Thougts About Pro Touring

[AintQik]

Forgive me if this is a bad place to ask this, but it seems reasonably feasible. So, I'm writing a paper for my Masters, just a small project no biggie, and it involves PT. I'm studying business strategy and specifically a local shop that has outstanding work but are pretty old school in mentality. They do work for me all the time and I pretty much have to beg them, draw pictures, explain what this PT thing is and why I want to mini tub a perfectly good car and put 11" wide wheels on it. Everything comes out amazing, its just not a thing they embrace.

So, work with me here, my swot analysis (strengths, weakness, opportunity, threats) has determined their big opportunity is to get involved with technology, take off the overalls and push into the PT market. Don't worry about if you think its a good idea or anything, this is strictly theorhetical. I should probably spell that right but... lol

What I'd like some reference on, is even in tough times, gearheads still spend money on cars. What the plan is, is to say that we as a group will cut back in other areas to try and still maintain our hobby almost until we break the bank. Well, maybe not so drastic. So the paper would go something like, even in tough times, the Pro-Touring market is strong with many hobbyists finding ways to continue to support thier passon. So and so form Pro touring.com had this to say....

Or xx amount of PT members responded that they have found ways to continue to support thier hobby by cutting back at home.

Or, so and so who runs a shop in FL said if anything business has picked up during the economic tensions, it seems no matter what boys still love their cars.

If you all would like to provide some thoughts I can use I would appreciate it. I've got internet reference, but I think adding some thoughts from fellow PTers here would be a cool touch and my teacher is very open to new kinds of papers. I mean it gets so boring listening to stuff about Google, and Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Again, I realize times are tough and this is strictly for fun so nobody is going to start a business and say you told them it would work. Its mainly about developing a strategy to keep up with new things and I'm looking at an ole skool shop that might benefit from looking at new tech stuff. I've actually got a pretty good paper already, but thought some cool words form you guys would be a nice touch.

[sik68]

Great topic.

Even when money is tight, I can still blow big bucks on my car with a clear conscience, because it is money in exchange for happiness. This is not to sound superficial, but therapeutic, rather. When money is tight for me, it means I've been spending money on stuff that I HAVE to spend money on, which is no fun. Spending money on my car instead, is a bit of vindication, proving to myself that I am not tied down to working for "the system." For me, the hobby is something I love to do so much, that it is my therapy. When the rest of my life is in the gutter, I still know I can turn to my car and either wrench on it or drive it, and all is right with the world.

As far as conserving money...I don't spend money unless I have it (no car-derived debt). Sometimes I must wait a really long time to make the purchase I want, but it eventually happens. During those weeks/months of waiting to buy, I feed my car cravings by doing research on automotive products, theories, designs, etc. With as many expensive things there are to do to your car, with the advent of the internet, there's all sorts of free car knowledge to be had as well.

So this theoretical car shop that is "old school" should come up to speed on all this internet hoopla, because many people like me spend lots of time becoming informed before making decisions/purchases. They need to understand that modern clientele move at the pace of the internet now...aka fast.

[Rod]

umm, seams that the little shop your talking about has seen the same thing I have, there are many shops looking for the quick turn around, insurance, smash and putty's or pep boy repairs, a little shop down the street decided not to do those things and do real, builds about 4 years ago, and his business (in his words tripled) in fact he had to build a larger building a block away and was booked months out, in 2008 I went into partnership with him, in 2009 we started an online performance parts retailer, and that has done well, in November 2009, we signed a lease on a second building now 8000 ft building for a new body shop and a brick and mortar for that little parts shop, we installed a spray booth, and opened December 31st and quickly booked up January and February, so now we have a hot rod shop, paint shop, and a performance parts retail, 2 huge buildings and 6 employees, and it started out by just building quality performance cars, and giving the "new technology" as you said a run, car guys spend money still, its just spent wisely, there building smart performance cars that can be driven, it way to impracticable to house your 75,000 dollar car in your 750.000 house and drive it once every couple months, when your average PT car can take you to work a few times a week, driven to the car show(not trailered that's another expense), or raced around a auto cross track for the day and then driven home, PT cars just make sense, safety, survivability, driveablity, performance, versatile, all with a classic look

[AintQik]

Thanks. Good stuff.

[obengston]

What they said. The wait is worth the product or outcome your looking for.

[lnirenberg]

In my experience, tough times separates the wheat from the chaff and I'm not sure it matters what aspect of the business you focus on. There is a shop near my office that helped restore my '60 Chrysler 300F to a mostly stock condition. They specialize in concours level restorations but also build old school hotrods--no PTs or EFI etc. This isn't because they can't its because they can barely keep up with all the work they have even in this s*** economy, they are that good. A Corvette shop in the area will do modified or stock restorations can handle carbs or EFI modern suspensions etc, including a C2 PT custom build that was a finalist for the Ridler a few years ago. They have a back log of work of at least 2 years. The common thread--successful auto shops take pride in their work, they develop a loyal following beyond their immediate geographical area and build to very high quality.