Up, Up and Away

[dnevin]

Just my opinion and not worth much, but I'd think you'd be in over your head (financially, not ability-wise) on even a c/k tub. What would it take to get a typical west coast c/k that only needs some minor patching and cleanup? You'd have the original purchase price--or core price, cost of materials to patch (more if you brought pre-formed panels if you couldn't form your own) and then whatever you'd have to pay to the body shop. What is a c/k worth when complete? A really nice 53 will bring, what, say 25K? If you were rebuilding one would you spend $10k on a body shell? Then there's storage, advertising expenses, arranging for shipping, etc.

It'd be a noble venture but I'd be afraid that you'd have difficulty making a living doing so.

When I first moved here from the midwest, I had the idea (that probably every car guy did who made the same move) that I could buy project cars out here, do nothing to them but load them up on a trailer (multiple car of course) and haul them back east to sell. After a particularly rough day at work, I sat down and did the math. Even if I could sell everyone at a certain % of profit (based on what I was finding things for sale on craigslist, etc., then comparing them to what things sold on ebay, book values, etc.) it would end up being so slim that not selling one car from a trip would put me into the red. And this was when gas was under $2 a gallon. Incidentals would kill as well.

[hausdok]

Mike, I like your idea. But honestly, I think if you want to make a go of it, your real opportunity is doing Big Three tubs. Much larger customer base and more profitable. Remember, Studebaker owners are the only ones I've known that brag about being cheapskates (CASO)<GG>

If you were to just do Studebakers because that's where your passion is, that's great; nothing wrong with that at all. But strictly from a business standpoint, I bet it would be a tough way to make any consistent money.

Yeah,

I certainly see your point; a lot more big 3 hulks out there to find, too.

[Bob Andrews]

Mike, I like your idea. But honestly, I think if you want to make a go of it, your real opportunity is doing Big Three tubs. Much larger customer base and more profitable. Remember, Studebaker owners are the only ones I've known that brag about being cheapskates (CASO)<GG>

If you were to just do Studebakers because that's where your passion is, that's great; nothing wrong with that at all. But strictly from a business standpoint, I bet it would be a tough way to make any consistent money.

[hausdok]

I get what you are saying. And maybe down the line, my answer would be a yes to that. Would you take tub requests?

If you get this going, I would love to drop by your shop as you are only about 20 min away from me.

Well, I think if I were to do it I'd probably find and buy several of each popular model, strip them down, cut out all of the rot, weld them up, work out any heavy dents, fill with lead where needed, do the rough finish and then work a deal with a local body shop to turn them over to them to do the final fine finish shell work, primer them and then lightly paint them with a flash coat to seal them. Once I had several of each all set to go, I'd start selling them and would take in old tubs as cores.

The other parts taken off I'd either sell outright or blast, paint and rebuild before selling. It seems like if there'd be a market for body tubs that are ready to go, there might also be a market for completely rebuilt and rolling chassis.

Or maybe not.

[cultural infidel]

I've got a "pile" of sheet metal here. No C-K stuff, but all of some worth to someone looking for various pieces. A fair amount of mechanical stuff too - again, nothing that would generate BIG bucks, but Stude parts nonetheless. Like BP, I'm trying to pare down for reasons of age and agility. Some of my sheet metal is primo, some of it needs minor work ("minor" as opposed to rust belt metal).
So - besides listing it on the Swap Page - what do I do to get it gone??? Gone while getting something for the prepping, packing and shipping of it - never mind any recompense for saving it from a lesser fate all these years.

besides listing it on the Swap Meet Page... why not take a few pictures and post them up asking if anyone sees something they need? I know that you have quite a bit stockpiled, but it may help some get an idea of what you may have that you are willing to part ways with. Just my $0.02

[Roscomacaw]

I've got a "pile" of sheet metal here. No C-K stuff, but all of some worth to someone looking for various pieces. A fair amount of mechanical stuff too - again, nothing that would generate BIG bucks, but Stude parts nonetheless. Like BP, I'm trying to pare down for reasons of age and agility. Some of my sheet metal is primo, some of it needs minor work ("minor" as opposed to rust belt metal).
So - besides listing it on the Swap Page - what do I do to get it gone??? Gone while getting something for the prepping, packing and shipping of it - never mind any recompense for saving it from a lesser fate all these years.

