Expensive

R

rfitzpatrick

Well-known member
This hobby is getting expensive. $260.00 for BlackWalls? Then you got to get them here, that's another few bucks.
The F-100 Steering Box is better than $800. Guess can't find any cores.
"Adjusted For Inflation"
 
Restoring cars is not a thing for the working class. So said a story I read in the newspaper when was a kid.
 
The Model A was once a poor man's antique car, and almost anyone could afford one even on a modest family income. Those days are now gone. I think that the greed of some people along with the COVID thing ruined the hobby. Young people will not be able to afford even a Model A. I remember when people sold parts just to cover their restoration or upgrade. Now people want to make a living off the parts they sell. It's really a shame it has come to this!!!!
 
rfitzpatrick said:
This hobby is getting expensive. $260.00 for BlackWalls? Then you got to get them here, that's another few bucks.
The F-100 Steering Box is better than $800. Guess can't find any cores.
"Adjusted For Inflation"
Click to expand...

So maybe these guys manufacturing 19” tires sell 10,000 annually, enough for 2500 Model A’s every year. You could even double that to 20,000 and 5000 cars. That’s world wide.

How many 205-55R16 tires are sold worldwide each year? Millions, probably tens of millions. These probably cost $100 to $200 per tire depending on the manufacturer. That’s what you’re comparing your tires against.

We should be lucky anyone makes our tires at all.
 
LOL


do you really need that steering box? no
tires can be bought for 100. as discussed on another thread.


Yes I once wtd to marry Christie Brinkley- but alas, I realized I couldnt afford her and she sure as heck, couldnt afford me!
 
We are indeed very fortunate to have such great supply of parts. Granted, some may not be to Henry's standard. But by and large the premium vendors do a great job of supporting our hobby. I can usually get model A parts faster and far more affordably than F250 parts from my local Ford dealer or FLAPS. BTW, a new F250 runs $60K to over $100K - 3 to 5 times the price of a nicely restored model A pickup. In the big scheme, it is still an affordable hobby for most people.
 

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For those of us who have been in the Model-A hobby for over 50 years will likely tell you the difference between now and then is not that parts are more expensive now (in comparison to the median family income then vs. now) ...but more about lack of efforts put forth by the typical Model-A Hobbyists now.

In the late 1960s thru the 1970s, as I think back amongst the Houston TX Model-A club, I would venture a guess that around 90% of the club's members actually were restoring their own Model-A(s) back then. I'd guess the same thing was true for most Model-A clubs across the States of this country. These members utilized the local Model-A club to network to find other hobbyists who owned extra parts, or maybe had machining capabilities, -or painting capabilities, etc. who could help them restore their Model-A themselves, ....not do it for them.

Likely today, there are less than 10% of the members in each local club who are restoring Model-As themselves. Everyone foolishly seems to give the advice that it is cheaper to buy one than it is to restore it so they should just buy one already restored, ...and because of that mindset we now find the better quality Model-As that were restored in that era have been 'used up'. This IMHO has brought the entire hobby down as a whole.

Think about this for a moment, ...many hobbyists like to complain that they will have more money in their Model-A than they will get out of it if they do anything restoration-related to it. The irony is when you compare our hobby to other hobbies such as Golf, or Fishing, Woodworking, Camping, Bowling, etc. I believe you will find the ROI is not there on those hobbies either -yet most of those people ever complain. You can easily buy fish cheaper than you can buy a nice fishing boat and all of the tackle to go fishing. How about buying a golf cart, a trailer, and the gear just to go play golf for exercise? Maybe buying a used $50k RV and then paying to park it on a scenic weekend spot is not expensive? I do not recall ever hearing this type of nonsense 30-50 years ago from Model-A hobbyists about this hobby being too expensive. My opinion on this mindset now is this hobby apparently has too many hobbyists who likely need to be in some other 'more affordable hobby!! :rolleyes: ;) :p
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
In the late 1960s thru the 1970s, as I think back amongst the Houston TX Model-A club, I would venture a guess that around 90% of the club's members actually were restoring their own Model-A(s) back then. I'd guess the same thing was true for most Model-A clubs across the States of this country. These members utilized the local Model-A club to network to find other hobbyists who owned extra parts, or maybe had machining capabilities, -or painting capabilities, etc. who could help them restore their Model-A themselves, ....not do it for them.

Likely today, there are less than 10% of the members in each local club who are restoring Model-As themselves.
Click to expand...

Spot on, Brent. In my local MAFCA chapter, which is 60+ years old, we have on the order of 100 families with each family owning at least one Model A. I would doubt that there are a half dozen (me being one) with cars under active restoration. Either the cars have been previously restored (to be fair, many of those were restored by their current owners, who are now enjoying driving the fruits of their efforts) or they are survivors that won't be restored.

