Why restoring/modifying cars seldom pays

[chevy2]

During the 90s my full time business was building chassis, roll cages and engine swaps etc on hotrod/racecars,

Great to be paid to be doing what i enjoyed, and although i earnt a wage all of that time i never became rich,
the major hurdle throughout that was often the case was the simple fact that it was my "job" and their "hobby",
unfortunately the meeting of the two was often difficult,

Every aspect of that part caused problems,
Be it from dropping off and collecting cars on agreed dates, delays on customers providing parts or incorrectly,
And the old favourite of can i pay you later,
I always sorted that part one way or another...

 

[Onoff]

And the old favourite of can i pay you later,
I always sorted that part one way or another...

.....and there was that day in 1980 when the 18 year old Vicki Butler-Henderson couldn't pay!

 

[ajlelectronics]

I bet she could ;-)

 

[wookie]

I bet she could ;-)

She doesn't do a thing for me, always found her annoying, I'd rather have the cheque....

 

[Wedg1e]

Pretty sure that's wrong.

I said I read it, I didn't say it was true I do know it was before the internet though, so people were printing ballcocks even back then

 

[Onoff]

Found this that's worth a read ref the Professionals cars:

http://www.mark-1.co.uk/Professionals/profcars.htm

In it they mention VHK 495S, the re-shelled 3.0S that just went for the £55K. More on that here:

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...pri-hit-Professional-sells-record-55-000.html

 

[ms08]

 

[GW8IZR]

My saab 99 turbo saved my life.. while upside down it took out 55 yards of motorway crash barrier, one piece of barrier came through the windscreen and took the passenger seat out through the back window. Dropped down a 50 foot embankment onto a golf course. Opened drivers door, took seast belt off, got out and thought ... oh!

not a scratch on me.

 

[Swift&Bold]

Anyway........most people (me included) do it for the love not the money.

 

[Henrik]

I really like that 9000

Here's a picture of my old one

Wish I could have another one, tbh, but the Mrs didn't like it

 

[zx9]

I really like that 9000

Here's a picture of my old one

Wish I could have another one, tbh, but the Mrs didn't like it

I saw an imaculate black Saab 900 on the back of a Bickers transporter been filmed driving down Peckham rye on my way home yesterday.

 

[Henrik]

Yeah they're lively as well. My first car was a white Saab 900. Always had a bit of a soft spot for them since

 

[Swift&Bold]

Good 2.3fpt 9000's are very hard to come by now. Saabs will become a worthwhile investment when the market wakes up and realises that paying £50k for a badly made 1970's Ford Escort is suffering from 'Emperors new clothes' syndrome.

 

[marlinspike]

The 9000 is a hugely undervalued car. We had a white one until an old guy in a Micra crashed into it whilst it was parked outside and wrote it off. Even classic 900's can still be had quite cheaply. Only the 99 turbo seems to have become expensive.

I doubt they will ever be as popular as old Fords or Minis though as Saab were always a niche market even when new. I think people want to buy the car they either owned when they were young, or the car they aspired to own. In most cases that won't be a Saab. If you fancy something different though they are great cars.

 

[ronan]

Good 2.3fpt 9000's are very hard to come by now. Saabs will become a worthwhile investment when the market wakes up and realises that paying £50k for a badly made 1970's Ford Escort is suffering from 'Emperors new clothes' syndrome.

I think that emperors new clothes syndrome is alive and well. I am more into old bikes and was away from them for a while, but buying the magazines and looking at dealers websites recently and i cannot get over the prices that are being sought for old clunkers. The worlds gone mad.

 

[marlinspike]

Mark 2 escorts were nothing special when new; why people are willing to pay £££'s for a bog standard one or an estate now is beyond me. Just nostalgia I guess.

It's my birthday today and one of my presents was a car mag from October 1980. Here are some dealer prices:

S reg Ferrari 308 gts, £11k
R reg Ferrari 308 gt4, £8k
78 TR7, £2,400
1973 Porsche 911, £5k
1965 Ford Mustang, £1500

Lots of £8-10k Ferraris, though I suppose that was a lot of money in 1980.

 

[Henrik]

I think that emperors new clothes syndrome is alive and well. I am more into old bikes and was away from them for a while, but buying the magazines and looking at dealers websites recently and i cannot get over the prices that are being sought for old clunkers. The worlds gone mad.

Lots of money seeking returns literally anywhere... If interest rates rise, the bubble will pop IMO.

 

[ms08]

The 9000 is a hugely undervalued car. We had a white one until an old guy in a Micra crashed into it whilst it was parked outside and wrote it off. Even classic 900's can still be had quite cheaply. Only the 99 turbo seems to have become expensive.

I doubt they will ever be as popular as old Fords or Minis though as Saab were always a niche market even when new. I think people want to buy the car they either owned when they were young, or the car they aspired to own. In most cases that won't be a Saab. If you fancy something different though they are great cars.

Strange you should say that.....http://www.uksaabs.co.uk/UKS/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=172627.

 

[ms08]

Henrik. I still have you old FM57 gearbox you sold me a few years back. Picked it up in the same 9000. Aero ....running stage 3 on it at present. MOT booked for next Wednesday.

 

[hareng]

Watched another Wheeler Dealers repeat last week that had a bronze mark 1 L reg Escort in it for tarting up bought sub £4k sold £6k.
First few mins here

1980 Ford sold off the RS2000 Custom for £4500 a mate had one due to release of XR3. Now look at the prices as much as £30k for an unused minter.
Then you would have to be a manager on a good whack to earn £4/hr Midlands. Average earnings 79 was around £89 a week when a Capri 2 S was £4500, TR7 nearer the £4k.

Knew should have bought an offered Cooper S in 82 £300 garaged for years. Only other mistake was not buying a Lotus Elan S4 Sprint around 88 at stupid money sub £2k but no where to work on it then.