Is there a better way to execute car projects

[Vegas69]

Business is business to a large degree. They all have inherent challenges. X amount of dollars invested leads to x amount of potential profit. That ratio is dictated by the type of business. There are always the 20% that make it in the industry and the 80% that struggle. Blake mentions $80 an hour but there are guys in the industry that are pulling in 4-5 times? that with Greg Weld type clients. Just like the best attorney's, doctors, businesses, there's always someone making a killing in each field. It's typically not magic either. They progressively gain skills, operate with integrity, provide great customer service, and can run a business. Eventually it all snow balls into a Brizio or Ring Brothers where the demand is so high, they can pick and choose their clientele at a high rate.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Business is business to a large degree. They all have inherent challenges. X amount of dollars invested leads to x amount of potential profit. That ratio is dictated by the type of business. There are always the 20% that make it in the industry and the 80% that struggle. Blake mentions $80 an hour but there are guys in the industry that are pulling in 4-5 times? that with Greg Weld type clients. Just like the best attorney's, doctors, businesses, there's always someone making a killing in each field. It's typically not magic either. They progressively gain skills, operate with integrity, provide great customer service, and can run a business. Eventually it all snow balls into a Brizio or Ring Brothers where the demand is so high, they can pick and choose their clientele at a high rate.

Brizio's posted hourly rate is $105 an hour. Your math is a bit fuzzy....

That sounds "expensive" until you get the bills and see how QUICKLY they do a common job such as run brake and fuel lines - or build you a custom exhaust. They've done it so many times they're fast at it. In the end - THEIR shop rate is not expensive at all. What's expensive is the guy that quotes $35 an hour and takes 3 times as long and doesn't do as nice a job... or never finishes your car and you end up ripping everything they did out and paying someone else to do it over. THAT is expensive.


This is the other thing that I've come to figure out. I've built and repaired more cars than I care to remember. I've personally done all of this work. I have a ton of tools - I have all the time in the world - I have space to work in. But I can never build something as QUICKLY or as NICELY as a guy that specializes and does the same type of work day in and day out. At shops like Brizio - they have guys that only do plumbing and exhaust. Another guy does sheet metal etc. In my little shed - I have to do the brake lines - and the TIG welding and the patch panel and figure out the axle width.

When you look around at a shop like The Roadster Shop... they have specialists. They have fabulous tools... they have in house machining... they have guys with serious skills. They have two or three (IDK) guys MANAGING the shop and ordering parts and billing and maybe a guy that just drives around picking up and delivering stuff. If you're a small shop -- you have to do all of that yourself and that time costs money. There's only so many hours in a day. Can you manage the shop - do the bidding - fetch the parts - shop for parts - do the bookkeeping and payroll etc. Can you earn enough money quickly enough or have the CAPITAL to go out and buy a $16,000 Eckold Kraftformer if you need one...

Why can a shop like Brizio or The Roadster Shop or The Ring Brothers build such "EXPENSIVE" cars? Because they have the skills required -- and the customers required to foot the bills to build unlimited budget cars. People look at these cars and then gasp at the numbers thrown around.... but they don't apply the corresponding amount of hours it takes to do the enormous amount of HAND BUILT EVERYTHING.

Roy B will tell you that it took him 25 YEARS to get to where he's at, and for many years it was tough sledding.... Not sure how long it took Phil and Jeremy - but it wasn't rags to riches in 6 months.... and Ring Bros had another business and the fancy stuff was born from that.

I think most guys that are doing this line of work are doing it because they love it -- and they can eke out a living doing something they love to do. If you really asked them - they probably made a better / easier living when they just worked for someone else. BTW -- if you want to check out something where real actual MANAGEMENT is in the works -- make an appointment to tour Brian Hobaugh's body shop! Now there is a place where you could apply your (TO THE OP) productivity skills. You've never seen such a well oiled machine!

[Vegas69]

I had no idea, it was a wild ass guess. Were you charged by the hour or set window price to build it?

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

I had no idea, it was a wild ass guess. Were you charged by the hour or set window price to build it?

