 | So you found your dream car and got it for a heck of a deal because it needs some work. Okay, a LOT of work. BUT, if you save a little money and do most of the work yourself you can have an awesome, factory or custom engine, interior, paint job all for 5K, right? Not so fast Spanky. There are quite a few factors that go into the price of your dream car build. Here are just a few: |
1. Budget. This is the total amount of money you are prepared to spend on the build. Regardless if you plan to keep or flip the car, you need to have a firm number in mind before you even start. You can research what a car should be worth all day long, in the end you have to fork over those hard earned dollars to get it there. The Budget is your friend. Without one, a build can quickly get out of control as you you choose those new, bright, and shiny part and finish options. Having a budget ensures your dream does not become a bankruptcy nightmare sitting unfinished under a tarp in your driveway or garage.
2. Hours of Labor and Materials. Even if you can do some work yourself, chances are you are going to need to help to get it finished. Estimates from reliable shops help, but they are estimates. Always figure extra with older cars as things not seen at first , i.e. rust, bondo, etc., will get found once work starts. Those factors add into the labor hours and the amount of materials used to correct any problems. Also, if you are going through the process of building or restoring, do it right the first time. Nothing worse than spending money only to have to do it again in the near future because you wanted to try to save a couple hundred dollars. You will thank yourself later.
3. Parts. You will need parts. It never fails. Even if the car is complete something somewhere will need to be replaced, repaired, or remade. It is why you got the car for such a deal to begin with, right? On older cars not all parts are easily found and some must be fabricated. That will tie in with #2 and hours of labor and materials. Other parts will have to be shipped from who knows where so there is also that cost.
4. Paint- No matter how much money you pay for it, if the body and prep work on a car are not done perfectly the paint will never look as good as it should. The paint job is what takes your build from ehh to WOW! Let's face it, if the car does not look good, it won't draw attention- not even yours! This is not the place to skimp.
There are, of course, many other factors especially when it comes to customization. But that discussion is for another day.
One more thought. Sad as it is to say, not all cars should be restored. I have had to tell people their dream car sitting under that tarp in the yard needed to be given up for scrap. Some are too far gone no matter how much money you are prepared to throw at it. Find the best car you can for what you can afford. The better shape it is in, the better it is for your budget.
2. Hours of Labor and Materials. Even if you can do some work yourself, chances are you are going to need to help to get it finished. Estimates from reliable shops help, but they are estimates. Always figure extra with older cars as things not seen at first , i.e. rust, bondo, etc., will get found once work starts. Those factors add into the labor hours and the amount of materials used to correct any problems. Also, if you are going through the process of building or restoring, do it right the first time. Nothing worse than spending money only to have to do it again in the near future because you wanted to try to save a couple hundred dollars. You will thank yourself later.
3. Parts. You will need parts. It never fails. Even if the car is complete something somewhere will need to be replaced, repaired, or remade. It is why you got the car for such a deal to begin with, right? On older cars not all parts are easily found and some must be fabricated. That will tie in with #2 and hours of labor and materials. Other parts will have to be shipped from who knows where so there is also that cost.
4. Paint- No matter how much money you pay for it, if the body and prep work on a car are not done perfectly the paint will never look as good as it should. The paint job is what takes your build from ehh to WOW! Let's face it, if the car does not look good, it won't draw attention- not even yours! This is not the place to skimp.
There are, of course, many other factors especially when it comes to customization. But that discussion is for another day.
One more thought. Sad as it is to say, not all cars should be restored. I have had to tell people their dream car sitting under that tarp in the yard needed to be given up for scrap. Some are too far gone no matter how much money you are prepared to throw at it. Find the best car you can for what you can afford. The better shape it is in, the better it is for your budget.
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