first car build woes

[stanglou]

As I am nearing the completion of my 66 mustang fastback, some scary but fun ideas are running through my head. As this car was my first build there is a lot that turned out better than I could imagine, and a lot that was dictated by what other people said would be good. Needless to say the things that were suggested by other people did not produce a car that has the specs i want. Is it sacreligious to sell my first project right when i finish it and start another. I feel that with the knowledge I gained on the first car I could do a second car in a lot less time, with a little less money. The mustang is beautiful, as many have seen, but i simply feel that i could have done better, especially now that I know so much more. Any thoughts on selling the car? Any thoughts on this being a mistake? The car has a lot of value to me as it was my first, but it simply isn't what I dreamed, It is a colaboration of mine and other people's dreams.

[Steve1968LS2]

Nope.. I sold my first real pro-touring car right after it was done.. I made a profit and with the stuff I learned about performance I know my new project will be a better performing car in the end.

[Jagarang]

Damn I soooo want a 66 fastback. I like them better than the notorious 67's! That's all my wife needs to hear is me wanting another project!

Do you have any other pics for us to drool over. The ones on your page are like teasers, they never really give you a nice full shot.

[bnickel]

i still have my first car and it has gone through many iterations over the years with many engines. i'd say personally that selling your first car would be something you'd regret, though it's not sacreligious by any means.

[zero g]

Why not keep the car and change the the things you wish you had done different?

[stanglou]

because that is more money, and I think I could get a good return on this one, and build one that I want, and will be proud of.

By the way, SteveLS1, where did you get the paint done on the 69. it looked great, and they were done in about a month and a half. How did you pull that one?

More pics, but not as good...
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stanglou351/album?.dir=8736&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stanglou351/album?.dir=64a2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stanglou351/album?.dir=ad76&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

[Nine Ball]

What would you change on the second one?

Selling cars is no big deal, I do it all the time :D

[stanglou]

I would change the motor, how I went about the bodywork (I now hate bodyshops) my part buying routine ( i spent too much money on useless stuff.) I didn't do a bad job, but I just learned so much that I think i would be happier doing another car right. There was soo much frustration induced by other people on this car that I just want to be done with it and start on another project. Another factor that made this build soo expensive is collecting all the tools.

[formula]

i can't think of a single reason, short of sentimental value, that i wouldn't sell a car that didn't meet my expectations for it at the end of a build.

it's just an object. if you think you can make a better object, why wouldnt you?

[race-rodz-inc]

i find the build is the best part of the project.... after its "done" i have a hard time keeping interest.

i always try to make the next one "bigger and better" than the last.... i find it more of a personal challenge to out do myself everytime. i also try to do things different than others in hopes of gaining a reputation for doing things out of the norm.

as for the headache of dealing with other shops, parts suppliers, etc..... thats just part of the deal. "it wouldnt be fun if it was easy.....but does it have to be this much fun?" is a question i ask myself almost daily.

[Camaro_Kyle]

That is the best thing about owning a car, you get to do what you want with it. If you think you can build something better, or something that you want, then go ahead and sell it. Chances are that the person who buys it will like it more than you. But if you do build another car, build it exactly how you want it. It is like picking a paint color, you can ask a thousand different people what color they think looks good, but in the end it is completely up to you. So I say sell it (I will buy it for $100 :yeah: ) and build your next car exactly how you want it.
Kyle

[bnickel]

if you really feel like you need to move on, then for sure sell it. mine i ust keep re-doing things and blowing engines, trannies and stuff and just make it better the next go round. of course that's just me and i'll probably never sell my car since i've had it for over 20 years now. i guess you could say it's a little bit sentimental.

[steemin]

Lou,
Great job on the car..
I don't really get that attached to a car.
I guess my issue would be the down time of not having something cool/fun to drive while you are building the next project.
I have been without a toy now for almost a year and let me tell you its no fun. I am awaiting the delivery of my car and I am going nuts not having
a hot car to drive.
Scott

[stanglou]

That is one of the problems also, I have no cool cars to drive, and I really want a cool car. If I sell it I will have money to start another project and maybe buy something nice also. The grey volvo just isn't cutting it on the cool factor. Thanks for all the input guys.

[CDJr]

Im no Mustang fan, but thats one fine machine...Great Job!
But Id sell it and start on your next build (even thought they say "you never forget your first"). Hell, you just finished it and youre already having second thoughts as far as it being what you REALLY want, so its probably never gonna be. Sell it and use the experience you gained from building it to build up one exactly like YOU want...in the end, youll be glad you did. :)

[DarkBuddha]

I concur with the folks that say sell it only if you don't have any sentimental attachment to the car. My Mach was my first car, and the only car I've kept over the last 16 years. The rest have come and gone (though I often wish I could've afforded to keep several of them), but with the Mach, I'm both sentimental and stupid or else I'd sold it and found a decent project to start with.

I also hear ya about driving a "cool car"... my wife and I have been sharing her Corolla for far too long and I've found myself longingly looking at even completely mediocre cars (i.e. 240SX or Civic Si) as being cooler than the damn Corolla.

