Free Birds

Considering an option 3.

Might cherry pick the parts, engines etc for a future project and sell the cars and the excess parts. 
 

Use that money to buy a nicer starting point might be the more reasonable path. 
 

Just thinking out loud. 
I still have the following projects:

1957 Chevrolet, punch list of odds and ends

Challenge car.

1991 300zx TT , needs synchros and pcv / rear main seal work.

1969 Corvette Convertible 4spd Drive a Beater full project there...

1946 Cj2A full resto project 

And that's just the car projects.

While it might be great to recreate something your father would have been happy to call his own, what do you want? You already have a pretty big list of projects. It's like the model car builder with the big hoard. The potential for each build lives in the mind. What makes you happy when you think about it? Do that.

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

That is exactly what I'm trying to figure out.

How did you know about my model car hoard?

lol

I think we had a conversation like this about a 78 Camaro Berlinetta V8.  It was a low mile absolutely mint in every way car, beautiful dark blue paint.  He was asking all the money for it but it needed zero body work, all systems including AC worked.  One would be money ahead to buy it just for the bones to resurrect a different project.

Poncho powered Drive a beater.

It's funny, up here in MA, I'd consider both of those cars SOLID resto candidates or even "drivabeater" builds. In many ways, the shells on those look better than my '79. I would hang onto at least one of them for sure. Which ever one you pick, I think you'll be in good shape. 

Also, what would mean more to you, one of your current cars, or fixing up one/both of your dad's? That's a tough choice, I know.

Another thing that may or may not play into this is "Project Car Hell".  Having too many heavy duty projects can make it seem like you are just spinning your tires in the mud and going nowhere. I've had a situation in my own life where I had very little time and three major project vehicles. I ended up ditching one of them and that allowed me to better focus on the other two. Part of the way I'm wired is that if I have too much choice in front of me, I almost get paralyzed by decision making, and having little time made it so I would spend more time thinking and less time wrenching. Taking one of those decisions off the board helped me greatly, but it was a tough call to pick which cars were staying and which ones were going. 

In reply to Tony Sestito :

Thanks for the long post. 
I agree. That's my position.

It sounds like we have both been in this situation before. 

I KNOW I have too much going on... just need to plot a course.

Bought a trailer for the big parts haul.

I figure that it would serve as temp storage as well. 
 

That's a Stampie trick... thanks bud! Lol

I think I'll go buy tires for it ..... 😎

In reply to a_florida_man :

Thinking about it, I've actually been in this situation multiple times! I even had a situation where I had two Trans Ams. I had my current WS6 car and a rare 1979 W72 10th Anniversary. When I moved into my house, I had to pick one to keep, and I kept the WS6. That car ran and drove, and even though it wasn't as rare, it was in better shape and I was never going to do the other car justice. I sold it and made a good chunk of profit, although I could have made A LOT more if I hung onto the car a little longer.

My problem is that I get emotionally attached to projects. I want to save them all, but you have to be able to recognize that you can't always do that. The hard decisions are... well... hard. 

As a fellow dual Firebird owner (78 Esprit & 81 TA), here is my suggestion.  Start with the yellow/gold Esprit, and only do the work that is necessary to make it driveable using parts on hand.   Sell the 71 Formula to another enthusiast since it is worth more 100% stock and I don't see you or your Dad being interested in that.   

Once the Esprit is driveable then you can decide if it is something you want to keep playing with or if you want to move it along.   

Do you have more than one Formula hood?  If so it would be super cool to put one on the Esprit too, but I also assume the buyer of the real Formula is gonna expect you to include one in the sale of that car.   

Found some pictures of the 71 Esprit.

I think it was Jim's 2nd Firebird after his 71 Formula 400 4speed that he got brand new his senior year.

The 3 smaller pics are circa May 1981 on the Georgia Tech Campus, in a campus shop.

This was probably around the time of his masters degree I think.

Note the HO racing specialists decal on the valve cover. 
 

The larger picture in the lower right was probably taken around the mid to late 80's or so.

Man, that thing is so cool. I usually don't go for vinyl tops, especially on 2nd gens, but I think it works well on that car, especially with that color. 

This Saturday the new trailer, myself, and a couple of buddies are going up to empty out the attic.

I'm excited to see it all, after 4 consecutive trips on days off, I'm also excited to take a break for a while.

a_florida_man said:

In reply to vwcorvette (Forum Supporter) :

That is exactly what I'm trying to figure out.

How did you know about my model car hoard?

lol

 

Takes one to know one! lol

Tony Sestito said:

Man, that thing is so cool. I usually don't go for vinyl tops, especially on 2nd gens, but I think it works well on that car, especially with that color. 

From that angle, the black top really brings out the curves of the roof. 

In reply to a_florida_man :

Lol you're welcome?

Time to make the doughnuts.

Tifton has a nice ER. 
Ask me how I know.

Im ok ish... details later.

In reply to a_florida_man :

Well E36 M3.  Something involving climbing ladders?

Uh oh....

In reply to RandolphCarter :

I'm in. 10FEB1971 as well! Great story Florida man!

Damn, fall though the floor/ceiling?

Oh no... hope you are OK! 

Did you know what feels exactly appendicitis?

Kidney stones. Never had one before. 
It was quite painful.

Resolved that and went the rest of the way to Decatur.

Loaded the trailer and the truck.

About to cannonball back home starting now.

I cannot be stopped!!!!!

a_florida_man said:

Did you know what feels exactly appendicitis?

Kidney stones. Never had one before. 
It was quite painful

I cannot be stopped!!!!!

Rock on!

Kidney stones SUCK.

Id rather get mauled by a dog again.