Agree with all Turk said.
The paradym has definitely shifted over the past few months. For example, in the mid '90's if you wanted an aluminum Shelby roller, (pre Kirkham bodied days) you could order one and expect to pay close to $80K. Add engine, trans and paint and you would be over $100K pretty quick, and that's if you did the install. Hire a builder and you were looking at $120 and up.
Kirkham comes along in 1996, offering rollers for about $60K. Add engine, trans, and you are in around $80K. Hmmm, but it doesn't have a CSX plate. Some folks, me included, saw the workmanship and accuracy of these cars and said, "who cares?"
In the meantime, SAI, who at first mocked the idea of bringing in aluminum bodies from Eastern Europe, decides that they can't beat them, so they buy all the bodies Kirkham can make, continues to price them at around $80K and promptly experiences a glut of unsold cars. Kirkham continues to hone their well earned reputation by producing limited numbers of superb aluminum cars, again selling to the general market, with the price falling to about $55K.
Shelby announces the $39K fiberglass car several months ago, creating quite a firestorm in the industry. Kirkham responds with an $40K aluminum roller that is a finer car today than the jewel offered a few years ago that comes pre-sanded (believe me, thats appreciated), with improved underpinnings and more standard features. A screaming deal.
So today, you can purchase what is arguably the finest reproduction of the original 60's car in real aluminum with most options at about $45K
Roller: $45K
Engine: 20K
Trans: 2K
Misc: 3K
Sweat equity...priceless
Total: $70K
The times they are a changin'.................
I am always amused when I see premium reproductions today with asking prices of $90 - $120K. But then hey, with some of the characters on this forum, you can always call them "celebrity owned"!
Enjoy the journey..
Bud
