you're building it correct? If you're looking for something to make a few bucks on down the road and it is a desirable vehicle that way, save the original parts so it can be put back. A lot of people get hung up on the numbers thing with cars, and unless it's something that there's not a lot of out there that's my view. The early A bodies are kind of a group on their own. For a lot of people it's either love or hate. Your going to probably get a hundred different opinions. Mine is build it the way you want. It's your time and money invested in it, nobody else's, enjoy it. My .02 cents.
 
I agree with Dubob. Unless it is a numbers matching Hemi Cuda or something similar, do what you want. Make the car comfortable for you and what you want. As long as you don't do anything too outlandish, you should not hurt the value too much. From what I have seen, strange paint colors and strange interior choices are the best way to hurt a car's value.
 
Numbers matching means DICK. WHO is going to be enjoying YOUR car? Do you really care what some 'judge' has to say for the few minutes he crawls over your car to pick it apart and make you feel about 2" tall because you don't have the proper overspray on the tailpipe at the rear valence?

As a kid growing up, my father was very involved with the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America they do horseless carriages and such) and the PCA (Porsche Club of America the old 356 series and the like) With numerous national first place awards. He spent HOURS restoring those cars until late at night, he was not at home when it was time for me to go to sleep. He was not there on the weekends since he was traveling all over the country... You get the picture.

What is more important in your life? A goddamned car, or LIFE? I got yelled at for getting footprints on the running boards, fingerprints on the brass, dirt on the tires, et cetera.

What is more important, things or people? It all boils down to what you value.

So to sum up, I call bullshit on "numbers matching".
 
Life is short....go for the ghusto and live your dream.

Who cares about the value, its only money. Money means nothing when you are living the dream with your dream car.

I am building a coronet wagon with a lot of charger parts and I don't care how much the parts cost Vs. value of the car because I am fixin to live it up Mopar style with a car I am excited about and want. :cheers:

we are a privileged few who have the honor of owning really cool American cars, so might as well go big
 
Ya I agree with the two posts above, but don't buy a 6 pack or hemi matching numbers car and do anything stupid with it that can't be changed back in a afternoon. Buy a /6, 318 cuda, charger or whatever. Most peaple want to see those cars as they were when new, not with a cowl hood scoop on it, and starsky and hutch stripes! Adding p/s or disc brakes is not a deal breaker. And matching numbers does make a difference all one has to do is look at the price difference. After all we are just caretakers most of these cars will hopefully still be here after we are gone.
 
eengledow said:
Does numbers matching really mean anything?
Click to expand...

It does if it's a rare car. If you have a run of the mill car, then do as you wish.

The only exception to that rule, IMO, is if you find a car that is as original as original can be, with very low miles and is in near new condition, then I would not molest one of those either. Not because of any fancy value, but just because it has survived the years.

They don't make these cars anymore.
 
Most things are reversible. Unless plan to you tub, cage, put a pick-a-nick table on as a spoiler, or graph the body onto a vette chassis because you need a modern ifs, irs, rack, ac, cc, leather, heated seats, an LS engine because it's the best ever and your friends all have one, abs, and one wire hook up everything, you can always revert back to "from the factory". Keep the stock parts to go with the car if you sell it.
 
Like said above, it depends on the car. I have one rare car (one of 271 340/AT '68 GTS convertible - making it the most common GTS convertible of the three year run) that will mostly remain as delivered (original 340 has been gone since around 1980, three years before I bought it), but it will get disc brakes this next time around just to make it safer (correct for the year Kelsey-Hayes discs).

My '67 Barracuda convertible, on the other hand, will be getting a 440 where a 273 two barrel sat in 1967, because I can and because I want it that way...There will also be other mods...
 
Thanks all....I feel alot more comfortable adding power steering, disc brakes and putting a 4 bbl on the 273!
 
You need not worry about your 65 Cudas value when changing the above mentioned items! The value is in your enjoyment of the car, not in the monetary value! That's the best thing about early A bodies, they're cheap to buy and build, don't have to worry about value, and oh, did I mention they're fun as heck to drive??? Go, enjoy that car, and take it from that great philosopher and thinker of thoughts the Burger King and "Have it Your Way"!!!!
 
There are no numbers to "match" on pre 68 cars any way. I used to play that game and it sucked the fun right out of it for me. Now I do what I want when I want , regardless of the car or options. Im having a great time doing it
 
If your car is an "investment" (yeah, right) then keep her proper. I personally am in the other camp. I do at least 1 smoker every time I take her out. She is in a carport, not under a sheet in a heated garage. If I had a hemi Charger it would be different. I have a NOM, cam, intake etc. I enjoy my car, much more so than if it was a 99 point car. In the end, do you want a museum piece or a hot rod? P.S. I am thinking about a Borgeson aftermarket steering box... ssshhhhhh.
 
I am building a 71 Barracuda....original two tone 318 car with AC. I have access to the original engine and have the fender tag and build sheet.

