So What Are You All Gonna Do?

[Darkness]

Anyways, just wondering what you all are going to do once most of us become priced out of the hobby with our cars and the prices of parts? I'd be interesting in hearing it. I suppose if it got bad enough I would just go buy a used 08 or 09 Challenger when and if they come out.

[terrible one]

Meh, that's already happened to me 

[hemihead]

I'm going to put all my car stuff in the backyard and watch it all rust. 

[HDCharger]

It sure is depressing.  I've spent oh about 15,000 or more (Not including the Car) and I am just starting on the Body with the Interior to do last.  I priced out the patches and Panels through Paddock last night and it came out to almost $1500 and thats just parts not any labor to install.  That is why this is a long term project I guess.

[Troy]

Let's see, the repro parts are definitely dragging down the value of the NOS and "nice used" parts and more are coming out every day. Two years ago an NOS 69 'I' piece could sell for more than $700 ($200 now), the driver's side 4-speed console trim was in the neighborhood of $500-700 ($200 now), good consoles were above $500 ($200 now), good dash pads and door pads were almost mythical, and Hemis were as sought after as the holy grail. There's actually a choice (competition!) in aluminum heads and Mopar Performance even has an entire line of restoration parts such as emblems, engine parts, and suspension. Mopars are becoming more popular to own which is causing more companies to enter the restoration parts and services markets. Again, competition brings lower prices. When I had my first Charger I had to buy parts from one of the three local salvage yards and I single-handedly cleaned them out. I was out of luck after that. With the internet people from anywhere can connect to enthusiast sites like this, online retailers, and eBay for a selection of parts and services that was unthinkable 15 years ago. The fact that the cars are getting cheaper to restore and more desirable is what is driving up the cost of projects and bare shells.

Another thing to consider is that not everyone needs to do a 100 point concourse restoration on their car. Drivetrain parts (excluding Hemis, 4-speeds, and Danas) are only slightly more expensive than competing brands - especially if you buy aftermarket. Interiors can be cleaned up and detailed to "driver" quality in many cases without spending a fortune. Paint can be touched up and buffed without disassembling the car and hanging it on a rotisserie. Most stainless can be polished at home with minimal tools. There's a lot to be said about trading with other members of the group too.

After saying all that, I did the dumb thing and went for the full-blown resto route on my cars and now I'm partially regretting it. Not only does it cost a lot for factory original parts, but it takes a really long time to completely remove every last nut and bolt from a car only to put them all back on. I honestly think I'd have been happier driving a not-so-perfect car over the last two summers instead of dreaming about a perfect one. It probably costs less than half to make a car "close to perfect" and I won't be so worried about driving it on the street with people intent on destroying it. Some time in the future (soon I hope), I'll be testing my theory of an affordable, average Joe type of old car revival and I'll post the results.

Hopefully you guys don't get too discouraged because it would be boring around here without the folks who really love the cars for what they are.

Troy

[Old Moparz]

I wait.   

There's always someone who is sick & tired of a car whether it's a project or a driver. The same goes for parts that people are tired of saving, moving & tripping over. Heck, I do it myself to sell things fast & get them gone. Patience is the best thing to have, & not just because of trying to snag a good deal. If you aren't in a rush you have time to research a price with a supplier or a shop doing the work you need.

Rushing into something will make you pay more. Look at ebay, people have to have it NOW! & pay top dollar for whatever it is they are bidding on. That's part of the problem too, ebay sends out a billion notices about an "item you just won" or "you were outbid" & also "congratulations on winning". It's all wrong, you didn't win a damn thing. It's not the lottery or the slots at a casino, it's a part you just bought. 

[Johnny SixPack]

Yeah, you don't win crap. 

Well, maybe you win the chance to lay over a barrel and take it quietly. 

But all you really did was end up being the one willing to pay the most. 

So it's more like: Congratulations, you've made a conscious choice to indenture yourself for the the forseeable future!  

[TK73]

I'm going to put all my car stuff in the backyard and watch it all rust. 

...and tell the collectors that knock on your door;  "Ima gonna fix 'er up some day"

[694spdRT]

I am going to try something different this time. Like Troy said not everyone is doing a concourse car. My '69 is not concourse but, it was done with show's in mind and the cost went accordingly.

