Over the years I have had many project cars. We always talk about how much money we put into them, the high cost of parts, great deals we found, buying stuff we couldnt use, and the beating we take or dont take when we sell them.
This time I created a few spread sheets for my 86TC. Im documenting every cent I spend on the car. Parts costs, tax, shipping, shop time, basiclly if I spend it for the car, it goes on the spread sheet. Even WD40, paper towels, any and everything.
Im shooting for a completed car comming in under $6,000. Thats going to tough with a eng/tranny rebuild and paint, but thats the goal.
Im up to $1343 so far and I havent turned one wrench, hopfully that will change this weekend.
I tried counting it all up one time. You may regret what you find out.
Sounds like an interesting idea. I've started folders for the reciepts for what I've spent on my ZX & now for the T-Bird. I did not include autocross entry fees or labor. What's your shop rate?
There are some things that are better off unknown.
Yep. I paid $1,000 for my T-bird. I don't want to know how much I've spent on it. I know it's more than $1,000.............
Actually this is kind of fun. Ive spent $1391, sold a set of 99 GT rims for $175, so Im in it for $1216.
This is also encourging me to sell some of the pile of parts I may never use again.
Being in a larger city helps, Everything Ive put on Craigs List has sold within a day or two.
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[SIZE="1"]Post contains Local Information which may not be understood by folks not living in or around Tucson, AZ![/SIZE]
TucanSam, if you're heading east on Grant Rd.(shouldn't be giving this info away because it's peaked my interest) just past Alvernon, there's an 88 T-bird Sport for sale. $750 obo. Other than the three-tone color due to some replacement panels, the car appears to be good, and has some nice Turbines to boot. And runs as well. shame. If I had just waited another week or so, I could have kept my brown car and bought the sport to build it up.
(On a side note, coming home from the car wash today, I saw my twin...car that is. Black 87-88 Turbo. Looked to be in good shape. And this was on the east side of town. The driver appeared to notice me and waved. This means there's at least one other person in our vicinity that knows these cars....)
(On a Side, Side note to Tucan, if you're in the area of Harrison Rd. and Irvington and see a black turbo, that's me)
The other day I was going to Pep Boys on Speedway and I saw a black 87-88TC westbound. Was that you? I ws in my 05 Redfire Mustang.
Im around Harrison and Irvington all the time. On Harrison just before you get to Golf Links turn onto 39th and go all the way to the end. My TC or my 05 Mustang will be at the curb. Cant turn the wrong way on 39th or you will end up in the resevouir. Drop by, Im usually around.
There are some houses right off Harrison next to Pantano Wash, I walk there all the time, my sister used to live there.
Ha, I don't wanna know how much I've actually spent on my car.
All I know right now is that I bought the car for $1250 and I spent AT LEAST $1200 building the engine that's in the car now. That was 2 years ago. I'm sure I've spent more than double the original price of the car at this point.
I cried when I totaled Layla's reciepts.
I've given up keeping tabs on what's spent on the vehicles. My brain doesn't have that much capacity. :D
However, I can say with a high degree of certainty that every cent ever put in the convertible has added to its value. In that respect it has become a great investment...well, as good as you can get for a Fox car, anyway.
I kept all records for my first car ('84 GS) and in the end, that is what helped to sell it. The new owners were impressed with the record keeping. So I guess if you're ever going to sell, keeping tabs on expenses can make the deal for you. Otherwise it's just going to make you upset LOL.
Cars are the least of my worries, if I could get 5 cents on the dollar back for all the money Ive blown on booze and women, I could retire.
So Eric, how many Coug verts are known to exist?
And that's where I am. I stopped counting when I realized I had a $1500 car that cost me $10,000.
Well I look at it this way, too: the money you spend on a car...sure, you could have a lot of other things with that money, but if the act of spending money on that car made you happy, and it runs good (enough), and you get that feeling of pride every time you get behind the wheel...then it was money well spent. That transcends money.
Total from 1983-88, probably less than 200 ever existed. The 1985-86 Car Craft Cougar convertibles (of which mine is one) had at least 105 and are about the best documented ones. The '84's, I heard about 10-15 were made; I know of 25 1987's and at least 1 1988. My guess is that nearly all have survived simply becuase they were so expensive to buy new...mine listed for like $26K in 1986, as much as a loaded Mark VII at the time. So with that much money you better believe the original owners took care of them. I have seen some 1986's that were pretty run down. But it's still a rare car to begin with so investing money into it is still worthwhile.
I have a box that I'm keeping my recipts in. My buddy told me I should go to the store and get one of those totes that you can put a 8ft Christmas tree into. LOL
I have less than $500 in my 5.0 5 speed 88 TC.. INCLUDING the cost of the car :hick:
Is the motor in yet?
I've put less than 5,000 miles on the '86 and I've spent around $1,000 on it. That makes it about a $2,400 total investment.
Now I'm looking down the barrel of replacing the head gasket again.
I have alittle under $900 into my car. Thats the car, the title transfered, and all the parts on it. I think thats an awsome job so far. Then I have about a $300 tab to pay off/ parts to get after paid off and I'll be good. Every cent you spend will add to the car.
I dont want to start a big argument.
Im keeping track of how much I spend on my Bird. Plain and simple.
In a perfect world...hell, in a world that even recognized our cars as being collectible...sure. If only life worked like that!
Values are so subjective that it's pretty much a pointless argument. What does matter is that
you're happy with your deal.
Have at'her, man. I don't think anyone is saying you shouldn't. Some of us are just saying that final numbers can tend to get overwhelming. :) In my case, they tend to get depressing.
:cheers:
:bowdown: couldnt have said it better. as many as i have, it seems like :toilet: .......
+1
If I were to take into account all the parts cars I had to buy to build what my cougar is today. Lets just leave it at more than $10,000. Now that is like 6 cars. I'm not including all the other stuff I have bought for it or stuff I had to buy to keep it on the road.
i spenpt close to 130-140 doing the floor shifter conversion on my car, and i had the parts from the bird. that was in fluid, fluid. more fluid, paing someone to put the pan on for my so i could pull it again. and i spent 300 on all the exaust pieces and had to sell my Flow master tail pipes to put gas in my car after i got it running and legal.
the last few months i've been living day to day, penny by penny (I'm not joking i counted up change and cashed it in to get my tags, $15 worth). I try not to think about how much i spend on my car, its what i enjoy and love so money spent on my car doesn't make me made or upset because it is what i love to do.
I have been playing with cars and restoring motorcycles for over 30 years, Ive never kept track of what I spent. This time I decided to just for giggles.
I've got over $5K into Darkthunder (which isn't nothing) and will more than likely quadruple that in the coming years. I make spreadsheets for the parts I'm going to buy and keep track of what I've purchased. Google's online spreadsheet/document program comes in pretty handy. Whenever I get bored I start going over them. lol.
I can believe that for sure. I've spent more on mine then you are expecting to spend, and have so much more to go.