I found your next build here in Austin for sale on Craigslist. Should I go pick it up. Based on your current project I'll give you a deal and deliver it for only $30k. Sound good?
I get this. Before last summer, I didn't really, but now, I get it. It's how my Falcon wound up as an empty shell (after too many stages of "bolt-on" improvements). Now it has a chassis made of more new and bad ideas . . .
Best of luck in filling the shell with something that works for you.
All kidding aside I can guarantee you have learned alot of lessons through this process. Some lessons about the cars and some lessons on people or builders to be exact and I think you do the whole forum a favor to not be so politically correct. You don't have to name names. But others can and need to learn from other experiences. I think it helps the whole process.
I can guarantee you know 100 times more stuff now, then from when we spoke on the phone what seems like 100 years ago after selling your Porsche. There is a difference in bashing people and trying to rub their nose into all the problems and just hoping both parties become better people.
This industry has lot of customers who want the moon but really have no clue what it takes to get there. And builders who think they are everything to everyone. I see alot of builders who WAY WAY over promise and I truly think they think they can do it (inexperience). And you have customers who believe any story even though the builder has never produced anything because the want something so bad ( like the stripper at the dance club who says she loves you ). The builder just went to Harbor Freight with a 1000 bucks the next days opens a shop. Then you have the customer who has read every build thread and know they want all these parts and it should make him MARK STEILOW or DANNY POPP. OR they just carried away in their fantasy and dont even add up the parts total. Simple Math.
My guess of your history from the side lines is
1st shop just not cutting it.
2nd shop was just over their head for what you wanted
3rd shop way over promised
4th shop made other money doing bigger fancier stuff and you were back burnered with a project you were never happy with.
5th shop looks more your speed
I may have too many or not enough shops listed but this seems to be what I remember. I only say this as there is a huge difference between reality and how it works. And you have to be an expert by now or alteast learned some lessons you can share.
Every shop has a range of what they are good at. Alot of shops don't recognize that should say NO to something they suck, because they need cash flow or hate to see a job go somewhere else. And I think every shop serves a different level of expectation. Some shops are Sizzler and some The Steak house at the WYNN in Vegas. Each shop serves a client base. Its the guys who misrepresent what they serve or charge for that are the issue. And customers who have no idea what reality is.
Pretty good post Rodg.. I'll respond in kind when I'm back from Tahoe.
Stay thirsty my friends
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2004 NASA AIX Mustang LS2 #14
1964 Lincoln Continental
2014 4 tap Keezer
Dave, I look at the current pic of your car and think it looks like great progress and a move in the right direction! Hammer down and get through the design and build!
Oh and have a great time in Tahoe...one of our favorite spots!
Instead of a bad ass race car chassis like this one?
ha ha
Do you have a source for more pictures of that chassis and build up ?
I like that chassis.
I searched for any pictures of Dusold's car when it was being mentioned after Optima but didn't find much.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
Short clips: Goodguys Pleasanton autocross and pit videos
ha ha
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