Build Costs

[NOPANTS68]

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

ALL the customers we have had that have built cars are SELF EMPLOYED, or have been and are now retired. you CAN'T build one of these cars in a reasonable amount of time if you are working for someone else. I know there will be guys who say "I DID IT" and I am sure it can be done but like the previous post said it has been 10 years. Personally I would be WAY past it and on to 5 other things before I spent 10 years building a car.

Ron is the Exception to the Rule LOL but honestly he has been building that car for what 6 years and it just gives you too much time to change things and there for drives the cost UP, ASk Ron

What's a resonable amount of time? I built my car in three years working for someone else. It's nowhere near some of the things that the pros build, but for two fat kids in suburbia- it's not junk either.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

with in reason and results may vary.

If you can't afford it don't even try to start. You are either going to have the talent to build it on a budget but parts still cost money. So factor in what you cannot do yourself into $$.

Average joe next door "standard" built will still be an honest $50-60K. If you can't afford that, budget $30K and buy one done.

[Lous69]

Slightly off the point he raised but I would encourage the original poster to realize that it sounds like he is a very rich man in the most important ways.

There are people who can afford to spend lots and lots of money on hobbies but who are not lucky enough to have a nice family (like the one it sounds the original poster has been blessed with)

Everything is relative. The secret is to enjoy whatever we can afford, to its fullest, each and every day.

[Ron in SoCal]

^^ that was funny Blake!

Lou great point and post.

[ironworks]

Knowing what I know now, I would just marry up and go way above my pay grade. Look at Jesse James. That guy can pick some big money girls.

I have built 3 nice cars for guys whose father in law foot the entire bill for 3 very nice cars. I was unaware of those deals when I was in the market 6 years ago.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

[Swain]

Hahahahaha. When you looking you never find it but when your not looking there all over the place

Originally Posted by ironworks

Knowing what I know now, I would just marry up and go way above my pay grade. Look at Jesse James. That guy can pick some big money girls.

I have built 3 nice cars for guys whose father in law foot the entire bill for 3 very nice cars. I was unaware of those deals when I was in the market 6 years ago.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

[TheJDMan]

To be honest, I was fortunate to fund Dust Off. I could just as easily have wound up with nothing. I had been saving for the build for several years and had a little over $15,000 saved. When the housing market and stocks took a dump during the 2007-8 recession and everyone was getting out of the stock market, it became increasingly apparent to me that stock prices were not likely to go much lower. Then when I heard one economist comment that stocks were at a 60 year low, I purchased $15,000 worth of stocks and crossed my fingers. This was either going to be the best or the worst investment decision I had ever made. Three years later my stock portfolio had increased in value by a cumulative factor of more than 4 times and it was time to sell. Believe it or don't, but that is how I funded my project.

[Flash68]

Originally Posted by first69

I’ve been a member of the site for quite a while now and love watching and learning about all of the builds. The posts always offer a lot of information and provide motivation to work on my own project. My question involves the financial portion of car building. I watch all of the awesome builds on here, go to numerous car shows every year, subscribe to magazines, etc. and the one thing that I seem to have the hardest time understanding is how do people afford some of the cars I see. I am 40 years old, married, two kids, we have what I would consider an “average” or comfortable income, excellent credit and we are very responsible with our money but I couldn’t even come close to being able to afford some of the builds I see. I know this is a personal or private subject for most people but I would love to see any responses on how “most” people do it. Are they in crazy debt, credit cards, inheritances or just filthy rich??

I would caution assuming everyone can really afford the cars they have and/or have built. I can easily see guys everywhere who do not have financial priorities in order. It's like lots of people who APPEAR to have money and are well off with fancy new cars and a big house, etc etc but behind the scenes are debt poor. It's the American dream unfortunately all too often.

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

ALL the customers we have had that have built cars are SELF EMPLOYED

This is what I was going to say as well.

Originally Posted by Blake Foster

Ron is the Exception to the Rule LOL but honestly he has been building that car for what 6 years and it just gives you too much time to change things and there for drives the cost UP, ASk Ron

Originally Posted by Ron in SoCal

^^ that was funny Blake!

So funny that's it true!

Originally Posted by ironworks

Knowing what I know now, I would just marry up and go way above my pay grade.

Now you're getting it.

[J-440]

I just gotta chime in here since I might have a dang good original answer. First off I bought my dream car. I was a child of the 80's and when everyone else had the Lambo Countach and Ferrari Testarossa posters on their walls, I had the General Lee. I also have excellent credit and have'nt charged a dime on the card for parts. I got married to a wife who also works and loves our Charger, have a teenager and bought a house. Our daughter works and goes to school. She buys her own stuff so she will NOT rely on mommy and daddy's magic money tree when she moves out. I have a nice collection of tools and a crapload of patience. I've been working on 1 car for the past 15 years only on weekends (family time is important!!) and it'll be ready this Christmas. Did I mention this was my dream car? I have sunk 65K into it, I am 44 years old, and will probably have another 20K into when I die.
So, buy your dream car, don't go into debt by keeping up with the Joneses, don't spoil your kid, have patience and an understanding wife who loves the car as much as you do. Oh yeah...plan a budget and then triple it. This hobby ain't like stamp collecting!! Good luck!!

[Spiffav8]

IMO it's all about balance. Sure I'd love to have an over the top build, but that would put me in debt and take away from so many other things in my life that are important. If I took that route I wouldn't be happy and that would take the fun out of the car for me.

I put together a build sheet that had every cool and trick part on it that I wanted. Then I priced it all out. The total of all those "cool" items was shocking and that total didn't include the car, body work or paint. So I took a hard look at what I needed vs wanted. There are a few items that will really make a car and following some good advice I went ahead and add things that will connect me to the car and enhance my driving experience, but not break the bank.

I suggest you search around and get a solid idea of how much the type of car you want to build will cost you. Find a car that is solid and all there. If you're smart about it, you can sell off items that you won't be using and recoup some of the cars cost. If you buy a running car, you can drive and enjoy it while you save your money and stock pile parts. If you have everything before the tear down stage, your car will spend less time off the road. Not saying to be super cheap about the process, just smart.

In the end, build a car that fits what you will really do with it and don't let it rob happiness from other areas of your life.