I've been thinkin.......

[01_SVT]

I currently own a 2001 Cobra Convertible. i bought her brand spanking new back in 2001. i have 4000 bucks left to pay on her and she's all mine!

I have done a lot to her since it bought her and she's slepted in her own garage since day 1...below are a list of mods.

-----------------------
2001 True Blue Drop Top
321HP 319TQ

- Retro Ring Gauge Inserts
- JBA Titanium Coated Headers
- Lower Plemun P&P
- FR500 Exhaust
- Magna Flow X Pipe
- WMS CAI with 95mm Pro M MAF
- March Pullies
- Dyno Tuned
- Bilsteins in each corner
- Kenny Brown Lowering Springs
- Kenny Brown Strut Tower Brace
- Kenny Brown Rear Shock Tower Brace
- Kenny Brown 4 Point Chasis Brace
- Kenny Brown IRS Brace
- Kenny Brown Subframe Connectors
- Saleen Tourneau Cover
- Saleen Extreme Hood

I'll post a recent picture this weekend..sorry.

The reason for this post is that i'm thinking of selling her to buy a 1966, 67 or 68 fastback. I want to restore one and toss in a World Class T5 with a 302 crate motor. I figure from the sale of the Cobra I can cover the restoration expenses or buy one restored and pay the balance.

My question to you guys...do you think it's worth it? My heart has always been with the oldies but when you see my car you'll understand why part of me doesn't want to let go...what are your thoughts? what would you do? Has anyone ever done this and regret it?

thanks guys!

 

[65up2d8]

I currently own a 2001 Cobra Convertible. i bought her brand spanking new back in 2001. i have 4000 bucks left to pay on her and she's all mine!

I have done a lot to her since it bought her and she's slepted in her own garage since day 1...below are a list of mods.

-----------------------
2001 True Blue Drop Top
321HP 319TQ

- Retro Ring Gauge Inserts
- JBA Titanium Coated Headers
- Lower Plemun P&P
- FR500 Exhaust
- Magna Flow X Pipe
- WMS CAI with 95mm Pro M MAF
- March Pullies
- Dyno Tuned
- Bilsteins in each corner
- Kenny Brown Lowering Springs
- Kenny Brown Strut Tower Brace
- Kenny Brown Rear Shock Tower Brace
- Kenny Brown 4 Point Chasis Brace
- Kenny Brown IRS Brace
- Kenny Brown Subframe Connectors
- Saleen Tourneau Cover
- Saleen Extreme Hood

I'll post a recent picture this weekend..sorry.

The reason for this post is that i'm thinking of selling her to buy a 1966, 67 or 68 fastback. I want to restore one and toss in a World Class T5 with a 302 crate motor. I figure from the sale of the Cobra I can cover the restoration expenses or buy one restored and pay the balance.

My question to you guys...do you think it's worth it? My heart has always been with the oldies but when you see my car you'll understand why part of me doesn't want to let go...what are your thoughts? what would you do? Has anyone ever done this and regret it?

thanks guys!

Check out the SN65 thread at the top of the Classic Tech section. How about a convertible? J/k, I know that's beyond most everyone's means.

The first piece of advice I could offer in this regard is to realize that until you've replaced almost every part, essentially, on the classic, you don't know what you have from a reliability standpoint. Are you looking for a daily driver or a project that you don't have to rely on everyday? The answer to that question should make a huge difference in your decision.

The second piece of advice I have from an economical standpoint is to buy someone else's nearly completed project, but only if you are knowledgeable enough about what's been done to the car and what's left to do. Don't worry about whether it's the color you want, etc. because that can be changed down the road. I have seen what appears to be some excellent deals in the classified section of these forums as well as some local cars that are great deals with the work that has been put into them. In fact, someone on this forum recently had what sounded like sweet deal on a '65 or '66 with a lot of mods, but, unfortunately, I can't remember his username at this point. Someone help me out here; I remember him saying that, unlike many, his midlife crisis was an urge to get rid of the car of his dreams.

The point is that life sometimes gets in the way of someone finishing a well built car, and I think anyone on this forum would tell you that you can find a bargain when that happens. You will spend far more money on getting a basketcase to that point than what a willing, knowledgeable seller who knows he won't get all of his investment back will ask for a well-built car in the open market. Just my $.02 but a point I have picked up on with experience.

 

[2nd Mustang]

A newer Stang does have it's appeal, like creature comforts and better drivability (Don King word?), BUT.......driving a classic does have it's cool status. Mine is not a daily driver, so it's a treat to drive my 67.

 

[69 Rustang]

How much time do you have? Do you want to spend your time driving or restoring?

I went through this--in late 1995 I sold my fully restored 65 Convertible and 86 GT Convertible to buy the 1996 Cobra Convertible I still have. For some stupid reason, I still had the old car bug and within 6 months of buying the 96, I found and purchased a 64 1/2 Convertible needing a full restoration.

Immediately after buying the 64 1/2, I hauled it home and stuffed it into the garage. A day or so later I went for a ride in the '96 and started kicking myself--"what the he## was I thinking? The '96 is a awesome car that drives great, the A/C works, great stereo, it starts right up, it has tons of power, etc. etc. etc." At that point I regretted the purchase of the 64 1/2.

Six years later the restoration was done and the car (64 1/2) was sold--I might have put 1,000 miles on the car through all of that. The '96 now only has 8,000 miles on it. I still had a '69 Fastback through all this in storage that I intended to restore, so I set to that. Once the '69 was ripped completely apart the old car bug nagged at me--now I have a '73 Fastback. With the work that car has required and competition for my time I have only put about 200 miles on it since its purchase 4 months ago. The bottom line:

3 cars + 2 kids under the age of 3 + a full time job that requires travel = no time to enjoy any of it to the extent I should

How do YOU want to spend your time?

 

[2nd Mustang]

.....3 cars + 2 kids under the age of 3 + a full time job that requires travel = no time to enjoy any of it to the extent I should

How do YOU want to spend your time?

I know what you mean. I put off my "automotive itch" until my son's senior year at the university. Paid his final tuition, etc. then off to shopping for me! The kids are only young once, so my opinion is to spend a lot of time with them, they grow up so fast.

Sorry for the hijack.

 

[65stanger]

..........................I figure from the sale of the Cobra I can cover the restoration expenses or buy one restored and pay the balance.

Not that I haven't enjoyed the restoration work on my '65, but anyone who has done a complete restoration on a classic Mustang will tell you that it will be an EXPENSIVE venture. And if you intend on driving the car on a regular basis, it will be a never-ending process of repair or replace.
That said.........Good Luck and ENJOY!