Author Topic: 70 Cuda U Code: catch and release (Read 56415 times)

edl · « **Reply #135 on:** November 22, 2010 - 04:28:17 PM »

da da dada dada da da

edl · « **Reply #136 on:** November 22, 2010 - 05:32:09 PM »

so a thread a few below this one in the same subforum had this interesting exchanged:

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Re: My 71 Cuda project
� Reply #12 on: September 08, 2010 - 02:56:26 PM �QuoteOK I agree with you all here and have decided to keep it.Most feel it isn't worth the $15000 I was gonna ask for it,I had it for sale here on my front lawn this past weekend and was looked at like I was some kind of nut,which maybe true?I have done a ton of work and have around $25000 tied up in this car with no labor.So a piece of advice to anyone that is looking at buying one?save your cash and buy a done one.Thanks DougReport to moderator Logged .71cudajoe
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I knew that building my own Cuda would end up costing more than if I just went out and bought one, but I had no idea it would get as out-of-hand as it has for me. It's my own fault. There were numerous surprises along the way, but much of it was me deciding to replace/refurbish other pieces and parts "while I had the car apart". In the end, there was nothing left untouched and it got super expensive. Now that my car is just about done, it's obviously too late -- and it is what it is. I'm just going to enjoy the car and try to forget how much I have wrapped up in it. I'll never be able to sell it for as much as I have in it, but hopefully the enjoyment I'll get out of it will compensate.

There's something to say for the experience I've gained and everything I've learned, but I've got to say that if I'd have known how much this project was all going to cost in the end, I would've just bought a Cuda already done and been driving it for the past couple years. Report to moderator Logged David - '71 HEMI Cuda Retro-mod
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Re: My 71 Cuda project
� Reply #14 on: September 27, 2010 - 06:07:47 AM �QuoteQuote from: 71cudajoe on September 08, 2010 - 05:06:40 PM There were numerous surprises along the way.... I'll never be able to sell it for as much as I have in it, but hopefully the enjoyment I'll get out of it will compensate.

There's something to say for the experience I've gained and everything I've learned, but I've got to say that if I'd have known how much this project was all going to cost in the end, I would've just bought a Cuda already done and been driving it for the past couple years.

Cars are investments, but the investments can go awry easily. I think when you are building a car, the investment does not always equal the return on the car once you try to sell. Hopefully it is the experience of ownership, and the pride of building the car that make it worthwhile.
Doug, your Cuda is awesome BTW, and I would think that you offered a fair price for it.

It also does not help that the market crash has certainly killed collector car prices

I dare you to build a good running Mopar for under 10K. it's nearly impossible when you start with a pile of parts. Lord knows, I've tried.

Dan

Challenger6pak · « **Reply #137 on:** November 22, 2010 - 06:05:49 PM »

There are many factors involved with the cost of restoring your Cuda. One main one is how good is the car you are starting with. Your car looks to be a good one as far as condition. You may decide to not do a full restoration the first time. You can do your car like one of these.
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=71257.0
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=70950.0
Don't panic. Just figure out what route suits you the best and then do the car. Starting the project and then selling seems to be when you will lose the most money.

Cuda Cody · « **Reply #138 on:** November 22, 2010 - 06:12:19 PM »

If you thought you were making an investment, I would have you consider selling it. These cars are not a good investment. That said, some make money but they are the exception and they often times have learned the hard way. There are SOOOOOOOO many better investments than cars. So many other investments I don't even want to try listing them, but NONE of them will give you the feelings you get by restoring a vehicle from a pile of parts to a show car. That is a ROI that will never show up on paper.

You have a good concept of the costs associated a restoration and you've had a taste of the feelings that come with owning a rare Mopar.

Challenger6pak · « **Reply #139 on:** November 22, 2010 - 07:56:23 PM »

I agree with you Cody. I think the investment days are over. My cars could be considered an investment only for the reason that I have had them for around 30 years. When is the last time you saw anyone buy a rust free running 70 6 pack Cuda for $6,000? Add in inflation, upkeep, and storage and I will still be lucky to break even. Today, restoration and ownership has become a labor of love. When Jay Leno talks about his Duesenburgs, he considers himself the care taker for the car. The future for the car depends on how he has taken care of it for the next care taker. We are doing the same thing for our Mopars.

