Weld's 40 Ford pickup

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by preston

>It's little wonder that we've seen these build costs skyrocket.

Well, that and the fact that the cars have gone totally out of control.
Even as recently as the 90's a hot custom muscle car was still 100% factory unibody, maybe a few massaged panels, the same 15" (or if you were exotic 16") wheels that were commonly available and tires that cost slightly more than your passenger car (my new tire bill is $1800+ now). Brakes were just swap parts from the heavy duty model. Now a car doesn't get a second glance without a full chassis, 75% modified sheet metal, 15" brakes and forced induction.

FACT !! Preston



To think what I've spent on "hot rods" -- now versus what I used to spend 25 years ago is mind boggling! But a hot rod used to be a SBC -- some wide tires - some Weld Wheels <see what I did there?> "decent" paint - which could have been a single stage urethane or enamel..... upholstery from the local shop.... a four speed tranny and a rear end from the junkyard. The fact that you could "box" a frame in your garage - made you a "real hot rod builder".... let alone chop a grill.... or cut in some patch panels.


I agree with you -- it's gone so far over the top that it's almost taken the fun out of it. A home builder struggles to be "proud" of what he's built... We no longer can just MIG weld something - we all have to have TIG machines now.... and the gaps and bodypanels have to be Rolls Royce quality... and as you pointed out -- the have to have trick EVERYTHING from the ground up.

I'm not complaining --- it is what the hobby is.... we all want to improve and get better - and guys like Mark Stielow continue to raise the bar... and we eagerly follow (with our tongues hanging out!).

If you'd have told me 20 years ago that guys were going to be doing long distance tours in 950 hp cars with the AC on with 40,000 dollar paint jobs - I'd have thought you'd gone mad! LOL


There's SO MANY GREAT PRO SHOPS...... it's sad when they start out and then get fat and sassy. Why can't they just can't put their noses down - put their pedal to the metal - and crank out the work... Maybe they're good builders and just not good business people... the skills to build do not automatically transfer to management. Capital allocation.... hiring (or firing) skills... time management.... parts sourcing skills.... planning... managing thru lean months or years...