Which car should I restore?

[Red Dragon]

I have started to work on a 1966 Bonneville but I have ran into a problem so I want to know which path I should go with this restore. I have 2 1966 Bonnevilles and I want to restore one of them, I got a black color one that is in pretty good shape with a 389 Engine and a Automatic transmission with power steering. It does need a paint job but I found out that the roof of the car is completely rusted out. It looks like water got under the vinyl top and rusted out the metal under it. How hard is this to fix? My other option is that I have another red colored 1966 Bonneville with a 421 Engine and manual Transmission with Power Steering, but it has been out in the weather so its covered in rust. The engine and transmission have been stored inside so they are not rusty and the top on that car is in good shape. I want to know since the roof of this car is in better shape if I changed out some of the parts on this rusty car like the fenders and doors and wheel hubs and other parts from the black car with the 389 engine then how much would it be worth since it would have the 421 engine that came with it because I heard that a matching numbers car is worth more. Also how much does it effect the value of the car if I do replace the fenders and doors and other parts from the original parts that came with it. My other idea is to take the black car with the 389 and rusted out roof and fix the roof and put the 421 and manual transmission in it to make it worth more. I'm just not sure which path to take and which would be worth more. Thanks for all the information. Still learning about classic cars.

[Sirius]

Not having seen either of the cars, my first impression is to restore the red one using parts off the black one.

[CMNTMXR57]

Well, being partial to 389's, I'd go that route. :p I have a '66 Catalina 4-door post with 389/2bbl, and automatic. The 421 with a man pedal would definitely be more fun, but you are talking full-size barges here, so my guess is that you're going to be doing more "cruising" than barn storming a twisty two lane road, so the Auto/389 will be fine.

Really, I might consider taking the best of each and make one stellar car.

[Red Dragon]

well yea that's what I want to do is make one good car with both but I'm more looking at which route would make the car worth more, what is a 66 Bonneville with a 389 worth and what is one with a 421 worth?

[Sirius]

The bigger engine with a manual transmission is going to be harder to find, ergo it stands to reason it would command a higher finished price than a 389/auto...all other things equal.