1968 Camaro Restoration

[Euge1960]

Hi everyone,

I am the proud owner of a 1968 Camaro convertible and am in the process of having it fully restored.  It's an ordinary Camaro - not an RS, SS - that I've had for over 25 years now and, other than routine maintenance, have never had any major work done to it.  In fact, it had been sitting in my garage for the last 15 years and used very little.

I have no restoration experience and no mechanical expertise. My family keeps me pretty busy, and so I've brought the car to a restoration specialist in order to have it professionally restored from top to bottom and put back into "showroom" condition. The job has been underway for 6 months and is progessing well.

The car has roughly 120,000 miles on it.  The body was in extremely rough shape. The transmission and engine have been completely rebuilt.  The project has been very well documented with 100s of photographs.

Needless to say, the costs have added up quickly - particularly since I'm not doing any of the work myself.  Being somewhat naive with projects like this, I'm slighlty concerned that I may be overpaying. Currently, the total cost is at around $100K with about another 2 months (and another $40-50K) to go.  So, my simple question - how much would you expect it to reasonably cost for a full top to bottom restoration like this - done by a reputable and experienced professional.

Any insights or opinions would be appreciated. I'd also be happy to provide further details. 

Thanks!

       

[ccargo]

Thats not funny 

[Tinkerr]

Hi,
 You have exceded the three estimates I got on my restoration project(68rsss).We're replacing all the panels save for the roof and the floors.I have purchased all GM NOS body panels through the years and stored them until I was ready to have them installed.Paint and body work will be 20-25k. Motor rebuild including replacing missing orig. parts approx. 5k.
I'm assembling the sub frame,bolting in the motor and trans,sending out the upholstery work and doing the chrome and trim myself.All told I'll probably have 50k in it when its complete over 2 years.I will enjoy some savings by doing some of the work myself,but your looking at spend 100k more than me thats outrageous.Some of the high end museum pieces don't cost that to restore.I contacted a nationally recognized Camaro restorer in Texas in my phone conversation,sight unseen,just my description,he estimated 50-75k,drop it off and pick it up complete.There is a restorer on this web-site periodically and he'd love to have your business.He just finished a L-78 big block car thats going straight to a museum. It was so rusty they replaced everything including the roof and it wasn't 150k.

[SS375HP]

I am a restorer that has completed five first generation Camaros, all of which were rotisserie restored way beyond “showroom condition”.  I understand that each restoration project is different. I understand that it is impossible to precisely estimate what the restoration cost will be. I perform each restoration project charging for time spent and materials used.

It is true that the price of original parts have gone through the roof. I’ve also seen the price of first quality paint jobs escalating to nearly $20K.

Even so, I just can’t imagine a 68 convertible being restored for $150K.

I’d like to see how your restorer has justified the costs. Do you get a detailed invoice showing where your money is going?

[lakeholme]

Not only is it not funny, it sounds like a crime!
Please post back and tell us you are joking!

[Euge1960]

It's no joke.  I wish that it was.  I'm in the process of trying to sort out a few alternatives for resolving this in a fair and amicable manner.  If anyone has any advice, I'm all ears. 

[69 4 Speed]

OUCH!!

[furor]

I spent 40K in 2 years to have my 68 Z28 rotisserie restored to showroom new. All of which was done in a professional restoration shop, I did nothing myself.

[zigman]

how can owners of body shops that do that sleep at night knowing they have ripped off another customer????omg, i feel sorry for you euge

[project69]

why are you guys paying so much?...i mean whats all the money going towards?...my 69 is getting every panel replaced, for under 1k....and within a 3 week period...

[CamaroMaster]

Every replacement panel delivered to my shop was only $4200.00   from NPD. Essentially an unassemble Dynacorn body plus all the bolt on sheet metal.
For $9995.00 you can buy to whole thing assembled.

[firstgenaddict]

A top of the line Paint job alone can run you $20k.
Most full blown restorations by a Highly Acclaimed Specialized Restoration shop will cost between 50-100k, depending on how many parts are missing.
Finding the missing parts is becoming more and more difficult...especially if you are doing a low production car.
 

[lakeholme]

I think the moral of this story is
--Get your info. together before you start...
--It pays to shop around...
--Set limits...
--Ask CRG!

[dab67]

Euge:
 I waited until I saw comments from fellow CRG members and to say the least in my opinion and the opinion of one of my friends who does restoration for a living,,,,,,,,,, you got took. He just completed a 1967 convertible (rotisserie) and the total cost including rebuilding the 327 with some extra pop was $30K!!!!!!! This cost included front fenders, full rear quarters,roof, floor in trunk and a complete interior and all electrical wiring. Like you stated, your car is nothing special in the sense of it being a Z, Copo or a Yenko so I can not fathom how this shop can "justify" these costs.

Tell us that you are in error and the cost is no where near that amount.

dab67