In full disclosure of my original post, the "beater car" is a solid dent free car and came with a lot of stuff such as new rubber, refurbished steering wheel and radiator, rebuilt shocks and gas tank, etc. I got a complete low mile 292 Chevy for $300.00. Home-made wiring harness, slip on seat covers, and salvaged inner door panels are planned. Transmission and rear axle unknown at this point but looking into the 57-64 Pontiac/Olds rear.
We all have different hot rod budgets and what others have to spend shouldn't affect what we spend. I've taken a lot of photos of Billy's roadster over the years and it is one of the most highly detailed coolest goodies roadsters on the planet. You would have to be looking at cars that cost three times as much as he has in it from the top name shops in the country to find comparable cars. Still any of us who applied the same amount of personal effort as he did with that car or his truck using simpler components could build one hell of a nice car for far less. Simply meaning far simpler and less expensive components with the same amount of effort applied. A lot of time just applying the same amount of effort starting with the same basic component to get it to the point he did rather than stopping at "that will work". That little bracket that a lot of guys spent 15 minutes making and installing he spent 30 minutes drawing out the design, then had two hours in it from the time he cut the piece off the stick of tubing until he had the finish product on the chassis and ready to go. Paint, we can buy less expensive paint even in the quality brands by not paying extra for the fancy add on items that jack the price up. Best price for the materials to be able to shoot one gallon of the color I have found for the exact color I want and dream of is currently 500 bucks for the box of product. I may have to sell off some stuff to swing two gallons of that, Sell off some more stuff to get a former student to spray it because he isn't going to do it just for bragging rights. Still my boat tail thingie will be painted with tractor paint from the farm equipment store or Tractor Supply. The color will be "period correct" for an old race car. Not fancy and not pro applied but look right. Think about it a bit, with the concept of "how can I make my rod just a bit nicer but not actually spend a bunch of cash doing it? " and pretty soon you start making it a bit better and not spending a bunch of money.
I have less than $3500 in this one including the cost of hauling it five hours when I moved. Realistically about $800 from where I want it before daily use......but honestly it'd serve just fine as is as a daily. And that includes paint
I like working on things, but I like figuring out what work needs done and how to do it even more than the actual working on them part. But, now it makes working on them more fun if someone is there to help. Not to do it for you, but just to lend a hand and be there when doing by yourself is just inconvenient. I used to pride myself on how I could figure out how to do almost anything by myself. It may not have been perfect, but I got it done. Now it's more fun to have help and get it done without all the aggravation and trial and error of doing it by myself.
Hey to each their own, right? I absolutely love show car quality rods & customs... Eye candy, art, rolling sculptures, etc.. I don't have the kind of dough it takes to build one so I do the best I can with what I've got. It's nice to be able to drive my cars where & when ever I want with out being stressed about rock chips and puddles. I get a kick outta watchin' people walk by a chrome & billet laden street rod to study my beater. It's all good.
That 66 is in awesome shape. If the timing had been a little better I'd have grabbed it. You are gonna have a blast with it.
lets see who else I can piss off today. What is costs to build a car seems to be important to a lot of people. I screw one together and never count the cost. I am not wealthy and that seems to be an issue with some folks as was pointed out to me ever so elegantly today. Nothing has changed since I was in high school. Hoodlums and Social Butterflies. (hoods and sosches). Guess which camp I land in. If someone spends 10 grand for paint and someone else is happy with tractor paint or even just primer what is the issue. Its just a car and its intent should be; 1 a way to get to and from (unless your motorcycle is running) 2 to have fun. I am probably not going to say how much I have in my heap and I don't care how much you have in yours. Why would I? Or why should you?
Yeh Ricky gave me a good deal, he’s a good guy. My plan is to budget build the car, I’ve started gathering stuff I’ll go with a 360 Magnum junk yard engine a 904 transmission and a S10 or Ranger rear differential, SS springs, 750 Holley 2500 - 3000 stall or more and that most radical cam my grinder recommends along with some semi homemade headers This thing should be hoot on the street and a fair runner on the strip. Not sure on the paint color, some family members think sublime green Dan
One thing I have noticed , here on the HAMB and in the world, is….different strokes for different folks! There is no right or wrong way! There is only “ your” way! I have seen pictures of a guy working on his project , up North, in the cold, with a garge made out of plastic sheets and 2x4s! I have seen guys with twenty cars in a huge garage with shiny floors , lifts, offices , lounges, bars, etc. Most of us, here, fit somewhere in between, but it doesn’t matter! We all enjoy the cars ! Some guys , around my area, are always trying to get me to change my ways…..you know, hoarding , procrastinating, drinking, vacationing, etc! But that is who I am! I expect everyone to be theirselves, also. So, to the OP, do it your way! And listen to Anthony! Bones
I think that we all come from different places. People always try and judge us by what they think they know about us. I am often asked by people why I drive old cars, or old motorcycles depending on what I am on or in that day. My answer is always the same, "Because it is too far to walk." Cars and bikes are not a "hobby" for me and cars are certainly not a life style. Bikes? Well perhaps but this is not a bike forum. I like older cars as a rule, they are simple. I do not spend a lot of time polishing and smoothing. I drive them. That is what they are for. I would be lying if I said I would not like to own a fancy show quality car, but it would be wasted on me. I would drive it just like I drive an old beater. Groceries, doctor visits, banking. Its just too far to walk. There are a myriad of people on this forum and they all come from different places. Just like @Boneyard51 said.
