When to call it quits on a project?

That Shelby Auction thread reminded me that I have a 1987 CSX in my garage.

As some of you know, I have a 1987 Shelby CSX project. Link to the build thread here

I bought it right here from the $20xx Classifieds from a fellow GRM'er. But that was 5 years ago this July, and while I've gotten a lot done to the car, I am rapidly losing interest. Again.

The car has a lot going for it: it was cheap to buy, it will be cheap to run, lots of parts and spares were acquired through some wheeling and dealing, and it now runs too. But it still needs a lot of work, like the outer rockers welded on, a rear floor patch, and more that I just don't have the skills or time to do on my own. I bought it as a cheap Challenge project that I hoped to drive around town and to local HPDE's, but it's still sitting in my garage. I haven't turned a wrench on it in months. It also needs a title, which in MA is required to register the car. I have a previous registration, so getting one should be fine, but it's still a big hassle.

So, here's the deal: Either I could sell it whole with all my spares, part it all out and crush the numbered Shelby shell, or just soldier on and finish it. While I think the car is cool, I am not totally in love with it. I am also finding that I'd really much rather work on making my 1979 Trans Am a streetable vehicle again, and that I can get my cheap "Challenge" thrills with our various Team External Combustion vehicles.

I am having a hard time coming up with a solution to this dilemma. Should I call it quits, take a break from it and work on my Trans Am, or just soldier on?

Call it quits

You're not going to get 20k for it

Go over to the turbo-mopar and turbododge forums and sell it. Let someone who has the enthusiasm finish it.

if you're not in love, find someone who is and let them keep on with it. i had to make the same choice with the subaru and the plymouth. they're taking time away from the things i am head over heels for.

The only thing is that I know that if I sell it to another Turbo Dodge guy, they will just part it out. I would hate to see a numbered Shelby car get parted out, but if that's going to happen, I want to be the one to do it. It has been modded extensively so I'm not sure any of that "Shelby provenance" is left.

if you are never going to love it, sell it. too much effort to fix cars when you would rather work on something else.

What makes you think it'd end up parted?

I've had a hard time coming to the same conclusion. I have a rustbucket e30 sitting in my driveway that I haven't actually driven in almost 2 years. It's finally getting to a point where it would be usable with some minor work, but since I have no indoor space to work on cars, it's pretty hard to get up the motivation to get out there and do some car stuff.

I think that if you're at the point where you're not in love with the car, and every time you try to do something with it it's a hassle rather than an enjoyable experience, it's time for it to go. Especially if you have other projects that you actually enjoy working on.

Time and energy are finite. Things to take them away from you are not. So you must carefully manage the things that are taking your time and energy from you, because they will also take time and energy away from one another.

Sell it and do something you really want to do.

It’s been 5 years of it just sitting. Time to move on and find another project you can drive and enjoy.

Maybe you just need a fresh, new project to take on.

Can I interest you in an E30?

I decided to bail on my turbo K-car when I realized that I could spend 100 hours putting it back together and the best case scenario was it being barely worth more than scrap when done. And if you asked me if I would trade 100 hours of my time for the car my answer would be hell no.
On the other hand, I don't particularily like my RX7, but I can completely ignore it for months and it fires right up at a moments notice ready to go do something silly. That car currently requires no time commitment, so I'm keeping it.

Pull the Shelby tags off. Mount them in some artistic way that you can hang on the shop wall. Get rid of the body like it was Jimmy Hoffa.

You have the story and the proof hanging on the wall. On to the next one.

NOHOME wrote: Pull the Shelby tags off. Mount them in some artistic way that you can hang on the shop wall. Get rid of the body like it was Jimmy Hoffa. You have the story and the proof hanging on the wall. On to the next one.

Now I have proof why one of these will never sell for 20-30k

I decided the same thing on my '71 240Z a couple of years ago. Of course there are times I wish I still had it, but the more I tore into it, the more hidden rust I found. It came to the point I had to decide if I really wanted to spend the time and money to fix it right, or would I rather put the money into something I could drive everyday. At my age, I much prefer driving over building, so that won out. Had I been 10 years younger, maybe it would have been different.

I've only restored 3 cars in my life, much fewer than many here, but I do know what it takes to do one and I wasn't so in love with it that I had to finish. If I ever get another one, I'll pay the money for one nicer. Personally, I think we all know when it's time to cut one lose, but we have to admit it to ourselves first.

Go buy the MidLana book.

Look through it and determine what you can use from the Shelby on it.

Pull the drivetrain, wiring, etc.

Build frame and insert parts.

Tow behind Trans Am to events.

Have co-driver

Laugh maniacally as you do dual burn outs.

I dont think it would necessarily be parted out.

Having said that, ive always wanted to try to put an 87 CSX front end on my spirit after seeing spirit front ends on shadows, so if i had it i would probably take it apart immediately. But then i might put it back together after i realized my ideas were bad. You never really know.

This reminds me that I need to order a cat back system for the VW GTI that's been sitting in my garage for 11 or 12 years.

turboswede wrote: Go buy the MidLana book. Look through it and determine what you can use from the Shelby on it. Pull the drivetrain, wiring, etc. Build frame and insert parts. Tow behind Trans Am to events. Have co-driver Laugh maniacally as you do dual burn outs.

Winning

It's not that I hate the car. I really like it, but I like the Trans Am a lot more. Maybe I just need a kick in the butt to get motivated again. I would like to at least get it driving around. Selling a running and driving car is a lot easier as well.

I think I am just having an emo moment.