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Has anybody ever made money selling a buggy or kit car?
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Smyrnaguy
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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wythac
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.

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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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tits are like tires, once you rip the nipples off of them, they are broke in.
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EMPIImp69
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It doesn't help either that most VW people are the cheapest people on earth Rolling Eyes ..I know thru my experiences of many years of selling many VW parts at swap meets and online.
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10ovr
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Put one of these in front of you buggy and double the price ,Seem to work for this guy,, Embarassed [img]
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[/img]
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wythac
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sick I think I just threw up in my mouth a little... yikes.....
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sonocativo
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I tried to get my sons GF to pose with my Laser 917 Cool but the weather turned too cold Evil or Very Mad ,In the end I sold it without her help Laughing and I don't think I broke even money wise Rolling Eyes But I sure luv putting these life size 'Model Cars" together Laughing Laughing Laughing Cool
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eaterofdog
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Now we have our very own version of this.

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It's not like you have to drive it to work on Monday.
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jspbtown
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PostPosted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 8:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Big bruises have always worked for me.......eeek!
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slalombuggy
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 7:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What a horrible way to start my day LOL, now I have those 2 images burned in my retina's THANKS Shocked

brad
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Derek Cobb
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 12:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This thread has me laughing HARD! I think I snorted milk outta my nostrils... Laughing
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Letterman7
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PostPosted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laughing This thread just suddenly took a really bad turn for the worse...
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