Originally Posted by HairToStay

A proper paint job will cost you in excess of $8k. A Maaco paint job on a classic can be spotted from a mile away. To be done properly you need to remove everything, patch and sand, prime, put on many coats and then clearcoat it to death. Looking at that car there is more than surface rust.

Also, the roof, hood and cowl area is pretty rusty. What's under the car? How are the trunk pans? How are the floor pans? Retinning isn't cheap.

Can you get pics under the hood? Does the engine pass the compression check? What type of interior work do you think it needs? I know, you can't get it on a lift to take pics, right? But you NEED to .... get a mechanic to go over it with you. Let him/her crawl under and inspect from the gas tank forward. Let him/her check the engine, tranny, wiring and frame. A qualified mechanic will know where to look for rust, i.e. bottom of doors, rocker panels.

Don't go by eBay. Those are most likely concours restorations, rotisserie restorations or just done almost correct. They are also generally overpriced.

$4k is what you plan to spend? Triple that and it's not even done. Been there, done that.

And remember, at $4 a gallon of gas, a V8 drinks gas like an alcoholic at an open bar. Classic car folks are not as apt to cruise around in a V8 due to the price of gas. At the cruise nights I go to weekly the talk always centers around the fact so many guys can't afford to just take out their cars and cruise as they did in years past.