To restore or not to restore? That is the question!

Photo's of her current state.

 

Can you weld? Do you have a decent sized garage? Are you in a hurry? This looks pretty much like my '79 Danbury. Lots of work.

 

I can't weld, don't have a garage but I'm not in a hurry
I need to find somewhere locally to get it under cover to work on it over the winter.
Realistically nothing will get done with it sat on my drive, in the cold and dark.
I'll do the welding but it will be a combination of on the job training and a bit of guidance from the guys at work.
Luckily they're highly skill fabricators so they can get me up and running with a few training sessions.

 

I served my time as a fabricator but it's a different kettle of fish doing body work on a rusty old van, transferable skills yes but still a learning curve if you want it looking decent at the end of it.

That's a whole heap of work, mine looked a lot better than that and if you take a look at my resto you will see the work involved in fixing it properly, totally doable but go into it with eyes wide wide wide open (and pockets)

 

Mine was also a whole lot better than that and I still spent 6 solid weeks 6 days a week 10 hours a day just cutting and welding. 300 hours+ at 8 hours per week = the best part of a year. Yours is worse, I'd say 2x the work.

That's just for starters - then you have to reassemble and after that tackle the interior, engine, gearbox, brakes, steering...

Do the 2 out of one thing, it makes perfect sense.

 

Looks like another van will be shuffled off this mortal coil...

 

I can now see why you paid £1200. 2 into 1 makes sense.

 

Did the pickup in this through last winter at the side of the house, great if you've got the room?

 

my tuppence worth, I'm about three months into a minor resto, but minor has still meant complete sills, wheelarches pretty much all round, sliding door repairs, outriggers, tophats, jacking points, parts of the floor and arch tubs, and various other stuff that has been revealed as I've cut stuff out. Panels and materials wise, I'm about 1500 quid invested so far and I'd estimate that again at least before the body is all done and skimmed. I also manage to put a serious amount of time in, thanks to an understanding family and a part time job with suitable shifts but its still taking a lt of time and effort and I think I'll be lucky to have it on the road this year to be honest.
Everything takes longer than you think it will, and costs more than you thought it would by the time you factor in all the ancillary materials, gas, filler etc.
I'm also doing it on a driveway and its a fairly miserable thing working in the cold and wet.
the results should be worth the effort, and diy is certainly cheaper but not for the faint hearted, and obviously will take much much longer since you're not paying someone to spend the time on it.
Given that yours is a left hooker, and so not exactly a rarity I'd be seriously tempted to cut it up and buy a better import shell.....will probably save you a fortune in work and time.
Also, if you cant weld already you will find it a very steep learning curve! There's a world of difference between practicing on a bit of scrap and doing contortionist style poses under the bus while lying in a puddle getting covered in hot spatter trying to lay a seam with your mask clanging off the chassis every two minutes .....trust me, I know......i couldn't weld either! Hahaha having advice and someone to help you set up will help, but its not them doing the work at the end of the day