That’s an understatement!
I think I am going to refer all potential customers to this thread !:D
It’s very interesting because this shows both sides (paying customer and builder) of the story.
I think the key word we are missing is QUALITY.
You can not place a monetary budget without the word QUALITY.
I think anyone could build a budget car on $25k-$30k.
But neither the owner nor the builder would be happy in the final product.
I know when a potential client comes to me, the very first question I ask it what their overall budget is. I then find out their likes and dislikes and design something WE BOTH like within that overall budget. Of course that number is a $+/- due to the nature of the business. I then find out what their monthly budget breakdown (what they can afford ea. month) and the project progresses at that pace until completion. Change work orders are a must or they will only make problems down the line. Whether it’s a change resulting from findings in the build process or at a customers request (something that differs from the original scope of work), those are key to everyone being on the same page financially.

Steve
Could not have said it better. It is an ongoing process of communication and shareing of information no mater what the budget is.:thumbsup: And we all have to be happy with the end result or it was not worth doing!
later Larry www.llcustomperformance.com

Hi Steve!

I saw one of your cars at Columbus and it was really nice! That was one of yours wasn't it?:D

As a paying customer and one who has done home built and pro shop partial builds, I guess it really boils down to what your customer expects for his money. In my case, when I have done the home builts I was really happy as I could say I did it myself although I always knew it could be done better at a pro shop since I don't weld and fabricate metal everyday. On the Pro shop partials it would come out great but I was never fully satisfied when I would do my part as it just never compared next to the Pro shop work! That's why on this build I decided to let the Pro shops handle everything while I supplied the cash and the vision. It has been a decision that, although expensive, in the end I am much more satisfied than if I would have attempted anything like this at home or as a Pro shop partial. Why? Because my expectation was to build as bad ass a car as I could and the only way to do that was to employ someone that had the skills that I don't possess to make that vision a reality!

John

And you didnt say hello ? :(
Yeah... we had two cars out there. The orange Nova and the Green 64.
Both of those were my vision that the customers shared. Most importantly what they were able to afford. In both cases I was happy as a builder with the end result. But in retrospect there was much more I would have loved to do to both to put them "over the top". But that oh so important line must not be crossed or I'd be working for free or worse yet building a customers car with some of my own money. That’s the hardest part I have, to determine where that line acceptably lies when dealing with a budget.

Did you see how many cars were out there?:wow:

I actually did stop for a second and looked around to see if you were around but you must have gone for a potty break or, even better, headed out to one of the "First Aid Stations" for a cold one!:lol:

John

Now I remember.... I think I was in line for a BBQ. I think I stood there for 2hr, 32 min, 16 secs while they went to kill the cow!
But Mmmm worth it !

Shoulda had a sundae!:lol:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1...s07pics060.jpg

John

:lol:
I think there is a reason there was no line there :rofl:

That's a beer in John's hand, you'll eat anything when you're drunk ....

:lol:

Come on Dad, that is lemonade Dad.