Susp.upgrades & collector value

[cobra0478]

OK,I have searched the forum all I can,most of my questions have ben answered.
I was considering upgrading the complete front susp. to SN95,
for aparent reasons, including some minor damage,from the crash.
My question is this, considering that my car is a hertz car. How will the upgrade affect the value of the car?
Thanks. cobra

[SVOeric]

that is a hard one...

If It was a 84 -86 svo, with 100k miles, and front end damage, I would say GO FOR IT...

But, we are talking hertz car here... (BTW: what is the milage on your car?)

If I were going to buy a HERTZ SVO, I would perfer that it was stock, as I believe most people would.

I think if you convert it, it becomes (while not extremely common) SVO, that has been modified with little add ons..

[cobra0478]

I don't recall exact milage,over 100,000.
I am an old school rodder,and every time I look at the car,I wish it were not special,that is the main reason it has sit for as long as it has without being fixed.
It will probably cost me a couple grand to repair the damage,for the same money it would make 1 badass street rod.
Knowing it is special,& visiting sites dedicated to the SVO,or all that has saved it from a 5.0 clip,& a pounding v-8.
Oh well I guess I will do what I have to do,youall please be patient with me & maby before long we will meet at a show.
Thanks. Don

[SVOeric]

There is always the option of trying to trade your SVO to a SVO owner that wants a collectable car, for one that might not be as collectable...


I know you had tried to sell the car outright.... but you might have better luck trading ?????

BTW: if you are planning a "pounding V8", just stick with a cheap-O 5.0 Mustang .... no reason to go tearing up SVO's to make something there are already hundreds of thousands of out there....

[cobra0478]

I know you are right about tearing up the SVO's,that is why the car still sits.
I do appreciate the collectables,as it is,it sits under the car port,gets dusty,gets washed & driven around the block,&then back to the carport again.
I guess I need to wash it more often,the drive around the block tends to excite me.LOL
I am afraid to sell or trade it,afraid someone will not appreciate it for what it is and destroy it.
Don

[svobud]

Don,

It all depends on what you want to do with the car.

Do you want to restore it to concours condition and show it?

I've got one. It has it's good points and BAD points. Yes, it's cool to have a car that's been restored. It's a nice feeling of accomplishment to look at, sit in, and cruise around in 'on occasion.' People will admire and compliment you and the car when you bring it out. Bad side....fear. Fear of driving and having someone slam into you. Fear of having something break and the idea of replacing that original part becomes VERY expensive. That will also lead to apprehension in having fun driving it....so, now you own a very nice piece of furniture that you keep in the garage. For the most part, I enjoy my white SVO a hell of a lot more than I do the green car.

Then, there's the whole COST of rebuilding it in the first place. It ain't cheap - and every day that passes makes parts that much more difficult to find and thus more expensive.

So, no - if this is your ONLY fun hobby car....and you enjoying driving a SVO - I don't recommend a concours restoration...unless you're looking for collectable status and/or later resale value. A rare - limited production - documented unusual history car that's kept in the closest condition to original as possible will always bring more money that a modified one.

Only problem - IMO - I don't think SVOs will ever appreciate (precentage-wise) to the kind of money earlier model Mustangs have....not anytime soon at least.

Do you want to drive it?

You can get away for awhile with stock parts - but time and use will always cause mechanical parts to wear, fail, and need replacement. The deal for 'replacement' control arms Chris Roth has been working on are great for 'replacement' arms and they retain all stock parts otherwise...and they're servicable - unlike the stock arms.

Do you want to drive to events, autocross, upgrade items, etc?

Yes, the SN95 parts are probably the way to go - if you like to modify without going wild with it. Everything is readily available from parts stores/junkyards/mustang salvage yards....and the replacement of these parts will get cheaper with time. BUT - you have to have some mechanical knowledge/experience if you plan on doing this modification yourself.

I am afraid to sell or trade it,afraid someone will not appreciate it for what it is and destroy it.

well - I'm pretty damn sure the guy I bought mine from had the same feelings. he bought the car for no other reason but to save it from a used car lot. I was lucky to have found it when I did - and buy from someone who was a true enthusiast. You just have to find the right buyer - if you truely want to sell it. There's people out there who love to have that car - exactly because of it's unique history and color....and I seriously doubt many of them would allow that car to become a parts car.

