A friend of mine was telling me that at one of the Sema seminars he attended a few years ago, one of the subjects that came up was that only 10-15 percent of all Hot Rods, restorations, Muscle Cars etc. Ever get completed and see the road. That would mean that 85-90 percent of all projects never get done. I started thinking about everyone that I know who has a project car, and out of 10 that I thought of right off the bat, I can think of one of them that actually does run. I know that money, time and life get in the way,? But I also started to think that some people bite off more than they can chew with either the scope of the project or the complexity of it. Multiple carbs, chop and channel jobs or a vintage engine are all great, but what if the car never sees the road? What do you all think?
i agree that not many projects get done i have a few in my garage that i bought and finished its a shame that people do 60-70% and get burnt out its good for me i only have to do 30% and its driving
People find it hard to stay motivated.It seems like everyone today wants instant gratification.When they start the project they are full of enthusiasm but when reality hits and the realize that its not as easy as they thought and will take a long time to complete they loose interest and move on to the next thing that peaks their interest. I've built many cars and completed them all. You just need to be patient and go at a steady pace one step at a time and sooner or later the project will be completed.
Bought my car in 4th grade. Graduated high school in 1997....... Started it for the first time this last Christmas. Going in for interior soon..... Have a friend that has at least 7 unfinished rods in some state of customization, he gets to a point loses interest and starts a new one. The few he finishes he drives the wheels off.... Just think how many half done projects are hanging out in someones shed or garage....
That is why I tell everybody who is looking to build or get a T bucket to run a want ad in their local paper, nickle news, thrity nickle, Greensheet, etc: "WANTED: T Bucket project and/or parts for any early hotrod. Phone number. Times to call.". The whole world doesn't turn on the Web. There are lots of cars out there, as evidenced here, and you never know what will turn up in your own hometown from a Want Ad. There are probably lots of Street Beasts, Cobras, VW dune-buggies & Bugattis & Mercedes & various other kits, Fiero conversions to Ferraris or Maseratis, and probably a good number of old Pinto-powered Model A Roadsters and Roadster Pickups from the late 70s-80s, and any number of oddball things we have never heard of before.
I finish every one of my projects, some take longer than others. But everyones degree of finished is different. If you PLAN to not paint, upholster, chrome or whatever it is, it's finished in my book.
I could see it, people have big dreams, and add to much **** to a build making it overwhelming, and costly. I can see why, my first big project seemed easy, a not to old of a car, late 70's, it came with and engine, and 2 transmissions, it was just dis***embled. Used to be a 6cyl, came with an 8, but the engine came in the car if you ordered it new, so it wasnt a hard swap. The part that took some thought, and balls was the rust. It looked good, but when I dug into it, there was alot of rust. To much to pay someone to fix, and way to much to bondo over or gl*** over, I didnt want a bondo bucket like my first couple cars. So I managed to borrow a welder from a friend, and practiced with it until I felt I could do the car. I started with the **** no one would see, and made sure to focus on strength not looks. Now I build **** in the garage everyday, from little metal **** around the house, to welding in a frame rail in a buddies car. Lots of work on cars is overwhelming, you just have to knuckle down and do it. Then you learn cool **** in the process, and save money!
Several different cl***ifications of project cars. Everything from a torn apart Rod that's been in a garage since the 50's and will never be worked on by the owner to someone's 10 year project (or more). Then there's the 1 yr. start to finish knockout projects. I'd bet that 95%+ of the old cars that are still above the sod are sitting untouched or in various states of dis***embly or rebuild. For every finished Hot Rod, oldie or Muscle car you see on the road, there's another 20+ hiding out in a garage somewhere. That's a lot of cars. Also consider how many parts (sheet metal, drivetrain, etc.) are stashed away-probably enough loose parts to build thousands of old cars.. Another interesting thought is that some project cars get to a certain point of completion, then sit idle or get sold. Sometimes when project cars get sold, it's a one step forward and several back affair. A 75% completed Rod, gets "changes" by the new owner to suit his tastes and it's suddenly back to 50% completed. I've also seen turn key Hot Rods, bought taken off the road for "a couple of changes". One thing leads to another and the car is suddenly a "project car" for years before it sees the street again.
