Dad's 340 Duster

Hello Sir, I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances. It sounds like your Dad was really proud of the car, especially if he had the fortitude to save up and buy it at 16 years of age.

First and foremost, I think you will find that most of the members on this site are genuinely concerned for the safety and well being of other members. That being said, these cars (especially if they are restored with any performance parts) are not suitable as daily drivers for someone who is permanently disabled. That is not a derogatory comment towards you in any way, and I don't have any idea what your disability is, but it is still a true statement. These cars do not possess the creature comforts of today's vehicles. If you have any issues with your feet, legs, back, shoulders, or neck it may be quite uncomfortable and possibly dangerous to operate the vehicle.

But, there are ways to minimize these issues. For instance, you may consider a slant 6 engine (they are great little power plants) or a mild 318. Since you are starting from scratch, you also have the option to swap in a 318 Magnum. That way you will have the reliability of some newer technology and also fuel injection. I consider myself pretty healthy, but it's a pain in the butt spending any amount of time hunched under the hood adjusting the carb.

Power brakes and power steering are a must. You will want to invest in good suspension parts to make the ride as comfortable as possible. Also, factory seats back in the 1970's were not build with the contouring effect of today's cars. So, if you spend a lot of time in the car during a normal day, there is always the option to upgrade your seating.

Depending on how many parts you need to replace or acquire, the amount of body work needed prior to paint, the quality of the paint job, the cost to rebuild or purchase a crate motor, the cost to rebuild or purchase a new transmission, how many pieces of glass you need to purchase, and the hourly labor rate of the shop you would need a minimum of $20,000. Most shops are $80-$100/hour. Over half of the cost will be shop rate. I think you will find to have this done at any reputable shop, you'll be closer to $30,000. That is to build a mild, reliable driver. Not including performance parts in the engine, trans, rear end, etc.

There are many members on here that can sell you used parts, for a decent price, as opposed to buying new ones. Might be a way to keep the cost down.

Good luck to you, which ever route you go. Please post pics of the restoration.