As was said, just because you see a price tag on a vehicle, doesn't mean it'll bring that much. My rusty, left for dead '50 Ford sedan now has in the ballpark of 10 large in it. This is just in parts. Airide, new panels and floors, tires, drivetrain, etc. and it looks pretty much the same as when we dragged it home. I may take the car to Kallamazoo this weekend to a pre-48 show, which means in order to get the car (and cooler) in, I need to put it in the car corral. I'm going to put 15 grand on it, not because i think it's worth that or will bring that kind of green, but because I don't really want to sell it. And if someone offers up that much.........I'll have one hell of a head start on my '36 project this winter.
just my two cents but I start on a build for my customers in the thirty range and am finishing a 40 ford sedan right now that is just over 100K.. will it be worth it , probably not, but he has that in it... dont underestimate you cars value because it is traditional or home built, someone had to put the labor in all cars and those of us that do it for a living get paid while you may not it is still labor intinsive and therefore a monetary value can be put on it............what one man will pay is what it is worth so dont price it too cheap...........and i dont know that it is tth goldchainers but the guy that wants a car and has expendable cash or cant do it or dont want to build it or whatever cars are just high these days as is gas and homes etc......................you have a better investment in your garage than a 401k if treated properly ...
I could probably put together a $2000 car using mostly the "free" parts I could "find" in my back yard. As long as I "forgot" about where the came from or what they cost me in $, Serch & Rescue costs, (swapmeet entry is $8 here, that adds on th the cost, here) Gas, expendables, sandpaper usta be damn near free, what happened? Is it a petroleum or pharmacutical product? And half of that $2000 would be either paint or upholstery but not both. I believe you scoured the boonies around your town and came up with enough parts to build the car for near free, whether the farmer who had them in his legal part of the boonies is still looking for them or not is still an unknown. At any rate, if you got the parts free from someone you know just because they were being neighborly, see what they say if you want 5 or 6 more... I know someone who "fixed up" a "bellflower style" car for someone, cheap, for a "friend" because the guy was "really into cruising this cool car". So, the car is done, and what does the guy do? HE SELLS IT! What does he do next? He brings another old car over to get "fixed up" just like the last one! Such audacity! I guess what I'm saying is, if you got parts free, from people, in the daytime when they were looking, once they will be cool, start making a business off their property and the price is going to climb or the parts supply will be nonexistant, like it is here in a City. You can build one car for $2000 and that car looks cool enough to probably bring $10,000 at Pomona, (will it make the drive to Los Angeles?) but I seriously doublt you could build ten of them, in a year or in ten years, off the local supply of "almost free" parts. they will all of a sudden start costing you the going rate. And you'll find that jumps quickly about 2-3 times the $10,000 you want to sell them for. If you build a car for less than $4000-$6000 not counting labor, it's because you were "given" parts worth the difference. It's common to see "$****** or trade for newer Harley" on For Sale signs. What's a "newer Harley" go for? This car was traded for a Harley several years ago, and has gone thru a couple of hands since.
I agree with Dr. J, (is it wise not too ??) and what I want to add is time. I am doing my 51 on the cheap (I have too, married with a kid!) and it is a slow go. I sure wish I could pick up the phone and order all the little **** I need for my car right now but I can't because of my budget I am on. I have gotten some real good deals on parts but I have had to wait to find it, which means to drag on the build of my car. I have also parted out cars and bikes to fund my project which again drags out the build. Eventually I'll get her done and I won't have a 2nd mortgage in my car, but if I add up everything, including my time I probably won't be that much ahead . So part of that 10k price or 100k is also the fact you have a car now you can drive and have fun in. Instant gratification right?? For another perspective, I just finished building a 24x24 garage, myself, with help from my dad and a few buddies. I started in March, with site work, finished in July and still need to finsh the inside. I probably saved 50% of the cost of having someone else do it but **** it was HARD WORK! When I work on my car I consider my time free, I like working on it. When you build a car to sell time aint free. No way in hell I'd sell my garage for what I have in it. I'd want a lot more for the blood, sweat and tears. I'll probably feel the same with my chebby when it's done.
Over here on this side of the pond 5 or 6 years ago a rodder built a T for next to nothing ,very good quality and reliable stll on the road now all built and done for approx 1000 pounds sterling which is about $1700, every one was amazed BUTand a big BUT he had most of the parts for some time and others free from mates then it sold for approx 5000 ponnds approx $8000 but as we all said he couldnt build another again due to not haveing the materials at the right price as every thing over here is ****** expensive if its American old tin you want .We have a lot of high end expensive rods over here and most are fibergl*** bodied even my 32 roadster has a gl*** body..
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