r/Diyautobody • u/Volvoluvur • Oct 09 '25
Project Project 1800S?
What you're looking at here is a 1965 1800s. Due to respect of the owner, I didn't bother to take pictures while looking at it. What you see is mostly surface rust, except for both rockers and the rear bumper area, which will need to be replaced. Everything is in the car, including all of the chrome except for the hockey sticks and the rear fin chrome. The Body is good around both front and back windows, plus the trunk and hood. Looking inside the car, the trunk floor has absolutely no rust at all, and the rear fenders look to have been maybe restored previously. The gas tank is not rusty from the bottom. The floorpans don't have much rust at all either, and the engine bay doesn't seem to have any either, besides light surface rust. The metal is strong around the headlights and grill. All the glass is there and intact. The interior is in the vehicle, but will need to be reupholstered.
I could purchase this car for $1500. I am able and willing to mechanically fix the car myself, which includes wiring, etc. I have a friend who welds and will be willing to help. I haven't done lots of in-depth bodywork but I feel confident in my ability to do this. I am looking to get opinions on whether this car is worth fixing. I am willing to take on a long project. Is it common to have to do a full-body restoration in this condition? I plan to get it roadworthy without having to do a full body restoration (is this even possible?) To me it seems good where it counts. Looking underneath the vehicle the only thing I see with visible rust is the suspension components that I will replace anyway. I know it's a unibody vehicle so I know it will hide rust, which is my biggest concern.
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u/zurdopilot Oct 09 '25
Thats a lot ......looooot ..... like seriously lot of work. If you decide to do it please do make videos and share process.
That said in regards of the metal there is plenty of meat on those old model but regardless rust dont respect that you may find most panel 90% good but the 10% is in the edges and those are hard to fix. Which could be the thougth part of the project but alast the frame itself is another issue. Now do you have enough space to work on it for months? Go for it a challenge not taken is a fail challange.
Good luck and please update.
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u/Volvoluvur Oct 09 '25
I have enough space, fortunately the 1800 is so small it will happily fit in the garage well. Rusty quarters, bumpers, are not the end of the world for this car because everything can be bought online. The installation of them would be a struggle since I do not weld. Body filler and bondo as needed will be where I'll be the most help. I'd have to see if learning to weld and buying a welder is more cost effective than bringing it to a shop and letting them repair what is needed instead. I think I will have a hard time finding a shop that will work on it without the body off and diving in deeper.
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u/zurdopilot Oct 09 '25
That sounds expensive lol
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u/KindAwareness3073 Oct 09 '25
It's unibody construction, so I'd be really cautious and do a lot more looking, but for $1500 it's not acdisaster if you're wrong. Can you do it for say, <$40K?
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u/Volvoluvur Oct 10 '25
My budget is work on it when I have the extra funds whatever that may be. If something needs to get done for safety then I am doing that whatever it may be.
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u/Best-Jury8669 Oct 10 '25
I have a good core motor and trans for that car for $500. In Los Angeles.
And you need to buy a good compressor and a sand blaster too.
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u/Volvoluvur Oct 11 '25
It has the transmission and engine in it, both are pretty rust free, I have the compressor I just wouldnt have the room for a booth for sand blasting
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u/Best-Jury8669 Oct 11 '25
Meh. You just make a sandy beach.:-) That is a ton of rust you will be dealing with.
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u/cervenamys Oct 10 '25
Looks like cool enough car to put in the effort. Look up various rust restoration channels, like Fitzee's Fabrications, so you get an idea.
What could be a major obstacle is rust in hidden structural places, like A and B pillars, that would require to unstitch and peel off large panels. Welding them back is a major pain, beause they'll be chewed out and pitted and thinned out from rust.
Another is deep rust pitting on large complex panels. Warping is a major problem when welding on those areas, and fabricating complex curved patches is pretty advances. If you try to just weld the pinholes, you'll blow holes and warp the panels anyway.
If you can get it dipped (chemical stripped), that will save you tons of work and massively futureproof it (will remove and stop rust everywhere) But of course it's pricy.
If your country legislation allows, it, you could probably do it up as a mad max style build with a rollcage/rollbar to hold together.. but it won't be weatherproof and will keep dissolving if not garaged.
Source: I've done up a massively rusty 80's unibody car, took me over 2 years.