Hi guys -

On Saturday 14 July we lost our very close friend Ben in a shark attack - Western Australia.

Ben had been sporadically working on this bloody Datsun for years & it always seemed nothing got done.

Ben's parents want to get the car done restored but i fear that due to money restraints the car will reach a point where it can't be saved. They have said they are happy for us to get some quotes and explore restoring it further.

You're going to have to forgive me because I'm not sure what year it is etc. Hopefully you can get an idea from the picture below -

I'm really just looking for rough ideas what people think price wise having the whole body work restored and painted would cost - I know this is a hard question to answer without seeing how much rust is through the car but if we say its a worse case scenario and gauge ideas from that?

The car needs a new starter motor as well however otherwise its fine mechanically.
Does anyone have a rough price on this as well?

Hopefully I can get a rough idea on price just to see if it’s a viable option to get close friends to try bringing it back to life.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers - Seb.

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This is the guy that was taken quite recently?

RIP.

I really hope to see the old girl restored to its former glory, but I seriously doubt you will get much change from $10K to get an old datto ute up to spec, and I really hope you arent planning on breaking even if you sell it further down the track. Your best bet would be to get a panel beater on side with the whole "memorial" angle, and maybe even offer some singage on the finished ute? You might even consider "sponsors" for other parts of the restoration.

Good luck with it either way, and make sure you put up a build thread if it goes ahead.

Sorry to hear about Ben.

If you could put up a few more pictures of the car up showing the worst damaged or rusted areas that would give us a better idea of the work involved.

I'd be happy to help out when and where I can :).

Starter motors can be purchased new from Malz, I think they are about $89 (well they were a couple of years ago).

Cheers, Levey.

Whats going to become of the car once its restored ?? I am sure there are a few people around and on this site that would chip in. I for one may, if I knew the project would be completed.

I would have to speak to his parents properly about what they would want to car to be used for.

$10,000 is a lot of money too – I’d have to speak to more people about what they would be happy to contribute.

I’d envisage it being a tribute car for his close friends to drive – But it would still be his parents car for them to ultimately decide.

I don’t think if the car was completed it would ever be sold.

I’m a bit out of the loop with car shows and cruises and what not – But things along those lines would be something to look into depending on how the car turned out.

Thanks for your replies.

RIP to Ben, condolences to his family and friends,
I'm 100% the Datto community would be happy to help out where we can,
I'm sure I would have a spare starter some place..
I'm not good with bodywork,
but some others are...

My deepest condolences seb for all your mates and his family too. Loosing loved ones is never easy.

As for the Ute IM sure most members would pitch In something. In all honesty not to be harsh, I've seen people do this kind of thing before, and once its done it just sits there doing nothing. The intentions are great but id hate for all his friends and parents to go through the build and not feel excited or that sense of closure at the end,of it.
Also if money is an issue there's the upkeep of the Ute,later on that may become a Burdon and if the Ute ever had to be sold you all may love through the pain of loosing that,last physical reminder of him.

Things to consider but once again I really do feel for you. I lost someone tragically earlier this year. Maybe not best mates but we were becoming good friends from work. And every day there's a reminder when I sit at my desk and he's not there as well.