My father gave me a tip yesterday that his job got a 1997 Ford Mustang v6 in on a trade-in. He knows that I'm looking for a 2nd Mustang as a daily-driver (new or older) so that's the reason why he let me know. I went by his job this morning to check it out and let me just say, it looks like this 'Stang was abused in the worse kind of way. I'm not good at estimating what have happened to cars are anything like that but to me it looks like the car was t-boned and rear ended at some point. The door and fender on the passenger side is crushed in a good bit. On the bright side that seems to be the biggest problems of the car. On the minor side it seems as if part of the exhaust has been rusted through, side skirt on the passenger side is destroyed, the interior is horribly stained and the control panel for the equipment on the passenger side is broken as well. The good things is that the 3.8L engine sounds very solid with 146,600 miles and performed well in the short run I had it out. The stock stereo sounds very o.k. and still has the mAch radio set up even if the double deck tape deck/cd deck is a little weird to me (what was Ford thinking) and all the electrical components seem to be working. If I was to estimate I think it would about take $4500 - $6500 to return the car to near factory position and this is just estimating taking the car to a body shop and letting them order the parts.
My dad and I are confident that some stuff we could do at the garage at his job and I know there are a ton of parts out there in the market that I could get for fairly cheap since the car is fairly old and they are plentiful in the market. My dad's boss wants to sell the car for $1,100 and I told my dad to see if he could talk his boss down to the $500 - $800 range. While it's driveable off the lot, there's a lot of work that will need to be put into the car which is why I feel the price needs to be a little lower.
So here's my question, the car can be restored but should I do it? Is it worth it to restore a '97 Mustang? I mean I know it's not technically a classic but could become an ugly duckling story if in the right hands. I realize the money that I could potentially put into this 'Stang could be used as a down payment on a new(er) Mustang or to even continue modifying my current Mustang or even pay off some of the remaining debt on my current Mustang.
My father gave me a tip yesterday that his job got a 1997 Ford Mustang v6 in on a trade-in. He knows that I'm looking for a 2nd Mustang as a daily-driver (new or older) so that's the reason why he let me know. I went by his job this morning to check it out and let me just say, it looks like this 'Stang was abused in the worse kind of way. I'm not good at estimating what have happened to cars are anything like that but to me it looks like the car was t-boned and rear ended at some point. The door and fender on the passenger side is crushed in a good bit. On the bright side that seems to be the biggest problems of the car. On the minor side it seems as if part of the exhaust has been rusted through, side skirt on the passenger side is destroyed, the interior is horribly stained and the control panel for the equipment on the passenger side is broken as well. The good things is that the 3.8L engine sounds very solid with 146,600 miles and performed well in the short run I had it out. The stock stereo sounds very o.k. and still has the mAch radio set up even if the double deck tape deck/cd deck is a little weird to me (what was Ford thinking) and all the electrical components seem to be working. If I was to estimate I think it would about take $4500 - $6500 to return the car to near factory position and this is just estimating taking the car to a body shop and letting them order the parts.
My dad and I are confident that some stuff we could do at the garage at his job and I know there are a ton of parts out there in the market that I could get for fairly cheap since the car is fairly old and they are plentiful in the market. My dad's boss wants to sell the car for $1,100 and I told my dad to see if he could talk his boss down to the $500 - $800 range. While it's driveable off the lot, there's a lot of work that will need to be put into the car which is why I feel the price needs to be a little lower.
So here's my question, the car can be restored but should I do it? Is it worth it to restore a '97 Mustang? I mean I know it's not technically a classic but could become an ugly duckling story if in the right hands. I realize the money that I could potentially put into this 'Stang could be used as a down payment on a new(er) Mustang or to even continue modifying my current Mustang or even pay off some of the remaining debt on my current Mustang.
So is it worth it or should I pass?
Depends on how you define worth!
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
I think it is worth it to save every Pony headed for the scrap yard..... It kills us to see smached Pony's. There are a million parts available for it out there. Ebay is a good place to start. My Son got his interior from there for around $100.00 or so when he changed from grey to black. Carpeting is $100.00 from Brothers Performance, Seats are around the same from people who have switched to racing seats. There you go, $300.00 or so, and you can have a new interior. I would replace the stock muffler system and go with duals from the cats back. It could be a great project, and worth it knowing you saved one of our icons......
Well kscoyote, I mean for the age of the car, the miles it has on it, the damage the car possesses and all the known factors of the car, should I risk going in on this car to restore it or is it too old, too far gone that putting money into it just wouldn't be worth the effort. I don't restore cars (matter of fact I predominately only buy new cars) which is why I asked. I mean it could a fun project spread out over several months. I just want to know if there's something about the car I should know (notorious engine problems, brake failure, .etc) that should steer me clear of trying to restore it. This is the type of information that I don't know and would like to have. Like I said, I usually don't buy used cars and if I can get it on the cheap and it's fairly cheap to restore and make it presentable (and the engine remains strong) it might be a keeper.
