I've been about 3 years on mine. Much of that time was waiting for parts to become available. But Iv'e got a roughed out body now, having started with only a cowl. Hopefully I'll move on to the frame and running gear by spring.
11 years on the 54F100, that includes job losses for Mrs Jalopy and my self at the same time, starting a new business, and 3 years of paying off huge doctor bills. The 54 should be done next year baring no more surprises. Hopefully the 62 Falcon will not take as long I turned 60 this month and I would like to drive it when I get it done ???????????? jim h
Got sidetracked and restarted my Touring after a couple years. When I restarted it was 24 months. I did everything on the car, from building the chassis to paint,engine and wiring. For reference that was working many evenings and most weekends, prob 20-30 hours a week. I took some time off for family and carshows. Thanksgiving and Christmas drove me nuts when I wished I was out working on it!
I don't think 8 years is too long.I think it will turn out to be about average.I have been working on mine 9 years so far and probably be another one till it is done.I pay as I go and sometimes get sidetracked.I have been semi-working on a 65 Vette for 25 years.If you are the gold chain crowd and pay someone else to do it for you it wouldn't take too long,but then you can't really say that you did it.I think working on them is more fun than driving them.Once they are done,you want to sell it and get something else.
It took 20 years from the time I decided what I wanted to when I could afford to purchased it and another 23 years building it. A total of 43 years! Chaz
Gee, I have no idea how long it takes to finish a car. I usually get a project to the driver stage in a couple years, then may make improvements while we drive it for the next couple years before we are looking for something else. Then the whole process starts over. Don't think I ever "finished" one. Its an addiction I tell you. I'll be able to quit just as soon as I finish the next one. As long as I never get one finished, all is good. Gene
Working on it, or picking at it? From my perspective, you have less money into something you only pick at. It does take a lot longer to finish, though. Want to finish something quick? Throw a bunch of money at it and pay to have most of it done for you. Want to do it cheap? Take a long time, save parts, and do it yourself in your own time.
3 years on the truck, and 6 on the fairlane and still counting. They are both still works in progress but at least I get to drive one or the other to work to fund the next big expense.
If your wife is complaining because she wants to ride in it or drive it tell her to buy you a running and driving hotrod that you will use until your's is done.........
I've been "working" on mine for 13 years....IE I got it from cow feild fresh to running and driving in three months (top chopped, subframedetc)....drove it around for a few years and went through the power train, rebuilt the engine and trans and rearend......drove it around for a few years redid the suspention and freshened up the body work...drove it around for a few years and realized I was sick of working on it....tore it apart for the last time recently....full body off, freshening up the engine, new trans, rebuild the rearend, sectioned the truck and will have it DONE in another 12 months...thats paint, interior, rims, tires, the whole meal deal....simply put, I'm sick of wrenching on the same truck....time to move on to another project...I just like driving my stuff...BUT realized I gotta pull it off the road for a period of time to get it where I want it and achieve the vision I have for it...if you can stay motivated and not lose the vision...I say take as much time as you need.
Our 54 Ranch Wagon has Been a ongoing project since 2-20-2003 ans still not finished,,,but I have managed to build my truck and help build a few more in the process,,,we got the car in 1983 but it has been in the family since it was new! HRP
My 55 has been in the garage for 2 1/2 years, probably squeezed in about 3 weeks worth of work....when I had time I had no $$$$....now I got the $$$ but no time
12 years and counting to first fire in the next couple weeks... It was built with income tax refunds and extra money from freelance work, stickers, parting out cars.... The stuff I did to make extra money takes time, so sometimes the work on the car would suffer while I did it... That and my employers wanted me working 40 hours a week too. Since my profession has nothing to do with automobiles, and I've never had any training (except a welding class), everything I've had to do, I've had to read up or learn as I did it. The rest of my spare time was taking care of the house, family, etc. In those twelve years 5 family members died, and all that that involves, we added an addition to the house, and I spent 3.5 years getting a degree. Print out this and give it to your wife to read... You are not that unusual if you have other responsibilities that you take seriously.
The Jalopy Journal