[cobra0478]

Bud, you have repeated to me the same words I have said to myself dozen's of times.
I have been concerned about the preservation of the car since I brought it home & realized what I had.I bought the car for my wife to us as a daily driver,at the time she was destroying a new pickup I had bought for her,when I got rid of that she jumped in my cobra,that almost caused a divorce,that is when I picked up the Svo for her.Once I realized what I had, I tryied to get her out of it,she realy became defiant & more abusive to the car,until she finaly wrecked it.Guess what she drives today?
Anyway, as for as rebuilding the car I have the capabilities,I have turned wrenches all my life,in the beganing ,because I had to, just to be abel to ride,later for the pleasure of bring life back to some old mustang,I am a general machinist by trade,40 years exp.,started doing my on paint & body work @ 20 years ago,because I couldn't find anyone to give the quality I wanted, for the price I was willing to pay.
I have never been into resterations,I am having trouble getting into this one,I don't want to build a car I can't drive,and I do think a car like this should be built & done right.
I guess you probably understand the battle going on inside me over this.
Beyond my internal strugles with my self let me ask you this .
Concidering my capabilities as a machinist,(I haven't looked this way before) what do you think about machining the stock controle arms to accept a replaceable ball joint?
Tell me what you think& I will go look at mine,Bet that would save everyone a bunch of money.Are is there another problem I am not aware of, such as controle arm bushing availability?
I'm going look now tell me what you think.
Don

Just tryed to get a look at controle arm can't tell much with wheel on car, I will look close this weekend.

[SVOPaul]

You must really love your wife because I would have divorced her by now if I were in your shoes! I guess I am lucky because my wife appreciates the cars I put her in(currently a restored 25th anniversary 7up convertible)...but back to the issue at hand.....Bud is right on with his comments. If you must Hot Rod an SVO(and there is nothing wrong with that) then find one that you can modify without guilt. If you ever think you might second guess your actions then it is probably not the way to go...and it is ultimately up to you but given your desire to see the car "done right" then you either have to make the decision to do just that or pass it along to someone who you know will do it right.

On the control arms, I have pulled one apart and the ball joint is part of the arm....it is possible to make something work only if you can source the right sized ball joint and make it work.....the main issue here though is liability....this is a serious safety issue and unless you are willing to take the risk and 110% sure it is completely safe so that nothing comes back to haunt you then I would steer clear of it......if it can be done safely and cost effective then great but I think the way to go is the aftermarket tubular arms that chris has worked on....

[gbeaird]

Another choice is the front Lower control arms that Chris Roth is working on a group purchase for (see parts for sale area). I have a set on order and will note the quality when mine arrive.
You could replace many of the SVO parts with bolt-on aftermarket and store your original parts should you decide to sell it. Just make the car look stock from the outside, and most will be happy.

I am planning on doing a restoration of our SVO later this year. The car has a relatively straight body, and great drivetrain, but looks well-used/abused. I plan on many aftermarket parts, mainly because factory parts are difficult to get and expen$ive when you can get them. I also plan on some performance upgrades I couldn't do when autocrossing the car in G Stock.

I am doing all of this for myself and my wife to enjoy. Should we ever even consider selling the car, the parts in storage will go with it. I don't care if I make a profit, as long as I had fun along the way.

By the way, Paul makes a replacement headlight support and headllight buckets and I think Meier Racing makes a fiberglass replacement hood for the SVO.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas

[indiana dave]

There are many mods that you can undo later

Only make modifications that you can return to stock later if you decide to sell. That's all the kind of modifications I'm making to mine. I'm not doing anything I can't undo. I keep all the original parts I take off up in the attic of the garage.
Ther'e's a lot you can do to an SVO without permanantly altering it.
As far as worrying about getting in an accident. well... Most of the common accident-damaged parts are in the works for reproduction. (The Front & rear bumper covers) Hopefully these will make it into production. Paul already makes the front headlight panel... which I'm waiting to be shipped to me at this time.

[cobra0478]

Thanks ,for allthe feedback on this thd.
I have decided to see how close to original I can keep the car,Seeing as it was original to start with.
this weekend has been set asside to work on it,this morning,after coffee it will be hammer, dollie,torch&ice,gotta see if I can salvage the fenders&hood,I have saved worse before ,I will let you all know how it all works out.
Don

[gbeaird]

Don,

You have taken pictures of the before and after, haven't you? It would be cool to see your handywork.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas

[cobra0478]

Most of the guys here have probably seen the pictures after the wreck,Bud posted a few for me,I am taking progressive pics as I go along,hopefuly I will have a cable connection in a week or so,then I will set up my own site and,post same for interested partys.
If the deal works I will drive to Springfield,MO weekend after next & bring back a front clip for the car.
Don