Hello,

Thank you for taking the time to read this post.

I have a running, smogged, and registered '89 FC3S that I want to bring back to almost factory condition. It's running fine mechanically, one Krisly Kreme sized ding on the door, and has the always lovely electronic issues with the wipers, light clusters. Seats smell like 30 year old seats. Interior is intact but again the age shows. It's still got the factory stickers (what's left of them) on the back window. I even have the spare and tool kit. Basically it's a good car considering the age. It's all stock except for BC Coils, poly-bushing replacement, and an S5 alternator. AFAIK the engine is still stock. Turbo definitely needs a rebuild (blades are chipped..how does THAT happen??).

What I'm looking for is a shop that can bring the car back to like-new condition. something like 8/10 or 9/10. Restore the interior, engine bay, electronics, and paint (of course fix the dent). Use as much OEM as reasonable but it's important that it looks OEM. I may opt for bolt on reliability/performance changes but nothing that can't be reverted back to stock easily. I may opt for the rubber molding delete as I prefer a clean look. It will be a weekend car once it's done and it will be driven with spirit. It's not a 323 right? ;-) I'm not saying I will but it may find itself at Mazda Raceway trying to catch those pesky Miatas. Oh most importantly, It has to still pass SMOG...cuz you know...I live in CA. I'm not looking for cheap fixes, I'm looking for proven quality shops.

So, anyone know of a reliable, reasonable, and great FC restoration shop? Preferred in CA but willing to travel or ship. Overall the total cost will determine how far I will travel. Does anyone have a ballpark figure on what this project may cost?

Thanks again!

 

Have no idea on price. I’d suggest thinking it through. I bought my 88 fc in 1994 drove it for a few years, and it started to show its age so I garaged it

in 2002 or so I got the bug to drive it again, joined here (big mistake lol)

at that time I came across some really clean turbo ii and a gtus

buy instead of buying those for like 8k

i pumped that money into my beat up 88

drove it while trying to save money for the rest of the work. That money never came.

I should have sold mine 2k or so plus 8k and bought a ready to go clean 10k car that I would probably still drive instead of having a project car that sits in my parents garage

just something to think about

 

That makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately I don't have enough posts to look in our classifieds yet. I've been looking at your basic classifieds online (Ebay, Craigslist, Autotrader and there just isn't anything. I see a few convertibles but that's not what I want.

I'd love to have a S5 FC3S all stock in 8/10 or better condition. I wonder how much those would go for?

-Delius

 

Good luck

 

cost really really depends on what you start with, and how crazy you want to get.

a full ground up cost no object build is like 50K, paint alone is probably 10k, plus everything is rebuilt/re-soldered/etc etc. it also takes a LONG time, the FC is complex.
a thorough detail + fix the broken stuff, could be quite cheap, and its quick, it probably is a month of weekends.

i'm just starting one in the middle, the outside is just getting a detail/touch up, engine is built, but not installed. i'm doing everything else, basically. its going to be under 10k, its going to be a really nice driver. i just got the thing last weekend, and i hope to be done with it by April 1st