Advice on getting quotes for restoration

metricspaces

unkel wrote: »

metricspaces wrote: »

I have a 1988 Toyota Starlet EP71 that has a fair bit of rust and I am considering getting it completely restored.

I take it the car has sentimental value? If not, restoring it is just money down the drain for a car that will never have any value reflecting the money you spend on it.

Yes the car has sentimental value. However, I don't think it would be money down the drain. Quotes I'm getting are close to 4k. One of these cars in perfect condition sell for 3-4k.

An initial investment of 4k would be recoverable if I sold it. Plus the value of the car is only going to increase as the years pass.

kadman

There are very few classic cars that increase in value over the years,
that would be the exception rather than the norm.

Costs of restoring and running a classic far outway any increases in the run of the mill classics.

There are probably a few classic cars that do increase in value, but I couldn,t afford THOSE cars
at the outset, unfortunately.

Good luck with your project.:)

Dades

You might get you money back if you spend 4k, although prevailing opinio is that is suspiciously cheap for a full resto including respray.

But a Starlet isn't a desirable car in the same way even an old Merc is. It will have it's admirers, but not many of which would consider actually buying it from you. I think you should consider what you want to spend on the basis of the joy you will get from the car, rather what you might recover down the line.

metricspaces

Dades wrote: »

I think you should consider what you want to spend on the basis of the joy you will get from the car, rather what you might recover down the line.

Definitely I agree. My goal is to keep the car going for as long as I can, not to make money from it.

Having said that, I think it's still fair to say it's not money down the drain. If I restore it and then decide to sell in a few years I'll get a significant proportion of the money back, the remainder is written off as the cost of enjoying the car fully restored for how ever number of years I keep it

Another angle that makes it sit "easier" to spend money refurbishing is if I bought a brand new car and sold it in 4 years time I'd lose more money than if I refurb my starlet and sell it in 4 years time.

kadman

Toyota Starlet 1988 mint condition 2650

https://www.donedeal.ie/vintagecars-for-sale/toyota-starlet-ep70/18646532?campaign=3

Supposedly rust free, might make you think about future value of your resto

metricspaces

Yeah I've looked at quite a few. As we know the adverts don't always match up to reality. This is not a standard car either, it's been modified which takes away from the value from my perspective.

For example I've been looking at Renault 5 GT for last few years. You can pick up modified ones for a lot cheaper than mint originals.

For a completely standard car with all original parts and 100% rust free I'd say you'd be closer to 3-4k. Of course you need the right person who really wants it.

But for me it's not about making a profit, I know I never will. I was just saying previously it's not money down drain as I'll always get 3-4k back if I chose to sell.

Dades

metricspaces wrote: »

I was just saying previously it's not money down drain as I'll always get 3-4k back if I chose to sell.

Ehh, that lad is hoping to sell his rust-free mint Starlet for just over 2½ grand!

metricspaces

Dades wrote: »

metricspaces wrote: »

I was just saying previously it's not money down drain as I'll always get 3-4k back if I chose to sell.

Ehh, that lad is hoping to sell his rust-free mint Starlet for just over 2½ grand!

It's not a standard car, it has non original parts. Maybe it's rust free & mint, maybe it's not...who knows.

kadman

Sounds like you have your mind made up regardless of cost, and whats available out there
at the moment.

I hope you dont burned on this.

Good luck with it, and enjoy.:)

metricspaces

I'm still undecided to be honest. As the feeling here is that 3.5k is too low for a refurb I'm going to get some quotes/opinions from garages that specialise more in this area.

If anyone has any recommendations of places to get quotes from that would be great. Preferably around the Leinster area.

clio_16v

These Starlets have peaked in value in my opinion. I know quite a few lads into older Toyotas that have collections of them. I think 2500 is about the top end. Get the welding done and do a cheap job on it. Spend 1000 and enjoy it for a few years. Sell it for 1500 in time if you wanna change.

metricspaces

clio_16v wrote: »

These Starlets have peaked in value in my opinion. I know quite a few lads into older Toyotas that have collections of them. I think 2500 is about the top end. Get the welding done and do a cheap job on it. Spend 1000 and enjoy it for a few years. Sell it for 1500 in time if you wanna change.

