Musings: Restoration = Money loss! (ALWAYS)

71dartswinger said

Repairs over 11 years
radiator 300.
remain carb 130.
brakes 100.
1 set tires/alingment 500.
4 oil changes a year (avg) 100.
Power steering box 200.
Cragars w tires were 200.
carpet and seat cover were 400.0
and i drove the car daily for the entire 11 years i owned it
car had 39000 miles when i bought and 86000 when sold
still wearing the factory paint also

Click to expand...

300
130
100
500
100(11)
200
200
400
+2000 Initial Purchase
=$4930

So you sold for $5500, a $570 profit. That's pretty good! Saving the oil change, these are all things that a resto would take (Cragars notwithstanding).
Were it not for the appreciation in the car, you'd have almost certainly lost money, but to prove the OP's point, it'd be hard to spend $569 dollars on a resto and still turn a profit.

Really, driving a car for ANY length of time and selling and turning a profit is pretty good, and you've done well for yourself with this one. It's not often a car pays you to drive it!