What's your thoughts on "Built Not Bought?"
 

http://www.salzmoto.com/featured-wor...t-is-bull****/

It's a long read, but a good one. It's talking about the phrase "built not bought" in the motorcycle world; but if you replace motorcycle with car I think it transfers over perfectly.

Is the phrase "built not bought" hurting our industry as well? Personally I think it's cool when a person has built a car themselves. But I don't look down on people that "buy" their car either. If you don't have the skills, and have the money, more power to yah. As long as you're having fun, then heck yah.

I know that if I had the money, I'd definitely have cars built for me.

What are your thoughts?

The education system has de-emphasized shop skills for years now.......most of the newer generations don't have a choice as they have no mechanical skill whatsoever.

Sad, but true.

The upside is there is a very small niche market for garage builders.

Good article but like other topics, its subject to everyones opinion. There is no true definition to it. No one should be shamed for buying their cars or bikes instead of building them. Not all of us are capable or talented enough to be able to build what we want. I like the suggested hashtags, #SupportTheIndependants, #BuiltWithFriends, & #BoughtWithPride. I think what we do is more about the relationships we build with others, the friends we make and the journey that goes along with being a car guy/gal. Not debating with our fellow hobbyists about why my car is better than theirs because it was #BuiltNotBought.

Seeing all the fricken death traps out there, I don't give a #%#$# just as long as its done right, safe and your happy with it. :welder:

If a guy can't set his own timing I will think less of him no matter how hot his ride is. To me this hobby is more than buying something. It's the mentality.

It's about building. It's about messing with ****.

I just sold my all original 70 W30 because I COULDN'T mess with it. Yeah, I could have but why do that versus some 6 banger that has minimal comparitive value? Owned it for multiple decades.

The guys that make a "pro touring" car out of a L78 Camaro, a L72 Vette or some other rare car I just shake my head at.

There are two sides to this hobby. Don't cut up a rare car and no one cares about a 327 Camaro.

Build from there.

Guess what? People can do whatever the hell they want and most people don't give a rats a** what you or anyone else thinks.

I'm the type of guy who would make a "pro-touring car out of an L78 or L72 Vette or some other rare car" and do a burn-out in your drive way just because it would piss you off. Actually, I would have someone else build it, then burn out in your driveway, then set it on fire in the street in front of your house, film it and make an infinitely looping 100 MB .gif and email it to you every day.

Anyway, digressing so the adults can have a discussion, I don't give two fives as long as someone thinks their ride is cool and isn't completely clueless/douche magnet about what they have (e.g. if they bought it that way). Knowledge has gotta start somewhere, and sometimes that might mean buying before embarking blind on a five figure car build.

I find that, as I get older and the 8-5 demands more of me, I don't have the time to spend wrenching like I used to. I will probably eventually just buy another nice pro-touring ride and call it a day. I'll keep a 10 page list of excuses as to why I did it in case I run into the likes of 70w30 so I'll be able to defend myself, because I'm really concerned about what other people think of me.

I think as long as its built safe and with quality in mind it doesn't matter who built it. I've seen first hand shop work that wasn't welded right, put together square, etc etc. And I've seen garage builds were I was scared for people to be on the road with them and vice versa.

Build to the best of your ability and farm out things if needed. Buy one built if time is more important then money and the cars built correct. I won't look down on anyone.

No car is really original or rare anymore if your putting Taiwan replacement sheet metal in place of the original sheet metal. Cut up anything you want and have fun doing it. Things can always be reversed for the purest.

Personally I wish I was in the position to buy them instead of building them. :thumbsup: If a guy buys a done car that doesn't make him any less of an enthusiast in my eyes.

I don't even get it?
I Build all my stuff,(or our shop does) with Bought parts. so where does that fit in.

show me ONE build where the GUY Built EVERY PART!. if that isn't the case the discussion is worthless.

Pretty sure Tim wasn't meaning you had to build all your parts too, though you come closer than most. :thumbsup:

Maybe it's a Bike thing, because I have never seen any animosity between builders vs. buyers!

I like to wrench, but I don't want to build my pick-up

I installed every race part on my car, but I didn't weld the cage - I'm not ashamed to have a Pro do their speciality

If Buyers didn't exist there wouldn't be as many builders

I guess what it comes down to for me is it's all part of the Car Culture. I have never been into '30s & '40s Hot Rods, Low-Riders, Stanced Japanese cars, but that does not make my opinion superior to their owners.

If I had the money, Id totally pay someone to build it exactly how I want it. I know I cannot do everything I want exactly how I want. And there are people that do these things and do them well, and Im not one of them.

Is there a certain amount of pride to be had for being able to say you build everything on your ride? Sure.

but that is what the article is refering to.

I think it super funny when a Professional shop uses that for a Hashtag. Aren't they making fun of the guy who is paying them to build their car?

