Bragging about build cost

afaulk · Jan 22, 2012

I'd like to take this opportunity to get on the soap box and brag, loud and long about just how cheap i build my projects. I just can't. I don't have what it takes to get out and rattle the bushes for the cheapest deals. Instead i get out and work to earn the money i need, then shop 2 or 3 places that have what i need and try to buy the better value for my dollar (not always the cheapest part) . Jusy my inflated 2 cents worth.

mj40's · Jan 22, 2012

deuce roadster said: ↑

i do save the receipts because if i need to fix or replace something ...
i have the part number and know where i bought it :d

i generally spend too much on my projects ... And have more money in them than their are actually worth. But i build them to suit me ... Not to sell ... So it does not really matter.

most here ... have way more money in their rides ... Than they are worth anyway
... If the truth was known.
Click to expand...

ditto

OneBad56 · Jan 22, 2012

The ONLY reason I kept track of the receipts is for appraisal and insurance purposes.
I don't care how much it costs, whether it's $5K or $50K, without receipts, the insurance company is not going to pay out the value.
I don't know too many people who can throw away $5K, or even $50K.

Dirty30Dodge · Jan 22, 2012

I am sure it tripled my first thought of how much it will cost but I am so at the point I just want it done so I can enjoy it. I just try to get the best deal on what it is I need or trade parts for it. Build on!!!

Stutz · Jan 22, 2012

It is and will all ways be a topic of conversation because cost will never not be apart of a build. I say do what you want. say what you want. If you don't like it ignore it. If it doesn't fit the HAMB it will be handled by the boss.

screwball · Jan 22, 2012

I have been on both sides of the fence. I owned a car years ago that won at a few indoor car shows It was bright red and shiny. I found myself with a different crowd more up tight and competitive. When I sold that car I started playing with cars for fun no more polishing or waxing and cleaning for me. The old show car guys started treating me differently as the fun cars didn't belong around the same parking lot. But I met a different group of people who were a little more laid back a little more open minded. I have heard and been told to my face that if your car is not shiny and if your chrome is not perfect stay out of the hobby. So yes there is issues between car builders and to some people $$ is what they measure your worth as a car guy. Its to bad but I like to hang with the guys with out the attitude. Not all big $$$ guys have the exclusive attitude. And not all low $$$ guys have the inclusive attitude. Its a big hobby it would be nice if we all treated each other equal but it is what it is. I love the car hobby the good bad and some times ugly.

jimi'shemi291 · Jan 22, 2012

As far as bragging, that's a part of any hobby or sport, down to fishing, NASCAR, drags, you name it. Truth and strict accounting don't have anything to do with that (try making a catch&release fisherman prove any claim; or, ask a racer truthfully if he ever fudged.).

I don't think one's sweat, time and ingenuity can be claimed. Sweat and time are taken for granted, at least among car guys who don't do it as a BUSINESS.

Still, a nice rod TODAY takes a load of dough, compared to as late as the early 1970s, even. When I was a faithful reader of R&C back then, even the editors were still entertaining correspondence from guys TRYING to keep ground-up rods under ONE grand! (Heck, that was some 40 years ago now. I wish "rough" cars were still as available as they were back then.)

Now, when you run onto '30s roadsters and coupes in even the most remote yards ( especially east of the Mississippi), you can often stick a finger through the remaining sheet metal. And moving them would require archeological precision and care.

Costs have gone UP, and bragging just goes with the territory. Two separate issues. But, the raw material, in steel, is getting about as scarce as the do-do bird. Just my 2 cents.

jimi'shemi291 · Jan 22, 2012

screwball said: ↑

I have been on both sides of the fence. I owned a car years ago that won at a few indoor car shows It was bright red and shiny. I found myself with a different crowd more up tight and competitive. When I sold that car I started playing with cars for fun no more polishing or waxing and cleaning for me. The old show car guys started treating me differently as the fun cars didn't belong around the same parking lot. But I met a different group of people who were a little more laid back a little more open minded. I have heard and been told to my face that if your car is not shiny and if your chrome is not perfect stay out of the hobby. So yes there is issues between car builders and to some people $$ is what they measure your worth as a car guy. Its to bad but I like to hang with the guys with out the attitude. Not all big $$$ guys have the exclusive attitude. And not all low $$$ guys have the inclusive attitude. Its a big hobby it would be nice if we all treated each other equal but it is what it is. I love the car hobby the good bad and some times ugly.
Click to expand...

Hellfire! I couldn't agree more. Isn't TRADITIONAL about guys doing the best they could with a junkyard castoff and making a quick noise-making head-turner out of it? And, NO, I'm not talking about the R word, either.

dsiddons · Jan 22, 2012

striper said: ↑

Whatever I spent I think there is probably about a third of that amount either sitting on a shelf in unused parts or in the scrap bin.
Click to expand...