[cultural infidel]

You're still not getting it. It doesn't have to be a 50 Champion 4-door. Use a different example; how about a C tub or a K tub? If it were something that a lot of people are restoring, like the Hawks, what would folks be willing to pay for that?

I get what you are saying. And maybe down the line, my answer would be a yes to that. Would you take tub requests?

If you get this going, I would love to drop by your shop as you are only about 20 min away from me.

[candbstudebakers]

You're still not getting it. It doesn't have to be a 50 Champion 4-door. Use a different example; how about a C tub or a K tub? If it were something that a lot of people are restoring, like the Hawks, what would folks be willing to pay for that?

These were saved and will be going to Pa. there still is some frames and truck beds and that is just the few things I have at the shop in the parking area.

[hausdok]

You're still not getting it. It doesn't have to be a 50 Champion 4-door. Use a different example; how about a C tub or a K tub? If it were something that a lot of people are restoring, like the Hawks, what would folks be willing to pay for that?

[mbstude]

Well,

Folks are still not tracking on my question. Bob is about a 33 hour round trip for me. When he first posted about that tub, it occurred to me that I might go pick it up, bring it back here, cut out any rot, weld up new panels, prep it and turn it around at a profit. When folks didn't jump on it, I figured that the reason was either because it's an unpopular model or because they know that if they did they'd double up the amount of work they have to do and add the expense of picking it up to boot, so that's why they weren't jumping on it.

I wondered what kind of interest there was in getting pristine tubs and what folks would be willing to pay for that. One can buy full replacement bodies for 55, 56, 57 Chevys, 47 - 52 Chevy trucks, Camaros, Mustangs and some Mopars. Some folks that are doing full restorations prefer to start with a clean and ready-to-go tub that they don't have to do any cutting, welding or major dent removal on, so they buy an off-the-shelf new shell and are happy to do so. Stude folks don't have that luxury.

Obviously, there aren't enough of you to justify one of these big stamping companies spending the money to make dies and put together the necessary process to make full stude bodies or there'd already be someone making them by now. So, when you have a rusty body you are faced with the daunting task of major rot repair or finding another tub that's got less rot to replace the one you've got. Either way, you've got major work in front of you. Some folks pretty much do it piece by piece over a long time and some turn the car over to guys like Kerry and have him attack the car full bore at once.

Over the past seven months that I've been hanging out here, I've seen a whole lot of folks welding up major rot in body tubs; some with great results and some with not-so-great results. What if there were a firm salvaging tubs, cutting out all of the rot and then welding in new metal, taking out all of the dents and prepping those bodies to the nines? What if a Stude owner who'd just picked up his field car and wants to restore it could trade in the old tub as a core and drive away with a perfect tub that's ready to go and save a couple of years of blood, sweat and tears and get his beloved restoration done one, two or three years quicker than he could have done it if he had to do the tub at home?

I'm looking to get into another business; something that doesn't put my life in danger on a daily basis like my current one, 'cuz I'm not getting any younger. I might be interested in doing something like that if I thought it was a viable business model; but I have to have an idea of what folks here think they'd be willing to pay for a ready-to-go tub, if they were to want to do that? Is one worth $3000, $5000, $7000, more.? That's what I'm trying to get a feel for. Don't bother to answer if you'll never even consider something like that, I'm only interested in hearing from the folks that think they'd be interested in doing that if/when they themselves are about to commence a restoration.

Only a small handful of people are restoring a '50 Champion 4 door. If it were a pristine '53 Starliner tub, it might be a different situation.

