I was just wondering if anyone on this site carries sponsors and how did you go about getting sponsored? I am going to be starting a project very soon and would like to build something great.
You asked: " So sponsors want it their way or take a hike?"
Sort of unless you have a history of building cars and a good reputation, magazine coverage, etc. Otherwise, everyone would want to be sponsored, the vast majority never get finished, and the sponsor gets screwed out of parts. To donate parts to a project we need to know it's going to be finished and will get enough exposure to make it worthwhile. So some companies get pretty picky as to how and when the project will be done.
The people who have approached us for sponsorship start with a portfolio of cars they've built, plans and renderings for the present project, news coverage, media coverage, etc. that will happen for it. The only involvement we have in the car and how it's built is to decide if it's a car we want to be associated with; if it is we likely sponsor them, if not we do not. Not all car builds fit our company.
Jody
How about if a car is going to be at SEMA ? I have arranged to have my Regal at the 2006 SEMA show and we are pulling the frame and everything on it but when you undertake some this intense for the SEMA show it's nice to get a little help with come items.
I guess it depends on where you are going to display. SEMA added a lot of display spaces out front and around the show that many sponsors feel did very little exposure for them. I talked to a lot of my sponsors and many have decided that without a booth number and a comitment letter from the displaying vendor, along with the other requiments of coarse. Many of them are going to stay away from "SEMA sponserships" without booths. With a booth number, and the ability to convince vendors the car WILL be finished, you should be able to at minimum secure discounts for parts. But be prepared, many, most, companies do not do SEMA specific sponsorships until August / September. So you may very well find yourself waiting for critical components until fall, adding undo pressure to your build.