Afternoon, 
How much is to much, money wise before you wont break even on a mk1 escort resto? 
I had a paint & panal quote a few years back at 15k
I hope to never have to sell it, but I want to have the right direction vs budget.

Depends on what your planning to do to it. 
Mine will have cost me 50 to 60 k once finished and if I sold it in Oz would may on a good day realise that but the back up plan is ship it to the UK and I may even make enough profit to buy a 6 pack. 
I dont look at it as a money making venture or a financial matter , I just enjoy messing about with them and i want to create a nice car. 

I guess it depends on what you have to start with, how much you paid and how much of the work you can do yourself.  $15k for panel and paint would seem to indicate there is a lot of work to do, maybe more than what the car is worth??  What model/ trim level have you got to start with? Len

The car is very solid I bought several years ago($5600) off this forum, its Harreir's old gold colored mk1 Mexico rep. I used it as a daily for about 2 years then took it off the road, the brakes are gone but I could have it registered and back on the road in no time. She has a few small dents and rust spots and id say there is rust behind the trims on the sills. Ive got a stage 3 zetec/bda rep engine and an alloy bell for toyota box. Dont have box or diff(volvo) yet. Will have fibreglass bubbles a factory ford blue color, interiors good just doin carpets, roof lining and front seats.
At the time I thought 15k for bodywork was ok so im glad you think it may be a bit steep for what should be a good base to start with. I can handle the machanical/refit side myself.

I dont want a show car finnish im going to use it as a daily driver or at least as much as possible. I spend every second month overseas(miner,India) so im only home for six months a year.
I cant see myself shoot'n to the shops for loaf of bread in a car of the quality/finnish like yours Mr Bonus. I just wanna get another mk1 back on the road.
 

Can you just do a quick fix on the brakes etc and get it back on the road, if you enjoy having it back so much then plan out further repairs while your away?

It sounds like the your in a financial position that allows the car as a 'toy' so i think when spending on the car you have to understand your not going to get the money back and are spending to satisfy yourself and as long as your happy then that is the best outcome. Thats how ive approached mine, spending on it is really pissing money up the wall but the car is coming together how i want it and that makes me happy and worth the spending.

I agree with you completely Robbie, I am just doin it to satisfy my love for all things classic Ford.
Without sounding like an arse, budget isnt an issue. Bonus's reply has set my mind at ease as far as spending is concerned. I know you never get your money back, and they are never really finnished are they, I just want to be sensible about it. You always see those ads for cars where the seller throws in that he has put 50k into this car and its for sale for 20. I hope to hand this car down to my kids one day, although by then it will probably have an electric motor in it lol.
 
 

if tesla can do 0-100 in 1.9 secoonds imagine what it will do when your kids get their hands on it!

Thought I would post this for those considering the value and economy of restoring a Mk1 
Yes the link is current but in the uk And i know the cars are better and easier to restore here.
Just saying.... bear in mind you need to double to price to get ozzy dollars
https://www.cotswoldclassiccarrestorations.co.uk/for-sale/mk1-ford-escort-1/

Ha, I was thinking "yea a lot of money had gone into that car to build it", then looked at the price, mm!