Following a great overall work over of the car. This is my report.
1. floors are perfect, no issues at all
2. battery box was repaired for normal rust. No issues, just not the quality of what I would do in a restoration.
3. the car has had a rear 1/4 replaced a long time ago. The drivers door gap is wider than normal but correctly shaped.
4. the car was hit in the same replaced 1/4 panel in the rear. The repair is substandard, but is fixable.
5. The upper rear panel was also hit and suffers from a shoddy repair.
6. both the rear lower wells in the sides of the trunk have had rust repair. Solid now. But I dont like the appearance of the work from the inside.
7. both front fender lower extensions have a minor amount of rust bubbling. rockers are 100% solid
8. the doors are 100% rust free
9. hood is 100% rust free
10. The entire front of the car is rust free except for the mentioned lower fenders.
11. deck lid perfect
12. rear frame rails not damaged by the rear impact at all. seems that everything is superficial.
13. all glass is original and in very good condition.
14. bumpers are straight but need re-chroming
The car was disassembled in the interior. I haven't laid out every piece to see what is missing. But the notable things are the carpet and headliner. the door and rear side panels are there but the chrome like strips on the rears are not very nice. Seats need upholstery. Dash and lower console are cracked but complete.
So here is my thought process and question for the group.
1. do i try to restore the car to a show car status. ( i feel i will spend as much as it would bring to get the car up to that standard, especially not being able to source replacement body parts. Would need a rear 1/4 and upper and lower rear panels.)
2. do i just put it together as a 60% daily driver type. fix what is there. deal with the cracked dash and non standard carpet that I would have to make, realize that it is a survivor and thats it?
3. do i build a "tribute" race car out of it. I am at a point in my life where I wont be seeing any track action, most likely. Mainly lack of time. But i could build a track ready car. This would allow for my 16 valve headed engine and 131 gearbox a place to go. build out the interior like a race car. but not gut the insides so one day it could be put back as a original car if someone wanted. install a 6 point roll cage mainly for looks, but still build it out of correct dom tubing to pass any sanctioning bodys regulations. install some race seats and just have fun with it on the street. I will properly store all the removed parts for later if the car was to ever be put back original.
Those are my options i am thinking about. Please feel free to have an opinion. Thats why I asked. BTW, for what I paid it is worth it in my mind anyway. A running 1608 with dual 40 idf's has to be worth something as well.