I’ll chime in on restoration shops, I believe many times the prices seem high because everything is easy from your desk, or your lazy boy. The people complaining have probably never worked with toxic chemicals or done physical labor, they see a part time gardener or ditch digger getting low hourly pay and assume everyone who works with their hands should too.
I personally had isocyanate issues from paint and can’t work with it anymore. (So I know that possible cost) As much as the prices will kill me to pay, when the time comes, I also understand just how much work goes into doing a car correctly. It’s not just the labor, it’s the knowledge , it’s the tools , it’s the storage, it’s the real estate to do it all and it’s the time chasing parts. Even myself I forget just how much time goes into it, because when it’s your own car some of that is already covered because it’s your home or your business expenses your already covering, plus parts chasing is kinda fun (well not for me but for some) a restoration shop has to roll all that cost into each car

That being said I have seen some absolutely outrageous prices (for a regular guy to pay) thrown out by some restoration shops, plus you’d be upside down even in a very valuable car. For some money isn’t an object and that’s where those prices come from the cost to KNOW a guys reputation and know how it’s gonna come out and not be sold or stolen, or in auto body jail is well worth being upside down. Give it a few years the market will catch up anyway, right.

So there’s a little of both out there I guess depends which person you are what category you fall into. The old saying holds true there’s an azz for every seat nothings changed it always has and always will suck for those without the coin for the finer things in life and high end muscle cars have turned into the finer things in life.
I’m just happy I bought mine in the late 80s and early 90s just wish I’d bought all the parts I needed then too. Still glad I raced the heck out of them though.

That’s my .02 cents and it’s probably only worth .01 at best ��

What really amazes me in recent years are the people that pay $300k-$500k or more to have a custom Pro-Touring car built up to that days current fads only to sell it a few years later when those fads have passed for $150k but then complain about a $125k restoration where the value of their car increases every year. I don't get it. I eat a TON of labor on restorations but bill for every minute on a Pro-Touring car with no issues. Go figure!

It went for $220,000 with commission.

It was a neat car. I knew Kenny Papa of Papa's Dodge way back in the early 1980's when he put on a show in Farmington, Connecticut every May. It was THE go-to Mopar show in the region. Everybody would debut their latest over-the-winter restorations at that show. And he had that black on black T/A there every year. I think he owned it since the late 1970's, as well as the blue Superbird. Here's a couple photos of the car from his 1982 show, so he had it for at least 40 years.

The only car that surprised me was how low the 1 of 12 produced, 1971 hemi/automatic Challenger went for. ($115,500 with commission).

Papa's Dodge is still in business in CT to this day.

https://www.mecum.com/auctions/kissi...pa-collection/

thanks for posting that challenger!! what a great car and history. To me, I can see the price as its got the rare color combo, 4 spd, and its a real car. Wont find another easily.

Love the big tires in front!

That is a great comment. Most people don't get the big picture when it comes to preservation OR restoration of the real ones. Doing these cars accurately costs cubic money. And, where are the REAL untouched cars to start with?

So we build a $350K restomod, then in 5 years doesn't it just look like one of the Pro-Street cars on the cover of Hot Rod in 1986? Who likes tweed seats and door panels right now? Will we like a 2022 Resto-Mod 64 Corvette that has been converted to look like a 67, any more 20 years down the road?

My son just turned 4. Every new toy that comes through the shop...first comment from the boy is, "Dad, when can we drive it?"

That's exactly my take, crazy money being spent, when you can spend a million on a car it's chump change!

1969 Daytonna
 

HI heres what 1.3 million gets you .. some one replace the trunk floor ..Can you imagine scraping all that duraguard off.

I will say this on the car prices. First, many of us our out of touch with the people that have lots of funds. If there are people out there that can buy $100K suburbans, is it really a stretch to think there aren't people out there to buy a $100K car they like even if over priced?

I was shocked the other day on a ride from the airport in California, I asked the driver for details on a new suburban I was in. It had the most quiet diesel, super loaded. He said it was 100k or so, maybe over 100K. There is one example.

If a suburban can cost $100K, I see no reason now a killer rare black challenger T/A 4 spd (with restoration costs done right) can go for 200K plus.

I still think that orange L78 camaro that went for 181K is a form of a hunter biden painting on wheels. That one makes no sense.

The black on black T/A Challenger was unrestored. Same condition as when I last saw it 40+ years ago. Not original paint but repainted in the early 1980's most likely. A very cool time capsule.

My old 71 sunroof car went for $550,000. I sold it to Kevin Greene in 1994 for $54,000. That was a good amount back then. (I thought).

918% gain in 29 years, give or take a percentage.


https://www.mecum.com/lots/FL0123-53...er-rt-sunroof/