DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

911hillclimber wrote: Some work on different budgets to others.

"Ain't that a fact Jack"

About 20 years ago I was working on a warehouse refurb and the owner said he had some new spotlights he needed fitting in his kitchen. My gaffa hoping to gain favour and possible repeat business despatched me to the guys house to sort it out.
While risking life and limb leaning out on a pair of stepladders to fit a light dead centre over the 'island' I dropped my screwdriver and it bounce of the granite worktop and clattered on to the reclaimed stone flags. The lady of the house exclaimed "be careful, this kitchen has just cost £60000" (yes, 4 zeros!)
I'll never forget this as about a week earlier I'd managed to sweet talk a bank manager in to giving me a mortgage for 25 years to borrow £40000 to buy my first house, which came with a free kitchen already installed

Good luck with the paint job Graham.


PS. My gaffa never got any repeat business.....but I never lost any sleep about it

There's a home decor shop in town near me that has tinted windows and a small sign saying 'rooms starting at 20k' so basically don't bother coming inside! It's hideous and tasteless of course!

All this chat about restoring and I'd rather be driving, but I can't even do that at the moment!

Different budgets are a fact of life. Some may have to/enjoy getting dirty with a set of spanner or a spray gun some enjoy choosing the colour and writing the cheques. Whichever way is good as long as it's fun.

Personally I am the middle ground I will strip the car, restore as many parts as I can stuff like building door frames, pedal box, locks, selector, reassemble as much as I can (I generally suffer burn out just before the mot, thanks for bailing me out Simon). But I also know that for me to get the paint I want I don't have the time patience or ability, same with metal work. I didn't use a Porsche specialist I went with a multipul best of show winner from the VW world and I am really pleased with the way the work was done, the quality and the price.
So you don't have to spend £35000 on the shell, BUT a restoration will cost you more than thought, take longer and generally spiral out of control.
I am just starting to restore my 2nd Porsche a 356b and I still get an asthma attack every time I buy parts compared to the vw's I was used to. Don't forget the barter system is your friend.

I think I've prepped and painted 30 or 40 maybe more Porsche now, either 356 or 911 or 914, not one of them I owned myself!

head down keep on running ...

69s knee deep restoration

I know my car would be stunning if I spent the figures quoted here, and wouldn't be afraid of being "ripped off" as the specialists that populate this forum do fantastic work .
However, my car cost me 10k, don't care what the values go to, as its never getting sold. So man maths doesnt really work, does it ever?
Also I use my car for everything, don't worry about leaving it in car parks etc. It took us 3500 miles round Europe last year, has even been in a certain calendar for the last 2 years.
Its always been a bit rough round the edges, thats part of the reason we use it so much, as we don't panic about its perfection.

Worlds longest running rest thread, in fact I am already 8 years in.

Stuart.

Your car looks lovely. Fix the sills. Get an mot. Continue using until the next bit pops up then fix that and repeat. Good luck.

Stuart, drive and enjoy. Wish i could. You started a great thread.

The best thing that's come from this is the reality that the sums mentioned in this discussion are real life, not the 1989 one's though.

If nothing else it might help prevent people spending there hard earned on an early 911 only to find that they have run out of money or did not realise the cost of the road ahead. Many an abandoned restoration has been caused by the reality that it is going to cost 20-25K in metal and labour to get there car rust free and ready for the painter.

" Didn't think it would be that much,..... paint should only be a few grand " dream on...


Good tradesmen earn in excess of 1k per week. Why should car workers be any different...?

Cost to get from this



to this



Just under £11K. Seam seal, seal underside, under arches, under bonnet and engine compartment, sound deadening, filler work, prime, paint, polish, satin black, fit and gap panels. Now ready for assembly.

"So man maths doesnt really work, does it ever?"

Huh? If your man maths don't work, you're really not doing them right

Nick - do you recall what it cost to get TO the first picture??

Nick Moss wrote:Cost to get from this



to this



Just under £11K. Seam seal, seal underside, under arches, under bonnet and engine compartment, sound deadening, filler work, prime, paint, polish, satin black, fit and gap panels. Now ready for assembly assembly.

Which I would consider good value as that is a massive amount of work.

Tosh wrote:"So man maths doesnt really work, does it ever?"

Huh? If your man maths don't work, you're really not doing them right

Nick - do you recall what it cost to get TO the first picture??

About £7K in panels, £8K panelwork from this





Our next one requires £20K in panels and the same again in panelwork.

Body to paint stage quote from Nick is far more work than l require and asked for.
I presume that cost is plus vat, but a good yardstick for me.

Nick Moss wrote:

So £26,000 (+VAT???) from top pic to bottom pic yes...

Approximately, yes. Plus VAT. The Targa was quite a good car, despite coming from Beverley Hills!