Nearly half of those responding to our recent weekly poll say they’d be ready to tackle mechanical repairs and rebuilds on a recently purchased collector car.
However, about one-third of those responding say they want do no work at all after their purchase.
“After buying a classic car, which of these chores would you be most likely to tackle yourself?” we asked, offering several suggestions, from nothing at all to rust repair and paint and bodywork.
Of those responding, 45.83 percent said they most likely would take on mechanical repairs and rebuilds. Only 11.11 percent selected “Interior refurbish,” with even less eagerness to tackle rust repair (6.94 percent); chassis, including steering and suspension, 4.17; and paint and bodywork (2.78 percent).
Our question this week considered the Detroit muscle cars of the 1960s and ‘70s: “Which automaker made the greatest classic muscle cars?” To respond, see the question to the right-hand side of the Journal home page.
I have did frame off restored cars to better than new, and purchased cars all original. I would say it depends on the shape of the car when you purchase it.
It depends on what I’m buying the car for and how much I’m paying for it. And of course, the make/model. For example if I’m buying a driver quality Mustang at over $10k, I expect to have to do maybe a little bit of minor maintenance: brakes, shocks, tune-up and fresh fluids, etc. But no major mechanical, body, or interior work.