You cant look at all pro builders in the same light or category just because they accept a check for what they do. To me a pro has a drive and passion for what they do. And will accept responsibility and learn from mistakes. As in sports there are winners and there are losers. But even the losers are still called pros. There are real pro builders and there are losers. That is one of the great things about this forum is that everything gets laid out in the open and people have the ability to pick and chose what is right for them.
There are PROFESSIONALS and there are laborers. Both get paid. PROFESSIONALS CARE. Laborers go thru the motions just to get it done. There is a difference in their attitudes and their results. I don't think that a PROFESSIONAL has ever been bashed here. To me, the point of Ryans essay was that SOUL cannot be bought. It takes both PROFESSIONALism and SOUL to build the BEST cars.
I think I know where you were going and I agree with your message. Lots of talented garage builders and pro builder here. I am just a hack that likes to steal the great ideas from both groups.
I hope you don't think I took any offense at your editorial. I understood what you meant, the article just got me thinking is all. I can't remember anyone on here bashing a pro. I just get a little dissapointed when people dismiss a car because it was paid for instead of bled for. Most of the icons of this business are known for cars they built for someone else, usually someone of better means than themselves. If these "more money than brains" types weren't around, we wouldn't ever see cars like the coupe Foster did for Kirk Hammet, or the "Loaded" RPU that kicks so much ass.
I would like to chime in if it'll be ok! ill probably get chopped on this whether its from being a newb or because i am not brain washed yet but here goes. I was sitting around shootin the shit with a close friend of mine talking about traditional cars, new trendy rat rods, using old parts etc.. and this is what came up. We are all in this together, gold chainers, street rodders, hambers etc... We allsupport the sport. The reason he buys his cars done or buys parts from suppliers is bcause he can and in the day that stuff was not available and he built plenty of cars laying on the cold concrete floor. Its about the sport of rodding in general. we all have something in common and that it is worshiping the automobile. There are alot of different styles, different suppliers etc... but atleast we all are trying to preserve the hobby in our own way and that were not trying to outlaw the sport, dispose the of the worlds junk! In fact everyone bashes Boyd, gold chainers, and any body thats made it or sold out. atleast they are on our side. yeh Boyd probably is sliding on his rep but after 20-30 years of this atleast he's still involved. That conversation took place while i was borrowing the bead blaster and within 50 foot there was a Riddler winner, a Riddler contender, Boydster 32, and a , and a ............ me; I cant afford that stuff enjoy the hunt and massaging the parts. Point was alteast we all support the hobby in our own little way! now ill stand back and let the missles launch
You know, something i dont see on here much is a seperation of all the people on here by age. and i mean that with age comes wealth, bad health or a station in life that affords one the luxury of having a car built by a young buck who is talented. not that the old guy isnt but sometimes its just easy to have it done or at least some of it. and in the bitching or discussions the age isnt really considered . most of the older guys and gals will prolly see themselves here and the young guys who can work all night on the hot rod and work all day at construction will too... so lets not be too general, I am a pro builder but I sure dont mind when my head fabricator decides to help me out on one of my projects... I JUST LIKE HOT RODS NO MATTER HOW THEY CAME TO BE.....
in conclusion, let me see if this is what everyone's saying.... whether its having your car or building it, we should all support each other because none of us are boyd i'm not sure if i agree with that....what makes a guy running a shop less than the guys out in the shop. nothing because somewhere along the way you have to make a compromise. i.e. he can't do that stuff anymore because there are 30 guys there to do it now. well that seems like 30 times more cars on the road to me which is a good thing in my eyes. cause that means 30 times more dreams being fulfilled
I've had my own reality show for the past 25 + years right here in Nebraska. Been fortunate to have people from all over the country allow me to build them chassis, and sell them parts. Most have been the nicest people you could ask to do business with. Whats important is I'm still having fun!
The consumate Hotrod, and Hotrodder, Was Frank Mack and his T. Did it all himself. At the same time, Bill Hines, Winfield, Westergard, all built cars for others to pay the bills. In the back shop they were building their own dreams. All of us have to pay the bills so that we can have our dreams. Build your dream and anyone else's opinion is worth a bucket of warm spit.
I've really enjoyed readig this thread and thinking about all the points of view. No drama, just normal joe-blow opinions. Can I assume you were at Pinkees?? The "contender" parts gets me excited. Can you elaborate??
Suddenly I have a warm fuzzy feeling inside! I am a guy of a whopping 28 years old and I get to build cars for a living! I have never really thought of myself as "pro". I always looked at it as " i get to use the money of others to build thier dreems, and even though it is thier car there is plenty of influence from the builder (in this case me) on how that car turns out!" In the end that car has a ton of "me" in it one way or another..... even though it doesnt get to go to my garage i still keep track of where it is and how its being cared for, whether the owner cares or not. I'm glad no one is bashing me! Thank you to all of those that let me fulfill YOUR dream on a daily basis! .
You know what they say about ASSume! no it wasnt Pinkees, and i do know Eric. it was a little closer to home than that. As far as contender (in the great 8 but no Riddler). Getting exited thats all part of the fantacy! oh yeh there may have been a Minters restored t-bird or two.
The only ones that should be bashed are the clowns that get on here and want to build an unsafe Rat or Fuck Rods I have found this board to be universally a perfect guide to building awesome Hot Rods and I love it when a pro gets on here and lends a helping thought and or idea I hope that it never ends because I myself have used this board on my own Hot Rods and I do not concider myself as a second hand fabricator. So keep up the good work Ryan it has changed alot of our lives.
no disrespect pro but ive seen great pro built & bad pro built--one look at the results shows what you really admire admire the ones that can can really build em right ---but there are too many johnny come latelys that take all day to do a 10 min job---i feel bad for the people paying them-its like i tell all the pro impersonators--- if we could hook the tools up to your mouth everyone in the world would be driving a hot rod---but on the other side --ive seen many non pro built cars that are just as goodim not trying to make waves but it all comes down to lets see your work then decide----ps when i started doing body work --bondo wasnt allowed in the shops lol---im an old bastard
Could it be that 'fabricated' hot rods have more soul, regardless of whether a pro built it for someone or a home builder did it for himself, and an 'assembled' hot rod (build almost entirely from prefab parts, kits and assemblies) will naturally have less soul? Which component provides more soul, a set of finned aluminum Buick brake drums or finned aluminum drum-looking covers hiding disc brakes? Does this make any sense???
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