Funny -- Nobody EVER talks about what this crap costs to build. Maybe we're all embarrassed by what we spend on "stuff"… But when you figure it out - and I mean really put it to paper… there's no way you can build it for "cheap".
The body is X - the motor and trans are X - the chassis is X - the tires/wheels/brakes are X… and all the other "little stuff" - gauges - headlights - radiator - windows or whatever - door handles - chrome…
I don't give a damn who you are - the prices of that stuff is the same.. and that's 100K in HARD COSTS minimum for parts and pieces.
Now -- you have to paint - and upholster… and assemble and modify and wire - and disassemble (many times?) to build it. That's MAN HOURS. Period. A guy can do it in his garage… and save himself some (okay - a lot) of money… or he can pay to have this done and end up with (in most cases) a far nicer product.
So if you have 100K in hard parts and another 100K in labor (figure 1500 hours?) -- and you have top notch bodywork and upholstery… done by the best of the best.. There ya have it.
Could you have it done "cheaper" by somebody that charges $45 an hour for labor rather than $105 an hour. Sure. Would it be the same as the big name boys that build this stuff. MAYBE.
But there is pride and ego involved. I'm driving a Brizo car and the other guy is driving a what? Will mine be worth more down the road. My guess is double or triple what X is worth.
So in the end -- it's like my Grand Banks vs the Bayliner (a Grand Banks is at least twice the cost of the Bayliner - maybe three times more)… I used my boat for 10 years and sold it for more than I paid for it.. try asking the Bayliner owner what he got for his. Now -- which is "cheaper"?
I've built all my own cars - and done all my own mods etc for YEARS… I'm pretty decent at it and have a pretty well stocked shop to be able to do this "hobby". But there's not a chance in china that I can build a car as nice as this on my own. So - yeah - I could have done all the grunt work… then disassembled it and farmed out the paint and the upholstery. I might have "saved" 100 grand -- and it might be finished "some day"… or maybe (at my age) I get burned out and never finish it. Now what do I have? A pile of parts that are 10 years out of date and worth 1/3rd my "investment".
HEY! I totally get "the cost" and if a guy wants a hot rod (which means ANY CAR) and he can't spend the dough and needs to build it himself --- I get it! Dude! I've built entire cars for other people ---- for FREE --- just because I like them! But I got to tell ya -- it's A LOT of work -- and a LOT of time -- and it takes a LOT of equipment and a little bit o'talent… and there's no way I could have this car done in the time it's being done in. Or as nice. So that means you cough up. Period. Or is it CHOKE….well -- either way… LOL
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