[hausdok]

Well,

Folks are still not tracking on my question. Bob is about a 33 hour round trip for me. When he first posted about that tub, it occurred to me that I might go pick it up, bring it back here, cut out any rot, weld up new panels, prep it and turn it around at a profit. When folks didn't jump on it, I figured that the reason was either because it's an unpopular model or because they know that if they did they'd double up the amount of work they have to do and add the expense of picking it up to boot, so that's why they weren't jumping on it.

I wondered what kind of interest there was in getting pristine tubs and what folks would be willing to pay for that. One can buy full replacement bodies for 55, 56, 57 Chevys, 47 - 52 Chevy trucks, Camaros, Mustangs and some Mopars. Some folks that are doing full restorations prefer to start with a clean and ready-to-go tub that they don't have to do any cutting, welding or major dent removal on, so they buy an off-the-shelf new shell and are happy to do so. Stude folks don't have that luxury.

Obviously, there aren't enough of you to justify one of these big stamping companies spending the money to make dies and put together the necessary process to make full stude bodies or there'd already be someone making them by now. So, when you have a rusty body you are faced with the daunting task of major rot repair or finding another tub that's got less rot to replace the one you've got. Either way, you've got major work in front of you. Some folks pretty much do it piece by piece over a long time and some turn the car over to guys like Kerry and have him attack the car full bore at once.

Over the past seven months that I've been hanging out here, I've seen a whole lot of folks welding up major rot in body tubs; some with great results and some with not-so-great results. What if there were a firm salvaging tubs, cutting out all of the rot and then welding in new metal, taking out all of the dents and prepping those bodies to the nines? What if a Stude owner who'd just picked up his field car and wants to restore it could trade in the old tub as a core and drive away with a perfect tub that's ready to go and save a couple of years of blood, sweat and tears and get his beloved restoration done one, two or three years quicker than he could have done it if he had to do the tub at home?

I'm looking to get into another business; something that doesn't put my life in danger on a daily basis like my current one, 'cuz I'm not getting any younger. I might be interested in doing something like that if I thought it was a viable business model; but I have to have an idea of what folks here think they'd be willing to pay for a ready-to-go tub, if they were to want to do that? Is one worth $3000, $5000, $7000, more.? That's what I'm trying to get a feel for. Don't bother to answer if you'll never even consider something like that, I'm only interested in hearing from the folks that think they'd be interested in doing that if/when they themselves are about to commence a restoration.

[kmac530]

Bob,
Thanks for the efforts you make in saving the cars and parts that you do.
It may be sad to see these cars get crushed for many people....then buy the car from you. You offer your stuff regularly and affordably and I appreciate all of your efforts. It makes me just as sad to see stuff sitting and just rusting and rotting away with no end in sight. Keep doing what you do my friend. People had their chance to save these cars.

[candbstudebakers]

So,

If it had been a primo shell all ready to go, what would it have been worth? Let's get some ideas.

No much interest in it restored or project, now the front fenders, hood and all the rest of the parts that make up the front of a bullet nose car in perfect shape is a different story, those are the parts saved and once they are blasted and work to be perfect then ask what is a perfect bullet nose front end worth? I will have it so bring your check book when you come asking do you have this.

[hausdok]

Absolutely, Mike. But you are talking about a whole lot of added value. I don't remember Bob having said anything about that body shell having had any work at all done to it, let alone been made almost as new.

A used body shell, even one that may be nearly rust-free, still needs a lot of work to be ready for paint, if you are talking about a good restoration. Strip it, sand it, work ot the dents, seal the seams, seal it, prime it, sand it, rinse and repeat. Lots of hours on even a primo shell.

If I could have gone to Bob's place and back, on a couple of tanks of fuel, I would have been there for those. I have been to Bob's place, and he is a fine gentleman, but even the finest among us can't save them all, especially when space issues and neighbors whinging about property values are in the mix.

So,

If it had been a primo shell all ready to go, what would it have been worth? Let's get some ideas.

[SN-60]

With all due respect to Bob Peterson, I understand the point that Bob Andrews was trying to make, and I agree with it.