Projects Opinion Poll:Built or Unbuilt

And then you've got the guy who, due to working on the road and being gone forever, didn't really start on what he thought he wanted until it became apparent that he would no longer fit in a channeled T. He changed plans and went another direction with an A RPU and finally realized that he should have bought a running car. Now, he has a running, driving '48 long door coupe and he's still finding things that need fixed. To me, the coupe is no longer the "other guy's car", it's my car with problems that other people have caused. I'm still making it mine, but it's a process. My vote, as a really old guy would be #3

 

Over the years, I have purchased or traded for cars along all 3 options. As those years have progressed, leaning more and more towards #3. My current pair leans more towards #1, but I plan on those being the last in that option.

 

I’ve followed your builds for years and I am still amazed at how they turn out. Some of the prettiest metal work I’ve seen

 

I've always been a solid #1 guy, but with health issues I could see myself doing a #3, especially if it was a car I don't know much about.
I've been keeping my eyes on mid year coupes, I don't know anything about them so if I ever bought one it'd probably be a pretty finished car.
My current 57 pickup project is not going to have a ton of custom fabrication like I did to my 41, but it's still getting stripped down to bare frame and built back up.
My Henry J was supposed to be a driver fixer upper, once I got it home and started going over it I decided the best move was a total rebuild. The only thing left of the car I bought is the main body shell and one quarter panel...lol
So just do whatever makes ya happy

 

#5 A car that was complete, that with enthusiasm, I will pull apart then realise that, as Im without any talent, I will never get it back together again.

 

I always buy complete junk for under 300 bucks and toil to build the best I can myself on my budget. Takes a ton of work but I am very proud of driving them and can't get rid of them once I finish them...... unfortunately I now have way too many cars on the road to maintain that i dont build myself new ones as fast anymore....lol

 

It's rare that I ever buy a complete vehicle.

 

heh...been a long time since any car I wanted was available for under $300. I had to give $25k for my basketcase 62 Corvette!

 

Love a challenge.

 

Previously I started with parts or a clunker and enjoyed working on it, after it was done I looked for something else to keep me busy. Once they're done I tend to lose interest and move on, when I finished my 30 Sport Coupe I told my wife that was my last car. That lasted about 2 years although I did rebuild a Honda CT90 from the 70's, then I got bored and bought a 29 Roadster Pickup that ran and was just going to tinker with it. When I started fixing it I kept finding more problems and soon the frame was on sawhorses in the driveway. I had planned on a mild warmed up banger so now the engine is rebuilt with a Snyder's 5:5 to 1 head, Burns intake with a Holley 94 and an old Mallory dual point and setting in the chassis. If I ever finish this project it will be the last one and I'll opt for option three!

 

I took care of you brother

 

Scratch.

 

With me, it's always been #4. However, now at my older age it's much closer to #2!

 

I've never had two of these at the same time....let alone all 3. Soon I'll have time and facilities......hopefully ability will follow.

Sadly as I get older I can see myself slipping a little. I used to buy rebuildable parts or real close, now I find myself getting good used to put right back into work. The save time factor is creeping in.

 

I'm one of those "buy a body shell, and build a car under it" kind of guys. Then I drive the wheels off of it until the next body shell caught my eye and I did the entire process again. When the new ride was road worthy, I pedaled the old ride for what ever I can get out of it. My current ride is my personal # 7 to make it to the street. There have been another 6 or 7 street drivers for other people, and a dozen or more dirt track cars, I built drivers that look good from 10' away.

At this point, I don't expect to do another one. My parts hoard is gone, my personal body is protesting, the fixed retirement income wouldn't allow much of a building fund, and I'm getting lazy. Time is catching up with me, I think I'm just going to keep cruising and maintaining what I have.
Category # 6 Start with a car or truck body you fell in love with and build it into a car or truck. -

 

I'm not sure if you are lying to us or to yourself!

 

Probably both but I'm getting too old to do any more cars, past the mid 70's and still at it,

 

With the cost of upholstery, chrome, and paint, I buy the best car I can afford at the time. Always money ahead. Plus, what is your time worth? Is it worth spending many weeks fixing rust, when for a grand more you could have bought a car with little or no rust? Your opinion may differ, and that's OK with me.

 

I always go for the unfinished project but it has to be a car that I really want. I only restored one car from the ground up and I will never forget all the money I lost on that car; it wasn't a car I really liked either but it was cheap to start. Almost all the unfinished projects that I buy barely run but I've been money and labor ahead by miles. My last project took a year to finish but I sent pictures to the previous owner and told him that I finished the car he built. I figured he should receive the credit for the looks of the car.

 

The last one was running driving and safety checked, ready to register and insure. The shed has a cross section of projects, but the guys I want to run with are in their 70s and eighties, so it was time. It has been a fun summer- wash it and drive it, don’t take it apart, don’t improve it- yet.

 

I voted #3. But let me clarify. I'm 74 years old and probably will never see my current project through to completion. I'm hoping though.

So if I were to get another hot rod it would have to be turnkey.

 

Buy one in the best condition you can afford at the time project wise. Don't pay extra for things that you don't intend to use unless what you feel is the "extra" is also what you can sell them for.

Case in point, a guy in my area has a 35 Ford cab and a bunch of junk for sale for too much money for what it but thinks that the extra parts will make a great rat rod. outside of a couple of pieces the extra stuff is scrap metal to me and not worth what he wants as I can't sell it for enough to come out.

I'm debating going and looking at an ot car the same model but a year older than my OT car that a tree fell on last year, What is bad on the one for sale is good on my car and I can swap my allegedly cooler wheels for a better cars and coffee look. Plus sell enough left overs between the two so I don't end up being out much money and have a daily driver road car that I really enjoy driving.

 

I'm 72 if I was going to do another hot rod it would be a #3.

 

I oddly tend to like to start with parts cars. Typically they aren't as molested

 

I'm nearing 70 years old and starting a #4.
(from scratch)

I don't want to own and drive someone else's creation.

 

So it’s looking like age might have a pretty big impact on the choice of the build/car. Even though we don’t act like it and are all still kids at heart we sometimes have to admit that we are getting older and need to behave and take care of ourselves and God forbid listen to our wives for once. Since we were stuck in our homes for the duration of the pandemic I’ve noticed that gravity is not really my friend and these knees and hip joints aren’t what they used to be. I’m 59 and I’m starting to lean towards the stalled project and possibly one close to being finished with a little bit more work needed. (Just so I can drive it sooner than later) But I still view myself as a kid so to speak, in my mind I’m forever 29ish so I’m still digging the #1 option Although that is subject to change depending on how this OT fall/winter build goes

 

Yeah, if I was smart, age would be a factor. But I'm not smart. And I fkn refuse.

I'll act my age when I'm dead. LOL