Now, the '72 Challenger is going to be on the other side of the fence. I want a driver that I don't worry every second over. My plan is to have around $4,000 in the car when it is done. I got into the Challenger really really cheap a year ago so it is still possible to find them. It is nearly rust free and has a rebuilt 318.(you won't believe it if I told you what I got in the car) I am leaving the 318 in it because I want something that gets decent mileage and it is fresh anyway. I found a good 833 OD trans and will be converting the car to a 4 speed. It needs seat covers, carpet and headliner. I will be doing what little body work is needed and painting it myself. I am also toying with the idea of a Vanishing Point clone as I have nearly all the'70 parts and I am not in love with the '72 styling.  I might even try the "paint you car for $50 with a roller" technique before it is all said and done.

Here is my proposed "budget"

Interior - $800
Small block 4 speed conversion - $1,000
Repo Rallye Hood - $600
New windshield - $150
Paint - $600 if the $50 roller method don't work 
Disk brake conversion $500
New exhaust - $250
Misc stuff(brake/fuel lines, belts hoses etc.) - $300

I keep you guys posted as it progresses. 

[hemihead]

I'm going to put all my car stuff in the backyard and watch it all rust. 

...and tell the collectors that knock on your door;  "Ima gonna fix 'er up some day"

You know it TK! I'm ready to do that now.

[41husk]

Troy,  you are welcome to drive mine any time you visit, hopefully the challenger will be done by the next time so we can both drive being the passenger just aint the same

[Brock Samson]

 Troy makes some great points.

as I like to say...  "Horses for Courses"

[Mike DC]

If they'd make some nice reproductions of the outer skins parts of '69 Chargers then I'd die happy.  Between used & aftermarket parts and my own tools, I feel like could build damn near anything else on the car myself.  

I just want a long-term driver now. By far the most fun I ever had with my '69 was back when it was a total beater.  I started out wanting an awesome resto, but I find myself caring less about the accuracy ever year.  Now I care a lot more about being able to just treat it like a regular car when it's done.  That's only possible when everything's replaceable.

.

[greenpigs]

I will get a 1990-93 Mustang LX 5.0 for something to drive in the summers daily and a 76-79 TA for a toy. hell I might still do something like that and keep the Charger.

[Orange_Crush]

Spend my money on hookers, booze, and weed.

[andy74]

for the last 2 summers i drove the charger daily,rain or shine-but now with the price of gas,and the fact that i am scared to death of any one hitting her or even parking to close in a parking lot,i am going to drive my dealer car(a used 02 grand caravan)more,and just drive her when its a nice sunny day and i want to feel a big block rush!

funny thing is my wife,who doesnt care about the old cars at all,asked me to find a older ride for her to "fix up"now,so its back to square one-maybe ill find her a chevy

[Orange_Crush]

Oh...and porn...I forgot porn.

[Old Moparz]

Spend my money on hookers, booze, and weed.

Oh...and porn...I forgot porn.

I'll PM you my phone number, call me when you're in town. 

I'll get the beer since you forgot.

[Orange_Crush]

Spend my money on hookers, booze, and weed.

Oh...and porn...I forgot porn.

I'll PM you my phone number, call me when you're in town. 

I'll get the beer since you forgot.

My wife once asked me what I would do with all the money I spend on the car if I didn't have it and I responded (without taking my eyes off the TV) "Weed, Hookers, booze, and porn." 

Her response..."I'd laugh if I didn't think you were serious."

That's what makes our marriage so great.

You gonna be at Carlisle?

[Old Moparz]

Yes, unless I die.

[moparguy01]

once restoring cars gets too expensive i'm just gonna start building race cars. or shopping carts like i did in kansas for my physics class.

[rare69]

by the time I'm done with this one, decent project cars will be out of my reach. i will probably never have enough money to do it again in my life time.

[Bandit72]

hord (spell check) everything i have accumulated (parts, cars, trucks, engines...ect ect.) on my farm outside of a small kansas town...putting the decent cars/trucks/parts in the barns, and put everything else behind the barns/in the field...just for keepsakes..sounds corny but i like the idea of being a little (well i'm 6'2" but you get the idea) old man with all of these old cars that collectors want, and not parting with them (like many good cars i could have bought but the old man was gonna "fix 'er up" or "thats gonna be my boys car when i'm gone" just for them to be gone 2 months later    oh well...my day will come!!