The economics of classic car restoration are brutal if you're honest with them. Labor at professional rates is the dominant cost. If you're doing the work yourself, you're converting labor to equity — but only if you value your time at zero, which isn't sustainable.

Parts costs for popular cars have escalated dramatically. A full floor pan set for a first-gen Camaro is not what it was ten years ago. Quality repo parts are not cheap. NOS parts for anything uncommon can be eye-watering.

The math rarely works out. Restoration costs plus purchase price usually exceeds the value of the finished car for anything short of a high-demand model in exceptional condition. Do it because you love the car and the process, not because you expect a financial return.