Cuda Cody · « **Reply #140 on:** November 22, 2010 - 08:50:52 PM »

Very well said.

Quote from: Challenger6pak on November 22, 2010 - 07:56:23 PM

I agree with you Cody. I think the investment days are over. My cars could be considered an investment only for the reason that I have had them for around 30 years. When is the last time you saw anyone buy a rust free running 70 6 pack Cuda for $6,000? Add in inflation, upkeep, and storage and I will still be lucky to break even. Today, restoration and ownership has become a labor of love. When Jay Leno talks about his Duesenburgs, he considers himself the care taker for the car. The future for the car depends on how he has taken care of it for the next care taker. We are doing the same thing for our Mopars.

528 Hemi Cuda · « **Reply #141 on:** November 23, 2010 - 01:47:35 AM »

Edl,
I think you did good with the purchase of your Cuda. Last year we bought what we thought was a 1971 340 Black on Black 4 speed Cuda. We paid more for it then you paid for your car. The only reason we paid a lot for it was because it was a very rare Cuda. We found out from Barry after we bought it that the guy we bought it from had a fake fender tag made for the car. Of course we were very upset because we felt like we were duped. Since we had so much in the intial price of the car we decided to go ahead and cut our losses and sell it but we kept the fake fender tag. In fact the Sheriff in South Carolina is investigating this for us. The seller owes us about $13,000. If we could have bought it for a cheaper price we would have kept it and my husband would have restored it. With your Cuda you have a ton of parts that you can refurbish which will save you a lot of money. The Cuda we bought was mostly a shell and did not have very many parts with it.
I think the best thing you can do is get your family involved especially your kids. Make it fun for your kids to help you on the project. Like everyone has said ask us all the questions you want. Where are you located? If you are close to some of the members maybe you can get together with them. If you are close to us we would be happy to help in any way we can. Do not sell unless you have too. Look forward to reading more post from you.
Pink Ice

edl · « **Reply #142 on:** November 23, 2010 - 11:44:58 AM »

all - thanks for the encouragement - as Cody says, the ups and downs are part of owning an old, worthy car

pink ice you are on to something big with the kids - and i would take it a step further and include my wife - if i could vest them in the project i think it would add a lot of non-cash return on investment - and oddly enough, i suggested to my wife last night that she help me with the project - believe it or not, she said yes!! - goes to show, you'll never know until you ask

don't know where it will all go - but for today, rocky makes it to another round

528 Hemi Cuda · « **Reply #143 on:** November 24, 2010 - 02:27:48 AM »

Edl,
That is wonderful news that your wife will be involved. When the whole family is involved there is less reason for people to feel left out and think you love your car more than you love them. My husband and I always do things together with the cars.
I can not build the cars so I run for parts and find the parts that are needed for the cars. I love the cars just as much as he does. In fact a lot of the time I will tell him to get another project going. I know how good it makes him feel taking a car that people would run away from and making it a work of art. Watching my husband build Blofish I remember him saying that car was fighting him every step of the way. But, when you see the car now it is awe inspiring and worth every minute that it took him to build it.
Like I said before ask questions and do not give up. Sometimes it helps to talk to people that have been in your shoes. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Pink Ice

Tonefiend · « **Reply #144 on:** November 24, 2010 - 04:40:02 AM »

I am thinking of taking some body shop classes at a local community college . You might want to think of doing the same. Seems like it would be a heck of a lot of fun while getting some help and pro advice on fixing your ride for the cost of parts, supplies and the cost of a few units of edumacation.

edl · « **Reply #145 on:** November 24, 2010 - 12:30:21 PM »

