Restoration - body on, or body off ??

[maxsandman]

From personal experience, I wouldn't do a body off unless absolutely necessary. Will it be a weekend cruiser or a show car/trailer queen/dry weather only? From personal experience, body off rebuilds take far longer than originally planned (unless you are driven like Grunt was in his rebuild on here), and the time taken would be much better spent driving and enjoying your van, and just an occasional week or 2 off the road every so often for a bit more re-hab as things need. A body off rebuild will make you far less likely want to drive your van as it should and where it should be driven. This comes from someone in their 50's who has a few cars and hates seeing some of them not being driven and also has mates that spent 10 or more years rebuilding one car! Also there have been Sandmans (and other great cars) advertised for sale in a million pieces when the owner got disheartened? with the rebuild after pulling them totally apart. In my opinion, do what is necessary to get it one the road and looking good, (obviously with safety and roadworthy in mind) and get it out there. Leave the body off rebuilds to the "rivet counters"

Also I want to say, great original specs on your van, and if you pull it apart and lose interest, give me a yell. I love green Sandys

cheers
Max

[playwme]

From personal experience, I wouldn't do a body off unless absolutely necessary. Will it be a weekend cruiser or a show car/trailer queen/dry weather only? From personal experience, body off rebuilds take far longer than originally planned (unless you are driven like Grunt was in his rebuild on here), and the time taken would be much better spent driving and enjoying your van, and just an occasional week or 2 off the road every so often for a bit more re-hab as things need. A body off rebuild will make you far less likely want to drive your van as it should and where it should be driven. This comes from someone in their 50's who has a few cars and hates seeing some of them not being driven and also has mates that spent 10 or more years rebuilding one car! Also there have been Sandmans (and other great cars) advertised for sale in a million pieces when the owner got disheartened? with the rebuild after pulling them totally apart. In my opinion, do what is necessary to get it one the road and looking good, (obviously with safety and roadworthy in mind) and get it out there. Leave the body off rebuilds to the "rivet counters"

Also I want to say, great original specs on your van, and if you pull it apart and lose interest, give me a yell. I love green Sandys

cheers
Max

Can't argue with that.

Concours will cost you and it's more for people who enjoy the restoration rather than the driving.