Building to Sell?

I average 3-4 complete drum brake rebuilds on 50's cars every summer. Nothing wrong with drums on a cruiser and they were standard for over 60 years. Our Auburn will lock up all 4 wheels and have good brake feel. Our 42' Cad had great brakes before I tore it down. An even setup and acrched shoes make good brakes.

We are going with Wilwoods on dads 442 because I've never thought GM single piston caliper brakes were any better than drums. Used to drive a 72' chevelle with full drums to work everyday. I put a 4wheel disc conversion and the brake pedal feel wasn't as good as the non power drums they replaced. Now I'm not saying drums are the best but I think they are better than guys give them credit.

Power can be another story though. Usually chevy's and fords of the 40's and 50's were pretty sad. You had to step up to a Buick, Lincoln, Caddy and pay for power. I've driven a lot of this stuff and cheap cars are usually pathetic. Did a bunch of work last summer on a 49' Chevy tin woody that would cruise about 50mph. I know from previous experience that a 49' Buick would easilly cruise the highway no problem. It wasn't until the 265 v8 came out that chevy started to make something worth driving. Lots of good motors replaced with 350's over the years that probably weren't any better than the engine it replaced. Good nailhead Buicks, Oldsmobile rockets, ohv cadillacs were all replaced by the street rod guys with a 350. Usually the only improvement is the transmission which is mistaken for engine power. Early auto trans weren't good for performance and made some of these cars real sluggish. Buick Dynaflow is the worst. It's the smoothest thing around but was horrible for fuel mileage and performance. Made a nice car to cruise though.

I could keep rambling, I've driven most of the big iron from the 30's through 50's. You had to pay to play back then. Back then guys hot rodded because they couldn't afford to buy a real car. I guarantee if they could have afforded an SJ Duesenberg they surely wouldn't have dinked around putting 3 carbs on a little flat head ford.
 
I am not against the newer technology. Thoroughly enjoyed driving my sister's 2016 Camaro SS while visiting last summer.
Just stating old muscle cars have a special place because of the raw experience.
 
Mid 1970's - 1984 Caddy Coupe DeVille rides like DOT still knows how to pave roads lol.
235 75 15 with 28psi rides smooooth. I'd pass or get there faster then lowered sports cars in NY.
 
@Brad J. , I put single piston calipers off a wrecked '70 El Camino to replace the front drums on my '66 F-85, along with all the necessary stuff for the conversion. For me, the difference was night and day, especially in the wet. So I guess my experience with GM brakes has been vastly different. I can stop so hard in that car now that the oil light will flicker.
 
I follow the restomod market and think the only model car you can consistently buy, restomod, and sell for a decent profit is a c1 or c2 corvette. I specifically mean, buying a project car at market price, $15-25K, buying ~$70-90K worth of aftermarket parts (new chassis, LS engine, c4/6/7 suspension), choosing appealing colors, and top notch workmanship all around, then selling at an auction like BJ. Of course you have to lay out $80k-$110k and 1500+ hours before getting paid. I'm assuming (at least in my case) you are doing everything yourself except powercoating and sewing the upholstery.

Generally, people pay the big money for the latest and greatest and STYLE. Don't think the buyer is buying a car. They are buying a trophy, status symbol, toy, ...... luxury item, etc. Many don't know the difference between their right arm and a control arm.

Barn find all original cars can make you some money too if you can find the right car and do most of the work yourself or buy the car at below market price in the first place.
 
i agree with that. some day soon the c3 may become popular enough to build. but these corvettes have to be right . one mistake in judgement can kill it. i learned long ago to build what will sell not what you would want.
i am building a 55 chevy big window truck next. it will be built just like a restomod corvette.
 
"some day soon the c3 may become popular enough to build"
wouldn't that be great as the c1/c2 project cars are getting junkier and junkier and more expensive. Loads of C3's around.
 
i plan for one more 56-57 then i am going to seriously consider a 69 coupe . your right the c1-c2's are almost to the bubble bust point. initial cost of car eats up profit. a dogged out 57 is 15k+ .
 
Interesting Crash, I've done two of those conversions and wasn't happy with either. Ebay kits though, maybe the prop valve or bore size was off. I did learn enough to go with a legit company with tech support next time.

On my 59' GMC it took two powerboosters and three mc combos before I was satisfied. Still not happy but satisfied. Next move is hydroboost as I can't get the psi needed from the swingpedal conversion when checked at the bleeder with a gauge. Chassis was a 08' 1/2 ton van with dual piston aluminum calipers all the way around. Should stop on a dime but never has had brakes worth a damn. That truck has taught me a lot about brakes. Can't just throw some calipers on something and have a desired feel. I think that is why the big name company kits are so popular. I love the 6 piston feel of the Porsche Boxster we used to own. I always strive for that feel when I doing braking.

I don't think the c3 will ever be that popular. A quick drive in one will turn most off compared to the open air feeling of the earlier models. They look pretty neat but will always play third fiddle to the others. Old cars have a feel that is hard to describe and that low door line on a c1 is hard to beat. We had a c2 it sat a little deeper and then the c3 sits deeper yet.
 
these cars are not bought to drive. they are investments . c3's are already inching up in value and popularity . if i could afford a 150k dollar car i doubt i would be out joy riding much. some of the cars i have built are 15 years old and have less than 5k miles on them.
i drove my 66 roadster to work every day and also had a 69 t-top car and drove it every day. they all ride the same and i was never going for ride or luxury any way .
 
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Just curious - c3 covers a lot of years - what years are you talking about being good for resale ? Call me crazy but I always thought the late 70’s early 80’s were cool- I’m 55- I know they were dogs but transplant LS motor Make them worth building ? Local guy with about an 80’s and an LS motor - 17’s or 18’s - kinda like it ! Simple
 
The chrome bumper cars are the most desirable.

The stuff I build gets driven quite a bit. Still some collectors out there that remember them as cars first and investment 2nd. That Delahaye I did will sit in a museum but most everything else gets driven. This 1908 Packard better be able to go on 3 day tour or I didn't do my job correctly.

Interesting to me the emphasis on modern drivetrain for a trailer queen. I wonder if in 20 years all these cars with LS engines will be looked down upon like the 350 chevy in every street rod is today.

I haven't driven a big block 4speed car in at least 5 years but I can shut my eyes and row through a big block with a rockcrusher transmission like it was yesterday. The feel and sound is in my memory. I liked my 04' GTO with ls and 6 speed but I've already forgotton that shifting sensation because it wasn't sensational. It would smoke an old muscle car but it was missing something just like my 59' GMC is.
 
the ls is the same as the 350/350 thing was. you want to sell it then it best be an ls motor with vette coil covers .
 
LS compared to a 350 now, battery powered compared to an LS in 20 10years, ugghhh.:eek:
 
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yep. pickups and restomod vettes. insane prices we have not seen for over 10 years . i have 2 big window trucks to build,
Trump money baby !
 
Wow Sunday's a cry or buy day depending on what side of trade you're on.
Watching from earlier today I say many sold cheap.
 
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