Esoteric $64,000 Question
Jim Kilday
Expert Adviser
Assuming you were going to restore that Hornet Special currently on E-Bay and assuming no rust issues and no work to the drive train and that you did none of the work yourself but farmed it all out then--
What would be your best SWAG number to fund the restoration of this car striving to reach a Condition 1 level.
Just curious.
Jim Kilday
What would be your best SWAG number to fund the restoration of this car striving to reach a Condition 1 level.
Just curious.
Jim Kilday
0
Comments
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Hard to say . . . depends on whether you have colleagues to help, or low end shops desperate for work, or high end shops, etc. Conservative figure would be 50K. So many variables, though . . .0
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I concur with Russell, at tleast $50 grand unless you can find a starving restorer who will do it for less. But make sure you check out his work before signing anything!
You may be able to handle the restoration yourself, as your own "general contractor", by first farming it out to a body shop, then sending out the chrome, engine, upholstery, etc. but that takes a lot of knowlege and research (to be sure you're getting a good price and quality work). However, a lot of Hudson owners have done just that, and saved money.0 -
Definately cheaper to buy one already done... if you can find one.0
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Tell you what, most restorers that are any good charge a by-the-hour charge to do the work. We have a local shop that charges $45 an hour, and another that charges $200 an hour. There-in is your major cost factor. Paint and supplies are most often less than 2k. Tires 1k, interior 2k to 3k depending on material, misc. 3k, engine and drive train if you rebuild it all 4k and you are about there (13k plus labor). If you work with the $45 per hour shop you should be able to do it under 15k if you go with the $200 shop I have seen his work come in at half a mil.
OK, I most likely forgot something else besides chrome. I just picked up today a 52 coupe chrome package and the price was $3k. That should not impact lowend cost that much. Sorry..... lack of good chrome and it could never make #1.....
Now, number 1 condition is a wide spread and is totally based on labor--most high end shops will call it quality. You can hit a 90 point car (900 points on some systems) for under 6k in labor, and you can figure 1k for every point above that (there in you can reach your half million). Just a thought, if you get a shop to give you a price to do the job, most likely they are to high or they are going to loose their shirt (unexpected problems.) Most shops that charge a flat rate for labor will work with you to meet some sort of budget target. my humble opinion and experience from doing more than 30 cars...0 -
Browniepetersen wrote:
Hum, will this car get any chrome? That can be very salty.Tell you what, most restorers that are any good charge a by-the-hour charge to do the work. We have a local shop that charges $45 an hour, and another that charges $200 an hour. There-in is your major cost factor. Paint and supplies are most often less than 2k. Tires 1k, interior 2k to 3k depending on material, misc. 3k, engine and drive train if you rebuild it all 4k and you are about there (13k plus labor). If you work with the $45 per hour shop you should be able to do it under 15k if you go with the $200 shop I have seen his work come in at half a mil.
Now, number 1 condition is a wide spread and is totally based on labor--most high end shops will call it quality. You can hit a 90 point car (900 points on some systems) for under 6k in labor, and you can figure 1k for every point above that (there in you can reach your half million). Just a thought, if you get a shop to give you a price to do the job, most likely they are to high or they are going to loose their shirt (unexpected problems.) Most shops that charge a flat rate for labor will work with you to meet some sort of budget target. my humble opinion and experience from doing more than 30 cars...0 -
frank spring wrote:Hum, will this car get any chrome? That can be very salty.
My thoughts exactly!0 -
Not likely you can make a #1 car without driveline and engine work. Even a #2 would be tough. Since, for example, wiring,paint,firewall, chassis and rubber detailing is never as good as when you remove all components restore then reassemble with original( or nos) parts. In all likelyhood, you can get a nice #2, enough for a AACA Senior, but not a Grand National ie, #1. Old rule that I was once told, if a car( hudson type) costs 50,000 to make #2, it will cost 75%-100% more to make a #1.A friend finished a Kaiser Vagabond,#1, best 50s restoration AACA in 2008 He put in all labor himself. This is a flawless car.His cost in a low @45 an hour part of the country( not LA or NYC) for paint, interior etc. was $33000, just sold it for a small bit above that. Another thing is what an insurance will give if some clown runs a light. Do it for fun or weigh the difference between your time ie if you can earn more income farming it out or what you save doing it yourself. Been there.0
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To date (1.7 yrs.), I've got about $14000 into my '54 Hornet coupe restoration, including cost of car. I've done all the work myself except for (1) rebuild/restoration of rear axle assembly, including pruschase of NOS Dana 3.91 gears; (2) sandblasting, and (3) purchase and install of headliner/visor/windlace. Costs ahead include block rebuild, trans adapter, seat restoration, final bodywork/paint, some misc. I'm aiming for a nice (#2) driver.0
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I dont know about you guys but I have been costing up the upolstery for the coupe and it seems that we are alot more expensive down here when it comes to that, I have been to about 8 guys and getting the costs, I have done 95% of all the timber work and formed all of the required flat panels and the best I can get (by someone reputable) to do it all supplying the leather (5 pellets) is $9500-00 nz 0r $6700 US the most I got estimated was $15000 nz
Mike0 -
Even though the ebay special is proabably a decent "survivor", I would treat it as a number 4 and do the same with the 4 level car I purchased, everything off, down to bare steel, start from scratch. So, to me, regardless of the purchase price, the restoration would be the same in terms of cost. As stated already, it largely depends on how much gets outsourced.0
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