I totally agree with everybody --- and that's where this is a good thread. Some guys built budget cars (really? 70 or 90 grand is a budget car). Depends on the base price of the car... and what was done to it - and how much the owner did versus professionally done. Did he buy a nice used 350... and a used 5 speed... and used wheels... and the undercarriage is painted with a rattle can.... factory wiring? Old glass and trim? Original headliner?

My point is -- hell yeah a guy can build an "affordable" car. As long as he thinks 70/80/90 grand is affordable. Fun driver? Sure. Drive it in the rain to the grocery store. You bet. Win a trophy once in awhile... depends on the show / the town / the competition.... but yeah.

Want to build a car like Lou's Change.... all professionally built... best of everything. Bring a truck - make that a Brink's truck.

Then there's everything in between. The builds I've done for myself and my friends/relatives is all me -- except body paint (I can do all the other paintwork)... and CUSTOM interior. I also have a shop that most pros would like to have. What's that cost? I'm not saying. More than a couple cars anyway.... What's my point? My point is that even doing it yourself has costs you never counted on, or added in.... TOOLS... lots of them.... Compressors.... A welder... and even More tools.... Oh! You need a lift? Ka Ching... So let's be real here. Those things all have costs that nobody EVER counted in the build budget.

So let's say you bought a "decent" 68 Camaro.... for 30 grand. The more you do to it - the more you'll want to do to it. Pretty soon it becomes very obvious to you that you're either way over your head.... and you sell it.... or you don't have a clue and you tear it all apart (that's the easiest two days of work you're ever going to do on it).... and that's when it all either comes together or you have a garage you can't use and a car that you paid 30 grand for that's now worth 10.

Here's the bottom line. It was a very good question! One that MANY should have asked a long time ago. But one that has no answer. The build is going to cost what you let it cost. The smart guys know their limits and the limits of their skills.

Depending on the condition of your current car you may be able to make decent money selling it to someone who want to have a builder build a 'supercar' and I think you could find a good solid updated driver for $50-$75K...........that should kick non-tweaked and turbo'd Honda azz.......and it should appreciate unlike a new car. :)

you can do a lot for $75

My attitude on tool spending is that if I can buy the tools to do a job for the same money or less than I would pay someone to do the job then that is what I do. That way the tool is sitting there when I need to get the job done on the next car. My shop is far from your shop Greg but it is now fairly well equipped using this approach.

Don

My thoughts exactly on this subject, I am always looking for a reason to buy tools!

My point on the tool buying wasn't so much that some of us are tool addicts... it was more about the fact that they do have a cost attached to them. Few if any of us add that cost along the way to what we "think" we're willing to spend on a car.

The point was being added to the "home built" argument vs the "pro built" - because home builders are more budget minded... yet may end up spending a few thousand dollars over time NOT on the car but on tools to build the car.

Welcome to the site. We're here to answer your questions, and help you spend your money wisely.*



* ridiculously subjective but if you check with the site first, we should be able to keep you from being too foolish with the money

Yikes. I'm not sure where you interpreted that I called you an idiot :(

The audience I'm referring to are the individuals that are hacks by nature, or who do not have a mechanical/artistic mindset capable of building a quality car. Along with this comes patience, willingness to try things new, time available, etc.

Yep there are a lot of shops out there that aren't qualified either and will steal your money.

As Vince pointed out, just gotta do your homework if you don't have the time/patience etc. to do your own job.

I edited my original post to prevent anyone else from getting offended, my apologies!

-Dale

That's what we're on the forums for. I enjoy helping others solve problems. And heck there's always hundreds of things to learn off here. Nobody is an expert. Unless you're Ron Sutton of course. ;)

But many of us vendors on here are willing to help out on costs with many products to help the budget from overflowing too much. And Don is one of them!

Chewing gum? Gross.

-Dale

Hey now! Don't go dragging me into this! :D

To the op. My advice, clean up your car and dump it. Find some shops here or close to home and start asking questions. Let them know you're a serious buyer and what you're looking for. Flash68's camaro that was purchased for 29k, that's a heck of a buy! Deals are out there and often times are sold without advertising, just word of mouth.
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