My '82 Prelude: restore or replace? (2nd post attempt)

Hi, Folks,

I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.

I've had two paint jobs, same color, with body work chasing the usual
rust sites in the wheel wells and leading/trailing edges of the cab. I
crumpled the passenger door recently, which has hurried forward the
third rust-chase/repaint (last done in '99). Now, with factory, Maaco,
and '99's base coat/clear coat, I have three layers and a piece of
work ahead.

I have about $5K to put into a car, and that's what a local,
lacquer-only Richmond, VA gentleman wants for a
bumpers/windshields/light housings dis-assembly, rust-plug (with
metal), and then a sand-to-metal, four-plus coats silver lacquer,
three coats clear coat. He seems to do very good work, and it will
take a month. (Second old car available.)

I could go for it, or buy a $5K "pre-wrecked" ten year-old something
or other.

My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
say goodbye to the old girl?

Many thanks,

Travis

 

why dont you just take the 5k and buy like a 95 accord, then store the
prelude if you are worried about it becoming valuable in the future. just
take the wheels off and store it in the garage. this way you get a better
reliable car and you can collect any parts you need over the years from
ebay.

 

I would kiss it and kick it good-bye

 

I wouldn't be that drastic with it, but I agree. The Prelude will never
become an expensive classic car because it was mass produced (about 40k
a year). Look at some of the prices for similar cars from the 50s-70s,
few are worth more than $20k. If they are in unrestored mint condition
they may be worth higher, but your Prelude has already been repainted a
few times. Are you willing to wait 20-30 years for the Prelude to gain
so little value?

For $5k you can probably purchase a 10-ish year old Prelude or Integra,
an even newer Civic coupe or a number of other cars (most of which would
be faster than your Prelude, and less maintenance).

Cosmin

 

Alas, no sentiment appears capable of altering the cruel facts. I
guess it's time to let the little old girl go. Sniff. Thanks for
responding.

Travis