(Text by Rodney Prouty, Photos By Rodney Prouty and Suzy Bauter) So, you’ve decided you want a hot rod?
You start scanning the internet for ideas and opportunities.
You start scouring the forums like a fiend.
You go to every car show you can locate.
You find yourself taking back roads looking for that illustrious barn find.
You make every excuse known to swing by 7-11 and get the latest Car rags.
You’ve now got yourself so worked up about getting that car of your high-school-dreams, you’ll jump at the first thing in your price range. You’ll take a barely rolling shell and glamorize about nights spent in the garage with your son and a wrench. You’ll plan out your build to start with some basics to get it running and then have an ultimate build in mind. You’ll immediately order wheels and pick out a color, blowing your holiday bonus and tax return on a pretty candy coating for your hot-rod-to-be.
Some of you will know where I’m going with this. Some of you will be where I am with this. And, some of you don’t have a clue. The inspiration to write this came about a few weeks ago as I was getting text messages from a family friend’s son whose parents told him he should get in touch with me if he thought he was going to buy a hot rod. Like many, this kid had visions of building a dream car over a series of weekends and evenings; he knows his way around a Honda and is pretty confident he can pick up the basics quickly. My new best friend immediately starts sending me online ads for first generation Mustangs and Camaros that he is considering. The most common responses I had for him were “too much money, too high of a price, not worth it”. Majority of the cars the kid was finding were incomplete projects or finished cars that were outdated. After a few days of near constant communications, I finally said “either buy something ‘done’ for less than $25k and fix and/or update it, or buy a new generation Camaro or Mustang.”
The only reasons to build a hot rod (versus buying one) are:
You have too much money.
You have too much time.
You have a lot of skills.
You have a lot of talent.
You are bat-shit crazy.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got way too little money and not nearly enough time. I can swing a hammer but I can’t sing. I’m a hot-rodder who drives his Camaro to work every day, so clearly, I’ve got some batshit crazy in me.
Seriously, why on earth would anyone rescue a rusted out piece of crap, spend thousands of dollars and man hours to make a muscle car out of it that will be worth half of what you spent when you’re done?
Let’s give this some more thought. Because, let’s face it, there are still several of you who are preparing your argument to post in the comments. You decide you want to build a first generation Camaro. You find a guy online selling his partially rusted and partially restored ’67 Rally Sport. The seller is willing to part with the bucket along with a bunch of stock parts for the bargain price of five grand. You call the auto club, summon a tow truck and your adventure begins. You immediately realize you’re going to need some tools to get started on the rust removal and you immediately join the Harbor Freight preferred customer program. In order to make any kind of progress on this project you’re going to need a minimum of about three grand in tools: grinder, welder, high intensity lights, a shop vac and a decent compressor to start with. You’ll also need another five hundred or so in materials – gloves, wire brushes, grinding wheels, drill bits, primer and a bucket of POR15 with a case of brushes. The latter will likely need to be replenished monthly for at least three months only to be followed by additional materials required to stabilize the car and make further completely unnoticeable improvements.
Do you get where I’m going with this? You’ll no doubt run out of cash at some point and the work will stall for a while. Then, you’ll run out of skill/talent and you’ll have to pay someone approximately $100 an hour to finish tasks you cannot. Let’s not forget the paint job that you’ve no doubt ordered up before the motor is even built, that’s gonna set you back a minimum of $10k. How about those hot Forgeline wheels? That’ll be another $5k. If you’re keeping count, we’re in the range of $27k (without the labor costs) and there’s still no engine, trans, interior, brakes or suspension; never mind, wiper motor, headlight motor, door and window seals, headliner, roof rail moldings, etc. You will not believe how fast that stuff adds up! Has your car been registered in the last ten years? That’s a paper trail and appointment-laden experience with the DMV and CHP that can run another few hundred in the negative cash flow and probably a day off of work, that you’ll have to plan on.
When all is said and done, you’ll be somewhere in the range of $50k down. You’ll have a car that is somewhat up-to-date, and you’ll be having as good a time as you can, without worrying about the paint (Because you got caught up in the show car mentality and now have a stupid expensive paint job that took six months to be completed at the most popular place on the plant to get paint.) that is now worth about $35k on the open market.
Now, consider this: buy some guy’s project for $25k with paint, interior, a running small block 350 and an overall decent build. Then spend $6-8k changing out the drum brakes, updating the suspension overall and swapping in an LS motor. Now, you’re two months in and you’ve got a nearly perfect car for around $35k that is worth about $35k.
I know I didn’t take this route, but I also had access to many guys who were mid-project and I talked my way into a lot of parts. I also had just enough talent to be dangerous and did everything (right or wrong) myself, thanks to a life of wrenching and some mad Google skillz.
great read. i have to agree with this if you just want to get something on the road as quickly as possible. at 25 grand if you look hard enough you can find some really really nice cars, totally show quality. maybe a little detailing to be done. i am in the midst of building my own car right now and am not taking the economically smart way but i also want to learn as much about my car as i can and know what kind of work and quality of parts are in it. there is also nothing like building your own too, gives you a real sense of accomplishment.
