Which one would you build if you had a choice?

[Radlark]

I have the option of building one of 2 cars and I am having a hard time deciding which to build maybe you guys can chime in here.

1st Candidate

1960 Belair 2 DR sedan decent body, needs floor and trunk pans no motor minimal body work no interior, floors and trunk pans will cost about $800 all trim is there so no hunting for that. It's a Nevada car and it is sitting in my garage right now

2nd Candidate

1967 Buick Special Wagon doesn't run buying it from the original owner for a GREAT price (almost what the floors for the Belair would cost) no body work needed, been sitting since 96, all ORIGINAL and it is a 9 passenger wagon but it definitely needs full resto floors are good tilt column power windows from the factory.

The majority of the work I will be doing myself!

Would I ever take my car to an autocross, no.

Buick has better suspension options

Belair just has the cool factor but would definitely cost more to build....hell so does the wagon lol.

The budget will be about he same, I would have the option to take the wagon auto crossing if I built it right


I am just curious what you guys would sink your money in to I have added pics so that you can see the 2 cars in question (these are just EXAMPLES ONLY for reference)https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=106750&stc=1https://www.pro-touring.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=106751&stc=1

[cornfedbill]

I'd build the Buick. I like those old wagons.

[vintageracer]

Belair!

Worth 4 times as much done and will have 10 times "Mo Buyers".

It's going to cost damn near the same amount of $$$ to fix both cars since they will need paint, engine, wheels, suspension etc.

Everyone always "Says" they are not going to sell. The reality is the car you buy IS the car you will sell at some point in the future.

After having said all that BS fix the car YOU LIKE and don't worry about what we think!

[Radlark]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I would be building this car as a keeper, I guess the allure of the wagon is that is an all original vista roof wagon from the ORIGINAL owner and EVERYTHING is there and I know that I can build it to my liking, the Belair probably would bring more money I think I am going to try and hold on to both of them.......

[nokones]

The wagon has way too many doors. 2 Doors rule. The Chevrolet gets my vote.

[SS PUNISHER]

Wagon all day! The Belair is an awesome looking car though...

[cluxford]

Both cool cars, buy both so you can drive one while wrenching the other

[Yelcamino]

I think the real question should be "Which one would you build first?"

[BMR Sales]

Wagon!

[Radlark]

Well trying to hold on to both cars will not happen according to lady of the house so it looks like the Belair is going up for sale at a reduced price to move it QUICKLY!!!

[Yelcamino]

Well trying to hold on to both cars will not happen according to lady of the house so it looks like the Belair is going up for sale at a reduced price to move it QUICKLY!!!

Bummer! But you gotta keep the lady happy!

[Radlark]

Bummer! But you gotta keep the lady happy!

So so so true.....at least the wagon will handle a little better than the Belair.

Belair for sale $1500!!!!

[CampbellshotrodsAZ]

They are both favorites of mine. But the Bel Air needing floors and such will be a LOT more work, especially since the Buick sounds like a clean sweetheart of a car. Plus I love the 67 Sport wagons in particular, I love the forward angular look of the front end of that year.

[Rod]

wagon

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Um, do you really have to spend time thinking about this? Just build the Belair, and give me the phone number for the wagon and I'll take care of the rest! lol!

I'm a huge wagon fan. With all the two door coupes in the muscle/ performance car genre, there is a distinct appreciation for station wagons. Magazines and individuals have a tendency to gravitate towards them and they are often in the limelight when they appear at events. To illustrate this I quote Horse Power TV, “Nowadays, turn any station wagon into a race car and you get instant attention.” They further stated, “As a rule, wagons are cool.”

When I went to the Hotckis autocross this past October and I got SO many compliments. My car looks good as a 15 footer that needs a bunch of body work and nice paint, but it still catches attention. At the event John Hotchkis did the MC'ing and he called my car "the crowd favorite of the day", - and it wasn't near the fastest car there.

You should ask Scott Parkhurst what he thinks, his 67 Chevelle wagon won the Car Craft challenge a couple years ago.

About a year ago my son and I found a g body Cutlass wagon for sale like mine that I thought I could buy for parts. Instead he wanted it for himself. Now amongst all the fart pipes and 15" wheels with 45 degrees of negative camber on Civics out there, you know wagons must be cool if a 16 year old wants one for his first car. When we took both wagons to race autocross at an SCCA event last year, our cars were definitely in the limelight amongst all the imports and Corvettes.

No matter how you slice it wagons are just plain cool.

[77thor]

1960 Belair

[Radlark]

I have decided to build the wagon it is a little more complete and would be easier to finish faster as well as there are alot of suspension parts to make it DD and an auto x if I decide tho go that route I have put the Belair up for a quick sale...thanks to all who chimed in with your thoughts!

@Ben I watched your build progress as well as your sons, you have some nice looking wagons there!

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

the longroof...

[shmoov69]

Sixty
(Says the guy with a wagon!)

[jasonsnova]

Some of you guys are nuts.....the Belair would be bad ass.....luv the bubble top.

[Radlark]

The new owner came to pay for the 2 Belairs today and will be picking them up on Monday I will post pics of my wagon in the Projects section as I start the build, thanks for all who chimed in. The new owner Darrell Moore President of the Orange County Cruisin Association who purchased both of my Belairs will be building them for the The Great Labor day Cruise car giveaway all the parts will be donated for the cars and the money raised will be donated to the Wounded Warrior project! I thought that was pretty awesome!!! So in the end they both went towards a great cause.

Work will soon commence on the LongRoof!!!

[nekkidhillbilly]

Some of you guys are nuts.....the Belair would be bad ass.....luv the bubble top.

why do people call 59-60 cars bubble tops? iirc 61 and very few 62 cars are all that are bubble top cars. just curious.

[FANTM58]

As much I love that Chevy, I'd do the Wagon
I'm a big fan of long roofs,,
I'm building a 68 Country Sedan,,,,
So give me some insperation, get her going !!!!

[FANTM58]

why do people call 59-60 cars bubble tops? iirc 61 and very few 62 cars are all that are bubble top cars. just curious.

As far as I know, it's because there canopies are bubbly !!

[nekkidhillbilly]

well if thats the case all 50s car are bubble tops and 61 fords even

[chichirone]

I think the real question should be "Which one would you build first?"

X2...totally agree with Herb.