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Smyrnaguy Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2008 Posts: 115 Location: Smyrna, NC
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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A profit can be made on a kit car if you strike the right balance between expenditures and time. More time= less expenditures. Your time can't really be counted into the cost unless you are building and selling as a profession. To the hobbyist builder/owner/driver time is of no real consequence. If you have completed a car and get to enjoy it once then all your time is discounted to zero. After all if you never turned a wrench and instead spent the same time watching TV you would find that you have reached the same age only with nothing to show for it but a few more pounds around the middle from inactivity. |
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lostinbaja Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2004 Posts: 4036 Location: Frankfort, Illinois
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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I have been buying kit cars and buggies tearing them apart then parting them out. I make money on every one. Been doing it for years. _________________ Jerry...
If it's being towed, it must be a trailer!
"Vee Grow Too Soon Oldt Und Too Late Schmardt"
RIP Morgan
My photos
http://www.manxgallery.org/gallery/album92 |
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wythac Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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In a variety of ways it seems we have arrived at the same place....your time must have no value, and the completed car is never worth as much as the parts that are put in or taken out of it.
Like I said when I started this, I'm not complaining. It's a hobby, hobbies cost money, and I never intended to build my car to be sold or to make a profit, I did it because I wanted to build and drive a buggy.
The mechanic and craftsman in me says that, but the businessman says that when I decide to sell this car that I spent two dollars to get one in return. Therefore while it may be a great hobby, it is a poor move from the standpoint of ROI. Minus the fun building and driving it, of course.
I have to say that Murzi's trade for the soft top is probably the closest example of getting dollar for dollar that I have seen here. I went the exact opposite direction....the motor in my buggy was taken from my ragtop, the stock buggy motor rebuilt and put in the ragtop, which was sold to finance the buggy build. I had the ragtop for 20 years, bought it for $500,spent maybe 6K on it over time, drove it like I stole it the entire time and sold it for 4K . I called that one a wash.
I'm going to keep trading in mind....maybe my buggy will become a UNIMOG when the time comes. |
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BL3Manx Samba Member
Joined: August 29, 2006 Posts: 6767 Location: Northern California
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:12 am Post subject: |
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I got $12.5K for this Classic Manx. I bought the body unbuilt for $2K about a year after they quit making the Classic around 2001. It has a Barrett chassis I got in a swap from Dave for a 49 Airstream project I bought for $100. The engine is a 2110 with 45 Dels I got out of another Manx and so it was about $3K. The trans was about $800. I've had it on a few Manx Club runs, etc, over the last 3 to 4 years.
The buyer bought the side panels, top, steering wheel, rims, tires, shocks, brakes, exhaust and a bunch of other stuff and had everything powder coated and chromed.
I didn't make a lot but didn't lose anything either.
Its funny, the same people who are saying the Kickout is too expensive now are the ones who said the Classic was too expensive then. Really, it was the best dune buggy investment I ever made. |
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wythac Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Nice car. I think there are people out there who can really appreciate and are willing to pay for quality work....there just arent a lot of them. |
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tom84ford Samba Member
Joined: January 03, 2009 Posts: 159 Location: SoCal
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: |
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I belive that the words you are all looking for are as follows: If it has t!ts or wheels its going to cost you money the entire time you "have" it. That should never stop you though. |
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TC/TeamEvil Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1769
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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I always figured that Tits are like Tires, there are several measurements to consider before buying in, bigger isn't always better, and most often the low profile flat ones are still soft and forgiving but built for performance . . |
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eaterofdog Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010 Posts: 294 Location: Florida
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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Tits are like tires, once you rip the nipples off of them, they are broke in. _________________
wythac wrote: |
It's not like you have to drive it to work on Monday. |
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EMPIImp69 Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2006 Posts: 3374 Location: Dirty Jersey
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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It doesn't help either that most VW people are the cheapest people on earth ..I know thru my experiences of many years of selling many VW parts at swap meets and online. _________________ 1963 Ragtop Bug |
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10ovr Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2009 Posts: 402 Location: Fountain Hills AZ
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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Put one of these in front of you buggy and double the price ,Seem to work for this guy,, [img][/img] |
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wythac Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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Careful..."One of these" may instead be "This guy" in drag and standing in front of the buggy he is trying to sell..... |
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Letterman7 Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004 Posts: 3198 Location: Downingtown, PA
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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I think I just threw up in my mouth a little... yikes..... |
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sonocativo Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2009 Posts: 40 Location: Desoto, Mo
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Bought my bug with a locked up worthless motor, rotted carpet and in need of everything, but had no rust except under the battery. I spent 1100 on the bug ,1200 on the motor , and 3000 on parts. After numberous hours of labor to strip/paint and repair... I feel like it is worth a million dollars to me as I have alo of pride/blood and sweat in it, but in reality I know I wouldnt get anything near what I put into it as far as parts let alone labor. |
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wythac Samba Member
Joined: August 02, 2004 Posts: 2791
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:22 pm Post subject: |
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sonacativo, what you and most of us get out of it is driving a car that we built. Pretty common here on TheSamba but not in the world we all live in. Don't discount that accomplishment.
Letterman7, you think you threw up....just think how the guy who had to dress up in panties and fishnets to sell his car feels......... |
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madmike Samba Member
Joined: July 11, 2005 Posts: 5291 Location: Atlanta,Michigan
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:01 am Post subject: |
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I tried to get my sons GF to pose with my Laser 917 but the weather turned too cold ,In the end I sold it without her help and I don't think I broke even money wise But I sure luv putting these life size 'Model Cars" together _________________ 'Black Ice'Drag Buggy 'Turbo'
Rail Buggy 1915 turbo
76 Drag/Street bug 2180cc 'Turbo' 11:85 @113 mph"If I go any faster I'll burn up the Hamster" ,gets 28 mpg. also 10/09/22 11.90 @115 mph
"If I'm ever on Life Support,UNPLUG Me, Then Plug me back In see if that Works" |
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eaterofdog Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2010 Posts: 294 Location: Florida
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:21 am Post subject: |
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Now we have our very own version of this.
_________________
wythac wrote: |
It's not like you have to drive it to work on Monday. |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5152
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:57 am Post subject: |
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Big bruises have always worked for me.......eeek! |
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slalombuggy Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010 Posts: 9131 Location: Canada
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:07 am Post subject: |
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What a horrible way to start my day LOL, now I have those 2 images burned in my retina's THANKS
brad |
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Derek Cobb Annoying
Joined: March 11, 2004 Posts: 2565
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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This thread has me laughing HARD! I think I snorted milk outta my nostrils... |
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Letterman7 Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004 Posts: 3198 Location: Downingtown, PA
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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This thread just suddenly took a really bad turn for the worse... |
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