considering an eleanor clone just sold at BJs for 250k....I would say you'll be ok.

 

+1

Unless its a super rare like a Shelby or a Boss 429.. the fully restored Restomods fetch a much much higher price.

Since my block and tranny don't match... I'm going the resto mod route with mine now.

 

Generally, if you do not do anything that can't be "turned back" to the way it was should not be much of a problem. That means not doing a Mustang II swap or back halving a car for bigger rubber and different suspension. Bolt on is good so go for it and enjoy your car the way you want it to be. And of coarse there are rules to the exception as stated above.
David.

 

I have a 64 convertible. While it is not all that rare of a care it does have some value you too it. My intentions are to do a mild resto mod to it. I asked the same thing and pretty much received the same feedback. As long as you don't cut up the car, all should be good.

 

I am not going to let a single outrageous sale of an Eleanor clone dictate the entire market. That being said, 99.999% of cars are a crappy 'investment.' Your car, do what you want. Suspension improvements, electronic ignition for reliability and a transmission with overdrive just make for a nicer ride. If your ride is in really good shape and incredibly original, I would think twice about even those mods as a car is only original once and I personally feel that if I find something in excellent undisturbed condition then I am obligated to be a steward of that. YMMV. If you are wanting to radically modify your ride here are a few things I have come to realize:

1. The more 'unique' you make your car, the less audience. Sometimes to the point of only an audience of 'you.'
2. Hot rods are usually built to a common formula and Mustangs are no different. By sticking with common creature feature mods you maintain audience, but look like every other modified Stang out there.
3. Taste is relative, but conservative style is always relevant. i.e. less is more.
4. The biggest mistake is to bite off way more than you can chew. This is usually accomplished by not having a plan, under estimating your skill set, time and available funds. It usually ends with the attempted sale of a pile of parts that used to resemble a Mustang with some poorly executed body work. Remember, 'Restoration Started' really means 'I took it apart and lost interest.'
5. Drive it / change something / drive it /change something etc seems to work for most people, plus you get to actually enjoy the ride vs staring at the giant pile of disassembled 'potential' you wife wants out of the garage. (See 'Lost Interest')
6. Harness your enthusiasm and pace yourself. Restoration/modification is a marathon, not a sprint.

Good luck with your project. You will always be able to get encouragement here!
How about some pics?

BTW: My convertible is in the middle of some radical mods. It came into my life as a basket case C code. My wife's coupe is not. It came into our lives as an all original in need of some care. So I'm on both sides of this fence and quite frankly, I do not see any conflict in being so.

 

I am not going to let a single outrageous sale of an Eleanor clone dictate the entire market.

Ohh I agree it was a crappy car....but if look at where the market has been going the last 5+ years.....restomod cars as a whole are starting to bring larger prices than survivor or restored to stock cars across the board (not just mustangs). Granted if you do something stupid with it such as heavily customizing it to suit just your taste....then you gain no value. But handling, performance, appearance modifications are bumping the prices up.

On another note it is actually a challenge to find a car that isn't actually modifyied in someway anyway.

If you are willing to make a commitment to build a thorobred it can bring bucks in.....but never enough to make it an investment.

Own the car, make it like you like, use it. That is why restomod cars are going up in value. People want to drive these things and they just can't compete on the street with modern cars without modifications (in terms of drivability, performance, comfort, reliability)

 

Ha. I'm backwards. I got my '67 T-code coupe as mostly original and am modifying the crap out of it. I bought a '69 Sportsroof that had been totally butchered for dragracing and I want to put it back stock.

 

Honestly, IMHO most modified cars that I've seen would've benefited if the owner had stopped just a bit short of where they did.

Bolt-ons rarely hurt, but may or may not increase value. Cosmetic changes become increasingly chancier the further they veer from OEM.

At the risk of offending some, it's also important to get the difference between a classic look and a cliche'. Not every single solitary Mustang on the planet, from T-codes to coupes, needs Le Mans stripes, which were unusual even on Shelbys during the two years they were actually available.

 

i agree to last post from datac-- some look over the top and wont stand the test of time-- a 65 stock GT still looks good today.. whereas the alum slots from the 70s look dated now IMO.. think of what you thought looked cool in the 70s or 80s and im sure you dont have all the same thoughts now.. no different from houses -- green- gold appliances were the "stuff" and who wants them now

my car is heavily modified and a true 64.5 but its not a 65 shelby and being devalued by mods.. but i "dont think" i went too far.. LOL..

my goal was to look virtually totally stock for the casual observer but drive like a 2011 Boss.. and i was typing this before dodgestang posted but he basically said the same thing.. now we want to drive them and enjoy them.. while not an "investment" over time my car will go up and a 2011 shelby or boss will go down..

