How do you decide to sell?

[widerberg]

Hi, All:

This isn't garage-related, but what-goes-in-the-garage-related. I've got a couple of project cars (well, 3). None run. One's been in my ownership for 10 years this last January, and I've made no progress on her due to family, work, and other situations.

I'm thinking about selling her (a 1976 Triumph Spitfire) and getting something else that's a runner so that my kids and I can enjoy going to shows while they're still young. But the idea of selling her makes me totally bummed out. I don't know why. It's not rational, but I'm having a hard time "letting go."

How, or when, do you all decide it's time to move on? Have you ever had a hard time letting a car/project go?

Bo

 

[HoosierBuddy]

Well,

If you haven't worked on any of the 3 of them ever, what's the problem?

Lack of time, motiviation or lack of money?

If it's time...it won't get any better until your kids grow up.
If it's motivation...it won't get any better ever.
If it's money...it won't get better until you sell 2 of your 3 projects.

The best thing might be to sell all 3 and buy a car that is already restored and driving. The hard truth about restoring cars is this: It is (almost) NEVER cheaper to restore a car than it is to buy one just as good as your car will be once restored. In fact, the cost of the original "project car" is almost inconsequential when compared to the cost of the restored car.

So...why not sell what you got and go buy the car you want?

Phil

 

[Crusty Nut]

It's got to be about your priorities.
Which do you value more: A car you haven't touched in 10 years and can't be enjoyed? Or, Having a drive-able fun old car that can be enjoyed by you and your kids?

For me, there are so many cars and trucks to build in my head, it's easy to sell and move on to the next. My son loves hot rods as much as I do, so there is always something around, but it changes quite a bit.

 

[Will67]

I have same delima with my 67 camaro. It has been sitting for ten years. I am soooo upside down on it. Friends always ask when will I finish it.

 

[r6_cannibal]

I get very attached to my projects. I really only let them go when it comes down to a finance issue and I need to sell something to make ends meet.

I try to break up my projects into smaller chunks. like "this month is getting the engine running" "next month build frame for shed"
They're usually easily obtainable goals, because I'm usually really busy and don't have much time to devote to projects, but it keeps them from falling into abeyance.

Edit: i try to limit myself to only a few projects going at one time...and never more than 1 project car, they just **** up too much time and money.

 

[widerberg]

Well,

If you haven't worked on any of the 3 of them ever, what's the problem?

Lack of time, motiviation or lack of money?

Phil

Hey, Phil:

It's complicated Basically, there's not a reason to keep the car, I'm just being "hormonal" or something. One of the 3 is ready to go, just needs a carb rebuild, fuel system flush, and new battery. The other is actually getting some work being done to it. It's the 3rd one that's been sitting. And it's the one I've had the longest. So . . . 2 + 2 means I should probably sell it.

Bo

 

[mikeyr]

I bought a car 9 years ago, it has not run since 1968 according to the license tag and the owner agreed with that time frame. It has sat in my garage for 9 years now, I have not touched AT ALL, another 5 years and I retire and then I will work on it. I knew this when I bought it, its ultra-rare and I wanted to make it my retirement project, I just hope that other car projects are done by then so I can work on it.

You have to decide what you want, remember that restoring a car will always cost more than buying one already done, but for me and maybe you (maybe not) the pleasure of doing the work is worth more than money, hell I already paid $8,500 for the car, I guess it will take 40,000 more to restore and to be honest I may NEVER have that much money and the car may not be done in my lifetime, but I still look forward to doing it and it costs nothing to sit in my garage. You decide...but for a used everyday car like a spitfire (great car by the way), i would consider buying one that drives.

 

[widerberg]

It's got to be about your priorities.
Which do you value more: A car you haven't touched in 10 years and can't be enjoyed? Or, Having a drive-able fun old car that can be enjoyed by you and your kids?

That's really what it comes down to, Crusty Nut. Seeing someone else say it really drives the point home. I need to man up and sell sell sell

 

[widerberg]

Edit: i try to limit myself to only a few projects going at one time...and never more than 1 project car, they just **** up too much time and money.

R6_Cannibal, that's where I went wrong I had too many "must haves". Either something I was looking for came up, or I fell into a great deal. Not a great deal if I have a bunch of projects and none work, though. I think selling this beast and picking up a runner will get me where I need to be, and probably light a fire to get the other projects finished, too.

 

[widerberg]

You have to decide what you want, remember that restoring a car will always cost more than buying one already done, but for me and maybe you (maybe not) the pleasure of doing the work is worth more than money, hell I already paid $8,500 for the car, I guess it will take 40,000 more to restore and to be honest I may NEVER have that much money and the car may not be done in my lifetime, but I still look forward to doing it and it costs nothing to sit in my garage. You decide...but for a used everyday car like a spitfire (great car by the way), i would consider buying one that drives.

