My dilema

[356lover]

Not really sure what im really after with this post, maybe some encouragment from someone who has been in the same boat, a pearl of wisdom or just a chance to get it off my chest.

I find myself in the position of owning a 356 but I am not in a financial position to put the car in for restoration. I have carried out welding on a car before but am in no way skilled enough to take on the body work myself.
I keep asking myself whether it would be a good idea to sell the car as is and try and forget I ever owned it, but as it is one of the cars I have always wanted to own and dream of taking it on the classic Monte Carlo rally I think this would be quite dificult for me to go ahead with.

I do have a spare engine I was planning to rebuild and sell and loads of spare parts I could get some money for but I doubt the money raised would make a dent in the cost of the restoration.

Well there you have it............. My dilema!!!!!

[Lightweight_911]

What sort of condition is the car currently in ?

When was it last 'on the road' (ie MOT'd) ?

How much work would be needed to get it thro' an MOT ?

[cubist]

In the first instance, be happy with the fact that you own your own 356... cooler than a cool thing even when ratty as arseholes!

I've been there a few times myself: bought the car without a thought for the actual resto costs (suffered badly on a 230sl a few years back which still makes my sphincter whince...) but, at least I had the car. My '54 got driven to death - literally - as I just loved it so much and loved caning it too. I took off all the costly bits of trim, primed it and got it MoT'd. As and when I got a spare afternoon i'd do a bit of localized bodywork and reprime it. My wife called it the Shaker Shitter as it was a god-fearing, patchwork quilt of a coupe... when I managed to sell something (keep that spare engine though...) i'd get some chassis work done by a pro rather than me blowing holes through it's fragile underskirts.

Don't be tempted to sell unless times get too tight. You may never get another coupe that you love as much as the one you have. Remember - it doesn't have to be shiny to run down to Monte Carlo. Just cover it in racer tape, stickers and foglights and have a blast safe in the knowledge that if you bend it, it really won't matter as much!

Do what the yanks do: take off the bumpers and caps and call it Outlaw!

Good luck

[356lover]

I wouldnt describe it as a basket case but I still think it would require a fair bit of work to get it through an MOT. There are some dodgy looking areas under the arches and it definately needs outer seals.

I think the last time it was MOT'd was in 1980........ hmmmm only 29 years ago!!!!

Oh and to top it all off it currently multi coloured.

[Lightweight_911]

What line of work are you in ?

Maybe you can offer your services (cue Cubist ...) in exchange for chassis work on the 356 ?

I'd aim to get it up to MOT standard & then use it as a 'rolling restoration'.

[356lover]

I work for Tube Lines who look after the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadily underground lines. If anybody owns a train I might be handy to know

A friend of mine owns his own garage and is an mot tester, spose I could get him round to let me know the minimum work required to get it through

[roy mawbey]

Andy is correct in asking those questions. If the car is reasonable from the underneath and body point of view, why do you think you can't attempt something yourself? Back in 1977 I had owned my car then for 8 years and I bit the bullit and purchased a 1/2 share in gas welding kit with a neighbour and started with simple jobs. Back then there were no ready places to buy replacement panels so I made my own. Sure my floors, battery box and even half the longitudinals are still original 59 but its always passed the MOT's with my handywork. Nowdays, if you go with a Mig welder probably much easier than what we had for thin panel work on the body.

Get yourself down to the Library before you do anything and read everything on welding you can first of all. Sure some guys put the car on a rotiserie but if space is limited a very good jack with quality axle stands etc, will help with some area's. If the car needs new floors, longitudinals, inner wings, doors, torsion bar areas, battery box, front vee member etc, etc, then you have to be very very brave it all depends as Andy says on the current condition. The bodywork has to look better but still possible and I even leaded mine on the joints not as good as a professional but I am still running and enjoying the car after 40 years so you can try.

If its really a total rust heap then it might turn you into an old bloke like me before you finish it. There are some on the current threads here who are doing a great job welding their cars, I admire them.

If you do it and you finish it and it runs with good mechanicals you probably will never sell it. These cars are special and once gone like my Gold star bike difficult to replace years down the line.

If you don't have to finish it straight away and you have the room for it so you can take your time its an interesting but sometimes painful hobby that actually will always help you in other jobs you have to do in life.

Sermon over

Best of luck with your final decision.

Roy

[356lover]

Thanks chaps, I really dont think im up to the weliding. Im to scared ill balls things up and make the condition of the car worse.