I think its awesome when any non professional guy can build something awesome in his garage or what have you that is well built and nice. But a guy that gets to perfect his craft 40 hours a week will always have the advantage.

Alot of the time guy who can afford to build whatever have a pretty demanding workload and their time is better spent paying some one to do a better job if there goal is the end result more then the process. Some guys just like the process and it does not matter the length of the journey.

Absolutely. I know I suck at "building" my own relative to if I had a pro do it (RS, Ironworks, Speedtech, etc.), but it's the only option I can afford so I have to be happy with the end result (assuming it's safe of course).

Am I somehow better because I "chose" to do it myself? heck no.

For me it comes down to whether the owner even has a clue about the car.... Did he play at least a role in the design, plan, parts used, theme of the car etc.?... If you ask questions about the car can they answer most of them or is it "no idea, the shop/previous owner" did it..

If you don't have the skill or the time, that's one thing... If you basically just wrote the check and have no clue otherwise, my respect level is much lower...

It's like a sports fan... Do you just wear the jersey and have the bumper sticker on your car because you think it's cool... Or can you at least name a few players on the team, and some basic info.

I would love to be in the position to pay a really good pro to build me a car,,, but I could never be the "call when it's done and I'll write you a check" kind of guy

Who walks through a show, or a cruise-in, and says to their self, "man this car would be way cooler if it had been built out of a garage", or vise-versa.
The truth is, your typical enthusiast doesn't know, or care who has built the car. He or she simply likes the car or doesn't like the car.

For example, I have a truck that I purpose built in the 90's for ISCA (World Of Wheels) competition. I built the truck in my moms basement, while I was still single, all by my self. I hauled the truck all over the southeast in an enclosed trailer, and won every award that ISCA could offer, from best truck, to best paint, to best of show, and even made Sport Truck, and Truckin' magazines, and I'd bet that not one person ever thought while checking out my ride about a pro shop build vs. garage built. They either liked it, or hated it.

At the end of the day guys, it's a car. Or truck. Or bike...
Who gives a holy rip who built it.

Most "Built" use bolt in parts.

Or they sub out work

It's rare anyone can do it all themselves

build the engine
build the trans
built the suspension (not just bolt on aftermarket kits)
panel work
paint work
interior work

There is a small group that can do all of that and I am in awe of them. But they are a minority.

But for the rest of us this discussion is mute, we do what we can and get others to do what we can't

How about the guy that claims they built it when you know darn well they didn't. Years ago I helped a buddy with his 58 Pontiac, mild custom with bellflowers, Watson style scallops all over and some Mooneyes goodies. He got bored with it and traded it off to a dealership. Some ass clown bought it from the dealership, slapped a "street rod" emblem in the grill and told people he did all the work....sure pal!

I've heard the BNB saying in the off-road world as well.....seems the dude who built his bad ass crawler in the garage doesn't like seeing the tastefully modded Defender 90 or new Jeep at the top of the trail. Whatever.

If it werent for people BUYING parts...and cars, there would be no reason for anyone BUILDING them.
God bless the buyers.

this gave me a smile..

co-signed.

The epitome of building it! Even though it's a scale model, this guy literally built every single part. If you haven't seen this, it's worth the time.

A few years back I finished my El Camino, I built the entire car my self. In my garage. I did everything but the paint, I would have done that too if I hadn't burned my self out. It was a nice car. It did alright at the local shows and got lots of attention. It took 6 years. It was a resto-mod. but nothing extreme. I didn't have and still don't have the 40 hours a week to do these, and after I am done fixing everybody else's broken crap all week I don't have it in me to do mine. I like to play with my kids and do yard work.....
I would get irritated at shows when someone would walk up and compliment the car and say "I have more respect for this car because it was built in a garage than having it built by a shop". WTF? The builders started out the same way, small and in their garages, they were able to use their talent and make a living at it. Most of them don't have a trick hot rod of their own in their garage, they don't have time. I had mine done because I wanted it done before I retired, saw kids graduate, etc. They have the time, talent, manpower to make it happen.
Just my tangent....

How is this still a thing?

Seriously. When I first got into mini trucks, this was a huge debate among enthusiasts and I can't believe it's still going. Honestly. Who gives a flying **** about this? Whether built, or bought, they still had to put in the hours and ultimately, it does not matter one single bit. So can we please, for the love of God, put this to rest and all agree that it really doesn't matter or affect us in the least?

Built, not Bought.

I'm thinking this refers to walking into a show room and buying a bike or car from a dealership and salesman vs something that is different from the norm. Doesn't matter who built it/ changed it.

For those that can't physically build anymore or chose to spend the money they would have spent on tooling to build it themselves and direct it to having someone else do it is a completely personal choice.

