body repair for fun and profit

I've recently done a few pach panels and found them to be relatively easy - OK, well not exactly perfect. I've had to do a bit of bondo on the surface, but I kinda enjoy it. Anyway, I see semi-rare cars (70s Alfas come to mind) that sell for massive discounts over what they'd be worth with clean bodies. So my question is this, if I were to buy a classic car in the <$10K range, to fix up, play with and ultimately sell, what might be a good candidate? GTVs come to mind. What other nifty but rot-prone candidates are out there?

(Side note, my first serious body job was at 19YO. I cherried out a 70s Capri only to find that the market at the time sucked for them. wah!)

Your window of opportunity is to do the work for people who have bought the cars and need the work done. Joint the local marque club and let the fellow club members know about your awesome skills.

You need the right neighbours and an ability to fly under the municipal radar. Don't ever buy parts, let the owner do that or you leave an audit trail. If you add up the cost of consumables, wear and tear on tools, clean-up time that is not billable and overhead, you will be surprised how much there is and how little you would make at say $25.hour, even with cash being king. Average joe waste about 10 hours of your time talking about the job before they commit.

Not saying don't do it, just be aware.

The only resto guys I see making any money - and it's not much at that - are the ones with the time and space to store a number of cash cow projects and jump from car to car as the owners find funds to bankroll more work.

As side work, I'd only work on cars where the owners are NOT overextended just to buy the car, let alone pay for work. (I call this "740i syndrome).

Also - I wouldn't be cutting into other people's cars 'til it's easy to be perfect. The use of filler is expected on visible patch panels, but minimal amounts. If you're not doing the whole car from rust to buffing out the new paint you shot, have a painter who will shoot over your work. There are painters who won't shoot on top of unknown work...

Was hoping you were in the DC area. I could give you a trial piece of work. I have a '95 M3 with a rust spot in the area just below the trunk lid. I have the full patch panel (OEM), but not the balls or time to do it yet. Good luck. Nothing else to offer.

To answer your original question, Volvo 1800's quickly come to mind. Dead easy mechanicals, rust prone, but popular enough that a rusty one sells for far cheaper than a nice one. For maximum profit potential, resist any urge to modify it. 100% stock will bring you the most cash.

Most LBC's are similar.

Let me clarify, I'm not trying to make serious money. I have a job for that. I'm just entertaining suggestions for cars that would normally be out of my price range that would be worth the effort. A 1800 is a good suggestion.

LBC?

LBC = Little British Car

I don't think you could fix a rusty gtv easily and cheaply enough to make money on it. If you look at how much work most of them take it's crazy, complete replacement of the inner rocker panels, etc.

Don't for a second doubt that there is a long line up of people who want tin work done on their car. Craftsmen are pretty much an extinct breed nowadays. If you do good work,for hobby rates, they WILL beat a path to your door. 75% will be flakes. If you pick wisely, you will make a lot of good contacts and this will be enjoyable.

Another pitfall is to think that you can transition this to a business/full time job. At that point you will not have the luxury of choosing your clients. Overhead and employees both suck and the gov will have its hand in your pocket for 33% of every dollar you take in.

BMW 2002, pre-78 Porsche 911,