There it is... I know very few that went thru the deal that I had. Not bad not good just a very different development. For me the car is there to serve me I'll do what it takes to make it my own. The next guy can make it his.
The topic question was "Can it still be done?" I provided the time frame and year in which the project was started and when it got plates and insurance on it. I had the numbers because I had just sold a truck, and set up a "kitty" which included the money from the truck sale and to which a specific amount of money was added on a monthly basis, The cost of the parts was subtracted when parts were bought. I also provided a picture of the truck at the starting point as a reference, and a picture of the truck when the the running total ended. Real money, real project with before and after pictures, with real dates on the calendar. The OP can adjust the total for a current total inflation adjusted number. Scrounging and deals made can alter these numbers, maybe he can do better or worse then I did, but he knows the pictured truck was done for that amount, at that time. Some may be under the impression that the money spent was what was important to me, let me assure you, it was not. It was simply what I spent on that truck, at that time, to get it from where is was, to where the money got it to. That truck started life with 44,560 miles on it and now has 62,640 (as of today) since June 2021. The truck is driven year around. The truck has had some updates since, including body and paint the year after the licensed date. The updates and body & paint are over and above the numbers posted. I also don't really care if you like my truck or not, I like it a lot. For those of you that have the urge to tell everyone how you built your ride for $1500, be sure to tell us the date when you did it. Time has a way of adjusting numbers. I'm not sure I could build my truck that was done in 2022 for that amount of money today. Everything costs so much more today then it did even a short 3 years ago. I built my 48 Plymouth business coupe for around $1500 in 2011, but that doesn't mean anything today.
I suggested on another thread that the donor car route can yield a pretty decent result very cheaply. Since this is in the nostalgic Hamb section, some may want to look away and stop reading right here. My suggestion is to start looking at 86 and newer Corvettes for donor cars. The price has come way down on them. Get on Facebook Marketplace and do a search. About $2000 will buy a complete car that someone has some issue with. In that bargain price you will get a 350 cu in engine and an overdrive transmission. One or both may work or one may need a rebuild. You get an independent front suspension and an independent rear suspension and in many cases they are about the right width for an old car or truck. You get a disc brake system with a small power mater cylinder. You get a steering column. Depending on your vehicle, the bucket seats make work for you as well......but they all need new premade covers. You can sell body parts and recoup some of the money as well. Also you can sell the wheels. I have one sitting out back that had some rear quarter damage . Paid $2100 for it about a year ago. It has a great sounding 350 with headers and the trans works fine. The damage wasn't serious and it could be fixed, I can drive it if I license it. Saw one complete yesterday for $1800. I mean these cars are going cheap and they have all the major parts most people will want/need. So, Yes it can still be done.
A very inexpensive donor vehicle supplied many 44,000 mile parts for my truck build. I was at the right place at the right time. By far the cheapest way to get it done. Still cost $7,000 to make it a driver in 2021.
Anyone can build a T bucket from the speedway catalog and a set of 100$ Harbor Freight tools. Cheap fun can still be had, buy a 1500 dollar roller, slap a motor and trans in it sourced from a local pull out runner driver, spend some money on brakes and lights... Bam on the road and having fun. The funny thing I find is some people cant just get things on the road, they have to "suspension swap" etc and paint etc. I have lusted after a few vehicles and almost bought them, until sitting in one and realizing my 6'3" big boy ass has no business being in there like a can of sardines. I'd love a Model A roadster, just not going to work. I always say, find something locally that runs and drives or find a buddy who will let you take theirs around the block, see if its a decent fit. I have built or bought so many vehicles that I found uncomfortable after. I could only imagine the disappointment of building a full painted, done vehicle that I couldn't drive for 10 minutes. If you don't know how to do something, learn how to, if you don't like doing it, then at least you tried it and know what you don't like.
The Jalopy Journal