Quote from: 528 Hemi Cuda on November 24, 2010 - 02:27:48 AM

Edl,
That is wonderful news that your wife will be involved. When the whole family is involved there is less reason for people to feel left out and think you love your car more than you love them. My husband and I always do things together with the cars.
I can not build the cars so I run for parts and find the parts that are needed for the cars. I love the cars just as much as he does. In fact a lot of the time I will tell him to get another project going. I know how good it makes him feel taking a car that people would run away from and making it a work of art. Watching my husband build Blofish I remember him saying that car was fighting him every step of the way. But, when you see the car now it is awe inspiring and worth every minute that it took him to build it.
Like I said before ask questions and do not give up. Sometimes it helps to talk to people that have been in your shoes. Happy Thanksgiving!!!!
Pink Ice

every guy's second biggest fantasy must be to hear those words - "my wife pushed me to get another project" - [:hat off and bowing:]

i can only pray that my experience with my wife turns out the way yours did with your husband

and, you hit the nail on the head about a wife or children feeling a husband/father loves their car more than they - don't know if i am the only one that has heard this before: "if you love that car so much why don't you sleep with it!"

so vesting them in the project seems like a win/win!

one last question: if your wife works on a project with you, will she no longer say she is entitled to a piece of jewlrey every time you buy a part for the car?

edl · « **Reply #146 on:** November 24, 2010 - 12:38:24 PM »

Quote from: tonefiend on November 24, 2010 - 04:40:02 AM

I am thinking of taking some body shop classes at a local community college . You might want to think of doing the same. Seems like it would be a heck of a lot of fun while getting some help and pro advice on fixing your ride for the cost of parts, supplies and the cost of a few units of edumacation.

that is a great idea! - also, with all the budget cuts, school shops are selling really good equipment for car restoration work - keep your eye out - and great looking car! - can't see a blemish on it!

Challenger6pak · « **Reply #147 on:** November 24, 2010 - 11:41:25 PM »

Quote from: edl on November 24, 2010 - 12:30:21 PM

one last question: if your wife works on a project with you, will she no longer say she is entitled to a piece of jewlrey every time you buy a part for the car?

Seriously, you do need to worry about your wife and her concerns when you are undertaking a project like this. From a wife's point a view this may be a large part of the family finances for 'your car'. You can't screw up anything on your first restoration with her. After the first one goes well, she will be less apprehensive about any others that you do. Some wives get more nervous than others. In the past I restored a car and bought another project car. I then sold the restored car and give my wife money to redo the bathroom, kitchen, whatever. I would take what money was left and start on the next restoration. I have seen many project cars go up for sale because it caused financial arguments in the home. Do whatever works for your family. My Dad always says 'If Mama ain't happy; no ones happy'.

528 Hemi Cuda · « **Reply #148 on:** November 25, 2010 - 01:33:17 AM »

Edl,
I was telling my husband about this thread. He said to tell you when you get your car done to make sure and take your whole family for a ride. We take our cars to car shows and have a blast. You can make it fun for the whole family. A lot of the big shows will have areas for the women. They will have sections set aside that have booths just for the women. If you get a chance got to some of the ISCA (World of Wheels) Car Shows. They are a lot of fun. We traveled the ISCA Show circuit years ago and had a blast and met a lot of great people at the shows. ISCA is having their first show this weekend in Houston during Thanksgiving weekend. In fact it opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. The ISCA has shows all over the Nation. We would go Antique Shopping and go to some of the Casinos and then go back to the Show. If you are showing you have to take a break now and then and do something else. Any car is welcome to the shows.
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Pink Ice

Tonefiend · « **Reply #149 on:** November 25, 2010 - 06:26:22 AM »

Quote from: edl on November 24, 2010 - 12:38:24 PM

that is a great idea! - also, with all the budget cuts, school shops are selling really good equipment for car restoration work - keep your eye out - and great looking car! - can't see a blemish on it!

Thanks! I paint guitars by trade, so I am a little picky. I call it a 10 footer and it would never win a car show but most folks think it's pretty nice. It needs a little rust repair on the firewall, and there is some surface rust in the trunk due to a leaking rear window, which probably has some rust as well. There are also a few flaws in the paint besides it being the wrong color.

Author Topic: 70 Cuda U Code: catch and release (Read 56415 times)

edl

Re: What's it worth?

edl

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Challenger6pak

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Cuda Cody

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Challenger6pak

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Cuda Cody

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528 Hemi Cuda

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edl

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528 Hemi Cuda

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Tonefiend

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edl

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edl

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Challenger6pak

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528 Hemi Cuda

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Tonefiend

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