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I bought my Oldsmobile Omega for 1500$ with shipping to Austria I spent also 3k$.
now I’m north from 20.000 and still not done.
should have issued that story earlier!
^^^THIS. Like all the cable TV shows, they NEVER account for total cost. And I'm sure having a fully-equipped custom shop, a skilled staff that you can charge to a business expense (this is a marketing activity after all) and a stocked warehouse help a lot.
Steve is the owner of Pure Vision, a top-level hot rod shop that builds famous street machines that you've seen at big shows and on TV.
And this custom leather interior cost more than $7K alone.
Here's a data point. I built my 62 F85 wagon on the cheap. I paid $1250 for the car and another $1400 to ship it from Overton, NV to VA. The original engine had a corrosion hole in the water jacket. I got a running replacement motor from a friend for free. I had to completely rebuild the brakes, replace all rubber in the fuel and cooling systems, and hand fabricate a new custom exhaust. I had to locate and replace rear wheel bearings and seals. I also had to replace the troublesome 62 idler arm. I bought new tires and used slot mags. After fighting with the 4GC for far too long, I gave up and bolted on an E-brock, which required me to fabricate linkage. At that point the car was safe to drive, and I was into it for about $5K. Since then I've had the seats recovered in generic vinyl ($1800 right there), completely rebuilt the front end, done the dual circuit M/C upgrade, replaced the u-joints in Sparta, KY (see my thread on Power Tour 2019 for that...), and am in the middle of cooling system upgrades. The Roto5 AT is finally at the point that I need to swap it out for the T5. I'm well over $7K into this car with zero body and paint work, and that also does not count my time. This article is really pegging the BS meter.
Yeah, Pure BS, but what do you expect from MSN? I can do just about everything to build a car, except upholstery and chrome plating. Back in 1992, I bought a 54 Chevy, VERY cheap, and decided to do a low budget build, but make it still nice looking. I bought a 1980 Monte Carlo, very cheap, and really cannibalized it for parts, engine, trans, front frame (suspension and brakes) steering column, rear end, radiator, windshield wiper set up, as much as I could. Did all the work myself (with a couple friends helping occasionally), even had my GF do the upholstery, with my help. The only 'big' expenses were rechroming the bumpers (welded into 1 piece), tires, and buying the pearl and Candy paint. I had 15,000$ into it when I got finished, and was VERY glad to have done it so cheap! And this is with a shop full of the right equipment. And in 1992 dollars!
You can't believe anything the media says any more. Maybe you could build a crappy 'rat rod' IF you had free available parts and the car itself.
To a starry eyed 12 or 13 year old, this is totally believable. Now that we are older, most of us know better. The only thing the HRM story doesn't have is...."Once upon a time in a land far, far away"..... (like a bed time story).
Many blame the "media", but honestly, they don't have to make anything up or distort anything, there are plenty of sources for BS. If you are blaming "the media", maybe you should really be looking at the source of the BS.
......Just my two cents worth.
On a cheap car build there are two ways to figure how much it's going to cost, do your best math with your sharpest pencell then double it. Or figure what you can get along with out in life, wife, seeing the kids, having Taco bell seven nights a week and don't keep the receipts on what you have bought for it. May work out fine, I've bought some fine second hand project cars that way..... Tedd
I built my 72 with under 8k when I first did it back in 2009 . It all comes down to thriftyness. Currently I'm running 11.60's with a 350 olds . I have less than 7k from carb to rear end. Most guys have that much in their engine. The car world is not created equal.
Last edited by coppercutlass; Mar 22, 2021 at 05:08 AM.
I built my 72 with under 8k when I first did it back in 2009 . It all comes down to thriftyness. Currently I'm running 11.60's with a 350 olds . I have less than 7k from carb to rear end. Most guys have that much in their engine. The car world is created equal.
True, many folks think they need the best of the best, roller rockers, aluminum heads, hi dollar rods and pistons, fitech injection, then its a weekend cruiser that never sees over 4500 rpm..way to many overbuilt cars..i enjoy all cars, but have a budget, unlike many.. I find ways to use what I have, recondition certain things etc. I like to drive the car, enjoy the pleasure, not the bragging rights ofhow many horsepower that I have but afraid to use it..lol. Friend of mine, master mechanic, he uses lots of used pistons, cams, things like that and runs high 11’s with these set ups..Chevy guy..
Yup I build my own stuff and I'm a body man by trade. The body work on my car right now would cost well over 10 at a shop. I have over 110 hours and 2500 in materials and I did it on about 4 months . I tell people it's easy to do body work it's just patience and time. Many just don't want the headaches I guess. They pay and get the reward.
I’m curious as to when that hot Rod article was written?? Some of the cars listed would be absolutely junk at the prices they quote, and barely drivable at 3 times their budget.
As for overbuilt engines, it’s my opinion you shouldn’t cut corners on the short block. Build the short block stout enough to take more abuse you ever plan to throw at it. You can always upgrade the top end later.
I just had this conversation with a buddy over the weekend, it’s far better to spend more money on a solid car than to buy a project that needs extensive rust repair. A 2500 car that needs major rust surgery isn’t as good a deal as a 8k dollar rust free roller. Engines a d transmissions are much easier to fix that the dreaded tin worm.
Whatever you have budgeted for paint and bodywork, add a couple grand for hidden surprises. A friend of mine is having a 68 cutlass repainted as a graduation gift for his son, he paid good money for a solid rust free car. While the car is solid, it’s also very clear they should have long ago taken away the keys from the old man he bought it from. There is tons of hidden collision damage, it’s obvious the guys driving skills were on the decline during the Bush administration. The FIRST president Bush. 😏
Too bad I didn’t know some of this stuff 35 years ago when the car hobby first began to interest me!
I remember watching the episodes on Velocity when Strope built that car. He’s a likable guy and does nice work. He was really into that car.
BUT - in addition to over $7k into the interior - it was done by Gabe’s out in CA - and I don’t think he is a charity organization - there also has to be over $7k in paint and materials - even at his cost. I believe he used House of Kolors - I painted my bike with their paint in a 3 stage candy - crazy expensive. And I would assume he pays his guys - skilled craftsmen - to work ?
Maybe someone can help post the link. The car was featured in an article on Hemmings.com and was also featured in the December 2018 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines.
Maybe someone can help post the link. The car was featured in an article on Hemmings.com and was also featured in the December 2018 issue of Hemmings Muscle Machines.
