From start to finish.......

[Jim Nilsen]

I am wondering how many projects that everyone has here started out as cars that were drivable?

I started out with a car that didn't even have a drivetrain to speak of. Is there really something to having a car get completed faster because it ran to start with or would this just be an illusion and there are just as many cars that take as long to complete whether they were running or not? Or is buying a car that drives the smart way to get ahead?

[rob07002]

Will I bought a nice 5 footer and promptly started picking at it. Now it has no drivetrain, new aftermkt sub, G-bar, mini-mini tubs, new 12bolt, etc and I haven't driven it in over 1 1/2 years.

If I were to do over, I would have bought a basket case and just do from the ground up.

[amx2334]

I don't think it matters. Mine didn't drive when I bought it. I put it together and drove it for a year then took it back apart.
Bodywork is the time killer to me.

[TonyHuntimer]

Jim,

When I first saw that you started this thread I thought it was going to say that you finished your car. :)

I bought mine as a semi-rolling shell. With mostly doing bolt-on upgrades I had it painted with a 5 foot paint job (same paint still) and I had it running in 18 months...with just enough interior to drive it. It's been my daily driver ever since then, so I worked on it gradually ever since. Now it's 13 years later.

Tony Huntimer
RaceHome.com

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

mine was a nice driver.. alil ugly on the outside.. but could pass.

[BonzoHansen]

My 77 was generally road worthy...the 67 is as it sits now...pushable...

[Rick Dorion]

Until the time mine gets sheetmetal it's been a driver while I work on it.

Of course, I had a 5 year plan and I've now had the car 10 years.

[Roadbuster]

Mine was a driver when I started but as I started going through it I keep finding stuff that needs to be replaced (Brakes! Suspension. The list goes on). I knew it needed mechanical attention when I bought it, previous owners had only done the engine and body.

Jon

[rocketrod]

Mine was a nice driver three years ago when I bought. I put less than 1,000 miles on it and it hasn't been running in over 18 months. If I were going to do this again I would either start with a basket case or spehnd about $50K and buy something finished.

[JLM]

Mine was a driver with little rust, and a completely re-worked drive train.

Unfortunately, zero care was taken of the suspension and related components. Additionally, the wiring was a mess.

So, outside of having a fantastic brand new engine, I ended up having to do a lot more work than I had planned, or had money for at the time. Being a high school student.

As such the car is just now on the road to being finished. 8 years later.

When I do it again, I'll start with a basket case.

[Dee T]

Mine is a driver and will continue to be one while I work on it. I won't do any projects that I can't finish within two weekends. Just got it in Feb and I have made a little headway here and there. It's a straight car w/ a 10 footer paint job and no rust. I'm going to do a project and drive it, until it comes time for me to paint it .

[indyjps]

I dont think it matters, we usuallly take them completely apart. having a driveable car to start with will include all the little things a disassembled car would not.
Mines non running, but I made it that way, it was my street strip car in the 90's, before that a very clean 307 a/c car, now its partially apart and been living is in different garages for close to 10 years.

[BA.]

I started with a driver and ended up on the receiving end of an accident.
The car has been out of commission for 18 years now :( while it goes through various upgrades and is rebuilt.

I shoulda bought another old car driver to enjoy while the camaro was down.