Yeah, that's the other option I might go with. The drivers door is rotting at the bottom, it would be handier to get a second hand door and spray it. If anyone knows of any rust free ones knocking about that would be great ...nothing on adverts\donedeal.

clio_16v

metricspaces wrote: »

Yeah, that's the other option I might go with. The drivers door is rotting at the bottom, it would be handier to get a second hand door and spray it. If anyone knows of any rust free ones knocking about that would be great ...nothing on adverts\donedeal.

Throw up a list of parts that you need and ill suss out my contacts. They know what to charge now though as they're getting harder to source parts for

drunkmonkey

metricspaces wrote: »

I'm still undecided to be honest. As the feeling here is that 3.5k is too low for a refurb I'm going to get some quotes/opinions from garages that specialise more in this area.

If anyone has any recommendations of places to get quotes from that would be great. Preferably around the Leinster area.

Currently starting a restore, one quote of 4 to 4.5k, another quote of 10k. One is cutting out the rusty bits fixing up and full respray the other is taking the body off, soda pop blasting every bit of rust everywhere, we've agreed to relook at the job once the blasting is done when we know exactly what were dealing with.
I'll be 1k to 1.5k into the job before I know exactly what it's going to cost.
With the cheaper job your more or less guaranteed the rust is coming back as there's no way you'll get at it all by just cutting out bits here and there.

JCW

I was quoted 780e to fit two new sills + paint for an early 90's starlet

metricspaces

JCW wrote: »

I was quoted 780e to fit two new sills + paint for an early 90's starlet

How would they paint just the sills? It will never blend in with existing paint?

EPAndlee

metricspaces wrote: »

Yeah, that's the other option I might go with. The drivers door is rotting at the bottom, it would be handier to get a second hand door and spray it. If anyone knows of any rust free ones knocking about that would be great ...nothing on adverts\donedeal.

All those doors rot at the bottom and at the hinges, it's an absolute pain. It took me 2 years to find rust free doors. Rust free panels are gone very hard to find now.

metricspaces

EPAndlee wrote: »

All those doors rot at the bottom and at the hinges, it's an absolute pain. It took me 2 years to find rust free doors. Rust free panels are gone very hard to find now.

Yeah, I've had no luck finding the door unfortunately. Where did you get yours?

Someone suggested trying to get it from Japan?

EPAndlee

metricspaces wrote: »

How would they paint just the sills? It will never blend in with existing paint?

GT turbos have sideskirts and trim panels on the sides of the car so you'd just get away with painting just underneath those

EPAndlee

metricspaces wrote: »

Yeah, I've had no luck finding the door unfortunately. Where did you get yours?

Someone suggested trying to get it from Japan?

I seen a starlet for breaking and he said the doors were rust free so took the chance with trip down the country to view them. A door is a big panel to be shipping but you could try Japan,Malaysia or the Netherlands. That's where I see most EP71 parts for sale. There's a good few Facebook groups

JCW

Yep as said there are plastic trim pieces to cover the sills. I bought a complete solid car minus engine+gearbox including transport for less than my quote. Just more food for thought for OP

metricspaces

EPAndlee wrote: »

GT turbos have sideskirts and trim panels on the sides of the car so you'd just get away with painting just underneath those

Ah ok! Mine is just standard...so they won't look great if I just paint them on their own

kadman

metricspaces wrote: »

How would they paint just the sills? It will never blend in with existing paint?

Blending in to existing paint is what a top paint restorer does.

Its the perfection of his skill, thats why cheaper quotes like restos for 4k

including a respray make him sound expensive.

Its not expensive , its what seperates the pros from the cowboys.

JohnBoy26

metricspaces wrote: »

Ah ok! Mine is just standard...so they won't look great if I just paint them on their own

The sills are one of the easiest places to blend on a car. Being low down even a slight colour difference wouldn't be noticable.

With perfect matching paint there wont be really much if any blending needed at all.

timmiekp

Sorry to bump up have good doors and new wings if you didn’t get sort