'66 Nova Update

[preston]

Those numbers are mind boggling when put down on paper, even though I kind of knew already what these cars cost. How can they not at $90/hr, and we all know what the parts cost.

Sometimes I tell people that if my car was built professionally it would be a 1/4 million dollar car. I certainly see cars that cost that much to build that don't have half the fabrication work or development as my car. Obviously its a bit of a stretch because I don't have pro paint and bodywork (there's $50k right there) but I think its true enough - if you went to Roger or Troy or any of these guys to build what I've done that is the bill you'd be looking at.

But then I have to admit that in this day and age, in this economy, and with what's on the market, I'd be lucky to get $40k. (and a not insignificant reason for that is its NOT built by Roger, Troy, or pro builder).

Ha, and I was feeling the pinch when I realized my parts bills were over $1k a month for years. And after I'd spend 8 hours fixing some stupid bracket or uncooperative body panel I'd just think, how in the F'in world could anyone afford to pay shop rates for this kind of work ?

[ironworks]

Originally Posted by preston

Those numbers are mind boggling when put down on paper, even though I kind of knew already what these cars cost. How can they not at $90/hr, and we all know what the parts cost.

Sometimes I tell people that if my car was built professionally it would be a 1/4 million dollar car. I certainly see cars that cost that much to build that don't have half the fabrication work or development as my car. Obviously its a bit of a stretch because I don't have pro paint and bodywork (there's $50k right there) but I think its true enough - if you went to Roger or Troy or any of these guys to build what I've done that is the bill you'd be looking at.

But then I have to admit that in this day and age, in this economy, and with what's on the market, I'd be lucky to get $40k. (and a not insignificant reason for that is its NOT built by Roger, Troy, or pro builder).

Ha, and I was feeling the pinch when I realized my parts bills were over $1k a month for years. And after I'd spend 8 hours fixing some stupid bracket or uncooperative body panel I'd just think, how in the F'in world could anyone afford to pay shop rates for this kind of work ?

Well Our labor rate just went to 75. But we have been 65 for years. But when you consider how much times it takes to do something right and to the utmost quality. Then multiply that time by total amount of those hours. It gets pretty expensive. We have a truck coming out a SEMA that has an amazing amount of time in it for a bunch of hidden details that few will ever recognize. The customer jokes with me alot that he likes the mods that nobody will ever notice, but they will always wonder why in this case the truck looks so good.