Money We Spend On Our Old Mopars

[55 Fargo]

Ever wonde what we spend on fixing up and old car or truck, I was was. I just estimated on the liberal side what i spent to resurrect my 1947 Chrysler Royal Coupe.

On a liberal estimate, without going through all my invoices and receipts, and not including all the hours I put in either.

I guesstimated about 6 grand,from 2005-2011, including the 300 I paid for the car.

My car still needs a headliner/windlace, some weather stripping for front window, bumpers rechromed/stainless polished, and some mechanical items.....geesh, this can be an expensive past time I probably  would have a hard time getting 6 grand for my car too..........

Edited March 17, 2013 by C38Spitfire6

[fourleaf]

I think about it every time I look at the ol girl!

[Dodgeb4ya]

Jeesh Fred, don't feel so bad. I spent over 12 grand on two car lifts just to get two more old Mopars in my garage! Eleven of them in there now. No More!!!!

[55 Fargo]

Jeesh Fred, don't feel so bad. I spent over 12 grand on two car lifts just to get two more old Mopars in my garage! Eleven of them in there now. No More!!!!

Hmmmm, over a grand each for parking, you drive those cars/trucks, much, All State must love you.....LOL

[Oldguy48]

When I first bought my P15, I kept every receipt and a running total of what I spent.  Well, after a year or two, I stopped doing that.  I decided not to fret over the expenses, and just try to focus on getting the car back on the road because I was determined to "git er' done".  So at this point, I really don't know just what I've spent on it over the years.  But whatever the amount was, it was worth it.  The grin on my face when I drive it says it all. 

[55 Fargo]

When I first bought my P15, I kept every receipt and a running total of what I spent.  Well, after a year or two, I stopped doing that.  I decided not to fret over the expenses, and just try to focus on getting the car back on the road because I was determined to "git er' done".  So at this point, I really don't know just what I've spent on it over the years.  But whatever the amount was, it was worth it.  The grin on my face when I drive it says it all. 

yup, might as well Grin, before the Wife gets a hold of you..........LOL

[1950 Special Deluxe]

I got the car for free from my father in law after his stroke. I cleaned it up and got it running for under $300. Redid the brakes for $300. Bought material to redo the interior for about $500. So just over a grand. But, like a MasterCard commercial PRICELESS. So, bought a 1952 half ton.

Edited March 17, 2013 by 1950 Special Deluxe

[Dodgeb4ya]

I don't drive all of them. Couldn't afford to with all the costs involved today. I drive four to five in the summer time. They will all be sold off hopefully in 10-15 years. I collected them back when they were reasonable to buy. The cars and trucks take a lot of time, money and constant upkeep to keep em rolling. I'm starting to burn out.

[55 Fargo]

Neil, thats a good deal, and not much coin tied up either.

I got the car for free from my father in law after his stroke. I cleaned it up and got it running for under $300. Redid the brakes for $300. Bought material to redo the interior for about $500. So just over a grand. But, like a MasterCard commercial PRICELESS. So, bought a 1952 half ton.

 

Bob, I could well imagine, even 2 or 3, could be a lot of upkeep, never mind 11. 

I don't drive all of them. Couldn't afford to with all the costs involved today. I drive four to five in the summer time. They will all be sold off hopefully in 10-15 years. I collected them back when they were reasonable to buy. The cars and trucks take a lot of time, money and constant upkeep to keep em rolling. I'm starting to burn out.

[Dodgeb4ya]

Some of my mess of cars...Don't even want to know over the years how much I have blown on the cars and tools/equipment.

[1950 Special Deluxe]

Are you looking to adopt?

[james curl]

I thought this was supposed to be a hobby.  I have never considered the cost to figure in, depending what you want/need from your hobby will determine what you have to spent to achieve it.  People need different reasons to justify their hobby, 

[BobT-47P15]

I started out keeping a record of costs.......was trying to do at least some stuff as economically (cheap) as possible.

But......like others, I finally quit keeping tabs. 

 

Went over to a fellow's house in Kansas today......took son in law Dale....

to get some bits and pieces for his coupe.  The man has two P15s in the yard.........plus two he can drive (a coupe

and a two door sedan with a V8).  He sold us a batch of small parts off one old P15 for $70 which seems like kind

of a lot.....but......if you bought those same items at ebay prices they would probably cost $300 all told.  Am always

looking for parts and pieces anywhere I go, and sometimes can get a deal......sometimes not.  But, it's always fun.

 

A couple years ago, I found a batch of old cars of all brands, including some Plymouths, halfway across the state.

