Whats more important?

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63split

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I've located a clean body coupe, with very little rust that I can see in the pictures. The interior on the other hand needs some love. Would you guys lean to clean sheet metal as a priority over a clean interior?
To me the metal work is more involved, but I'm not aware of what the interiors cost on these cars. Are there any hard to get pieces? Any words of advice i the interior cost?
Thanks!
 
Definitely go with a clean and relatively rust free body. Rust repair, new body panels, body work, and paint can run into the tens of thousands. One can refurbish or source a nice complete leather interior, door cards, headlining, carpeting, dash parts, refinishing wood, and a nice steering wheel for about $10K or less.
 
my two cents
considering that of course rust is a big issue in these cars i would like to setthe point to the question of how important is originality for you
i mean, almost all the interior parts you canlook at are NLA, that means that when you restore the interior youwill basically altere the original specs to a beautiful good looking renewed car
and in the other hand rust can be cut, weld, and paint
this is not solving your question, but probably is giving you more information to build your solution
regards
 
Plus, since most of the interior bits are made of either metal or wood, not specialty plastics, they can be replicated or replaced with enough time and patience.
 
63split said:
I've located a clean body coupe, with very little rust that I can see in the pictures.
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I agree with the replies that said: "Go for the rust-free body, not for the clean interior". From my experience, interiors take much less time & money than rust repair and the resulting re-paint.

Having said that, the words "rust that I can see in the pictures" jumped out at me. Keep in mind that pictures don't always show the rust that is present. Have a hands-on inspection performed - preferrably by a pro - before assuming that a coupe is rust-free.
 
Understood on all points. From what I can tell the car would need paint, which I don't mind to much, at least I can paint it what ever color I want. After seeing some of the samples in the for sale section with a fare amount of rust on the fenders the coupe I'm looking a looks really clean rust wise but I would need to see it in person to know for sure. The headliner is missing, but the seats have been recovered, but again I would need to see it to know if it was done well.
I think I need to see it and make a list of what I need to bring it to a respectable driver, and then see what a finished and done car would cost.
So torn, part of me wants to build a car and the other part (including my wife) would rather just have it done.
 
63split said:
...the car would need paint, which I don't mind to much, at least I can paint it what ever color I want.
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Yes, you could do a color change. But don't minimize how big a job that is - you need to pull the engine, gut the trunk, remove much of the interior, pull the glass, .... to change a car's color. Nothing looks worse than opening the trunk of a red car, and having it be green inside!
 
Combine rust free Arizona car with toasted interior with dissolved E9 from Maine or Vermont that has good rubber and leather.

Works with all brands. Never buy a rusted out car. As an Ex Montrealer I have a serious aversion for Rust. The worst thing that can happen to any car.
 
echappe said:
the interior bits might be NLA but this gentleman is in LA which is very close to some very large parts stashes
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If you are in SoCal, do yourself a favor and have the car inspected at LaJolla Independent or Coupeking. Both shops know these cars inside out and can tell you if you indeed have a solid coupe. In addition, they have a stash of just about any interior bit you could want.

And jmackro is right, a color change (done right) is no small undertaking and leads to a lot of "might as well" stuff that adds up too.
 
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