I spent over £4000 on the restoration of my wife's Vanden Plas 1300 - for the car to be worth around £1500-£1800. It gave me a chance to develop my restoration skills, and my budget planning skills - On the Aston it has already cost me more than buying a drivebale vehicle, but that's not the point, it's a toy, it keeps me out of the pub and away from loose women, so my wife likes it, and when it's done it will be my car, made to my specification.