Guess what, I am building it the way I want, don't give a crap about original. I am going to drive the snot out of this one and have a blast. It will be worth more than original when I am done.

My opinion.
 
73AbodEE said:
There are no numbers to "match" on pre 68 cars any way. I used to play that game and it sucked the fun right out of it for me. Now I do what I want when I want , regardless of the car or options. Im having a great time doing it
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Great post, this is exactly the way i feel about it as well from similar experiences.
The cars will outlive us all, and we only have a certain amount of time to enjoy them.
That being said, if i had the money, i would not have a problem with buying a '70 Hemi Cuda that is restored and modifying it to my tastes. That's what they did when they were new, so why not today? Money? Who gives a crap?
Enjoy the car and make it the way you want it for crying out loud........:burnout:
 
Dartnut said:
Great post, this is exactly the way i feel about it as well from similar experiences.
The cars will outlive us all, and we only have a certain amount of time to enjoy them.
That being said, if i had the money, i would not have a problem with buying a '70 Hemi Cuda that is restored and modifying it to my tastes. That's what they did when they were new, so why not today? Money? Who gives a crap?
Enjoy the car and make it the way you want it for crying out loud........:burnout:
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exactly, yes it was nice staring at a numbers matching (im really starting to hate that line) 70 superbee in the garage all day and night. I would take it to shows just to be criticized because the spark plug wires were not factory equipment and knit picking the hell out it. it came to the point where I would just tell people to kiss my ***. that was about the time when I sold it and started modding the crap out of every car I own. its so much more fun watching the purists go crazy and I love it. the cars will still be around well after im gone, so I am just enjoying them while im here.
 
It is a real challenge getting the knowledge and parts to return them to original.
It can be very enjoyable improving the handling,comfort and performance,and some like the lipstick and jewelry route..there will always be 2 camps "Factory numbers or original style" and "modified"
..it's a shame they can't get along!
 
When I bought my '69 barracuda it was pretty much an all original survivor. No rust and kinda "Plain Jane", don't get me wrong, the car looked really nice but I had a picture in my head of what I really wanted. The picture was a late 60s street machine, yes I grew up in the 60s!! Anyway, I had a choice, leave it completely stock and original or make it into the car that I wanted to drive all the time.
Now, everywhere I drive my car (and I drive it every day) I have people taking pictures of it as I drive down the road and when ever I park at any store. The continuous picture taking is starting to get a little old but I can see why everyone appreciates it...It's a blast from the past!!!!

PS - Yes there are a few people who don't like the "Old Skool" look but I've never ever met one in person. Do what you "like" and make yourself HAPPY!!!!!

Treblig
 

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ir3333 said:
there will always be 2 camps "Factory numbers or original style" and "modified"
..it's a shame they can't get along!
Click to expand...

I'm in both camps and I get along with myself, lol.

Some of the comments suggest that it's OK to tear up a rare Mopar one of very few made to resto-mod. I can't see cutting up a 2 million dollar car to turn it into something else, I just don't understand that concept.

Find one like it that is a run of the mill car and hack it up.
 
When I was a kid my parents always draped seat covers over the car seats. Why? So they would look good for the next owner! In our daily driver, we've had three toddlers spilling ice cream and kicking seatbacks with muddy boots.

Dad eventually grew out of it and I, too realized it is really backwards to refrain from enjoying something just so the next owner can.

The same goes for economic value. I didn't buy my project car to earn money. I bought it so that I can enjoy wrenching and some day do burnouts and donuts. If I were to focus on value when I sell it then I'm not focusing on owning it at all but on selling it.

Then why have it at all? Better to buy stock options.
 
Treblig,

I love your rear seat headrest and the rear seat armrest/speakerboxes. If you made them yourself, do you still have the templates and measurements?

Thanks in advance man!
 
Ottmundr said:
Treblig,

I love your rear seat headrest and the rear seat armrest/speakerboxes. If you made them yourself, do you still have the templates and measurements?

Thanks in advance man!
Click to expand...

If I had templates I would gladly send them to you but I made everything custom fit. In other words i cut the pieces until they fit just right then glued and screwed them together and took them to the upholstery shop to get covered. Same goes for the rear head rest. I had to built a heavy duty frame out of 1/8" X 1 1/2" flat stock. Then I bent it to match the shape of the seat. The flat stock actually fits into the same holes/bolts that holds the seat to the car so I didn't have to make any extra holes.
The last pic here shows the flat stock looking through the rear glass. Nobody even knows it there.

Treblig
 

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Numbers match or no is an opinion, so its do as you like, it is YOUR car after all. But if you want to upgrade for safety/comfort go for it.
My formula S is a very low numbers car that had drum brakes on the front, no tach, std steering. I have a factory orig tach going in it as well as a set of factory disc brakes. I will be keeping and packing up the front drums on a shelf. It will not have pwr steering either.
Now I will admit it this project is nowhere near ready for the road LOL.
To each there own, and its your car
 
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