cost of building
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cost of building
Posted: January 07 2005 01:00 PM
 
Jan Schneider (aka storm) [ View ] [ Email ] [ Car Ads ] [ Blogs ]
Lafayette, New Jersey
 
I kept every receipt from my 40 Ford coupe and finally got the nerve to add them up today. This car is a very nice driver with a Lobeks chassis, nine inch rear, 700r4 trans and a zz4 crate motor with Vintage Air, Classic Instruments and leather interior. The total cost to build not counting the original purchase price of the car which was a stock older restoration was $35,494.20 and I know I saved about $3,000 on paint because the painter was a buddy of mine. I did all of the work on this car except the final paint prep and paint and the upholstry. I shopped around for best prices on parts but everything was new parts. This car was finished about 18 months ago so parts prices may be a little higher. I'm not complaining. I just thought this might give some of our newer rodders an idea of what to expect. I probably could have done this car cheaper with used parts and a stock chassis but this is a once in a lifetime car from me that I can run down the road in comfort in. Just some food for thought.
 
 
Comments
 
Posted by storm  -  12/31/2004 03:50 PM

Thanks for the compliment. I built it the first year I retired. I have between 450 - 500 hours in it but that includes time figuring where I wanted to run lines, etc. One thing people need to realize if they are buying a roller chassis is it still has to come apart and be prepped for paint, brake line brackets added and so on. Simple things like mounting the new poly gas tank took time to get it right. I'm sure an experienced builder with a well equipped shop could have cut these hours down by a bit.
storm [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Lafayette, New Jersey
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  12/31/2004 06:56 PM
So if you figured 475 hours at $40.00 per hour that adds another 19kthat would put it at 54,494.20, Thats about right if you have someone do it, But everybody thinks it should be done for about 35k, Thanks for the post on the of the cost you have put into your car, It might enlighten some people who would like to have cars done on the true costs that are involved
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  12/31/2004 07:00 PM
amazing aint it. and if you figured 450 to 500 you probly have 700 in it.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  12/31/2004 02:11 PM
and it's a fine looking ride. only one thing wrong that i can see...........it aint mine.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by storm  -  01/01/2005 08:27 AM
Thanks for the compliment Leon. Hitech, I included the cost of all the small parts, paper and grinding discs etc. Incidentals can really add up. I didn't include the cost of tools because I had most of them from previous projects.
storm [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Lafayette, New Jersey
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  01/01/2005 09:23 AM
thanks for this post storm. i've got in more trouble over these post. geez. the problem is it cost you 35k to build yours. people still think they can have a car can be built fo 25 k. i'm sorry but theres 25k worth of labor in one plus parts. i've watch one builder after another quit and move on to better paying work over the last 10 years. ten years ago the cars were cheaper, so were parts. i sold the black 37 for 36 k last year to a good friend. now how did i get rich on it at that price. anyway you cut it a brand new hand built car is going to cost you 45 to 65 k depending on your appetite for shiney stuff. one thing for sure is your going to pay 25k in labor at least. pay for what you get ........demand what you payed for.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by carpro1946  -  01/02/2005 01:10 PM

Now make that a rust bucket and see how many hours and how much money you have in it.



Especially if you have to make most of the pieces because they aren't available.
carpro1946 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] hebron, Maryland Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  01/03/2005 11:18 AM
looks like your 29 will be a 55k to 60k dollar car. and thats if you only put 500 hrs in it. dont take long does it. the man hrs involved in building a car are mind boggling. i see 700 + hrs in just about any of these cars. i average one a year and spend ever bit of that many hrs on it. now if you count the hrs thats about 4 months of 8 hr days. dont think i can do a car in 4 months and dont care to try. it's gotten upside down. when the parts eat up 2/3 of the budget somethings go wrong. just my opinon
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  12/31/2004 02:10 PM
you did not mention labor cost. any idea of how many man hours.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by 33Dodge3window  -  01/05/2005 01:45 PM

If we looked at the actual cost for a project - you could never justify the price. I think it is good therapy and if you enjoy it - why not. You need to look at your cost and how much those funds could have generated additonal revenue from investments over the time period.



