It was a pretty easy decision for me. I have the capability to do a bolt on car. My build goals are beyond that of a bolt on car, so I was going to have to send it to somebody anyway. The other side of it is, I work 60-80 hours consistently and have two young kids and a wife that I adore. I can't justify spending any more time away from them than I already do. We have all had the phone call from a child that is asking when their dad is coming home that day. So, that entered into my decision making process and once I started writing the check and seeing how much faster it is going in the builders hands, it validated my decision. I, in turn, invest that time I would have spent in the shop in being with my family.

You also have to look at the value of your time. I can make more doing my chosen vocation than it costs me per hour of work at the shop I chose. Any extra shifts I pull pay for parts and shop time at a faster clip than if I was out there turning the wrenches myself.

As far as involvement in the build, I visit the car/shop between once and twice a month. Sometimes to see the car, others just to catch up or have a planning session. My builder and I text back and forth weekly just to keep up on where we are and what is coming next. For the most part, the builder lets me make the call unless I am going the wrong direction and then I lean back on his expertise. I picked the motor, the suspension, the transmission, the wheels, the tires, the seats, etc.

So, I will have a "bought" car, but it will be more in line with what I wanted in the first place and I will have been very involved in the process of building it. One day, I will probably do a bolt-ons C10 or some other car with paint and body already done. I guess that one will be "built." There are a number of other cars I would like to do down the road and I want to add to my skillset and learn how to MIG and TIG, assemble my own engine, and maybe even learn to do a little paint and body, but for me to haver undertaken all of that in one build would have made it a ten year project.

I believe it was Voltaire who said we must first define our terms. And given that the statement in question is a qualitative, not quantitative, it's entirely based in opinion, and everyone has a different idea of what qualities as "built" and "bought". The whole discussion is null and void without a common or agreed upon set of conditions.

That being said, I still believe that it is a matter of how much you know. Someone brought it up that you're either a car guy, or you're not... if it has to be explained, then you're probably not.

Even the most glorious, elaborate builds are based on a car body/frame that a factory built and "builder" bought. Nobody casts their own blocks or forges their own cranks, so the whole argument is pointless.

What it comes down to is how much YOU know about YOUR car.

I don't have the ability to build a "high quality" car so I hire other people to build it for me. I do know every single piece on my car though and I have some mechanical ability but as far as replacing metal and doing bodywork that is not something I can nor would I attempt doing. Leave that to the pros.

In our local Firebird group, there are 2 types of owners. The ones that do not how to wrench on cars nor have the time, but have the resources to have it done. The 2nd group of owners are the ones that like to tinker/work on their cars; either they want to or don't have the resources to hire someone else to do the work. At the end, we all share the same passion-classic cars and that's all that matters, regardless whether it's built or bought.

And then there's the 3rd group, the ones that says "I spent so and so much $$$ on my ride, and therefore it's better than yours". Those don't belong to our group.

Right on Tu :cheers:

Bought or built
 

My Pantera group has tech sessions
where we get together and help the ones that
have not turned a wrench. We make them get
in there and do some of the work. It also helps
us with a pool of knowledge on things that are
unique to our cars. Of course Detomaso never let
anything go to waste so some cars have old and
New designs on them

Good bonding for all of us and a great way to
get more of these cars on the road where they belong

Bob

I am in full support of people loving their car. If it means that the one you love and dream of is for sale, by all means go for your dream.

I am also for the "built not bought" side as well because it is going to keep builders and fabricators like me in business for a long time. Car building is becoming a dying art as the generations get older. Outside of work I know very few young guys that are in to cars for any more than a method to get to work. I am only 28 and I see this. It saddens and baffles me because I can't even imagine how that is a mindset.

With that being said, Car guys are my favorite kind of people and if you buy or build I can stand with any of you and be proud to be apart of such a great industry and hobby with such great people from all areas of the spectrum. I will always support building but there are plenty of cars that I would just buy. My ultimate dream car is a bone stock 69 mach1 428CJ or Boss 429 mustang. If I ever could I would just buy it.

http://i.imgur.com/JLLydit.jpg

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/500x/52960445.jpg

Nice Donny, LOL

Bryce you are not kidding. I've been looking for a fabricator for a long time. Seasoned, entry level what ever. There is no one to be found in my area. All the good guys are 40+ and want a lot of $$$. The young guys wanna learn then go to higher paying shops. I remember when I was 16...willing to sweep floors and clean toilets to work at a muscle car modification shop.

You're still doing that aren't you??