Never say Never when talking about restoring unloved cars

[hatersaurusrex]

http://www.lincolnversailles.com/

The opening line on the page is most telling:

Welcome to my Lincoln Versailles hobby site. While restoring a 1980 model, I have gathered bits and pieces of information that you may find useful & fun. There's a lot to read. So, sit back, relax, click on a link and enjoy yourself.
---James

The fact that someone took the time to restore one of the biggest crap piles FMC ever put out should give hope to those who are sitting around starting at their 82 Diplomat and thinking it'll never see the light of day again.

[odcics2]

There's an ass for every seat.   

See, you CAN polish a turd!   

[stripedelete]

I wonder how much "restore" is really happening there?   My guess is those sleds were found in excellent condition,,,, cheap (and then taken to the island of misfit toys). 

[6spd68]

Best are his 1st in class awards listed on the restoration...  Easy when you're the ONLY in class 

[Tilar]

lol, It's a friggin Granada with a different front end and a little different upholstery.

[cudaken]

Best are his 1st in class awards listed on the restoration...  Easy when you're the ONLY in class 

Had a person at my body shop one day asking about painting his Aspen Wagon, it was a show winning car! I pretty much blew him off, car was not there at the shop so how could I give him a $ amount? 

I be dam, ran into the idiot at a car show. He had around 25 trophies sitting around the Wagon. Car was special only because it was still alive.

Cuda Ken 

[ws23rt]

There are nitch groups that are into just about anything. I see their enthusiasm as no different than ours.  Many hobbies bring a smile to my face and for different reasons. (There must be beanie babies still out there and folks that will pay high prices for the ---high end babies--

What is cool and nostalgic for me won't move a hair perhaps on some one that collects clocks.

I can shake my head and smile at some of these but know they must have the same kind of fun and meet people with like interests.

And I'm pretty sure that a common thread is very few acquire wealth from their passion.  But lots of fun can be had

[Old Moparz]

I knew right away what this Lincoln was because I used to laugh at the highly decorated Granadas myself. 

I wonder how much "restore" is really happening there?   My guess is those sleds were found in excellent condition,,,, cheap (and then taken to the island of misfit toys). 

Misfit toys. 

[Baldwinvette77]

i've seen worse, i once drove by a hybrid car club gathering in a local park 

[hatersaurusrex]

i've seen worse, i once drove by a hybrid car club gathering in a local park 

Were they doing Tai Chi and enjoying an organic gluten-free snack from the local Whole Foods?

[Indygenerallee]

Wow they must be devoted who in the world runs a link to the damn DOOR CHIME!!! 

[stripedelete]

What else are they going to grab onto?   Styling?

[myk]

Friend of mine is hell-bent on restoring his rusted out, east-coast-based '76 Buick Regal.  To each their own, I guess...

[hatersaurusrex]

Friend of mine is hell-bent on restoring his rusted out, east-coast-based '76 Buick Regal.  To each their own, I guess...

If the car has sentimental value, I could see it - but only then.   I asked my cousin just today what he did with my mom's old 82 Cutlass (she died about 20 years back and I've been nostalgic about the car since I basically grew up in it) and he told me he gave it to one of his sons who totalled it out.   I was bummed.

If he still had it, I'd put a significant investment of time and money into restoring it.   But only for personal reasons - '82 Cutlasses are pieces of crap, just like the '76 Regal.   That's the only one I'd even consider restoring, period.    Even a nuts and bolts identical one would hold no interest for me.

If your buddy doesn't have emotional ties to that car, then the first step in his restore should be to find a rust-free west-coast based '76 regal for $34 dollars in a junk yard and go from there

[myk]

Friend of mine is hell-bent on restoring his rusted out, east-coast-based '76 Buick Regal.  To each their own, I guess...

If the car has sentimental value, I could see it - but only then.   I asked my cousin just today what he did with my mom's old 82 Cutlass (she died about 20 years back and I've been nostalgic about the car since I basically grew up in it) and he told me he gave it to one of his sons who totalled it out.   I was bummed.

If he still had it, I'd put a significant investment of time and money into restoring it.   But only for personal reasons - '82 Cutlasses are pieces of crap, just like the '76 Regal.   That's the only one I'd even consider restoring, period.    Even a nuts and bolts identical one would hold no interest for me.

If your buddy doesn't have emotional ties to that car, then the first step in his restore should be to find a rust-free west-coast based '76 regal for $34 dollars in a junk yard and go from there

Definitely sentimental value; the word VALUE doesn't really apply to this car in the traditional sense:
   

[F8-4life]

I think it's great,  every car needs loved or else it might get forgotten.

[6spd68]

i've seen worse, i once drove by a hybrid car club gathering in a local park 

Say what you will, I still found the 2013 Toyota Prius drove and felt a hell of a lot better then the 2013 Dart...   

[Ghoste]

I'm happier these guys are restoring cars of some kind whatever they are than if they were burning car delaerships in the name of Sierra Club or whatever.

[hatersaurusrex]

i've seen worse, i once drove by a hybrid car club gathering in a local park 

I once drove past the Jacksonville chapter of the CCC - The Corolla Car Club.  I'm just gonna stop right there.  It was exactly what you'd think it was.

[dkn1997]

http://www.lincolnversailles.com/

The opening line on the page is most telling:

Welcome to my Lincoln Versailles hobby site. While restoring a 1980 model, I have gathered bits and pieces of information that you may find useful & fun. There's a lot to read. So, sit back, relax, click on a link and enjoy yourself.
---James

The fact that someone took the time to restore one of the biggest crap piles FMC ever put out should give hope to those who are sitting around starting at their 82 Diplomat and thinking it'll never see the light of day again.

that versailles may have one redeeming quality: factory rear discs lol

[rt green]

exactly. I thought they were all gone. the stock car guys wanted the 9 inch rear with the disc brakes

[6spd68]

exactly. I thought they were all gone. the stock car guys wanted the 9 inch rear with the disc brakes

Same thing happened with the Thunderbird Turbo Coupe, fox mustang guys raped the 8'8 w/disc off em.  Now they're harder and harder to find...

[Ghoste]

Were the last generation of Bronco's not popular for that with the Fox crowd as well?

[6spd68]

That or an Explorer rear work as well