Something we should all consider...

[KI4UJO]

I was reading through the body & paint section, and saw another thread asking about rust repair. As always, the response is "buy a clean shell and swap everything". Isn't that a lot harder than using a grinder to clean up some rot, or taking a cut off wheel to a floorpan? Right now I am watching Barrett-Jackson (I will admit to liking muscle cars, even if they do not turn), and the ENTRY level cars are 20-30k. I just wanted to point out, that if we do not start saving the existing e30's that we consider "unfixable" now, there is the possibility that we could end up with a situation similar to the 69 camaro. $800 in 1979, $50,000 today. Just keep this in mind the next time a shell is considered "unfixable", bodywork and rust included. I'm done ranting now, you may now flame me.

[Massimo]

I will admit I wonder this sometimes as well.

[Holland]

Op has a point. Right now there are plenty of shells here in the US to go around, so we can get away with this. Look at some of the threads for the euro builds and the rust they combat. We would toss a shell that only has an eighth of what they fix. It seems that even over there these cars are getting very hard to come by.

[gearheadE30]

You aren't the only one. It's really not hard to fix that kind of thing, especially under the car where it doesn't have to look perfect. It's really not that expensive, either, so long as you do it yourself.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Seems many people are lazy.

No such thing as a lazy auto enthusiast if you ask me. If you aren't willing to put in the time to build a car then don't even bother.

[GunMetalGrey]

Only real problem is that its a constant battle, but sometimes its worth it. I replaced 3/4 of a fender flare, that was an absolute bitch to re make.

[KI4UJO]

Something else we need to be able to do, is to obtain reproduction parts. BMW will not make them forever, and restoration parts will still be needed. I don't know who would make them, but eventually parts such as quarters, carpets, etc. If anyone here is in the industry, or knows someone who is, tell them we need the BMW version of Original Parts Group. Also, if it keeps them on the road, don't rule out bondo. You can use it, just not in 6 inch thick quantities.

[Roysneon]

It always makes me sad when an E30 gets scrapped because of rust, but I've done it myself. I've heard lots of people ask me if the rust repair on my project car is worth it. Honestly if it wasn't a car given to me by my dad because I said I would fix it and drive it.

[DuMa]

you really think the e30 is gonna become iconic as the 69 camaro? the e30 market is worldwide. i think the 69 camaro or those iconic pony cars are not the same in production numbers compared to the e30?

[e30e]

you really think the e30 is gonna become iconic as the 69 camaro? the e30 market is worldwide. i think the 69 camaro or those iconic pony cars are not the same in production numbers compared to the e30?

x2, every high school male wanted either this, mustang or a charger/cuda/challenger....in 1988 every high male wanted a mustang or a camaro. Generalizing but the e30 is a cult car and will never see dramatic "relive our youth" prices the muscle cars see.

[KI4UJO]

you really think the e30 is gonna become iconic as the 69 camaro? the e30 market is worldwide. i think the 69 camaro or those iconic pony cars are not the same in production numbers compared to the e30?

The 69 camaro became iconic because it was cheap, and people had them when they were young. The e30, as of right now, is doing the same thing. What we have to remember is that the original owners of these things will want to feel young, and they have more money now then they had "back in the day". So, it has the potential to do the same as the 69 camaro. So, people with money buy when we sell, they exchange them at their prices, combined with less e30's available since we scrapped them all = e30 version of the 69 camaro market. I will get flamed for this, but if someone is smart, they will start buying up and storing ricers when they go out (they will, otherwise everyone in high school would still be driving muscle cars). Everything works in cycles, and if they want it today, it will eventually be vintage and desirable. So, hoarding e30's is now good for another reason.

[warmseth]

A clean Datsun 510 cost $5k or more and they were $1500 years ago. Even the shit boxes become gold shit boxes eventually b

[Threehz]

As much as my heart breaks every time an E30 goes to the crusher, the price of my E30 ticks up a few pennies, this happens with all enthusiast cars, not just E30's. Fact of the matter is until it's worth more to repair then it is to find another shell people will take the "easy" way out. Some people have more money than time, some have more time than money and some have no clue!

[KI4UJO]

As much as my heart breaks every time an E30 goes to the crusher, the price of my E30 ticks up a few pennies, this happens with all enthusiast cars, not just E30's. Fact of the matter is until it's worth more to repair then it is to find another shell people will take the "easy" way out. Some people have more money than time, some have more time than money and some have no clue!

Until e30's are so much that we can not afford them. This is what happened when people had a "sudden realization that a car can not have ever had a can of bondo within 50 feet of it".

[einstein57]

I don't think a regular e30 will ever be 50k. Most 69 camaros are not worth that much. If you get a base model 69 you can pick them up for way less. I've seen them on mecum in the teens. Now an m3 is a different story. I could see them skyrocketing in the next 15-20 years especially with all these swap, part outs, and track cars running around. A clean low mileage original car will easily fetch 50k in the future.