Mikeyr, I'm not quite at retirement age (dammit!), but my situation is very similar. When I bought this car ten years ago, I knew that due to finances, etc., that it would be a long term deal. Then the wife and I built a house, my parents moved into an in-law suite at the house, we had twins, etc., etc. That kept pushing the finish line of the project further and further away. Then my interests changed over the years, and other projects were bought. Now, although I love the car and would love to finish it, I'm starting to think I might be better off letting it go and getting something my kids and I can enjoy now. I've still got the other projects for "later." It's starting not to be fun having a bunch of parts in the garage with no working toy in the fleet. But, then, I still have an attachment to this car.

 

[930dreamer]

I've had three cars in long term storage in the shop for over five years. No basket cases, but I don't have the money to drop into them. Trying to manage six or more vehicles is a pain. THE GARAGE SALE BEGINS.

 

[c_mccann]

You've been staring at them too long. Dump and refresh yourself. Something tells me your needs and wants have changed since you bought them anyway..

 

[1965gp]

I just went through this- my 77 Can Am was so far gone it wasn't worth it financially to fix. I had the car for 10 years- it was bad when I got it and it only got worse. A nicer one showed up on eBay and I was bidding like crazy- I realized the sentimental value wasn't there like I thought it was. I didn't win the car but decided to put the money towards painting my 70 GTO and part out the Can Am.

It was a tough decision but when it was done it was as if a dark cloud had been lifted off my shoulders.

 

[Falcon67]

The engine in the Falcon blew up in 1982. It hit the streets under it's own power again in 1994. We moved twice during that time period. So, I'm no help to you at all. . But I understand your dilemma.

 

[darkk]

Over a year no work on it....sell it because you'll never finish it. Don't be one of those guys that's *gonna restore it*

 

[Steevo]

I have two things with wheels that have been with me more than five years.
My Snap-On box that I bought in 1978, and my Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 CTD that I bought new in 2004. I'll keep the truck forever because it is a workhorse and a beast. Even the old Snap-On box is likely to be sold when I re-arrange my new shop and go with all under-bench tool storage.
I've been through 30-40 cars, trucks and motorcycles in the last 25 years or so, and never get attached to any of them.
Things that sit for ten years not getting worked on are just in the way, and you need to clean house.

 

[Cougar]

Me too.
A 55 Ford and 69 Cougar, been sitting in the garage for about 10 years.
One of these days.

 

[Rosco]

67 Camaro vert, 23 years in storage and been sitting since 1975. Have the frame-off portion complete

72 SS Chevelle, been in storage for 10 years, been in the family since 1977. Not original and will probably pro-street it for my son.

 

[jmauld]

I decided when I realized that I just wasn't working on the car in my spare time. It was starting to deteriorate just sitting in the garage.

It helped that I had no problem finding an interested buyer.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Do, unless you're sentimentally involved in any of your project vehicles, I'd suggest getting rid of at least 2 of them.

I had a 'project' '62 Thunderbird at one point. It ran, but had spun bearings. Paint and chrome wern't bad, but needed to be redone. Same with the interior Was going to start to get into it, then the first of our 2 daughters came along. I decided I wouldn't have the monetary resources to fix the car up, so it went.

The time to get 'attached' to a project is when it's more than 50% done. Until that point, it should primarily be an economic decision whether you keep it or not.

 

[thammel]

My story: Bought a 1973 Triumph TR6 in 1984 for 3k$. Restored it totally - paint, interior, engine, etc. It looked show class. Had this all done in about 2-3 years. Move forward to 2002. Was not driving it much. I could see that the lacquer paint job might need re-doing and other things might need fixing. Was moving and getting divorced. I sold it on ebay for 11k$. I figured I really wanted to do another vehicle - for me the real fun is the restoration and not the driving. Still don't have the new vehicle but look every day. I'd like a 1968 Triumph TR-250 and/or a 1949-1952 caddie.

So - when the fun is gone and you can make a decent profit, or you just want something else, do it!

Tom

 

[Dwhite]

I just went through the same thing with my 70 911 T. I bought it as a basket case and restored it to be a great driver. Then I picked up a 67 Camaro for my wife. Between my job, 65 Mustang fastback, and wife's Camaro.(oh yes 1 kid with another on the way) The 911 got put into storage and driven once every other month when I was home. It was not good for the car. So I did what I thought was best and found a good home for it with a friend, that would also let me drive it when I wanted.