sowaxeman

Is $1500-2000 a good deal on a 1985 GT, T-top 5spd, fully loaded car? Its in need of a total restoration as the doors and hatch are rusted pretty bad, as well as the rear quarters in front of the wheels, paint is horrible. Interior is pretty bad, but the seats look salvageable! Dash pad and console pad are trashed. The damn thing started right up after sitting outside for months, appears to be VERY straight, never wrecked and 100% original. I've been looking for a mint condition, low mileage '85 for quite some time but thier prices are just too high. Now I find this car, EXACTLY what I want (color and all) - but in a resto project. What to do [&:]

I know it would be a lot of time and effort but part of me thinks in the end (if I do finish it) it will be very rewarding. Are parts still easy to come by, such as doors & hatch? Can you even replace the rear quarters or do they need to be cut out and weld new metal in?

Any info would be much appreciated

1985stang

well, idk. you can see the picture under my screen name, and i got that car for 3K with a rebuilt engine, full exhaust, new wheels and tires. It's all a matter of what you want to do. I always thought it would be cool to take a car like that and restore it. i'd say between 1000-1500.

r.barn

+1 $2000 is too much for fixer upper.

try and get them closer to $1000, 85 was also the lowest hp of the 5.0's

www.50resto.com
they have most of the interior parts you will need.

P Zero

Um....WHAT!!!!!!!!! WHere thefuk are you gettin your facts????? 1979 5.0 - 149 hp. 82-84 was between 170and 190. '85 had 215 where as the '86's only had 205. You need to read up son.


So waxeman, dont waste your cash on that kind of a car, it needs A LOT of work not to mention A LOT of money. Youll basically have to replace damn near EVERY panel on that car. In the end youll spend A LOT more tryin to fix it up rather than buyin a slightly more expensive one that just needs a paint job.
-P.

sowaxeman

^^ Even considering I'd be doing everything myself?? The front fenders and front cover are perfect, as is the hood (meaning no rust, just needs paint). T-tops and door moldings even look ok - its just the damn doors, hatch and in front of the rear wheels that need some serious attention on the rust.

The interior doesn't worry me much as I did a complete 82-85GT swap in my Capri about 10 years ago.

I've found mint condition 85's with less than 15k, some less than 10k, and even one less than 1k miles and they all want SERIOUS appreciation over sticker. Do you really think if I brought this car back to life all by my lonesome it would take more than $10-15,000?

taurus gt man

Man I say go for it. Youll love the car so much more if you do the ork yourself, Just be sure you know what your getting yourself into. Chris

sowaxeman

I know what I'd be getting myself into - with the exception of the rust in front of the rear wheels. Is that part of a replaceable rear 1/4 panel or will it have to be cut out and weld new metal back in? How about replacement doors for T-top cars, are they easy to find??

IMO, $1500 would be a killer deal on a car that still runs great for 119k miles (and is 100% original and straight) and has the potential to be a PRIDE & JOY restoration. Anyone else agree or think I am just crazy [&:]

mrbigshot

no way, 1500 for a rusty stang is a no deal. clean cars are harldy worth more than 1500-2000 unless they have some work into them (paint, engine)

walk away, you wont be changing the rear quarters by yourself if you have not done it before. its the most involved piece of body work on a car. figure you will be 2k-3k into rust repair by the time you are done (you need the tools) and more if a shop does it. you can find a much better starter for that kind of money.

i bought a 1986 mustang gt that was repainted 93 cobra blue for $600 and all it needed was a door handle, and a transmission. i fixed it and sold it because 4 eyes are fugly as hell and i was offered $1900 for it.

sowaxeman

Everything you say there makes sense, except for that last sentence I happen to love the 4-eyes

So I've got a couple opinions each way now [&:] Anyone else think I should do it or walk away? I'm really leaning towards buying it just for the experience.

I'm a big DIY'er and not afraid to tear into sh*t and learn And honestly 2-3k in body work doesn't really scare me. I've got quite a few friends in the club that have the tools and shops so I think I would be in good hands. Plus, 1000-1500 for the car, 2-3k for body, and maybe another 1-2k for paint and I'm still under 7K with only the interior and engine to go. Sounds like a good pace to me [&:]

Listen to me, its like I'm trying to sell myself to you guys [8D] Just remember, if I buy this car and it goes south I'll have my fellow mf'ers to blame, and of course if I don't buy it and a local guy turns it into a show stopper, well I'll also have you to blame

OK, any other thoughts would be appreciated

drewguere

I got an 83 with a new 5.0 swapped in, bored .60 over, aftermarket cam, and a holley carb, with a decent body for 400 bucks...