Take your pick of convertibles on eBay

I would like a shot at that 25K for chrome plating. I would bet that I can get it done in my shop for between 15 to 20 K and make a nice profit? Since I do "break even" work for Hudson Club members the cost would be less than that.

Nope. I have been associated with a group called Ogden Chrome Platting (google them for a view of some of their work) for about 50 years. When the new owner (a good friend) took it over about ten years ago I started doing more work with them. They wanted to get into "highend" chrome work so I started spending more time in their shop doing some prep work and explaining to them what was high quality and what was not. On some of the tough items, ie hub caps, pot metal, etc. I continue to do prep work and follow the part through the process inspecting and reworking some of the problems (i.e. pitting, cracking and stuff). I also visit with potential customers and explain the plating process and help them work and track their product. I am an unpaid, hands on, consultant for the most part but process around ten complete car projects each year. This also gives me the opportunity to "play" in their shop such as the work and article I recently provided on restoring hub caps. The research, process, mestakes, and final work did not cost any money so I end up getting my stuff done at little or no cost. I converted a three section stepdown bumper from a 52 into a "smoothie" for a local custom project this past week. So, no, I do not own a shop, I do not work for a shop, I have the best of both worlds in that I get to play and consult in a high end shop.