When I first got into the hobby in the late 60's it was as you recall - most folks were restoring cars, and there was a lot of parts trading or simply scavenging going on. I remember getting phone calls from folks who begged to have cars dragged off their lots or from shops/garages. Lots more swap meets then, too. Nowadays there are very few "barn finds" left, and a lot of the parts needs must be met by purchasing either new from the vendors or used from those who have stashes of parts - little swapping because those same individuals are not currently restoring. Not to mention that this hobby, like many, is populated by an aging demographic, many of whom are now interested in getting rid of their hoards of parts.

Regarding the timeless question of buy vs. make - you have to ask yourself how much pleasure would you derive from taking a 90-year old relic and with your own hands transforming it into a reliable, workable vehicle. In an age where current vehicles almost require a degree in Information Technology to work on, a Model A provides the opportunity to exercise good old fashioned shade-tree mechanical ability. If you can't derive pleasure from that, then by all means buy a car that's been previously restored (but be aware - anyone can call themselves a "restorer", not everyone works to your (Brent's) standards. My '31 Town Sedan that was "restored" in the mid-1980's is testament to that.) And hire out the work that it will inevitably require.

But if you do relish the challenge of a restoration with your own hands, the Model A is a great vehicle. And your local club is the venue to meet with like-minded individuals.

My $0.02 worth.

JayJay
 
The thing with 'affordable hobby's' seems to be in the timing. You could buy pretty nice Model A Fords even into the late 60's-early 70's for not a ton of money.

As a teenager even back then, there were really only three of us in the whole high school who liked Model A's. Everybody else was into 60's Mustangs-Camaros-Fairlanes- Cudas you get the idea. We were the oddballs.

Every hobby gets real expensive real fast, the deeper you get into it:). Like has been mentioned, golf, guns, coin collecting, stamp collecting, petroliana, horses, antique glassware, drinking, smoking, gambling, and on and on.

The only thing 'cheap' is maybe sitting on the corner uptown watching traffic, or getting a book at the library. But then you risk dying early from boredom.
 
It depends on how you categorize the hobby. Many consider owning and driving all there is to the hobby. Our club has about 65 model As. I believe there are only three owners that are actively working on their cars.

But regardless, unfortunately I feel the club portion of the hobby is dying. Most cars aren't even driven more than a couple times per year here.
 
I remember tires at about 20 bucks from the sears catalog. Like everything else, its going up...and it aint done yet. If they don't want you to have a gas stove, how much longer do you think they want you driving around in old cars? Not trying to make a political statement, just, thats the world we live in
 
“My opinion on this mindset now is this hobby apparently has too many hobbyists who likely need to be in some other 'more affordable hobby!! “… by Brent

That’s exactly what I tell folks who want to “negotiate” on parts I make. I hear ….on a fixed income, getting too much in the project, car won’t be worth what I have in it….on and on.
Maybe bird watching …binoculars are reasonably cheap!
 
rfitzpatrick said:
This hobby is getting expensive. $260.00 for BlackWalls? Then you got to get them here, that's another few bucks.
The F-100 Steering Box is better than $800. Guess can't find any cores.
"Adjusted For Inflation"
Click to expand...
I think at 260 even for whitewalls is a bit expensive. But that’s what I just spent on a set of BFGoodrich bias ply WWWs.

J Franklin said:
It is still doable for many. $106.

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/475-500-19-excelsior-blackwall-tire.html
Click to expand...
Remember to buy from Summit to get free shipping.
It seems like summit drop ships them from Coker because a large portion of their inventory isn’t in stock.
Who cares is it saves you the dollars.
 
Tyres made from Russian oil would be cheaper I guess.
Click to expand...
Tires made in China would be cheaper, and Joe would let you have PLENTY of those. Of course they would be the same level of quality that Harbor Freight barrel truck tires have, and Harbor Freight rubber air hoses.

All of these come with a distinct "uncured" rubber smell, are plenty flexible, but harden and crack within the first year.

I bought 12 "swivel caster wheels" with rubber tires from Harbor Freight. Opening the box I was afraid to light a match lest there be an explosion from the gas.

Of those twelve, seven have now shed their tires.

Joe K
 
A lot of good comments here but the expense of restoration and maintenance of the Model A will be the least of your worries. I worry more about the longevity of the car and the hobby. This push towards electric cars can only have a negative impact on all gasoline cars. In an effort to get everyone into an electric car, there will be a drastic cut back in the supply of gasoline and gasoline car parts. There may even be incentives to junk gasoline cars to get them off the road. Who will want to be driving their Model A's when gas prices are through the roof and you are using gas at the rate of 12 mpg? You will not be able to sell your Model A's. It will be the end of the hobby. A few antique cars will end up in museums and the rest will be collecting dust in our garages because after all our work we won't part with them. When will all this happen? Listening to the current administration, this will be 2030!! The 100th anniversary of the Model A era. Ed
 
Time to start making your own fuel for your model A, the sky is falling will we even make it to 2030 with what is happening in the world today. Enjoy your Easter Sunday! Enjoy your day today! Give your loved ones a hug !
 
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