Thank you. I thought I was the only one with a crap load of spares....

rustynewyorker · Jan 22, 2012

It's fun to see how little I can spend and still build this car. I added up what I'd spent, what I've sold as extra, and figured out I'm actually ahead money on it. But that's with like five years of wheeling, dealing, selling extra parts, includes buying and parting out entire cars to use parts of them on this one, and so on.

sbin · Jan 22, 2012

Grew up building cheap 60's muscle cars and Harleys in the late 70's early 80's.
Lost all interest when everything became collectible and prices exploded.
Have been rebuilding broken late model euro muscle cars recently because the value and performance is similar to what old muscle cars used to be.
Been longing to hear the rumble of V8 classic iron and finally found a project at the right price.I enjoy the building almost as much as driving.
Take great pleasure from making something from nothing so put ne in the group that enjoys low dollar sweat equity builds.

Mr48chev · Jan 22, 2012

Kripfink said: ↑

As far as I'm concerned, it's nobody's business but mine how much I spent on my build, because it's never been about the money. We seem to live in a world obsessed with putting a monetary value on everything.
"How much is that worth?"
"How much did that paint job cost you?"
"How much does it cost to fill the tank on that?" Etc etc etc
In my humble and very personal own opinion you can't put a price on passion. It would never occur to me to brag to anyone how cheap this was or how expensive that was. Even I don't know how much I've got in my truck, so why would anyone else want to know?
Paul
Click to expand...

Boy howdy do we think alike on that.

I quit taking the truck to shows several years ago because 80% of the mouthbreathing public only wanted to know "what's it worth". Even the ten year olds started asking that instead of being like the kids of the early 70's who liked to look in at the speedometers and holler " This one's faster it'll go 140. Looking back on it those kids were a lot of fun and I'd bet that a few of them are on here and facing their 50th birthdays somewhere in central Texas.

I don't keep nickle for nickle tabs on what I spend on the projects but I don't spend more than I have to and I spend a lot of extra time bargain hunting. Also a lot of my parts were bought years ago when they were cheap and have been stashed away for years.

Costs have been kept down by:
Buying whole parts cars for the engine, trans and rear end and selling off the left overs.

Trading for parts with those left overs.

Serious bargain hunting at wrecking yards and swapmeets.

Selling left over parts at swap meets to pay for what I buy. Back in the 70's I went to the Pate swap meet in Texas with a panel truck full of parts and only enough cash to pay the fee for the space. When I had sold enough stuff to have a bit of cash I'd go shopping for parts.

Parts that were donated to the cause by friends who didn't have a use for them and didn't think they were worth a lot of money
.
Trading my time for parts.

Getting the leftovers after doing engine swaps or other work on customer cars. Got my Desoto Hemi that way.

Not paying "list" price for anything. If that vendor won't give me a break on the price I'll go to one who will. I drive past the Napa store to the Car Quest store for that one reason.

I've got enough pieces to build an AD Chevy pickup to sell to finance the things that are going to cost real money on the 48. Hopefully that will bring enough to pay for paint and interior along with the more expensive engine goodies.

jimi'shemi291 · Jan 22, 2012

Thanks, guys. This thread just got better.

It's not that I don't like "PERFECT: rods and customs, detailed out to the max. And they can have all the trophies. I know guys who've fought tooth and nail to finish a parttime project that took them decades. Fact.

By 1980, I'd maxed out on seeing cars like that (not that I don't respect the effort and money). But I missed the more raw stuff, stuff still in progress, T-shirted guys ad their wives and families who'd brought what they drove to the show.

So, yeah, I see both sides of the coin, too. But I'll trade a day at a show any time for one walking through one of the few remaining old-time junkyards and actually TALKING with the guys who run it.

Ya know?

Try that, and you may find that they have COOL stuff they only show to COOL people.

WOODEYE · Jan 22, 2012

Well actually I don't really know what I have in the total cost of my cars and one reason I don't keep track of these costs is that I have no intentions of selling them. One of the other reasons is that no matter how many dollars I have invested in the car it is only going to be worth what someone else is willing to pay for it when it becomes available "For Sale". I do however have an inkling as to where I am at, cost wise. When someone approaches with that always ask question, "What is you car worth", I respond with, All I really know for sure is that I could sell it three times and still be in the hole. Of course I am not adding in all of the fun I have had that involves said ride. Factor the fun in and I am way ahead of the game and banking bucks.

Mudgy · Jan 22, 2012

I've only really started off; but I did create a spreadsheet for my expenses. This is my way of keeping an eye on money out (mostly) and some money in (if I can part off donor(s) )

I can't add labour - that would be a bit much. But at least I can pull my horns in if the budget dictates so. Sometimes I just have to wait.

