Shed a tear for this 70

[Mike DC]

           
Agreed. 

It's not that a bent car is an easy fix.  It isn't. 

But people are fixing cars with even worse rust damage every day of the week. 

[pipeliner]

And I know that but I get tired of hearing the it's worth fixing especially from the guys throwing the it's got the original matching numbers drivetrain. Then they repair every rotted panel with Taiwan sheet metal and give it a now its worth top dollar value because its numbers matching. That's so deceitful. Well what about the original body panels. Where are they at? To me a car with original body panels should be worth as much as a car with the original drivetrain. Take a car that has both then it should be top dollar. Dont get me wrong I would love for all of cars to be saved but please value them accordingly for what they are.

[Dreamcar]

And I know that but I get tired of hearing the it's worth fixing especially from the guys throwing the it's got the original matching numbers drivetrain. Then they repair every rotted panel with Taiwan sheet metal and give it a now its worth top dollar value because its numbers matching. That's so deceitful. Well what about the original body panels. Where are they at? To me a car with original body panels should be worth as much as a car with the original drivetrain. Take a car that has both then it should be top dollar. Dont get me wrong I would love for all of cars to be saved but please value them accordingly for what they are.

From what I've seen, survivors are fetching way more than those that have been fixed with new panels, regardless of the numbers. I don't expect mine to be worth as much as a survivor even though my numbers match. But the resale value is market driven...Buyers are willing to pay those prices. And the listed prices are not necessarily what the car sells for. It has to be said too that by keeping more on the road, it keeps them from being so rare and keeps the prices from being ridiculous. I'd much rather drive a restored car that can be restored again if something bad happens VS parking and staring at a true survivor in my garage that I'm too scared to drive...unless I could afford both but I can't.

[Lennard]

And I know that but I get tired of hearing the it's worth fixing especially from the guys throwing the it's got the original matching numbers drivetrain. Then they repair every rotted panel with Taiwan sheet metal and give it a now its worth top dollar value because its numbers matching. That's so deceitful. Well what about the original body panels. Where are they at? To me a car with original body panels should be worth as much as a car with the original drivetrain. Take a car that has both then it should be top dollar. Dont get me wrong I would love for all of cars to be saved but please value them accordingly for what they are.

So if the sheet metal was made in the USA, it would have been okay? 

[Mike DC]

  
Yes, agreed.

Survivors (whole cars, not VIN tags) are the top of the heap.  It just took the hobby a while to figure that out.  

People usually don't start respecting the value of something until it gets rare.  People didn't see the value in unrestored survivors until they become rarer than nice restorations.  25 years ago people thought the highest honor you could show to an original HemiCuda with a few nicks & scratches, was to repaint it.  There were lots of original surviving muscle cars back then with nicks & scratches, but fewer restored ones. 


The next step is for people to start liking rougher cars.  And its happening.  The rat-rod thing has been taking root with muscle cars.  It's a natural response to the world of today:  $70k restored muscle cars aren't hard to find.  But it's rare to see one that is intact but scruffy enough to enjoy.  

[alfaitalia]

I would not be repairing that....its just too bent. I would go as far as to say it will never drive straight again. If it was not for the popped roof I might have thought about it....but the whole shell is bent. That has absorbed a lot of energy....if it does not have ripples in the floor and chassis rails I would be amazed. She's a goner.

[Mike DC]

 
So let's pry it back out to near-straight, strip off everything usable, and use it for a Dukesfest jump car.  The whole hobby will instantly decide it was a restorable car that was wasted.

[Dreamcar]

 
So let's pry it back out to near-straight, strip off everything usable, and use it for a Dukesfest jump car.  The whole hobby will instantly decide it was a restorable car that was wasted.

That's exactly what would happen.

I would not get into fixing that car without expecting that every panel and rail from the firewall forward is junk. Once all of that is removed, then the challenge would be pull back what's left. Like alfaitalia said, the roof is a big sign of serious damage. Hopefully, the A-pillar/cowl would be ok.

[pipeliner]

I absolutely love survivor cars but I'm not into the purposely made rat rod look. Just not my cup of tea. Everybody likes their own look and has their own thing going for them and I totally respect that. I don't care if you use Taiwan parts or parts made in the USA they only made original body panel parts 1 time and that's why I gave $3k for a set of 70 NOS quarters 10 years ago off of ebag.

[Mike DC]

I absolutely love survivor cars but I'm not into the purposely made rat rod look. Just not my cup of tea. Everybody likes their own look and has their own thing going for them and I totally respect that. I don't care if you use Taiwan parts or parts made in the USA they only made original body panel parts 1 time and that's why I gave $3k for a set of 70 NOS quarters 10 years ago off of ebag.

It just depends on the project. 

Some cars totally deserve $3000 NOS quarters.  Some totally don't. 

[JR]

Again, speaking as a former body man, if a frame machine can pull the critical points back in check, save it. Sure metal is weakened after being pulled, but you can't tell me it's honestly that much more unsafe than a rusty car that had 70% of its steel replaced anyway.

And again, if the frame can't be salvaged, perfect excuse​ for a tube frame race car. Or maybe one of those Schwartz full chassis kits. Like what's under this GTX.





Or build it into a tube frame vintage stock car replica like this Chevelle.






Either is a better outcome than losing another second gen completely just because it "wouldn't be the same".