Restore or Purchase already restored?

Well if you're talking about '55-57's it's MUCH cheaper to buy one already restored. I've been down this road before. It is getting almost impossible to find a straight rust free body and the replacement sheet metal for the 55-57's is pricey. The Bel Air's also have a lot of chrome and stainless trim, all of which usually either has to be polished, plated, or replaced, also very expensive. You're also not very likely to find an unrestored car that still has it's original drive train. Most of the ones that have not been restored to original are either not worth doing anything with or have already been given the street rod treatment.

Try and get a straight back---rather than a trunk hump.. Look in the Hemmings Auto Magazine.

There are shops that restore back to original condition. I guess you like the camel hair interior. I do to. Shop around and find a car in original condition with the 6 cyl engine and. Let then have it. Get it back in about one year. The Pontiac and the Oldsmobile and Chevy all the same with interchangeable body parts and drive train. Olds & Pont might a little rarer than the chev and better for resale when the time comes. Good Luck.

Cheaper to let the shop restore the car---might take you 3 years to do it your self. Got to have skilled friends to do body work and paint or a waste of time. . Paint to orignial color that is on the title.

I had a 69 in HS back in 2001 when I graduated. I will say DO NOT MAKE IT YOUR FIRST CAR. Mine was always doing engine swaps and all the happy crap that comes along with it. I ended up selling it with a 427 TH400 and a 9'' in the rear a couple years ago. I moved on to other cars now. Worry about what your going to do when you graduate and wait till your in your mid 20's when you have even more knowledge on what works and what you want. Face it these classics that old guys are asking huge money for now, when they get older and die or cant drive it anymore, most kids are going to be clueless about how they work and they are going to want the cash not the car. All in all the best words of advice is if your going to do a project, find out with nice paint and interior and go from there, it will save you money in the long run. Or find somebodies half done project to add your own touch. Dont buy a basket case for cheap and restore it or its going to cost you twice as much as buying one in the long run.

ON the PS..Yes, Buy the restored one as close as you can to what you want, then put it back into original conditon, as long as it was not cut up. Have restored three cars..VERY EXPENSIVE in time and money. It's the little things that KILL YOU.

Good luck

alway cheaper to buy what u want...and a stock old car is usually better priced then a hopped up one..looking for and instaling the old original parts costs big....i bought a 69 chevelle for 3200 and spent 5000 on it and sold it for 4000..unless u love to work on cars for hobby buy it built....have u looked at Hemmings Motor News???

Your probably better off trying to find one that had been done for stock show.

They will be done to high standards, and it will be in as close to stock as possible, including overspray battery, engine HP,etc...

I wish you the best of luck - I love the old box Chevy's.

I also like to see them back to original, and they are out there, and they are for sale.