Imperial Kustom · Jan 22, 2012

My wiener hangs an inch from the ground!! When I lay on my belly

Seriously though, I AM hung like a horse...............fly.

How about the cost of stuff you buy or acquire, then don't use on the project it was destined for and it just ends up getting shelved. Would you count that in the build? 'Cuz I do that a lot.

jimi'shemi291 · Jan 22, 2012

Me too.

jimi'shemi291 · Jan 22, 2012

Oh, I meant, an INCH from the ground. LOL

bowlingball · Jan 22, 2012

Mine has just under $6000 in reciepts and has about another 3g to complete and rego it ,,,it has only really cost me $3000 from my own pocket as i have bought and sold nearly $6000 in old parts ,refurbished and then onsold them to keep the project breathing mainly old aussie speed equipment for our inliners,,,,slows my project down but keeps it alive as i cant afford too much money outta my paypacket ,to throw at my projects

denis4x4 · Jan 23, 2012

I used to keep track of my boat expenses with a separate checking account. No more! When I was writing for the car magazines, especially how to do it features on my own cars, I kept real close count of money spent as it was a legitimate business expense. Quite frankly, I could care less about knowing how much it cost to build a car. Since I can't take it with me, I have no problems spending it in this life!

rcshaggy169 · Jan 23, 2012

passed the 3k mark because i drink Guinness...

BOWTIE BROWN · Jan 23, 2012

Don't matter, going to lie bout it anyways. (nobody's business)
B.B.

yblock292 · Jan 23, 2012

Yep, had my 29 roadster in starbird-devlin show this weekend , had three total strangers ask me how much i spend on her. I don't tell or discuss, others "brag" on how much they have in their cars or how much the paid. Don't like it

39 All Ford · Jan 23, 2012

It all adds up, even for the "do everything crowd", How about welding gas, welding rods, tungsten, cleaning chemicals, sanding disks, sand paper, sheet metal, TOOLS, bearings, rings, nuts, bolts, washers, clips, trim, etc....

If these "$3,000 clubs" have more than just a few members that didn't build their cars over 20 years ago, (assuming their car ain't a total POS) I call BULLSHIT, and I don't care who I offend doing it.

I am certain it can be done, when starting with the "right" car and circumstances, but it ain't done much or often.

It is really easy to add up the big expenses while disregarding the small expenditures. Anyone who has ever looked down a companies P&L statement knows well that it is the "little things" that get your ass.

Ned Ludd · Jan 23, 2012

I recently wrote a thing as part of a pitch to market something to the US hot rod market. The document was intended for a readership that might have no knowledge of hot rod culture. Among other things I said, "Hot-rodders might exaggerate anything about their cars, but will tend rather to understate the cost."

Anti-snobbery runs deep in hot rod culture. Hot rodders do not measure themselves in terms of wealth or social influence, but rather in terms of physical skill, resourcefulness, originality, independence of spirit. Therefore an inexpensive build is something that is admired - especially if it is otherwise impressive - even to point of tempting some to bullshit. We want our peers to admire our cars for being fast or beautiful, not for being expensive. This is in sharp contrast to many other sub-cultures.

Gasoline Junkie · Jan 23, 2012

I had a guy tell me he spent $100 on a radiator cap. And I thought the $30 ones with the temp gauges in them were expensive...

rustynewyorker · Jan 23, 2012

I did mean to add to my post that most guys who do it themselves don't include any labor costs, either. That's kind of a toss-up - if you're doing it for the enjoyment of doing it, then the labor doesn't mean anything. If you're doing it just to get it done, then you probably should put some value on the time you spend.

EchoOfGecko · Jan 23, 2012

I don't think it's good form to brag about anything, especially money. But with that said, I personally think cheap builds are more interesting. Any rich asshole can bring $60k to a shop and say "build me such-and-such", but when I see a cool car that was built for a low dollar, that's a more interesting build to me. That's a car I can relate to, and that's the build I want to follow.

Not all of us are rich retired dudes with a stack of cash in the bank, I have a lot more time and willingness to learn to do something myself than I have cash to spend twice as much having someone else do it.

telecaster_6 · Jan 23, 2012

This has been beat to death already..

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140691

Frankie47 · Jan 23, 2012

EchoOfGecko said: ↑

I don't think it's good form to brag about anything, especially money. But with that said, I personally think cheap builds are more interesting. Any rich asshole can bring $60k to a shop and say "build me such-and-such", but when I see a cool car that was built for a low dollar, that's a more interesting build to me. That's a car I can relate to, and that's the build I want to follow.

Not all of us are rich retired dudes with a stack of cash in the bank, I have a lot more time and willingness to learn to do something myself than I have cash to spend twice as much having someone else do it.
Click to expand...

Even worse form to me is that prick who always pipes up with, "how much did you pay"..........none of your business is my standard answer.

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