Having gone through an extenstive restoration I began wonder how so many people can afford to put thier rides in "A+" condition. Afterall, even if someone is able to do the work himself/ herself this hobby gets very expensive very quickly.

Here are some generalnumbers I've gathered from my Mustang friends, local Mustang club, and shop:


Decent donor car .................................. $10,000 to 25,000

New paint (with engine/interior removal) .... 3,000 to 12,000

Interior upgrade ...................................... 2,000 to 6,000

Suspension/brakeupgrades ...................... 2,000 to 10,000

Electrical ................................................ 500 to 1,500

Engine upgrades...................................... 500 to5,000

Wheels/tires ..........................................600 to 1,500

Exhaust .................................................. ......... 500 to 1,000

Air conditioning upgrade ........................250 to1,000

Of course, the vast majority of Mustangs will not go through this complete process. But for those that doit appears that for a serious restoration,spending between 25 and 50 thousand (and more) is not difficult fora standard C code.

Do these numbers match your experience?

 

Unfortunately - yes. What is on your side is time. What I bought at $8,000 over twelve years agois now valued at $40,000. The difference between then and now about covers it. The other car is a 'workin progress'.
Jim

 

66GTKFB:

Do you mean you've invested that much in your Mustang (ordid you meanthat is now what it is worth?) If so, will you be putting more money into it?

 

I plan on putting my mustang back together as nicely as possible, but its the car means more to me personally because i built it and know every nut and bolt from front fender to rear. Its a part of me in the car. It leaves me with a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

 

I asked your original question of myself about ten years ago. Since then, I've kept track of what I spent on which car (I have four) with the intent of using the info for tax purposes (it didn't work). In any case, on one car, a 65 GT Fastback, I spent about $28,000 on restoring plus the original $8,000 that the car cost me.I need new tires and I got a set of originalStyled Steel Wheels that need to be chromed so I'm close.

 

Take, for example, all those very clean, tricked out cars you see in the Mustang publictions. I suspect more money has been poured into them than it would cost for a new, very well equiped '07.

 

You're probably correct, but the alternative is 'pouring money into a hole in the water' or worse.
Jim

 

Hey Jim:

When it come to pouring water I'm sad to say.... I beat you by far.

As to your styledsteel wheels - what size are you going with for your fastback?

After months of consideration, I ordered the 14x7 with the dual redline tires for my '66 (and yes, I know I had to give up the trim rings)

Had you ever consideed any other style?

 

the car its self alot of times is the cheapest thing you buy my 68 coupe was 3k it all depends if you want a restored mustang or a restomod

 

These are original 65 wheels, no trim ring as they are all chrome. There's a wheel shop nearby that does rechroming for about the price of a new wheel, about $125 each.
I put 14 X 6 on my 66 hardtop as it's a 'back-up' daily driver. My 66 GT K Fastback has the 5 original Styles Steel wheels plus the original dual redline spare. Originals have the center section riveted to the outer rim, where the new ones are welded, and may have a 'dummy' rivet for show.
Jim