Flipping Classic Cars

[Wombat7051]

Hey all
I had some down time on the weekend and was watching a fast n loud marathon and it got me thinking about if it could be done here?
Now I know as with all reality TV it is contrived tripe, however it got me thinking about costs associated with this sort of thing.
Are the costs we face here for things such as engine building, paint and panel, etc too much to allow us to do this?
A lot of their stuff is done in house but when you see things like to cover 2 front seats $500 and a set of front seat covers, for say the HZ are $900 here, then they need to be fitted, are the overheads here too much or are we being ripped off?
Be interested to here everyone's thoughts

[HK1837]

Our Labour cost is too high. Makes it hard.

[Dr Terry]

There are many reasons why the costs associated with car restos is higher in Australia than it is in the USA.

Their market is larger, so if you set up to make something, any costs are amortised much more quickly.

Taxes are are also totally different, but the biggest difference is labour costs. Wages in Australia are quite high compared to those in the US.

I've been in the car industry for over 40 years & today, we have to be careful of anything which is too labour intensive.

Why do you think that we import so much from overseas. Not just China either, even European stuff can be made cheaper than in Aust. If Toyota, Holden & Ford can't manufacture here (even with subsidies) then who can ?

Dr Terry

[Wombat7051]

That was my thoughts, even if we do it in house ourselves it is still far too expensive.
A couple of things that spring to mind. My dad is a panel beater, used to have his own shop, he was saying the other day that if he was to do any work now it would be charged out at $95 / hr.
He says that the associated costs mean that this is a minimum just to make a dollar.
The labour costs here are getting that bad that a guy I work with has flown to the states to buy a mustang. He is then packing it in a container and shipping it straight to Indonesia to have the panel work done.

[Frosty]

a guy I work with has flown to the states to buy a mustang. He is then packing it in a container and shipping it straight to Indonesia to have the panel work done.

I have considered this myself and would like to know more, especially the final results. So where is it going to and do you know approx work costs,time expected to take etc?

[Wombat7051]

I have considered this myself and would like to know more, especially the final results. So where is it going to and do you know approx work costs,time expected to take etc?

He is in the states now frosty. He already has an Elanor and the guy who built that for him is organizing the body work but I will find out.
Good thought though living on a tropical beach doing cars for cash, paying little to no overheads in the Philippines or Thailand

[RAEME]

He is in the states now frosty. He already has an Elanor and the guy who built that for him is organizing the body work but I will find out.
Good thought though living on a tropical beach doing cars for cash, paying little to no overheads in the Philippines or Thailand

Funny you mentioned Elenor. There is a series called "Rides" it's a yank show, anyway they did a story on a company in Texas who build these Elenor copy's. Can't remember the name I'll look it up and let you know. Anyway they looked real good in the series, until you Google their name. Crikey!! Dodgy!! Not the word for it.
Unique performance, that was them. Look it up, interesting read.

[Wombat7051]

Funny you mentioned Elenor. There is a series called "Rides" it's a yank show, anyway they did a story on a company in Texas who build these Elenor copy's. Can't remember the name I'll look it up and let you know. Anyway they looked real good in the series, until you Google their name. Crikey!! Dodgy!! Not the word for it.

unique performance. The guy is Doug Hasty
They built one car for Paul Snr from OCC. They then built I think 3 cars that they took to shows etc getting orders and deposits.
All the time they were buying every 67 mustang they could, driving the price through the roof.
They then cut and shut, changed car vins, ids, title washing ( what they got charged with) etc.
Never delivered any cars or paid bills etc so down they went.

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Now you got me thinking. There's a real business opportunity and I could wear thongs to work. Bali I think

The repair rate must be cheap when you think shipping alone would be about $5000.
Got me thinking too frosty nice spot near a good surf break, close to a fridge. Hmmmm got a few blokes I work with living in Bali might get some ideas on cost

[Frosty]

He is in the states now frosty. He already has an Elanor and the guy who built that for him is organizing the body work but I will find out.
Good thought though living on a tropical beach doing cars for cash, paying little to no overheads in the Philippines or Thailand

Now you got me thinking. There's a real business opportunity and I could wear thongs to work. Bali I think

[Wombat7051]

Is the problem that now everyone is out to make a million rather than a living?

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Bugger Bali. Langkawi is the place to be!

Bali the way Bali used to be