The cost of a car

Robert Swartz · 03-10-2010, 08:16 PM

Well, I have to admit something. When I first started this as an idea. I traded a few posts on here about the cost of building this 1979 Firebird as a stocker. Some of you guys threw some pretty hefty numbers at me. Being an old hardhead, I refused to believe it would cost near what many said.

I'm adjusting my vein of thought! Basically, this car has only been moved from the original owners garage to mine and other than collecting pieces, nothing has really been accomplished. I've already spent $3200.00. Now, I'm going to say for cast off parts and swap meet junk, I've aquired some decent parts, a few new. I haven't even scratched the surface of this project yet.

Larry Hill · 03-10-2010, 08:24 PM

The journey to completion [ running under the index ] Priceless!!!

Barnstorm · 03-10-2010, 08:38 PM

The common thinking for alot of us geezers now is to buy a done car. People enter and exit racing on a regular basis.Sadly 50 cents on the dollar is top price residual on even a competitive car.

treessavoy · 03-10-2010, 10:48 PM

Figure out how much you want to spend in total.......then triple it and you might be in the ballpark.

JimR

Jeff Lee · 03-10-2010, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by treessavoy

Figure out how much you want to spend in total.......then triple it and you might be in the ballpark.

JimR

And triple the time to finish also...

greg fulk · 03-11-2010, 02:36 AM

If your doing it your self ...it takes a lot of time....( been working on my street/strip car for 6 months & it still hasn't fired...but it's close!)

Robert Swartz · 03-11-2010, 05:06 AM

Let's see, triple the time and triple the money. You guys have got me depressed now, LOL!

We've argued this before. This time around, I see it. Not going to stop me from going forward. My experience (sadly been more than 2 decades ago) in building cars, progress comes in bunches. That's generally been as time and money become both available and used wisely. Sometimes that doesn't always happen.

We'll see.

dartman · 03-11-2010, 06:33 AM

fast and easy way

http://www.racingjunk.com/category/3...-firebird.html

03-11-2010, 10:32 AM

After being out of it for a while I just decided that I missed racing and wanted to go again. I've "been there and done that" on buying a stock car, putting a BUNCH of time and money into it, and selling it for one reason or another; usually losing a ton on them. Decided there was a better way to do it. I wanted a street/street Impala SS and having built one before (and having to sell it during a divorce and lost my butt on it!) I knew exactly what I wanted and how it should be built. I found the exact car (very lucky I know) that I wanted less than two hours from me. I'm not ashamed to say the guy that built it had $40,000 in receipts (yes, I added them up) and it was built with very good parts and just the way I wanted it. He was getting married and had lost interest in the car so I got it for less than 1/4 of what he had in it and that doesn't even count his time. I hope to have this car forever and maybe change a few small things but I would personally never build one from scratch again.

Jack McCarthy · 03-11-2010, 10:59 AM

lot cheaper to buy a car from someone who has had enough !

jack

p.s. Yacavone has a KILLER for very little, buy car, buy gas, buy number, qualify #1...easy

03-10-2010, 08:24 PM	#2
Larry Hill Live Reporter Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hickory, Ky Posts: 10,633 Likes: 1,927 Liked 10,687 Times in 2,225 Posts	Re: The cost of a car The journey to completion [ running under the index ] Priceless!!! __________________ IHM Used Parts https://ihmusedparts.com 888-821-1817

03-10-2010, 08:38 PM	#3
Barnstorm Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 186 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: The cost of a car The common thinking for alot of us geezers now is to buy a done car. People enter and exit racing on a regular basis.Sadly 50 cents on the dollar is top price residual on even a competitive car.

03-10-2010, 10:48 PM	#4
treessavoy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Dunnellon,FL Posts: 1,103 Likes: 0 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: The cost of a car Figure out how much you want to spend in total.......then triple it and you might be in the ballpark. JimR __________________ Jim Rountree

03-11-2010, 02:36 AM	#6
greg fulk VIP Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: jackson Posts: 1,165 Likes: 0 Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The cost of a car If your doing it your self ...it takes a lot of time....( been working on my street/strip car for 6 months & it still hasn't fired...but it's close!) __________________ Greg Fulk 308 308X P/SA "ALL AMERICAN"

03-11-2010, 05:06 AM	#7
Robert Swartz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nineveh, Indiana Posts: 512 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: The cost of a car Let's see, triple the time and triple the money. You guys have got me depressed now, LOL! We've argued this before. This time around, I see it. Not going to stop me from going forward. My experience (sadly been more than 2 decades ago) in building cars, progress comes in bunches. That's generally been as time and money become both available and used wisely. Sometimes that doesn't always happen. We'll see. __________________ Robert Swartz - Swartz & Lane 66 Chevy II Pro 95 Achieva EF/SA, 78 Mustang II U/SA (work in progress) #354 stock

03-10-2010, 08:16 PM	#1
Robert Swartz Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nineveh, Indiana Posts: 512 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	The cost of a car Well, I have to admit something. When I first started this as an idea. I traded a few posts on here about the cost of building this 1979 Firebird as a stocker. Some of you guys threw some pretty hefty numbers at me. Being an old hardhead, I refused to believe it would cost near what many said. I'm adjusting my vein of thought! Basically, this car has only been moved from the original owners garage to mine and other than collecting pieces, nothing has really been accomplished. I've already spent $3200.00. Now, I'm going to say for cast off parts and swap meet junk, I've aquired some decent parts, a few new. I haven't even scratched the surface of this project yet. __________________ Robert Swartz - Swartz & Lane 66 Chevy II Pro 95 Achieva EF/SA, 78 Mustang II U/SA (work in progress) #354 stock

03-11-2010, 06:33 AM	#8
dartman Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: N.S. CANADA Posts: 498 Likes: 160 Liked 68 Times in 41 Posts	Re: The cost of a car fast and easy way http://www.racingjunk.com/category/3...-firebird.html __________________ 1231 FS/D Drag Pak 1231 E/SA 71 Demon Kelly MacKay

03-11-2010, 10:32 AM	#9
Tar Heel Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The cost of a car After being out of it for a while I just decided that I missed racing and wanted to go again. I've "been there and done that" on buying a stock car, putting a BUNCH of time and money into it, and selling it for one reason or another; usually losing a ton on them. Decided there was a better way to do it. I wanted a street/street Impala SS and having built one before (and having to sell it during a divorce and lost my butt on it!) I knew exactly what I wanted and how it should be built. I found the exact car (very lucky I know) that I wanted less than two hours from me. I'm not ashamed to say the guy that built it had $40,000 in receipts (yes, I added them up) and it was built with very good parts and just the way I wanted it. He was getting married and had lost interest in the car so I got it for less than 1/4 of what he had in it and that doesn't even count his time. I hope to have this car forever and maybe change a few small things but I would personally never build one from scratch again.

03-11-2010, 10:59 AM	#10
Jack McCarthy VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: lyndon ky. ... louisville area Posts: 1,321 Likes: 28 Liked 470 Times in 116 Posts	Re: The cost of a car lot cheaper to buy a car from someone who has had enough ! jack p.s. Yacavone has a KILLER for very little, buy car, buy gas, buy number, qualify #1...easy __________________ Jack McCarthy 3609 STK "the Captain"