Oh, and just curious, but do you have any pics of the g-machine coilover install on your car or the satchell rear installed? I see you've mentioned these on your site as being installed, but all the suspension pics in the albums you posted still show the standard Mustang fare in place (probably for the trip to the painter's, right?).

[stanglou]

I do not have the install pictures yet as the pieced are still being built. Im sorry If I led anyone on as to the suspension being done, but it is on the way. At the moment I have all of the major brackets and the crossmember done for the rear. The front crossmember should be easy to fab, and will be coming soon. For cost reasons I will be doing the front arms in tubular steel, but if people are interested in the billet aluminum It can be obtained as an option.

[DarkBuddha]

I do not have the install pictures yet as the pieced are still being built. Im sorry If I led anyone on as to the suspension being done, but it is on the way. At the moment I have all of the major brackets and the crossmember done for the rear. The front crossmember should be easy to fab, and will be coming soon. For cost reasons I will be doing the front arms in tubular steel, but if people are interested in the billet aluminum It can be obtained as an option.
Good to know... I'll keep an eye on your site in the future for the final products.

[Jim Nilsen]

You look young and full of doubt and enthusiasm. If I knew then what I know now the mistakes I wouldn't have made. This is where you sound like you are at right now. Finding your own way is what Chip Foose did when he left Boyd's. It is a long road for all of us and if you hang on to your car you will feel this way and always be reminded of your mistakes. Move on but don't forget because those who forget the past are condemned to repeat them.

I have a saying at work : It's enough to make a groaning maintenance man cry. Move on to what is better and don't go back to something you and everyone else will have to hear the complaining about. Life is too short and you look very young.

I wish you all the luck selling it and the car looks great to me for what it sounds like you had for experience to do it. The best words I ever heard were from a good bodyman that said: When I first saw that car I wouldn't have junked it for you but now it is something I wouldn't feel bad about driving. Someone with the right funds will be happy and you should be too!!

Just don't sell it to someone that tries to beat it down to get a low price. People like that won't enjoy it and don't deserve it. It really is a nice car and deserves an appreciative owner.Remember it is your car and you can sell it to whoever you want to.

Jim Nilsen

[stanglou]

Jim, that is great advice, and I thank you. I obviously wouldn't be in a hurry to sell it, and I probably wouldn't have thought about a person who haggles, but it makes sense what you said. Also, I am young, and I am so greatful for all the things I learned on this first build. Not only is it a great sense of pride, But it will soon be turning into a business hopefully. If I could make someone happy with a car I built over and over that would be a great life...we shall see where the suspension stuff takes me, and go from there.
Thanks for all the input

[stanglou]

new question, how do I go about selling the car, and finding how much it is worth. That seems hard to me because The car is soooo far from stock.

[Jim Nilsen]

The car show season is still in full bloom and the people paying a lot for cars are still out there. Don't put a price on it and just put a for sale sign on it ot better yet just wait for somebody to come up and ask if you want to sell it without any sign. People who buy cars with no for sale sign on them will either pay you more than its worth or try to get it for nothing , hardly any in between if they want it. Ask them what they would offer and since it isn't for sale directly you can safley get a value on it.

Once you get insulted and flattered you will get the idea of the game and what people see in your car. You will also get to hear comments that will help you know yourself what it is worth to you. It is something that is the hardest thing to do,putting a price on something that you wish was better or you would keep it.

Since your not in a hurry you have the trump card to play in the deal.

I would add up your cost and add what you think you would need to make the changes to make it right on the next one and if you feel the price is too high ,accept it and throw in the labor but go no less. You put a lot of hard work into the car and you deserve to at least get another car you like even if you have to build it.

A new Mustang price would be a good place to start since the craze is going on in the retro minds of the Mustang buyers right now. Buying an old one will be just what the guy trying to outdo the friend that just bought a new one. If the performance is as good or better than a new one you will have a lock on at least the price of a new one.

Goodluck and I hope this helps, since I didn't give an exact price. It is really up to what someone will pay and what you will accept.

Sentimental value equates to dollarmental value when someone is mad at their money enough to buy a car they don't really need.

Jim Nilsen

[wantahertzdonut]

I would change the motor, how I went about the bodywork (I now hate bodyshops) my part buying routine ( i spent too much money on useless stuff.) I didn't do a bad job, but I just learned so much that I think i would be happier doing another car right. There was soo much frustration induced by other people on this car that I just want to be done with it and start on another project. Another factor that made this build soo expensive is collecting all the tools.

In regards to your motor, you'd have no problems selling off a 351C. The guys that like those things fight for them (for whatever reason). I'm sure you can sell that probably for more than what you have in it, and then go ahead and build a nice 331 stroker or even a 351W if you like. Worst case is you can make a VERY strong 302 and have a lot of money left over.

However if you think you'll be happier doing another project, you'll get more than enough money from the sale of this one to fun another project and then some. Everyone likes 65/66 fastbacks. In the meantime drive it and enjoy it, and most of all see what you like and dislike about the car on the road. Perhaps you'll find you'll want to keep some of the things you may not like right now and have a little more appreciation of your work. The results look outstanding.

[stanglou]

I did try selling the motor, but didn't have anyone that was interested, maybe I will have to try the pamona swap meet, there is a lot of cash floating around there