From Auto Restorer Magazine, December 2002
A reader wrote in and asked if it was worth restoring a 1951 roadster. I thought the answer provided was excellent and kind of sums up my own thoughts and feelings about restoring cars and motorcycles.
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‘You’ve provided very little information, but I’ll answer your question anyway! From a purely financial perspective it is almost never worth restoring any vehicle. Even if you do all the work yourself it is still not “worth it” unless you value your time at zero.
In spite of this, however, most restorations are worth doing insofar as value can be measured in many ways other than in terms of money. Do you enjoy going through the restoration process? Is it relaxing, therapeutic, and exciting to you? How about the “value” inherent in sharing the restoration process with someone you care about, such as a child, parent, sibling or friend? How much value would you assign to the fact that you will be giving a new lease on life to something that is rare and might otherwise cease to exist?
I don’t know what kind of roadster you have or what condition it is in but can still recommend performing the restoration if doing so will make you happy.’