I know - but I had to give you some crap.

Brizio works by the hour. But they know what it costs to build this stuff. I was much closer to the higher price range of the quote... but I knew that. I added stuff and did little things here and there and it all adds up.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

I know - but I had to give you some crap.

Brizio works by the hour. But they know what it costs to build this stuff. I was much closer to the higher price range of the quote... but I knew that. I added stuff and did little things here and there and it all adds up.

That's lower than I thought but it's still 25% higher than what Blake charges in St. George. Of course, you have the CA tax which probably eats up a nice chunk.

How many Greg Weld's do you have funding projects and at what consistency? It seems to me that hourly rate is important, just not as relevant as the quality and consistency of clientele.

It seems you need to find the balance that fits your skills, clientele, and bottom line. Good luck! ha

After building a custom car, I have to say that I learned a few lessons. One, there are many terrible businesses associated. Two, you are better off spending the money on quality parts, first. Third, you are better off hiring a reputable shop than bargain shopping. You end up with quality work and a bill that doesn't hurt as bad as you thought. Plus, you don't have a do over.

I can see why so many projects end in ruin. If you don't possess the skills or time to manage and work on your project, it's a serious challenge. If I ever build another car, it would be Weld style. Either you can afford to build it right or you can't.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

That's lower than I thought but it's still 25% higher than what Blake charges in St. George. Of course, you have the CA tax which probably eats up a nice chunk.

How many Greg Weld's do you have funding projects and at what consistency? It seems to me that hourly rate is important, just not as relevant as the quality and consistency of clientele.

It seems you need to find the balance that fits your skills, clientele, and bottom line. Good luck! ha

After building a custom car, I have to say that I learned a few lessons. One, there are many terrible businesses associated. Two, you are better off spending the money on quality parts, first. Third, you are better off hiring a reputable shop than bargain shopping. You end up with quality work and a bill that doesn't hurt as bad as you thought. Plus, you don't have a do over.

I can see why so many projects end in ruin. If you don't possess the skills or time to manage and work on your project, it's a serious challenge. If I ever build another car, it would be Weld style. Either you can afford to build it right or you can't.

I said for YEARS that people that had their cars built were IDIOTS... Hot rodding was about building your own sh!T..... But I've gotten so busy doing other stuff -- that it's been kinda fun building one where all I have to do is point my finger and say - let's do this or that. The experience with Steve's Auto Restoration not being one of the better experiences... but I still got a very nice hot rod out of it. It just took some extra effort. Brizio - Sutton - Pinkee's have been some of the best experiences EVER. A real pleasure!

When you pick the right builders -- it's really a fun deal to do. However... I'm working on the shed daily -- a little more gets done each day -- and that's in an effort so I can crank another one out on my own again. I love every aspect of this hobby.

[Vegas69]

I hear you buddy.. The time I had when I built my car is long gone. ha It's been replaced with great things. I think it would be fun to have one built and just use it, tweak it, and maintain it. For now, I'm focused on diapers and financial independence.

[EBMC]

Thanks Greg for putting things in perspective from a clients point of view whos been there, I have so many things to say about this subject, BUT I have a shop to run. Gotta go!

[Chevy Kid]

I worked as a mold maker for 10 years. We built class 101 plastic injection molds for OEM's. It was a small shop with 5-7 employees, including the owner. All of the issues mentioned( project management, ordering parts, dealing with customers, bookkeeping, etc.), were handled by the owner.

I would say the two biggest issues were maintaining a profit margin and hiring and retaining skilled employees. As a highly skilled employee, there was and is easier ways to make a living. Ultimately, the business closed when our work( I had all ready left) was being outsourced to China. There are many similarities between building molds and hot rods.

I do side machining jobs for my Dad's small custom wiring shop and others. I've been involved in the car hobby since I learned to ride a bike( long time...). While it sounds romantic to strike out and just build hot rods, I know the reality of how hard it is. I am always intrigued how guys make it.

This is a fascinating read!

Tim