So heres the plan, me and my best mate are thinking of building a vlt over the next 5 years, nothing too extreme, but a nice clean streeter for weekend fun. My question is who out there would recommend building one from the groud up opposed to buying one already half way there and completeing it? I was thinking our best option would be to buy a rolling shell and start from there and wait for a motor to become available in due time. We want to stick with an sl base, as i dont want all the calais elec options. Main reason we want to go ground up is so we know everything that has been done to the car has been done while we've owned it, not from someone else. Any feedback would be much appreciated Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Quote: Originally Posted by Walky [View Post] So heres the plan, me and my best mate are thinking of building a vlt over the next 5 years, nothing too extreme, but a nice clean streeter for weekend fun. My question is who out there would recommend building one from the groud up opposed to buying one already half way there and completeing it? I was thinking our best option would be to buy a rolling shell and start from there and wait for a motor to become available in due time. We want to stick with an sl base, as i dont want all the calais elec options. Main reason we want to go ground up is so we know everything that has been done to the car has been done while we've owned it, not from someone else. Any feedback would be much appreciated if you can buy one finished do it end of story Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

you're talking about a money pit buying already done or half done will save a fortune plus leave you plenty of $ in case something isn't quite what you'd like

the purpose of building one is so its our own, we want a project, im not interested in a completed vehicle.

Quote: Originally Posted by Walky [View Post] the purpose of building one is so its our own, we want a project, im not interested in a completed vehicle. you asked for an opinion you got it, if you don't like our opinion don't ask for it if you want a project take up something like getting kids of drugs or finding commission housing for unfortunate people it will be far more rewarding

your best bet would be to buy one as close to original as possible, and tear it all down and rebiuld it, that way you know how everthing should be because you tore it down yourself. starting from a bare shell is very hard, and finishing someone elses project can be even harder, because of the butchering most people do to them. also finding parts etc. for a bare shell can be a real pain in the ass, which is so much easier when you start with an untouched, original car with all the bits attached.

all i said was that im not interested in a complete car, end of story

imho the term "building one" is wrong people repaint, change the drivetrain and often the interior, that's not 'building' a car but yeah get an unfinished project or a finished one and change it to what you want, it's still a project and you'll save tens of thousands of $

Quote: Originally Posted by tha don [View Post] your best bet would be to buy one as close to original as possible, and tear it all down and rebiuld it, that way you know how everthing should be because you tore it down yourself. starting from a bare shell is very hard, and finishing someone elses project can be even harder, because of the butchering most people do to them. also finding parts etc. for a bare shell can be a real pain in the ass, which is so much easier when you start with an untouched, original car with all the bits attached. yeh, that has been my main concern about buying one semi completed. I just dont want to buy a reasonably modified one and then tear it all down but stock ones are only getting harder to find so its a bit of a catch 22

The only people who are keen to ground up resto cars, are people who havent done it before. I would never do it again. Waste of time, and money.

Quote: Originally Posted by Epitaph [View Post] The only people who are keen to ground up resto cars, are people who havent done it before. I would never do it again. Waste of time, and money. esp with a mate and over 5 years as you suggest well said kane

I hate cars now

also, what if you and your mate have a falling out or disagree on something during the build?

and who is going to drive it if and when it ever gets finished ? or started?

Quote: Originally Posted by aus880 [View Post] esp with a mate and over 5 years as you suggest well said kane My car has been painted 3 times (purple twice, green once), had 3 motors, 3 gearboxes, 2 diffs, 2 retrims, 3 sets of wheels, countless gauges and fiddly bits. It's been 6 years and i couldnt give a fark about cars anymore. And it's not quite finished.

Ok so from the point of buying a stock-ish car, removing the motor, rebuilding the motor, stripping the car, spraying the car would be an easier and cheaper path to go down?

This is layered in problems 1, Building with a mate, may aswell punch each other in the face, and never speak to each other again right no, will save time cause it will happen. 2, over 5 years you will change your mind so many times you wont be able to laugh about it, new products, new technology will come out, you wont be happy with the car. 3, just throw 30k each onto the fire, it would be more enjoyable to watch it burn than to spend it on a vl.

dont forget. in a long term thing, trends change. the paint color that you painted the shell 2-4 years ago may now be over done, wheels, etc the same. what was fast 5 years ago is no longer that fast, but is the norm

cheapest path is to buy an unfinished project, it means some of the expensive stuff is already done and the seller will recoup about 1/3 of what it cost alternatively buy a faded old shell or broken down VL for almost zero $ and away you go any other way and you're wasting more time and $

lol @ 88 Chaser, "i hate cars". Like everyone else said it's very expensive to build a car from the ground up, but in the end you will have the satisfaction of going, "that's my car, i built it" & no one will be saying "that was this persons car before you owned it." But if you're gonna start a project they become very expensive because workshops/people will muck you around. Ask 88 Chaser or Epitaph, i'm sure they have had some big set back with their project cars.