IMHO, an 82 Prelude won't ever be worth very much (sorry!). I would
replace the door with one from a junkyard and get another macco paint
job if I was going to go the repair route. IF you decide to sink another
5k into your car, you probably will never get recoup that on the market.

I'd get something else, and keep it around as a project.

Just my .02, it's worth what you paid for it.

Carl


"Travis" <travis_at_charbeneau_dot_net> wrote in message
news:9ZKdnZ_UdoJSt6bcRVn-sw@comcast.com...
> Hi, Folks,
>
> I'm the only owner of a 1982 silver Prelude (automatic [sorry], with
> AC and the four-spoke mag wheels, dead "moon roof"). The car has only
> 118,000 miles on it, spent all its life spent in Virginia, and I have
> every receipt the little bugger ever generated for service, etc.
>
> I've had two paint jobs, same color, with body work chasing the usual
> rust sites in the wheel wells and leading/trailing edges of the cab. I
> crumpled the passenger door recently, which has hurried forward the
> third rust-chase/repaint (last done in '99). Now, with factory, Maaco,
> and '99's base coat/clear coat, I have three layers and a piece of
> work ahead.
>
> I have about $5K to put into a car, and that's what a local,
> lacquer-only Richmond, VA gentleman wants for a
> bumpers/windshields/light housings dis-assembly, rust-plug (with
> metal), and then a sand-to-metal, four-plus coats silver lacquer,
> three coats clear coat. He seems to do very good work, and it will
> take a month. (Second old car available.)
>
> I could go for it, or buy a $5K "pre-wrecked" ten year-old something
> or other.
>
> My best guess is to do the restore and hope to recoup a few pennies in
> the antiques market down the line. Will there be one? Should I finally
> say goodbye to the old girl?
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Travis
>
>