70 S, RHD, Signal Orange, UK->Australia->UK

[inaglasshouse]

If I were ever to do another car .... I'd buy one that someone else had done!

I have already sold one project car (an Alfa), having decided along the way that I just didn't have the required love of the car to endure another restoration. Jonny (Retrofit) asked me the other day if I got my money back on the Alfa - the answer is no, but I still saved an absolute fortune compared with restoring it!

Hats off to you serial restorers - true dedication. Or, as they say of second marriages, a triumph of hope over experience...

[911hillclimber]

I don't feel I could buy one fully done.
I would always be wondering how it had been done by DIY and Expert Specialists.
If it drives well good start, it real names have been involved or DIY where there is clear evidence of the work then great, but there would always be a doubt in my mind.

This is NOT to say I could do it better, I do not subscribe to 'If you want it doing properly, do it yourself'
All that means is the stand you achieve is acceptable to you, does not mean it's been done correctly!

Personally, I enjoy the journey far more than the destination.

[BILLY BEAN]

Personally, I enjoy the journey far more than the destination.

Graham, not a view I subscribe to. To me it is a little like saying the overnight train journey to the south of France in a clapped out, smelly uncomfortable sleeper train is better than being on the beach in Cannes admiring the view.
But whatever floats your boat.

[Darren65]

......The more people you are reliant on to complete the project the more disappointment and double costs you should expect.....

.....I disagree.

If I were ever to do another car .... I'd buy one that someone else had done!...

....I don't think I ever could.

....but whichever way......just look at all you've done!



Now the future...congrats

[inaglasshouse]

In the spirit of letting folks know what they might be letting themselves in for, let's have a last look at costs before I try to forget that aspect...
Back at the beginning of this thread, Mike said:

There's nothing there that a 150 page DDK restoration thread and a hundred grand can't sort out.

The number of pages was an overestimate.

The resto cost (not including purchase of the car) was an underestimate. Although my total does include a few expensive optional extras (Recaros, 7Rs, Biodes) that push the cost up. Excluding those, 100K is pretty-much right.

Yes, I know, everyone falls off their chairs and thinks I'm an idiot who has done it in the most expensive way possible.

But let's not forget that a lot was done by someone with a very reasonable labour rate (Barry - admittedly a perfectionist, an approach which I was happy to support).
I did all the electrics, fuel system, oil system, suspension, some trimming and lots of fiddly reassembly myself. I believe that lot can easily occupy 200 hours of a professional (in a case like this, where some parts sourcing etc is required). So that's at least 10K saved.
Paint was pretty costly and absolutely could have been done cheaper. Nice though!
Beyond that, stuff just adds up. Especially if you use mostly genuine parts.
If anyone cares I'll do a rough breakdown of costs?

Final reckoning:
Original purchase, shipping and duty were about 37K. So with resto costs as above, let's call it 140K all-in.
Have I made a profit? Doesn't look like it! And that's with a fair few hours of my own time invested, charged at zero.

The car is pretty nice though, and I have learned a lot.

[Lightweight_911]

.

A very open & honest post Richard - not many people would be prepared to share their restoration costs.

I would be interested - as I'm sure many others would be - in seeing a rough breakdown of the costs.

.

[911hillclimber]

A detailed open book account would be interesting.
The count of the diy hours is very much of interest to me purly to see how long people take to undertake things, not sure how to equate the hours a specialist takes to,say, fit the drive train to how long the owner takes.

I am a big fan of diy if you can do it, skills, time and space are major factors, cost saving may not be the primary motivation, personal satisfaction is the prime motivator for me, learning things too.

If someone invests 1000 hours of diy time or pays a specialist £75 x 1000 is really their prerogative of course.
Here we have a fabulous car that a few years ago would be worth more than the costs, but it's not all about money at the bottom line?

[911GP]

Hi Richard,
I think you have done really well. The end product looks awesome and you can be proud that you have done a lot of it yourself.

I need to update my thread but that finger in the air £100k is what I was expecting too but quite early on the it was clear that this wouldn't be enough and I didn't even have my engine touched. If most of the work is done by a specialist, I don't think £100k is enough for a full restoration these days. As you say, the parts alone add up to a considerable amount, not helped by a weaker GBP exchange rate. Plus labour rates are higher than before, vat, import taxes. It all adds up to a lot.

Kind regards
Gitesh

[jonno1]

A friend was given a quote of around £250k by one of the top specialists for an SWB based hotrod with a twin plug engine etc. Didnt include the shell which he already had (which was in average shape)....so £100k is probably a bit light if you take it to a top name.

[inaglasshouse]

A friend was given a quote of around £250k by one of the top specialists for an SWB based hotrod with a twin plug engine etc. Didnt include the shell which he already had (which was in average shape)....so £100k is probably a bit light if you take it to a top name.

That's proper money. But not inconceivable at 100+ GBP per hour and every single hour counted.

[inaglasshouse]

Here's where the money went on mine:

[911hillclimber]

Very interesting, and thanks for being so open.
You will have a 100 point car (say) as a result.

[yoda]

A friend was given a quote of around £250k by one of the top specialists for an SWB based hotrod with a twin plug engine etc. Didnt include the shell which he already had (which was in average shape)....so £100k is probably a bit light if you take it to a top name.

That sounds like a Tutill's estimate! You could pay that for a one stop shop service but that sounds very toppy.

[yoda]

Here's where the money went on mine:

Thank you Richard for the transparency, very helpful. That seems pretty much what I was expecting so no surprises there apart from the extras! I think you are bang on the money and have the benefit of knowing that everything has been done properly. Look forward to seeing it.

[inaglasshouse]

Thank you Richard for the transparency, very helpful. That seems pretty much what I was expecting so no surprises there apart from the extras! I think you are bang on the money and have the benefit of knowing that everything has been done properly. Look forward to seeing it.

I should have said that extras include the exe-tc suspension, which was not cheap.

In other news my loan car while the orange one is being fettled is a ratty 986 Boxster (2.7, not even an 'S').
I really like it! Does that make me a weirdo?
Granted it has been quite sunny....