Cost of nut and bolt restoration on Lamborghini?

Strongly depends on whether you want it
a) to shine in all places like a polished diamond ,
b) to run perfectly and be suitable for a transcontinetal blast without any worries, or
c) both (the transcontinental blast theoretically only, think of flies, stone chips, dirt in tires, rain, dust, wife eating crispy things on the passenger seat, etc.).

a) Is for if you want so sell or "collect" (=never drive it). Then about 100 k should be sufficient, because technical issues are left aside and the optics is attended to only (at highest level).

b) Is for if you want to drive and enjoy, and do not matter that signs of use are there and additional ones will appear in the future. Then even significantly less than 100 k might be sufficient, depending on the (technical) condition you are starting with.

c) Is for the perfectionist. Then you can calculate in a 200 k to 300 k range. BUT: to maintain this condition you should not use it and non-use will result in technical failures. Restoration to some account will be needed every few years, accordingly, so or so .

All assuming that you give the job to a competent shop and do nothing yourself.

 

Any reputable shop should be quoting you $250k + the metal work for a full restoration. Old Lambo's need a LOT of it. It won't be factory correct either. Modern metal working is WAY better than factory.

 

You are west coast - contact Steve at Driven Exotics. None better and fair price

 

Wait they don't have the body buck to make the panels by beating them by hand? haha

 

Costs aside, what is also the strategy applies by owners? One main shop for assembly and disassembly and holds the car and instructing the sending fo various sub elements to other shops? One single stop shop?

Without ranking and judging , what are the choices of places worlwide to get a sucessful restoration done for what level? Clearly a $250K restoration is only for the non driven show cars. Not everyone wants that or want to spend that kind of money to build a car they will no longer drive. The day I stop driving my car is the day I will sell it. There is no fun in watching only.

This thread could be a go to guide restoration for CT from those who went thru it.

 

We have seen nut and bolt, with some metal work, done for 150K. Show winners.
Just remember....same work, different shops.

We know what interior cost. We know what mechanicals cost. Rest is the car itself.

We have seen shops totally rip off the owner with cost. Then there are many good shops.

 

It really strongly depends on the owner and his knowledge and/or abilities.

A cut nut with two left hands is presumably served best by one single stop shop, because he/she then has only one responsible person in case something goes wrong. The one shop is responsible for everything and has full liability.

I, in contrast, have the knowledge and the facilities to check what a specialized shop has done. E.g. checking that the planing of the cylinder heads has been done properly and to the least possible material loss. If the shop guy would get something wrong, I would notice and get him at his ***. Like this with all separate jobs.

The difference is in $$$ naturally. The single shop has to manage quite a lot of logistics, work flows etc.. This is quite an effort adding to the actual handycraft work and rightfully is paid additionally.

 

Actually after re-reading your question, your words "a decent car". No way should it be anywhere near 250k. Maybe not even 200k or 150k.

A trainwreck, like some of the 350/400's we've seen is the big buck jobs. Even a Countach that we saw when you see its body panela all come off. Like down to the skeleton.

 

Well, he asked for a nut and bolt restauration (I suppose meaning that the result is concourse). Then the difference is not all too large, whether you start (his post assumed this) with a "decent" car, or a good project car. E.g. all nuts and bolts will be replaced in both cases ...

To make a neglected, but complete, car roadworthy, reliable and nice looking, (= "decent" as the result, not the starting point) even 100k would be a rather high number and include a full engine rebuild.

 

100k-150k is quite cheap for a total restoration including repaint. This which usually take one year. Hourly labor cost alone will be quite high.

 

This. They've never done a restoration and have no clue as to the effort and skill necessary to conduct metal work to the level required for "nut and bolt" restoration. Especially for a car with no/very few parts available.

 

Yes , I have a very good idea of what they "normally charge" and more importantanly the quality of the work. Driven Exotics did a "mini retro" on my '98 Diablo SV Monterey Ed, turned out perfect. Pm me if you want details. But if Valentino has a question about a Muira, COUNTACH, or Diablo, he talks to Steve, aka Driven Exotics
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Ian,

What an interesting topic.

Unfortunately, I think you'll get as many answers to this as there are posters. The reason is, a nut & bolt restoration means different things to different people, as does the proverbial decent car.

So too, there are so many variables that need to be taken into account to adequately answer your question, and they range from the true condition of the car, the knowledge & resources of the owner, the specific restorer/s being considered, to the desired goals of the restoration. Frankly, as many scenarios as you can dream up will result in equally different outcomes.

By the way, one notion I'd like to take the time to dispel is that erroneous one that a car that is restored at a cost of $250,000 is done for for the purpose of static display only. I can personally attest (as can many clients) that this notion is a patently false one for many. Many restored cars are restored explicitly so they can be used and enjoyed reliably for years to come.

Whichever path you choose, its not an endeavor for the faint of heart, or the light of wallet.

 

Whos' "they've"?

 

Very well said, the key is knowing what your intentiones are with your car,as far as use, before you buy and start the process, if driving as much as poss,give it a solid mecanical go thru, and worry about minor imperfections less.drive and enjoy, iTrailer queen,Pebble, or sunday show, go all the way, mho.

 

Depends on what level of restoration you want. The car that is being restored. Also why do want to restore one? Like buying a basket case and turning it into a good driver isn't a "cheap" way into an exotic.

 

For example me *looool*

One problem for cutting costs is that some "specialized" workshops try to keep everything secret, tell fairy tale about efforts, never would provide information about resources and recommend conversions or "improvements", where their own resources, skills and equipment do not match the actual requirements.

There are exceptions of this, though, very respectable ones.

Aside this, what Joe says is all too true.

Cheers, Bernhard

 

This will surely be one of the most interesting threads in a LONG time.

I would however urge contributors to this thread to post examples of cars that "show off" the monies spent and what this has contributed to its value. Any and all claims of an approximate amount of monies for a restoration SHOULD be followed up by "how good is it"!

On my travels the last 10 years, I have inquired with some of the top names in the restoration business. The answers varied, but on average, the following sums came up for a complete restoration, body and paint, interior, complete mechanical rebuild (basically A to Z):
300t euros in Europe.
300t dollars in the States.

The results on some of the cars however do NOT represent monies well spent and this is where the difference lies. NOT how much it costs, but how well the job has been executed.

 

That!

 

That too!

It would seem everyone is right. There are so many variations that we simply can not pinpoint a number.

But in the end, they all wind up costing more than expected

 

Having been down this road a few times, I would say that for a Countach, you should budget $50/60k for parts/materials and a par of around 1,000 hrs. (Skilled) time. This is to do a car that is complete and hasn't had any serious previous damage.

 

Agreed.

 

It seems to me, that amount would be for a touch-up/refresh on an already great car.

By comparison (apples & oranges maybe), Fantomworks had restorations on a pedestrian Corvette and Impala that exceeded $100K. Plus $125k for a Studebaker truck.