 

All good points. I think that is why the hot rods, etc and the stock ones can live together. There are always going to be both types.
Stan

 

I've said it before, and I'll say it again..... what someone thinks is cool today, isn't necessarily cool tomorrow. Look at any '70s custom car, when someone built it they thought it was cool, we laugh at them now. Build it the way you want, but I agree with others, if you can't "undo" it easily, don't do it.

 

As far as value, don't expect to recover any of your cost in the "mods". Some people attempt to up-value their cars for sale when they have expensive mods that most others don't really care for or appreciate and then get frustrated when trying to sell the car.

 

Modded cars seem to bring more money than stock ones in the last few years. And I find them way more enjoyable to drive! Do what you want to do.

ps: cars are not a good investment.

Good Luck

 

A vehicle that has been tastefully modded is worth more than one that has been coated with superglue and driven through the Walmart car accessory dept.
If the vehicle is a not low numbers car there is value in modding it.

 

The answer is yes and no.

 

I'd modify an anvil if I could, but that's me. On a serious note, if the car is very unique and "all" there, I would be tempted to keep it original, at least for a few minutes. Point is, do what you want, the attractiveness of a classic will always be in style. Who knows, maybe in another 50 years someone may have a levation conversion kit for old classid Mustangs, that runs on peanuts or soy bean oil. Too bad it's not available now I'd dang sure give it a try.

 

i think it depends on several factors:

1. quality of the workmanship (i.e. a bunch of parts bolted together doesn't always work)
2. do the modifications fit the theme (i.e. 18" rims on an otherwise original car doesn't work).
3. what it's being compared with (i.e. was the car originally a boss 9?)

 

if you dont want to hurt value just keep it "clean" that way you will have more of an audience. if you do labo doors 549876 speakers 5764 subs underglow and 30 tv screens like buddy in a previous thread not many people are going to like it but SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE will and will pay big bucks for it. my state of mind is its your car, enjoy it. worry about selling it later

 

Agreed....If you are building a car to sell it, then you only need to convince one person that it is worth the money. If you are building a car to keep it, then you just have to convince yourself that it is worth it. The "market" can decide the average prices, but the truth is that none of us knows what an individual car is going to sell for.

 

Please tell me no one here did this search for that thread and youll see what i mean

 

I recall several years ago there were 2 black 65 Mustang fastbacks that went thru the same auction and both were fairly equal quality. One was a restomod and the other was stock. The resto brought upper $30's and the stock car just upper $20's. We've all seen the restomods bringing more recently, but I have to agree on a previous key point made - make the changes so it can easily be put back to original. I made all changes to my car so if I want to restore it back to original someday, its not a major $ issue. When I see cutting and welding on a car, I cringe. I cringe too when I see a Chevy engine in a Ford hot rod...it just ain't right.
Also, a little good taste goes a long way.

 

Just my opinion.
If you look at some of the mustangs on this forum. You will find some great inspiration.
I have not found one car on this forum that I would not like to have myself.

 

I would pay more for a car that looks fairly stock but performs alot better than stock.

 

If the mod don't look like it would belong in the 60's or 70's.. I wont' do it.

It has to look right on the car.

I prefer Tasteful restomods. Since my engine/tranny don't match.. I don't shed any tears modding it. Long as your not modding a Stock Numbers Matching 1969 Boss 429 or GT500 or something... I don't see why people get worked up when a car which 70,000+ were made of it gets modded.

 

I don't really care about the value of my car. I don't plan is selling it, so what does it matter? I'm going to have fun with the car, and do it how I like. There are a lot of people that don't like what I've done with my car, and I don't really care. If it ever turns out that I am forced to sell it, there is no doubt that I'll take a hit, but that's just how it goes.

 

This was touched on but there are two variables that are completely independent. The value of the car has been discussed but just how many people are looking to buy that car is not necessarily linked. So, if value to your pocket book when you get bored with the car is your issue, than you want to keep your resto-mod moderate. Anything extreme in any direction cuts down your market size. For instance, how many people want to buy/pay for a 9 second car with no back seat and tiny front tires which push if you hit a corner hard. The more specialized you go - you get the picture. Cars with modified doors e.g. gull wing mustangs - probably only 3 people in the world that might buy that one and you better hope one of them is on Ebay your week. You can also guarantee that it will hit this site...

M

 

That's why you have two sets of wheels and tires, so you can swap them at the track. I love cruising around on my magnum 500s, because from the outside my car appears completely stock and somewhat original. Swap the tires, and I HOPE it'll break 9s. We will see soon.


But I do agree with what you're saying.

 

I just checked with all the mods on VMF and we agree that we haven't changed any of the values on Mustangs. . .oh, those "mods". LOL (Sorry I couldn't help myself.)
Stan