Rodney, I think you’re a bit full of it. If we all listened to your tales of doom and gloom nobody would build cars. All this crap about having to spend 3k on tools just to get started? Mate, I’ve not spent that on tools in my whole life, over 100 cars later and being a fitter and turner/toolmaker. I spent a bit over a grand to get my car originally and 10 years later I’ve maybe dropped a further 3 – 4 grand on it INCLUDING tyres, rego etc.- thats a car I get weekly offers between 25 – 30 k on. Maybe your idea of how to build a car involves endless need for cash but we don’t all work like that. Maybe YOU should do your next car how you suggest, just buying something somebody else put together. Maybe YOU can save cash that way. But don’t assume thats how everyone does it. You’re just wrong, I’m afraid.
if I had 4 or 5 grand in a car and had offers for 25 to 30k weekly, i would counter with 35 and take the cash and get a bigger better badder ride…..
Not Rodney that’s a bit full of it, Mate.
I think the point that is missed is that there are many different ways to be part of the car hobby/culture. For some, it’s all too common that you get some cash and find the car you’ve wanted and then slowly lose steam in your build as life gets in the way or whatever the circumstances may be. Kids, lack of time, lack of money, lack of shop, lack of knowledge, lack of skill, lack of tools/equipment. For others, they are able to build build build with the bare minimum. If someone wants to build a budget car and use a car that is off the beaten path or if someone wants to build a full blown nut and bolt restoration/street rod – those are two very different ends of the spectrum. If I wanted to build a ’78 Monte Carlo as a daily driver with a two car garage paint job and some auto zone parts-yes, I can build it for $3- $4000.00 no doubt. But if I want to build a ’57 Bel Air and roll out of a car show with best paint/best interior/best motor/etc. it’s going to take some tools and a dumptruck full of cash. Neither is wrong to a true car enthusiast. That’s what makes the culture so cool.
Also-tv shows are ruining those without knowledge of cars. I keep seeing people like “the count” and anything on velecity channel where they buy a car, somehow claim they’ve rebuilt the motor, put a new interior in, complete repainted the car, new wheels and tires and only have about $900 more in the car than the amount that they overpaid for it. Different subject but that just doesn’t happen.
everything I said is true, so it isnt me thats full of it. Oh, and BTW, if you want to go mouthing off at least have the decency to use your name, ` anonymous’
ha ha ha, maybe I am, all I know is my plasma cutter cost me 600 bucks, my 80 Gallon Air Compressor cost another 600, and my mig welder cost 300 bucks, that’s 1500 brother and I haven’t even added in the air tools, the hand tools, spray guns, welding helmet(2 actually because someone stole the first one from my driveway) welding gloves, 8 jack stands, two jacks, sawz-all, grinders(yes more than one) and so on, so be real add up those tools, because most guys don’t have it all laying around and are starting from scratch, I don’t know how you did it? you must have gotten all your tools for free, (if so I want my helmet back) so on my next build I fly you in give you a hundred bucks and a 6pack and its golden, right, I will have a show car from a rust bucket in a few weeks ‘take it easy’
BOOM! spot on.
mate, theres my point – do you really need a plasma cutter, mig and $600 compressor before you can even start on a car?? My compressor cost $70 from cash converters, I don’t own a plasma cutter or a mig and yet I still manage to get my cars done. End of the day, each to their own but not everyone has to follow the high dollar method. My criticism of your article is that you make it seem like EVERYONE needs to do it your way – simply not true.
Wow, I feel dumber now for reading this.
BRAVO!! perfect, every word. I have had enough cars in my lifetime to realize this truth and a lot of others should to. Everybody wants shiny but doesn’t realize the cost. I am currently selling my projects to buy something done for this very reason.
Let’s not forget the SO who may start off “supporting your dreams” until she and you find out what that REALLY means. Long nights in the garage, dirt, noise, fumes, pissed off neighbors, Shed, back and side yard, garage and 2 neighbors’ garages full of project, Driveway full of sandblast media, living room full of sandblast media, garage covered in bright yellow/gray clear overspray, large dirty guys coming in and out of the house at all hours, the occasional hot rod buddy shenanigans (100 ft+ 2-track burnouts in front of the house). House projects ignored/forgotten. Oh, yeah, lets not forget the buckets of cash flowing by that even though you made have made it completely outside the household budget, she’ll be plenty pissed to have missed out on. If you’re married, go ahead and print out this list.
I have a $20,000 Mustang I spent $30,000 on.
I don’t spend crazy money on my cars and typically don’t get stuff painted, I buy with nice enough paint to drive, because I buy my stuff to drive. What’s funny is how many spend $50k on a truck that will be worth $17k in 5 years but that’s not a big deal. Spending more on a project is bad yet loosing thousands on a daily driver is fine.
The pool you play in determens what is normal and exceptional.
