RE: Buy vs. Build

[mikelj@xxxxxxx]

I tend to agree that driving them is more fun than working on them, and that there is always work to be done on any car you get.  Working on them is great fun too, just not as much as driving.  Once I bought a full frame off, total nut and bolt restoration and still spent a year getting the new crate motor sorted out and tuned and upgrading electrical, lights, gauges, and interior to my liking.  I have also bought ones in decent survivor shape and spent 2 years upgrading and replacing and restoring (as I am with my current '64 Polara 500).  I don't have the major equipment (engine lifts, car lifts, etc.) or expertise to do drivetrain work, so I spend my time on "cosmetics" like rust removal, electrical, wiring, lighting, gauges, weatherstripping, upholstry, headliners, etc.  Today's project is to repaint the intake and exhaust manifolds on the Polara, it is fun, but I enjoy driving her to a car show soon and showing it all off more than the work.  In my view, getting one with the exterior painted and the drivetrain done is a major advantage, as I just can't do those.

Mike in New Mexico




 

> To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx
> From: polecat2@xxxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: Buy vs. Build
> Date: Sun, 5 Apr 2009 16:12:45 +0000
> 
> 
> While I enjoy the building of the cars, I can relate, Ron. I spent 
> almost five years building my Fury, and spent so much on it. I drove it 
> three months and had to sell it for money. To me, to have fun, you need 
> to drive it more than work on it. But this is only my personal view, of 
> course.
> 
> Now, the real kicker to me is price. I can buy a car today built up and 
> restored like the one I built for a third of what it cost to do the work 
> myself--and Lord knows, I'm not counting the labor involved. That's the 
> real kicker. Besides, we will all work on ANY car we buy no matter 
> what, as nobody builds a car that completely satisfies another person's 
> tastes. Even on a finished car, I would still find myself changing a 
> bunch of things.
> 
> Having the autobody and paint work already done would bring a major 
> smile to my face!
> 
> 
> Ron Crossley wrote:
> > 
> > Hi all -
> > 
> > I'd like to present the other side of the argument. There was a time I 
> > loved nothing more than getting my hands dirty building and fixing cars. 
> > Back in the day I could probably have built a big block MOPAR 
> > blindfolded. But I've done enough of that in my life that the fun has 
> > worn out. Now I much prefer to drive the cars. And besides, at this 
> > stage in my life(I'm 64 - wasn't there a Beatles song something like 
> > that?) I have more spare money than I have spare time. I don't even have 
> > time to drive my cars as much as I'd like. I think it's great that some 
> > like to build cars. Frankly if they didn't I wouldn't be able to buy 
> > them. But to me building isn't fun any more but driving still is.
> 
> 
> ----
> Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks!
> 
> '62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
> http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html. 
> 

--
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


----
Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person.  I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic.  Thanks!

'62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines:
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html.