Built vs Bought

[Runner 68]

Buying is the easy button.
Sounds to me like you pro "Buy" guys are trying to justify your lack of ability to "Build". I mean you Steve.
I crush it at shows when the judges find out I built it myself, everything, paint, wiring, upholstery, glass, everything.
It gives a great sense of accomplishment. It's an art form.

Anybody can write a check.

 

[chargervert]

I have been selling off some of the project cars and buying cars that run and drive lately.

 

[RemCharger]

I have been selling off some of the project cars and buying cars that run and drive lately.

What do you do for plates? Need a dealer plate lol

 

[Kern Dog]

Who respects a guy at a show that can't spin a wrench? You ask about the seats or fuel gauge and the owner has to call someone else to find out what was done to his own car.
If a man has no skills but is humble and honest about it, that man at least gets some leeway.
I would rather see an imperfect car built by a guy that did most of the work himself.

 

[michigander]

So, anybody with a classic car has to have the ability to "restore" it themselves ? Please advise me when you have your car at the next show, so that I may genuflect in front of it.

They are easy to find, they usually have a for sale sign in them looking for someone to hit the easy button and write a big check. Usually have a handful of trophies in the back seat just to reassure you’re buying a car from someone who restored it themselves. That’s when you genuflect lol.

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

I just do my own thing and don't worry about what everyone else is doing.

I am not a guy that would be content with just laying out the money and trying to enjoying it.

First thing I do when I get a car is take half of it apart and change it all around. That way I don't have to worry about it seeing the light of day for several years.

However, this makes me happy to work on it and get it the way I want it. Car shows are not my thing and comparison is the thief of joy to me.

Tom

 

[sr71mopar]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore?

 

[RemCharger]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore?

No. Plastic cranks. Push- pull

 

[Kern Dog]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore?

Is this a serious question?

 

[Under Pressure]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore?

Yep, like I stole it

 

[71Beeper]

When I'm not putting gas in it, I'm driving it...

 

[Doorkicker]

For me it boils down to... It's the folks who buy one and then act like they built it. They say "I" this and "I" that when they clearly had someone else do the work, or they picked it up like that. Paying someone to rebuild your engine is not you rebuilding your engine - sorry. I was at a car show recently and guy pulled in with a restored 70 Challenger - absolutely perfect. We had a whole line of mopars from 66 to 72 lined up and he parked a couple rows over. A couple of us walked over to chat and I jokingly said - very politely with an inviting smile - "We have an extra room for all Mopars, wanna hang over there? We can take some pics all lined up." And I got an odd look. He didn't know what I meant by "Mopar". However, he would talk about the engine, tranny, rear, etc. and how he built it - which it was clear he didn't. It was kinda odd.

Look, you got money and want to buy one... dude, more power to you. And if you know what you bought, even more power to you. But don't say you built it when you didn't.

 

[Hey-O]

As far as classics, I've built more than a few and bought one. I just don't feel like building cars anymore. It takes talent, time and space, I only have one left. It's great to be able to build a car, I more than respect that and it felt great doing it. I've went through many different phases in my life. I don't do boats, lake houses, or flip homes anymore either. I'll never apologize for buying what I want. I do enjoy driving one and that will never change. I can also say, that I didn't build the refrigerator in my kitchen or take out my own gallbladder either. Those that build houses, did they all build their own homes. I didn't build my Viper or my Saleen either. Pick your poison.

