Building Cobras for Profit?

[jwd]

Check out all the cars that are for sale and the actual selling price of the ones that have sold and compare that with how much was invested in these cars. I think you'll find your answer. If you do all the work yourself, including the body and paint and consider your 100's of hours as free labor, it MAY be possible to show a SMALL profit.
I'm doing it because building it is the fun part. If I break even, that's a plus.
You'd probably make more money picking up Al. cans on the side of the road.

[jburnes]

Thank you all for the great advice. Please keep it coming.

[CobraDan]

I edited my other post because I remembered the finished Cobras actually went for $39,900 not $39,000 and this was this guys only job building cobras, his partner painted cars and still does. Since he had $17,000 invested in each build he was making $22,900. Since I have no idea on how many man hours it took him to finish each car I don’t know if he was making $10 or $1 an hour profit. When we see a Cobra advertised on Cobra Country for $39,900 asking price and finally a sold sign again we have no idea what the seller actually got in payment as $39,900 was only the asking price. I do have a sale add on a Cobra Shop Cobra stating it was sold for $39,900 in a scrap book, not bad for a used Cobra as that’s what he paid. I know of a guy who had a Factory Five coupe built who wound up paying over $100,000 for his build. I have a friend who built a FFR roadster and actually made a profit on its sale, but not enough that he quit his day job. You can buy the Unique package for $25,000, it will need wheels and tires and a engine and transmission plus paint and body work. A paint job can run from about $3,000 to $10,000 plus if you want that stripe adds another $500 and of course you will be farming out this part. It’s too bad you didn’t ask this question over at FFCOBRA where the majority of posters build their cars here many have purchased their cars finished.

[Don]

jburnes:

Other Considerations:

** Look at the prices, features, models etc., etc., of the pre-owned Cobras on Cobra Country as a reference point:

http://www.cobracountry.com/#

** There are turnkey Cobras available ( BackDraft Racing, Superformance etc etc ) completely finished except for the motor & transmission. How do these compare in cost, finish, features, to your approach and will you be able to be competitive ?

** Cost of a 100% completed Cobra if the kit/replica manufacturer offers the option, another reference point for determining potential profit, or loss.

[CobraDan]

Read this thread
http://www.ffcobra.com/ubb/ultimateb.../t/096351.html

[Randy Rosenberg]

There are legal considerations depending up whether you plan to build to order or stock a showroom (build on spec). The former is considered a custom car builder, while the later is considered a manufacturer (where research is needed to determine how/if to meet DOT/EPA, etc... standards).

Good luck,
Randy...

[Madmiles442]

If you started with a Hurricane kit (quite accurate and very complete), assembled it yourself with your free labor, you might come out in the black.
Assuming 2 things: you get a "deal" on the paint/body work and you get a "deal" on the motor/trans.
You'd have to find that friend-of-a-friend that can hook you up on a paint job. Weekend work or whatever.
Your brother would have to build up a motor from a 351W junkyard find or other find (mild, not wild-no ROI on wild), rebuild a tranny on the cheap.
Assuming all that, you might get $3k-$5k clear.

[Cashburn]

Sure, there's a little room up top and to the left...

[joey_hv]

It is a cool idea you have, talk to that guy Roger Bolick mentioned in this thread. New kid on the block new carbon fiber cobra
he is making the carbon fiber cobras and selling complete rollers for $35k???
Maybe he can shed some light on this subject and give you some tips good luck.

[jburnes]

Originally Posted by Madmiles442

If you started with a Hurricane kit (quite accurate and very complete), assembled it yourself with your free labor, you might come out in the black.
Assuming 2 things: you get a "deal" on the paint/body work and you get a "deal" on the motor/trans.
You'd have to find that friend-of-a-friend that can hook you up on a paint job. Weekend work or whatever.
Your brother would have to build up a motor from a 351W junkyard find or other find (mild, not wild-no ROI on wild), rebuild a tranny on the cheap.
Assuming all that, you might get $3k-$5k clear.

Sounds good. I've been hearing Hurricane a lot. I've also been hearing Shell Valley. Both kits are equally priced. Have you done a Hurricane? Any idea of the total time involved or if there are any mods you have to do to the kit to make it work?

[Madmiles442]

I have not done one, but know several who have and have discussed the builds at length. Because I've thought about what you're thinking about. I've since taken antibiotics and recovered from that sickness.
I might put Hurricane 1a and Shell Valley 1b. The Hurricane is more accurate IMHO.
There will be slight mods with both, you'll find them along the way. The radiator overflow won't fit there or the clutch linkage doesn't line up right or the throttle linkage needs reworkinig, etc.
The build time will all be relative to your experience and the tool resources at your disposal.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[pmfranke]

I thought the same thing ,that i could have fun building one and then sell it for what i had in it .HA AAA HA ha he he . I did every thing so far and its not painted and i dont have good wheels or tires( paint around my house is 7 grand, wheels and tires 3 grand) to date $28,000. plus the wheels and paint. I have a B&B kit that i bought for $10,500.It was supposed to have everything included. So I think it nearly impossible to make money at it, at least for me.But good luck !!!! YOU WILL NEED IT.

[fsstnotch]

pmfranke,

Based on your engine combo, I'd guess you put a little more money into the engine there than NEEDED for resale. Sounds like a nice car though!

I don't think that, without cutting some corners somewhere or doing EVERYTHING yourself.. you will make money. Chances are more likely that you will have a good time building with your brother and that's great. Then you'll break even and consider it a good time spent with your brother.

I think the legality part of the equation goes away as long as you register the car in your names before sale. This is why alot of the main manufacturers sell a turn key minus rather than a fully done car. Hurricane, Shell valley, and BDR will all sell you a turnkey minus car for around $29k. That's painted your colors and complete assembly. So that's $29k, and they have a reputation for building cars.