Well kscoyote, I mean for the age of the car, the miles it has on it, the damage the car possesses and all the known factors of the car, should I risk going in on this car to restore it or is it too old, too far gone that putting money into it just wouldn't be worth the effort. I don't restore cars (matter of fact I predominately only buy new cars) which is why I asked. I mean it could a fun project spread out over several months. I just want to know if there's something about the car I should know (notorious engine problems, brake failure, .etc) that should steer me clear of trying to restore it. This is the type of information that I don't know and would like to have. Like I said, I usually don't buy used cars and if I can get it on the cheap and it's fairly cheap to restore and make it presentable (and the engine remains strong) it might be a keeper.
If you want a good daily driver, it's borderline, just drive it with the damage - for a project car or something you want to make your own, it's a good deal, particularly if it's $500.
If you like the body style, & want to build your own car, go for it.
For restoration purposes, forget about it. restoring a 6 cylinder is like restoring a 68 coupe. It will never be worth as much as a Cobra.
Restomodding is a different story though. My 68 coupe, I bought for 1750. two years later, someone offered me $12,000 on the spot.
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Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,his upper rooms by injustice,making his countrymen work for nothing...Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar?Did not your father have food and drink?He did what was right and just,so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy,and so all went well...But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion. Jer 22:13, 15-17
When individuals restore cars, they never count their personal labor. How much time are you willing to spend to get it looking good? Time really is money. When you are there working on the car, what else could you be doing to make more money? Also, what else could you be doing to have a good time entertaining yourself or friends?
I would not spend the time to restore it, because I like to lounge around the house after a hard days work of staring at computer monitors and surfing AFM. Yes, that is really my desk in my avatar.
If the price is right just drive it until it dies...
Better than getting a 90 something camry or nissan as a daily driver, still not worth the cash, its hard to tell how deep the problems with the car go. Especially when it looks as tore up as you stated.
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-A7X- ~Stang Syndicate Boston~*2006 Torch Red GT*10/10/07 Performance:Borla FRPP Stingers w/ True Dual Midpipes, Magnaflow High Flow Cats, JLT CAI, Bama 93 Race Tune, Ford Racing 4.10 Gears, Nitto 555 Extremes. Visual: Black AVS Tail Light Trim, Honeycomb Tail Light Vinyl, Black Racing stripes, 35% Window Tint, Trunk Blackout Panel, Billet Antenna Delete, Mirror Covers, 17" Konig "Further" Rims, Quarter Window Louvers, 20% Tinted Head Light/Turn Signal, Boss C-Stripes, CS/GT C-Scoops.
YES! YES! YES! Ive spent countless hours working on my car the last 2 years. I have to say that the finished product will mean that much more to you. Not to mention that its really an awesome experience doin it.
I paid my car off a couple years ago and decided that I was gonna make it MINE! I really didnt have too, but i wanted to and now i cant stop
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'97 with built 3.8 from Supersix
Tma turbo kit
448hp @15psi 11.09@124mph
XXXhp @21psi 10.71@125mph
Fastest Single Port V6 Mustang w a Ported Stock Upper Intake
hmm.. i got a 94 v6er with some stuff wrong with it n i guess u can say im restorin it with some mods of course n i think its worth it to me lol but i mean its my baby(first car) so i couldnt really part with it
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Jakes 1994 Mustang V6 Split Port Vert.. With just a little Go and Show
I say YES, even as an old middle aged guy, I really enjoy my (2) 1995 mustangs and my 1 1993 and now looking at a 1996 Cobra rag top. One of my 95s really turns heads (even through it's stock), rebuilt V6, new top, not a scatch of dent on it, shines like new. What a great summer car (even though it is my daily driver), GO FOR IT
I say go for it and save that pony. As others said, you will be VERY HAPPY and PROUD of it when you finish it because you basically gave the car another life to live out on the road, saving it from the scrap yard. i'm in the same situation saving the same type of car, a black '97 stang v6 automatic, and if I do get it I can't wait to have that feeling of the car being reborn when she's done.
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2005 Ford Mustang GT *Black Sunshine* Current Mods: head & taillight covers, red tri-bar pony floor mats, sequential tail lights, chrome skull & flame pedals, red wire covers, underhood billet caps/covers 1990 Ford Mustang LX Convertable *White Lightning*
I can't wait to have that feeling of the car being reborn when she's done.
When I got my 95 rag top it was in sad shape, after a rebuild of the V6, new top, major interior cleaning (from the leaky roof), new exhaust system and various other things, the first time I drove her was like having my first child or when one of my horses finally came in 1st at world shows. Like I said "Do it", you'll never regret the scraped knuckles, long hours, dirty hands or the hours of .
Restoring a 1997 Mustang, Is It Worth It? 
I really didnt have too, but i wanted to and now i cant stop
n i think its worth it to me lol but i mean its my baby(first car) so i couldnt really part with it
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