I won't like the day I have to pay someone to change my oil or set my timing, but it may come. I'll have to deal.

It's a good thing there's "buyers" or who would we sell our cars to? :headscratch:

Very true! The article mentions that too...that even custom bike builders are buying parts and assembling a bike. Very few actually bend a frame from scratch, and bend a piece of sheet metal into a gas tank.

I didn't pay anybody to build my Chevelle...but I didn't fabricate and build any of the parts. I bought them all, and assembled.

Just an interesting look at that term, and how bad it really is.

I say as long as the person is enjoying the vehicle or whatever, it doesn't matter how they got it in whatever condition. I will say there is a little prestige and personal satisfaction that you did it yourself instead of buying it. However, if it is bought, I see it as a personal gift for a job well done for being able to buy it in the first place.

I blame society! This applies to the following:

1. Paid-for awesome hotrods
2. Fake boobs/butts/faces/stomachs/turkey neck mods/whathaveyou
3. Extended stays at the graybar hotel
4. Wrecking your awesome Ducati at the back of the pack
5. Bitchin' tats that changed meaning (or gravitational reference) over time (tramp stamp, etc.)
6. Jobs you hate (but keep because of good pay or simple convenience)
7. Girlfriends/boyfriends/spouses who are physical accessories
8. Perpetual denial of temptation
9. Financial failure masquerading as success

10. Add more fuel as necessary.

Have fun at your own expense. Create opinions based upon what you know.

It's okay to respect and appreciate an awesome car for what it is, regardless of who built it. If you want one like it, find money and the person who built it, or try to do it on your own, via education, blood, sweat, failure, and little bits of success at a time.

For some, it's fun to have a car that gets ignored or overlooked. For others, it's about being a focal point. Whatever--it's about fun when your brain is seasoned with gasoline.

Cliche, platitude, blah, blah, blah.

Here is the way I look at it.
 

I try to do everything I can but when I come to a point in my build that requires something I cannot do I try to source it out. I would rather have some one who has spent 40 hours or plus a week perfecting his or her skill than try to do it myself. The perks are I do not have to buy the expensive equipment that they already have and do not have to go through the oh **** process. Then there is the bought I love to look at new parts and see how I can incorporate them into my build by modifying them some shape or form. The process of looking at already created parts gives me ideas. So I am for both I don't think one can survive without the other. My 2 cents

I vote republican.... but I'd be willing to post my income tax returns that show I GAVE AWAY (donations) double or triple your gross income last year. Not picking on you personally --- just saying that a person can be a "democratic republican". My wife packs food every other Thursday at the Hunger Coalition where we are most likely also the largest financial donors.... I still drive my pro built hot rod down there to work. :>)

I wonder what would happen if we apply the built it bought to our houses?? Or any other thing that's not a hot rod... Is the thinking different then??? It's a rhetorical question.

Same thing applies to Real Estate too. Before I bought the house I live in now, I looked at a House I lost in my Divorce. When I looked at it, the Seller said we did this, we did that, etc - it was all stuff that I did!

Its funny, as long as this stuff has been around, someone always finds something to whine about.

I have probably built at least 20 cars and trucks through the years, some budget, some high end. The thing is, I build them because I want to build them. How they get built is inconsequential, usually it is only my 2 hands that touch my stuff, probably because I enjoy the build so much. If I had someone else building it with my vision, is it less cool, I don't think so.

I learned most of my car building skills out of necessity, in my youth I couldn't afford to pay someone. I still wanted to go fast, so I learned how to rebuild engines, transmissions, rears. I now can afford to pay someone to do these things for me. Yet my love of all things mechanical won't let me.

I find myself this very weekend installing a 383 Roadrunner engine in a 1954 Dodge M37 military truck. Why, when there is an AMX right next to it needing to be finished? Because, that is what I want to do right now!! When the mood hits me , I'll be all over that car, but until then I'm going to do what I want to do.

For years and years I have been looking for anyone that did their own root canal......

My uncle and my grandfather did. They were both dentists. Guess who did all the work on their cars.

My father once told me, you either spend the money to learn how to do it or you spend the money to have someone do it for you.

Wait, your Grandfather did his own root canal?!?!?......

Excellent example.

The whole discussion is ridiculous. In my book = if you're in to cars - it's all good. Some guys race - some guys just like to watch the races.... some can do some work - some can't do any of if - who the hell cares.... I don't know sizzle about race suspension - that's why I hire Ron Sutton.... I've built many motors - I wouldn't tackle the motor in my race car... that take a higher degree of skill than I have... I drink water - you drink Bud Light - who cares....

The three toilets I've installed in my house work perfectly. My car slides around an autocross course like a rollerskate on ice. I take the blame for both realities. I like to test my own potential for failure, because it makes me considerably angrier to pay to test someone else's...:smiley_smack: