How long was your car apart?

[Mark E.]

Michael Leonard shared in another post today his '69 has been apart 15 years, and counting.

This is embarrassing to admit, but I took my '70 apart in 1993 and it wasn't drivable again until 2015. That's 22 years, and it's still not finished. Most of this time the project was idle because of unexpected life events. You know, stuff like an ex-wife, moving, a stint of urban condo living, launching a business, finding a new partner, moving again. But I kept the faith and the car with the intention of finishing it.

The good news is I got smart and prioritized the work required to make it safe and legal to drive on public roads. Otherwise it would be 25 years and counting. I'm getting used to driving it without door panels or a console. Or working AC. But that's minor stuff and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. (Which reminds me, I got the fiber optics working!)

So how long was your car apart? I can use the inspiration. Or a good smack in the head with the reality of how slow I am.

[Ed H.]

Re: How long was your car apart?



Since 1983, but we're getting close!

[Allen N.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

Hi Mark,

I started taking my 70 apart in early 2016, but I try to make some progress every week in restoring it.

It was great to see you and your car in Austin.

Allen

[Richard G.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

Purchased my 1963 in 1978. Wife used to drive it to work. Paid 4K for the car, 80% of new value on a 15 year old car.
Resale has always been good on these cars.
Body mods but the drive train was left untouched.
Took body off the frame in 1980, restored the frame. Body put back on but nothing else done.
Divorce, children and lack of funds or space took up the next 35+ years.
Will be on the road again this summer. 38 years down on a car I have owned for 40 last January.
If it took any longer i would likely have died by then. LOL.
Rick

[Michael F.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

over 30 years

[Ian G.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

You guys make me feel much better about my 59 in pieces 11 years and counting

[Irby G.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

18 years and counting.

[Brian K.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

Wow only 3 years so far, frame, engine and all components done and installed on frame. Got half the body work done and close to dropping body back on frame. Medical issues have slowed me down.

[Gene M.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

I’m assuming your referring to the time to perform a complete body off restoration. My white/white 67 took two years plus a little but I’m retired. Understand I do not send anything out other than plating and engine machining work. Everything is done in my garage by me.

Prior to retirement about 4 years per car. One car done for another guys was a team effort. With a friend working on body while I did the rest prior to retirement the soonest was 1 year but we were on that ‘67 constantly and during vacation too. Not a good scenario with the other half for neither of us............. but all’s good when done. We never did that again.

[Tom B.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

I took my '59 apart in 1971 because of a lot of paint hiding body damage. I got a lot done over the years but there was a long stretch where it was just in storage. I had it nearly ready to paint and it was running and driving just before it went into storage do to life events. Now that I'm retired and have a proper shop it is in line for finishing once I get my shop truck running. I guess that's 47 years.

Tom

[Donald O.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

All that counts is getting them put back together and on the road.

Don

[Greg M.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

My 1960 was apart for 44 years. I bought it in 1998 as a project, finished it in 2016. I often wondered if it would be worth it, but after finishing it, it has a chapter top flight, a regional top flight and a first in class and peoples choice at the McPherson College show three weeks ago. First picture is at the McPherson Show, second picture is at the Newton, Iowa Regional last May. Definitely worth it! Git er done and enjoy it!

[Tom K.]

[Michael L.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

A little additional background on my 69 Mark mentioned as the inspiration for this post. Prior to my purchasing it in 2002 It had been parked for about ten years and the tranny was out of it (it had been rebuilt and was ready to go back in) but it was otherwise totally intact survivor car. The first five or so years the car was in a shop that I entrusted to do the resto. Shame on me I didn't adequately research him and he screwed me over, disappearing at one point for nearly six months without a word. I eventually recovered the car and the parts after engaging a lawyer and the police. When I picked it up finally it was barely a rolling chassis (done very poorly) and the body was on a cart. Everything else came back in a few dozen boxes and literally several buckets of bolts. When I got the car back I decided to do the restoration myself and had to take apart the car once again and start over from scratch. During this process I got sidetracked on another car restoration (a 69 AMX) that tied me up for 5-6 years. I got back on the corvette a couple of years ago and am pushing to have it done before my son graduates from high school in one year.

[Al R.]

Re: How long was your car apart?

The wife's 67 was apart for 15 years. Raising children, sports for them, college years (extra work to pay for both of them), weddings, and starting the restoration of a 44 Ford GPW Jeep. Side note--the wife stopped the jeep restoration dead in it's tracks and informed me her 67 would be finished 1st--that was in 2015 and the jeep project is still ongoing. Stay with it It will happen one day!!