My car is absolutly perfect the way it is at the corner gas station,parts store,burger stand and even at the local cruise night.
Even at local car shows I’ve taken home the plastic.
I take it to a GoodGuys event and run it around the autocross and its a nice looking Mustang running around and over a few cones. People walk by,some look hard at it,but for the most part its a really nice looking ,well done car, in a sea of really nice looking well done cars.
That show and series tilts your “normal” scale way over. To get in “perfect” is the minimum,the standard. To stand out everything that is perfect has to be perfected.
Really nice cars can,and are,built for well under $35k,$25,and $15k. and winning cars at Good Guys may be as well but the people who do so have massive skills that even they will down play. Once a project reaches a point that the self builder reaches a time/skill inpass that $35k build heads for $50k in no time.
Ive have built a few really cool cars for near nothing and swapped parts but in the deep pool and playgrounds that these big events are they are just another car on the grounds.
Nice car Rodney, done your way.
Thanks Loren! I wrote this from general perspective, I only have about 20 grand total in my car over the last 4 years, because I literally did every thing myself, engine build, transmission build, interior, paint, wiring everything, but I have different back ground than most and was lucky enough to grow up in So, Cal and bounced around a few good shops as a youngin one of them was Hot Rods by Boyd back in the day and the guys at Knotts Berry Farms (a theme park in Orange county) showed me how to stick metal together (weld) when I was 17, in between surfing and chasing girls
I guess I’m the young whipper snapper out of this group(24), but i agree with buying one done YET do have to disagree with the amount of money adding up to that extent. I probably did my 68 firebird total for under 13k. But that was me doing everything to the car, not a damn thing by a person, except headliner and putting the tires actually on the rim. I learned from my dad whose a blue collar worker, if you do it yourself, its cheaper and you can take your sweet time. what am i going to do-charge myself per hour for working on it? I turned mine into a great and really clean daily driver, didn’t go looking for a 10k paint job. If so, how paranoid will you be when driving down the road? guessing parking out in the distant parking spaces will be the only way you get a sigh of relief. Its all dependent upon the builder and what the heck your building that adds up to 50K? sometimes you have to see if maybe you can build it yourself, while being realistic to your financial needs. These posts still provide me with information, I thank you Rodney.
“You have too much money.
You have too much time.
You have a lot of skills.
You have a lot of talent.
You are bat-shit crazy”
Guilty as charged! Check out this seven year odyssey (mine!): http://www.mercurycougar.net/forums/showthread.php?21714-(Picture)-Diary-of-an-ECI-(East-Coast-Idiot)
Loved every minute of it (and the satisfaction continues to this day!).
Yep Chad, great points. I have done it both ways. I really enjoyed the build, no regrets-but I don’t think I will go that bat-shit crazy again.
Always have had beaters didn’t cost much had fun.. Now if you try to keep up with Joe megabucks big mistake. Just like drag racing when its no longer enjoyable get the heck out .Build a beater you don’t have to worry about a paint job. Got a Mustang Funny car setting in the shop not fun anymore now I have a 68 AMX street strip nostalgia car no paint just primer and decals.
Those are some B-I-G rats in that “rat” rod!
As they say, the way to make a small fortune building cars is to start out with a large fortune . . .
Sadly, most “pro touring” cars are a colossal waste of money. 90+ percent of the fun is possible on probably 10 percent of the budget . . . .
And I’d rather read ten stories about “real” stuff like that GRM $2013 Challenge Jeep XJ-R than one more PHR story about another “Optima” “pro” car with $10,000 of wheels and brakes . . . .
You’ve been reading too much Cosmo, XJ-R Jeep articles? Really? “real boring”
Keep up the good work Rodney.
… another “Optima” “pro” car with $10,000 of wheels and brakes . . . .hope you didn’t mean my car, that’s funny and Thanks, I do have a story in PHR (sept 2013) my car has earned her stripes, Its running a $1200 eBay stock LS with 100,000+ miles, 500 dollar discontinued Coys wheels, used master cylinder from Liz Miles, used craigslist corvette front brakes and junkyard caddy rear brakes, I paid 100 bucks for the fiberglass hood at a swap meet, she’s a budget build with a few high end parts tossed in…that scares the high dollar cars anytime I pull into the race grounds, because a car doesn’t know how much you sent on her, just how it all works together, I will say THANKS for the HUGE compliment!! and I do hope to get into Optima in 2014!! man wouldn’t that be an upset a REAL 100% home garage build smacking down some big dollar cars on there territory, cheer me on! Booyaaaa!
The trick is to research the market, price up the parts you know you’ll want, estimate realistically all the other stuff. (Paint job, etc that you can’t do yourself) Now do the math. You see from your market research that the type of car you want to end up with is worth about 15 grand less than your cost to build. Then, like here at Barn Engineering, you know going in that you ain’t makin’ money when you eventually sell. However, if your chosen hobby were golf, skiing or something else costing the same over the years, you’d be getting nothing back when you bail out.