Made one trip there with a friend to see the cars in person.  Saw one 53 with overdrive.........so later took Dale

and made the trip again to buy the O D.  Don't recall what the gas and buying a burger for the owners cost, but

was worth it to me.    

[40plyrod]

I never really added it up until this fall when I had to show my reciepts to the insurance agency to register my 51 chevy pickup as a modified collectors vehicle. The total came to $8500 and I did all the work myself. I was surprised and my wife was horrified, I didn't tell her that I may have missed a few. 

[Bobacuda]

My wife once told a good friend of mne (that is not a car-person), "He drinks very little, he doesn't smoke, he is not a bass fisherman, he doesn't have a deer lease or go hunting out of state, and his idea of a good vacation is staying close to home with me and the kids."  Whenever I complain about spending money on my old cars (and truck), they tell me to quit complaining and enjoy life.

[Don Jordan]

I was driving south from Reno to LA on 395. I stopped to stretch my legs and let the dog run. I saw an old field with wrecked cars and trucks. I had nothing better to do so I just went nosing around. I spotted a 48 P 15. It was in pretty bad shape but it was a dessert car so not much rust. Out of nowhere this old boy comes up and wonders what I'm doing on his property. It's funny that no matter how pissed someone is they calm right down if you talk about their car. I asked if he ever thought about selling "that old rust bucket". He said everything has a price. I was in. $500! Of course I had to drive about 275 miles home. Grab some buddies for a road trip. Get a trailer. Buy beer, food, lodging. I had some pics on film - can't find them. I didn't even count how much I spent just to get the car. $500 for the car - $500 for a rear window and 2 rear quarter windows. The engine was frozen - $1500 for a total rebuild. I didn't feel confident enough to do it myself. $20,000 to have the car stripped, sand blasted, painted. $3,000 for new interior. Can't remember what I paid for all the wiring. It's like the old saying if you have to ask the price you can't afford it. I have a friend that collects art - I don't get it. It just hangs on the wall. He's spent as much as I have and he can't drive it anywhere. I have a friend that collects guns. Same thing. I think it has already been mentioned what price do you put on the grin and giggles you get driving down the road?

[Don Jordan]

some before pics - lots of money - no regrets. Always remember "He who dies with the most toys is still dead."

[Desotodav]

I saw a comment recently that said "the cost of restoration is not in pulling a car apart - it's in putting it back together". How true that statement is for the most of us!

 

Desotodav

[Scruffy49]

I don't pay much attention to it. A couple cans of paint here, some wires there, swap this for that with someone who has parts to trade... Most of the "new" stuff going on/in it is scrounged or reused from something else. Tractor parts, cabinet shop left overs, odd bits from the barn, garage or a later model donor vehicle, tractor parts (gas cap and alternator)... Even the bed wood is left over from the 1958 floor replacement in the old plantation house.

 

Biggest cost so far was hauling it from Washington to TN when we moved back to the wife's family farm.

 

I don't want it to go back to stone stock. It wasn't stock when my grandfather (who bought it new) gave it to me so...

[frankieflathead]

Automotive therapy. Cheaper than a shrink, and a lot more fun.

Edited March 17, 2013 by frankieflathead

[chopt50wgn]

 I have a drawer full of receipts and am afraid to take them out and add them up. But everytime I open up the door to the shop, I smile when I see the wagon sitting there. I will say that I do have a wife who totally stands by what I spend on the car. She also knows that if a priority arises, which is anything that has to be done in the house, that any money earmarked for the car goes to the house. She has bought me things for the car and has done sewing for the interior for me as well. I am lucky to have a wife who likes car and who likes me to be happy.

[Plymouthy Adams]

are you having fun.......forget about it...

[DCurrent]

Some of my mess of cars...Don't even want to know over the years how much I have blown on the cars and tools/equipment.

Nice shop! Looks like I could live there.

Darren

[DCurrent]

I don't even think about what I have spent in my toys. I'd probably get sick although I can guess fairly close. Luckily I have bought what I consider to be wisely and I can do much of the work myself. Fortunately I do collision work for a living so I am capable to do the work myself, and do it fairly well saving myself more money to afford more toys. I too am about at the end of my limit. It's not about the money but the accomplishment, and besides what else would I spend my money on.

Darren 

[JIPJOBXX]

I think I've got about 7,000 in my car!  But that's over 25 years!  I know I paid 1000 dollars for the car, engine rebuild 1800 dollars, car paint job 600 and the rest is just miscellaneous stuff!  Lots of stuff!!! but 7,000 over 25 years really is not all that much.