Roy, your point is one of the main reasons im fighting the thought of selling it. I doubt I would ever be in the position to get another, especially as they are getting older and rarer(especially RHD)

[58A - 71E]

Where's Dan - "Rustbucket"?
Take a look at some of his posts on his 10 year restoration - massive respect to the bloke - sure he can chip in with advice.

An alternative way, possibly, is what I am currently doing - having failed its MOT on corrosion I bit the bullit, stripped the car and had it blasted - well there wasnt much metal left to weld to so knew that the project was going nowhere fast and could potentially cost a fortune - so started buying the odd panel here and there as and when I could (check out companies like resoration design in the states) which werent too expensive and then found a very friendly welder who was quite happy for the car to become a long term project in the corner of his workshop, with me paying him a bit at a time over a year or so whist he fitted in his day job work. Ok this approach didnt make it any less expensive to do (and god knows it has cost a small fortune ) but it has been spread over 3 years now and so was never a huge hit to take in one go.

[356lover]

Thanks for the advise James

Got a couple of options to think over.

Whats the average cost for having a shell blasted? and has anybody had a shell dipped and striped?

[Mike Smith]

I think you have had some very good advice from the guys on these pages

My 2-penny worth is - do not go to the extent of Blasting or Dipping - once you have gone down that road you are into a FULL restoration and from what you say about yourself and your finances, it will never happen

Your own suggestion is one of the best.
You have a friend who is an MOT Man get him to look at it or pay for an MOT - that way you will have a real idea of what it is going to take to put the car back on the road and you may have a pleasant surprise

Although personally I would like to see every car restored to factory standards, I know that this is not possible for a lot of people and we have rescued many cars for distraught owners by just doing what is necessery

There are guys out there with the skills to fit and weld metal who have low overheads ------------- your job is to find one and maybe someone on these pages is the person to point you in the right direction ?

Repair it and Drive it

[pmjt]

Whats the average cost for having a shell blasted? and has anybody had a shell dipped and striped?

Surface Processing have done a couple for me:

http://www.surfaceprocessing.co.uk/for-cars.html

Only thing to be aware of is it takes lead and all On reflection, next time I'd take more time (and cost ) and nitromors it instead - it's less harsh.

Cost is about £800 from memory.


For what it's worth - I STILL regret selling my 356A Cab UFL 651 - even though I have a much better and earlier car in 186 KMF - I really adored UFL and had some lovely trips out in it.

I didn't have the stomach for another restoration and so sold her. I wish I had just put her in a lock up and come back to her in a couple of years when I'd got the passion back to do another restoration.

Just my opinion. You can never get them back if you sell.

Philip

[sjm]

Keep it, keep it, keep it! As mentioned above, you'll prob never find another one you love as much. I have sold a couple of cars in recent years, and been a bit unsure about selling at the time, but it was the sensible thing to do. Still deeply regret selling them though...

[vwretrosteve]

it has been said before but you are in a good position of actually owning a 356- rather than wanting to own one (which becomes increasingly difficult both financially and physically as time marches on)

there are plenty of people who would willingly swap places with you -and plenty who would swap money for your car.

My 356 rollercoaster has seen many many twists, doubts and points of no return- curiously after 16 years of owning the things (mostly basket cases) i still get the 'kid at christmas' feeling when i see, hear or even think about them .

if the resons you bought the car in the first place still remain intact half the battle is won.

Good luck with whatever route you take - if you need to speak about any specific repairs give me a shout -i have a bit of experience in that department.

steve

[louis356]

Don't worry I'm in the same boat. I've got my 356 that wouldn't take much to get MOT'd No body or engine work needed just worn out parts and more than anything time!! I haven't got any. Can't work on my car so I can't drive it.

Been thinking hard about selling it and getting a 912 that I could actually use for the money. But I know in my hart that the kids are getting older (i.e. more expensive!!!) We'll need a bigger house (i.e. more expensive!!!) no this will be it until the kids move out.

So I agree with cubist. Don't get down. Look on the bright side you have a 356 For god damm sake!!! there are probably less than 300 people in the UK that can say that. Moving or not!! and probably only a handful of them that can say RHD!!!

Some day you'll get it on the road. Don't forget your money is better in a Rusty 356 than a bank anyway. I've had my car 16 years and I know I'll get it sorted one day!

Keep the faith

If you are anywhere near me you can borrow my mig (it's old) and practice welding. you don't have to weld your car until you are any good. I was at Barry's excellent metalworking day and it isn't as hard as it looks. And if you've got the time and patience you can get some super results. Don't rush it if you don't need to. Just enough to get an MOT and then that will give you the drive to finish!!

Good luck!!