Motivation is the key...but for young guys, life gets in the way: GF, then wife, babies, homes, jobs (and ***ociated problems with holding onto it),money, college and by the time they are approching 50 or so, a few will find they have time to "get back on that project that been languishing for years." I started on my last one at age 63...finished it in 5 1/2 years...hardly worked on it during the week...it was mostly a weekend build, easy to stay motivated that way...and you can see the complete build here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=329070&highlight=the+best+55+caddy+build R-
Always found "one at a time" is the trick to getting any project finished, anything else and you're forever chasing your tail
Lots of people seem to really enjoy the teardown. Then they find that the job is either too expensive, or beyond their skill level. The car then sits until it either gets sold, or pushed out of the way. I'm guessing that at least 50% of the time the person who took it apart, doesn't put it back together. There's a guy about 20 miles from me who has about 8 killer cars all taken apart, with Flatheads and Hemis laying all over the place... wtf. I guess he just enjoys owning the cool stuff, even with it taken apart. Go figger!
I have been guilty of selling projects before I even start them! My '51 Pontiac will be a 10 year project I've decided. I'm in no hurry and I want to enjoy the build. For once I finally have all the ingredients to finish a project...... Time, space, money, tools, and the skill. Ed
Those are the people who watched Boyd do it in 6 weeks and got taught a very good lesson. I get people asking me about where or how to build a T like mine. I always answer, but I can also spot the guy who's just caught up in the moment. They don't see the hard work, long hours chasing down a wire or scrounging in a junk yard. They just see the attention they would get, if they had one.
your 10-15% completion rate is wacky. I am helping keep the completion rate low, but it is not that low.
I just repeated what a friend told me he was told at a Sema seminar, I have no data as to the actual figure.
Lack of funds generally cultivates the lack of interest. If I had all the parts needed or the ability to buy anything I needed as needed I could finish any project I start. Unfortunately I usually end up with 2 parts that need a 3rd part between them before they can be installed and no cash to buy said part.
I'm the one who buys an unfinished project and finishes it. I won't buy a project unless the last one is finished and sold. I can't stand clutter.
Ditto. I have a new rule, when I sell a car/project, all the spares go with it. Tired of trying to unload little bits left over at the end, but too valuable to just toss.
I think thats probably a fairly accurate estimate. I have had my Studebaker for 10 years, and its not in much different shape than when I got it. I have had it apart & back together again several times in different mock-up's of "plans" I had. But its never really progressed any further than that. For the last year I have seriously come close to selling it just to see it have a better chance of becoming roadworthy again. These hunks of steel are hobby cars for most of us, & a hobby usually gets tossed back for family, work, & life in general.
Why would someone start such a depressing thread like this I come here to escape the routine of everyday life, keep after it and make your projects and dreams become a realality
10-15 percent of all Hot Rods, restorations, Muscle Cars etc. Ever get completed and see the road. you have not given enough facts here to put a number on it. 35% of all percentages are just made up.
100% completion rate for me. Never give in I say. Not sure what I'll do when the Olds in finished, start another build I guess
I'm at about 75 percent completion here and always bite off more than I can chew. My current project...I haven't even touched in about two months. LAME...But I ain't gonna give up.
If you mean completed by the original dis***embler then yes it could be true because I've bought my share of unfinished projects and I got a few of them on the road. They got completed but not by the original guy that started the project. I don't know how anyone could determine an actual percentage but there are an *** load of unfinished projects in garages all over the country. Not a HAMB type of car but I bought this as a $2500 basket case that had been p***ed around by several people over the years before I got it and restored it.
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