 

[Texas97]

ill chime in my situation and why i "bought".

im young, compared to most here, I have two kids under 9, i own a business that employs 130 people, I coach kids sports, and run a cattle ranch on the side. I've been a cowboy for hire many times and still do for friends. i own 5 tractors, a track loader and a skid steer. you know what i don't have much of? spare time.

id rather spend my time swimming with my kids, or teaching my daughter guitar, or changing the oil with her in the old truck she'll drive first.

i don't have time to get into the minutiae of building a muscle car from the ground up. so i bought a "built" car that needed minimum work. and so far i've torn the steering column down and the dash twice.

when the kids are old enough to actually hold their own in the wrenching department, ok, we can work on projects together and I'll seek one out. but now, my Charger with TKX that i can get the family excited to jump into and go for an afternoon adventure without the care or worry of making it back home is worth every single penny.

and ill be damned if ill be judged negatively for it. i know what i can do mechanic wise but i don't feel the need to be self righteous about it.

 

[gtx6970]

Buying is the easy button.
Sounds to me like you pro "Buy" guys are trying to justify your lack of ability to "Build". I mean you Steve.
I crush it at shows when the judges find out I built it myself, everything, paint, wiring, upholstery, glass, everything.
It gives a great sense of accomplishment. It's an art form.

Anybody can write a check.

Good for you

Wow, a bit arrogant comment dont ya think

Not everyone has the ability Or even the time to build a car. Not to mention its far cheaper in the long run buy it done
I seriously doubt some one whom has the funds to buy done are of the " not to bright" mentality




I bought my current car done.
But I helped build it back in the early 2000s that count?


I wanted a car but having built A LOT over the years. At my age I had ZERO interest in buying another project / basket case car.
So i wrote a ck, and drove it home and have had a smile on my face since.

Last car I ' built' was for someone else ( 68 Charger RT ) And am currently building a truck ( 1972 Ford f100 ) for someone else with a local buddy of mine. We work on it as time allows, Usually 2 or 3 days a week , maybe 4 or 5 hrs a day.
So Yes I can BUILD them. But dont feel the need to spend all my spare time doing so

 

[Hey-O]

ill chime in my situation and why i "bought".

im young, compared to most here, I have two kids under 9, i own a business that employs 130 people, I coach kids sports, and run a cattle ranch on the side. I've been a cowboy for hire many times and still do for friends. i own 5 tractors, a track loader and a skid steer. you know what i don't have much of? spare time.

id rather spend my time swimming with my kids, or teaching my daughter guitar, or changing the oil with her in the old truck she'll drive first.

i don't have time to get into the minutia of building a muscle car from the ground up. so i bought a "built" car that needed minimum work. and so far ive torn the steering column down and the dash twice.

when the kids are old enough to actually hold their own in the wrenching department, ok, we can work on projects together and I'll seek one out. but now, my Charger with TKX that i can get the family excited to jump into and go for an afternoon adventure without the care or worry of making it back home is worth every single penny.

and ill be damned if ill be judged negatively for it. i know what i can do mechanic wise but i don't feel the need to be self righteous about it.

Well said and my point. Many here bought these cars when they were half junk and weren't worth two dead flies. How many are buying a $15,000 or $20,000 junker now to start a build that will cost a ton, few. This hobby is out of control, fun, but out of control.

 

[Hey-O]

Buying is the easy button.
Sounds to me like you pro "Buy" guys are trying to justify your lack of ability to "Build". I mean you Steve.
I crush it at shows when the judges find out I built it myself, everything, paint, wiring, upholstery, glass, everything.
It gives a great sense of accomplishment. It's an art form.

Anybody can write a check.

No, not everyone can write a check. That's why many take years to build one, a dollar at a time.

 

[dadsbee]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore?

 

[gtx6970]

Does anyone drive these cars around anymore

Bought mine Oct 2020 , and have proceeded to put approx 16,000 miles on it at last ck
But I live in an environment where i can ( and do ) drive it year round . With a grin that that cant be wiped off

And for the record Mine is a real hemi car

 

[68BabyBlue]

Well said and my point. Many here bought these cars when they were half junk and weren't worth two dead flies. How many are buying a $15,000 or $20,000 junker now to start a build that will cost a ton, few. This hobby is out of control, fun, but out of control.

This is especially on point when read in the context of another thread currently on the site, "cost of a paint job."