What's your thoughts on "Built Not Bought?"

[BMR Sales]

Maybe it's a Bike thing, because I have never seen any animosity between builders vs. buyers!

I like to wrench, but I don't want to build my pick-up

I installed every race part on my car, but I didn't weld the cage - I'm not ashamed to have a Pro do their speciality

If Buyers didn't exist there wouldn't be as many builders

I guess what it comes down to for me is it's all part of the Car Culture. I have never been into '30s & '40s Hot Rods, Low-Riders, Stanced Japanese cars, but that does not make my opinion superior to their owners.

[barrrf]

If I had the money, Id totally pay someone to build it exactly how I want it. I know I cannot do everything I want exactly how I want. And there are people that do these things and do them well, and Im not one of them.

Is there a certain amount of pride to be had for being able to say you build everything on your ride? Sure.

[Blake Foster]

Originally Posted by camcojb

Pretty sure Tim wasn't meaning you had to build all your parts too, though you come closer than most.

but that is what the article is refering to.

[ironworks]

I think it super funny when a Professional shop uses that for a Hashtag. Aren't they making fun of the guy who is paying them to build their car?

I think its awesome when any non professional guy can build something awesome in his garage or what have you that is well built and nice. But a guy that gets to perfect his craft 40 hours a week will always have the advantage.

Alot of the time guy who can afford to build whatever have a pretty demanding workload and their time is better spent paying some one to do a better job if there goal is the end result more then the process. Some guys just like the process and it does not matter the length of the journey.

[JKnight]

Originally Posted by camcojb

Personally I wish I was in the position to buy them instead of building them. If a guy buys a done car that doesn't make him any less of an enthusiast in my eyes.

Absolutely. I know I suck at "building" my own relative to if I had a pro do it (RS, Ironworks, Speedtech, etc.), but it's the only option I can afford so I have to be happy with the end result (assuming it's safe of course).

Am I somehow better because I "chose" to do it myself? heck no.

[DRJDVM's '69]

For me it comes down to whether the owner even has a clue about the car.... Did he play at least a role in the design, plan, parts used, theme of the car etc.?... If you ask questions about the car can they answer most of them or is it "no idea, the shop/previous owner" did it..

If you don't have the skill or the time, that's one thing... If you basically just wrote the check and have no clue otherwise, my respect level is much lower...

It's like a sports fan... Do you just wear the jersey and have the bumper sticker on your car because you think it's cool... Or can you at least name a few players on the team, and some basic info.

I would love to be in the position to pay a really good pro to build me a car,,, but I could never be the "call when it's done and I'll write you a check" kind of guy

[Che70velle]

Who walks through a show, or a cruise-in, and says to their self, "man this car would be way cooler if it had been built out of a garage", or vise-versa.
The truth is, your typical enthusiast doesn't know, or care who has built the car. He or she simply likes the car or doesn't like the car.

For example, I have a truck that I purpose built in the 90's for ISCA (World Of Wheels) competition. I built the truck in my moms basement, while I was still single, all by my self. I hauled the truck all over the southeast in an enclosed trailer, and won every award that ISCA could offer, from best truck, to best paint, to best of show, and even made Sport Truck, and Truckin' magazines, and I'd bet that not one person ever thought while checking out my ride about a pro shop build vs. garage built. They either liked it, or hated it.

At the end of the day guys, it's a car. Or truck. Or bike...
Who gives a holy rip who built it.

[cluxford]

Most "Built" use bolt in parts.

Or they sub out work

It's rare anyone can do it all themselves

build the engine
build the trans
built the suspension (not just bolt on aftermarket kits)
panel work
paint work
interior work

There is a small group that can do all of that and I am in awe of them. But they are a minority.

But for the rest of us this discussion is mute, we do what we can and get others to do what we can't

[DBasher]

How about the guy that claims they built it when you know darn well they didn't. Years ago I helped a buddy with his 58 Pontiac, mild custom with bellflowers, Watson style scallops all over and some Mooneyes goodies. He got bored with it and traded it off to a dealership. Some ass clown bought it from the dealership, slapped a "street rod" emblem in the grill and told people he did all the work....sure pal!

I've heard the BNB saying in the off-road world as well.....seems the dude who built his bad ass crawler in the garage doesn't like seeing the tastefully modded Defender 90 or new Jeep at the top of the trail. Whatever.

[bret]

If it werent for people BUYING parts...and cars, there would be no reason for anyone BUILDING them.
God bless the buyers.