Can "Refurbished" Thorens turntables sound better, and worth taking a chance on??


I had seen on Audiogon, and  e-bay a few Thorens turntables of of 60's thru the 80's that have been nicely restored and on sale.  For, example, a few of the models are the TD-160, TD-166, and TD-124. There could be others from that series. Nevertheless, the sellers claim  they have been thoroughly checked out( motor, bearing, belt and platter assemble, and tone arm alignment.)  Also  ne or two bases have been repainted and even lacquered.

My question:   Is it really worth it to invest in a refurbished  table that could be 40 years old??   Thorens were classics in the 60's through early 90's and possibly the best table on the market next to the Linn Sondek LP-12 which was more expensive. Is there a lot of risk in opting for refurbished vintage table over a new one?? .

Anyone have any knowledge or experience with these older tables that have been refurbished and even retolled, and whether they can compete with some of the current tables on the market?? .

BTW, it seems like since the so-called vinyl and analog revolution touted by Michael Fremer and others  of Stereophile, that a good table starts at about  $1500- $2000 without cartridge, and then prices can skyrocket to $3000 to $7000 and beyond. 

Need some feedback because my Project DC Carbon with an Ortofon 2M Red  is just not cutting it for me any longer I thought it would sound better than it does     Thanks!!. 

sunnyjim
When I got back into vinyl I purchased a TD-166 as time went on I purchased a VPI Classic 1.  The VPI was a significant upgrade to the Thorens but also more money. I bought the Thorens for about $350 the VPI cost me $2000. Given the cost differential the VPI was still a bargain and worth the extra cost IMO.  Tighter Bass more detail and a much more stable platform.

Chuck
The old Thorens were one of the best in their day and I still think fondly of them but I would be very cautious about buying an old table these days for big bucks.  There is a lot of beefed up old gear marketed on this site to get top dollar as alternatives to the newest and pricier products out there.     Not saying it is or is not worth it, I would just be very careful paying big bucks unless I really trusted the seller.