Nice 40 - I hear Bob Drake is making a new repo 40 Ford Coupd for just under 30K
33Dodge3window [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Minneapolis, Minnesota
 
Posted by orphans2  -  01/05/2005 02:28 PM
i probably got 700 hours in just sitting and looking at my cars and wondering if I am insane. My wife probably has even more hours looking at me and wondering the same thing.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
Posted by Crazyhorse Rod Shop  -  01/05/2005 01:56 PM
consider how long it takes them to put a ranger bass boat together and what it cost. makes a streetrod look cheat at 700 hrs + parts.
dont poke the porchdog........he bites [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] BLUFF DALE, Texas Charter Member since March 2003
 
Posted by buick1  -  01/05/2005 02:55 PM
O-2, But FUN IS GOOD. You only live ONCE, so live it up.
buick1 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Indianapolis, Indiana
 
Posted by Rods & Customs by Leon  -  01/01/2005 02:04 AM
By the way, Thats a very nice looking 40, The first car I ever drove was a show winning 40 convertible that was all rodded out, Sitting on my Dads lap with him letting me steer, He left the stop sign with it to the pedal floor and tire smokin, I was probably about 6-8 years old, but I remember that like it was yesterday, I can still remember exactly how that motor sounded, Tire sqweeling and houses going by faster and faster.It was pretty cool. It was just something that stuck with me probably till I die, I have a real soft spot for 40s
Rods & Customs by Leon [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Highlands, Texas Charter Member since May 2004
 
Posted by 29robert  -  01/03/2005 11:02 AM
Right on the money. I"ve got two years and just over 20K invested in my 29 Tudor Sedan and it's still in primer and not running yet. This is a one time project for me and I'm doing everything myself in my garage without the benefit of any of the the cool tools, so I'm taking my time, doing a lot of research, and doing everything right. I figure about another 15K to complete. I don't know how many hours I've put into this, but I have kept a computer spreadsheet documenting all direct (stuff that goes on the car) and indirect (tools, and suplies)costs. I haven't shared that info with my wife yet though. I"ve probably got another two years to complete at the rate I"m going, but the info I'm getting from this site really helps.
29robert [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] La Verne, California Charter Member since November 2004
 
Posted by hitech  -  01/01/2005 01:54 AM
or maybe even more than 700 hours, you have at least 50 in shoping around for the best price on all the parts, did you include all the shipping and handleing,and all the little things it takes to build a car. nuts,bolt,clips,welding rods,grinder disc,cut off wheels,saws all blades, body filler.primer, the parts that you didn't use but you still had to pay for. that now the car is done you have to take to the swap meet to get some of your money back. and don't forget all the tools and equipment you had to have to build this car. last time i checked i had to pay for all this stuff, and it dosn't take long to add up to a chunk of change.
hitech [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Shreveport, Louisianna
 
Posted by metalman1102  -  01/06/2005 08:11 PM

Hey guys dont drink any more but do you know how much money we have spent on beer over the years and got nothing out of that(except a headace) At least a rod you can get a $$$$ return
metalman1102 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Springhill, Florida
 
Posted by coors578  -  01/06/2005 08:17 PM
I thought a rod in the garage and a beer fridge full of beer was what it was all about !!!!
coors578 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Qualicum Beach, Canada
 
Posted by buick1  -  01/06/2005 08:37 PM
M-1102, I agree, never could understand the so called FUN in making yourself SICK. I say EACH to their OWN, but getting SICK, MAKING a FOOL of YOURSELF, and even taking the chance of HURTING someone is NOT for me. I would rather do it by VOICING my opinnion on this site. THANKFULLY most rodders act proper.
buick1 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Indianapolis, Indiana
 
Posted by Willys33  -  01/02/2005 08:52 PM
I would like to say a couple of works about us "do it yourselfers" in regards to labor cost....AIN'T NONE! Now, please let me explain. If I wasn't building a car I would be buying a fishing boat, gear, trailer, truck to pull it, etc. When I can no longer stand the fish I can sell most of it for about 20 cents on the dollar. I could take up golf, clubs, green fees, 19th hole, alcohl rehab... sell the clubs at a yard sale for $45. Or I could build a car, meet people, spend more money on bandaides and finally sell the car for more than what the total parts cost plus some money. Matter of fact, price keeps goin' up. A street rod will get you a nice bed in the ole folks home, boats, planes and (most) other hobbies will not. Just my take...
Get off the trailer and drive [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Alamogordo, New Mexico
 
Posted by sixguns  -  01/02/2005 11:39 PM
I have a complete running chassis and a bare body in primer, cost to date is just under 20K, im building this project in my shop at home.
Enjoy the Ride [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Woodland, Washington Charter Member since June 2002
 
Posted by orphans2  -  01/07/2005 01:00 PM
Well in my case, I probably have spent less than $20 on beer in my life time and I'm approaching 59. If you showed up at my place to stare at the cars you gotta byob or just have to make do with a little JD Black and branch water, or just go dry.
orphans2 [ View ] [ Email ] [ Blogs ] [ Car Ads ] Stewartstown, Pennsylvannia Charter Member since November 2001
 
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