As I am currently tackling such a project it might be helpful for others to get an idea on the budget required. The numbers I am sharing here are rounded up and merged into major categories. I will have a more detailed overview on this topic in a couple of weeks on my blog
FixingC6622Quite obviously it always depends on the condition of the car. Your decision of what can/should be overhauled and what needs to be replaced will have the biggest impact. Logically, the more tasks you can do yourself - the less labor cost you will have. But if this is going to be your first project - keep in mind you will often need additional tools which can also be quite a bit of money.
Here is a rough break down of my initial budget when I started the project (not including upgrades). This was compiled based on prices I could research via the net and quotes I got in advance (e.g. engine & gearbox overhaul). I was lucky that my car did not need a new chassis and only required minimal welding.
- Engine (complete overhaul + components): 4000€
- Bodywork - incl painting: 4500€
- Chassis + support brackets (sandblasting & painting): 1000€
- Suspension (front&back): 1500€
- Steering (overhaul Bishopbox + parts): 800€
- Electronics (including instruments & lights etc): 1500€
- Brightworks (incl rubbers, and small parts: 1200€
In total a bit more than 20K € for a complete rebuild. The list above includes shipping from the UK for the most parts - I estimate that this adds up to close to 800€.
Since I am planning to drive my Morgan for a long time, I favored usability, safety, and drivability over keeping everything original. This resulted in several component upgrades (e.g. HiSpec brakes, EZ Powersteering, Rutherford suspension, Scuttle rollbar) which add up to the budget above.
As some items above are a bit less expensive in the UK - my assumption is that a minimal budget of 15 to 17K GBP would be required for a full restore. 22 to 27K GBP if you decide for upgrades like I did. 30K GBP plus if you want more performance and go into engine upgrades. These are just ballpark numbers - but based on my project
Looking at the 1987 Morgan 4/4 from the link above I would assume that chassis/panel/body need more budget than my car. Given that a good Morgan 4/4 from 1987 costs between 25 and 35K GBP - I would be tempted to buy it if the price would be between 7 and 8K GBP....
Maybe that helps others here in their decision process
Regards
Tim
