HOW MUCH TO RESTORE UTE ???

[Blown_FC]

The other day I noticed what I thought was a FJ ute rusting away on a farm......I made some enquiries, and it turned out to be a Dodge Ute ( well it was a fair distance away ).....anyhow.....the owner wants to keep it, because he has a better one in a shed that he wants to restore for advertising his winery, and this ute would be the donor car for parts.

Anyway, he is a business man and not a car restorer, and is keen for me to restore his ute for him.....not that I know much about Dodges or how to find parts for them.....

so I'm wandering what would be a reasonable ask for restoring his ute.
of course he'd have to pay for all costs, but I'm talking about my time to restore it.

I worked on the fact that it would take around 1000 hours conservatively, and say that was at miniimum wage of $10 / hour, that's $10 000.00

Is this reasonable, too much or too little to ask ??

The timing is a bit off, as I'm still half way through my own FC, but was interested in everyones thoughts !

Cheers

mark

[robbzfc58]

hi mark   i doubt he would have to pay ten grand for a restored dodge ute.   sounds like he only wants a dodge coz hes got one....he could get hold of any ute & be happy........tell him youll find him one for ten grand & youll both be happy
btw   hows the new project..THE RILEY ;) ;D  ive been waiting for you to make an announcement here
        cheers  trev

[Blown_FC]

Trev....the dodge ute holds sentimental value to him.....it was the ute that he and his wife went courting in ( too much info huh ? ).

I don;t think I'll take on the job, as the "Riley" needs a bit of attention for a while, but makes you think when a rich local hotelier / winery owner wants his old ute restored and is happy to pay someone to do it !

I'll post a pic of the "Riley" soon....just trying to get back into the swing of things at work first.    Building a "Riley" aswell as the FC is very time consuming !

Cheers
Mark

[robbzfc58]

oh    sentimental value....out the window with common sense then..we've all been guilty of that    
i guess how much he wants to spend depends on how much he has & how bad he wants it....just like the length of a piece of string ???
be careful with that model RILEY..they've been known to spit copious amounts of gunk from both ends..at the same time ;)
           cheers  trev

[Blown_FC]

Tell me about it........my "Riley" seems to chuck more pollution out than fuel I put in.

I think the "Riley" leaks aswell....sometimes fuel, but often oil aswell !

Although the "Riley" is my pride and joy......I even wash it every night when I come home from work.

I'll have to post a pic huh !

Mark

[Blown_FC]

Ok....here it is.......the "Riley"

Otherwise known as Riley Hughes ( My newborn son ) born 21st June weighing 10 lbs.

As I said...he leaks a bit, and he needs a wash every night, but is worth it !

Cheers

Mark Hughes ( Riley's Dad....and man of little shed time ).

PS....hope the pic works ?

[RET]

Good one - speaking of "sentimental value"....  That Riley looks in showroom condition ;D

Although be warned, those models have a tendency to short out and set the horn off at all hours of the day and night.  Thankfully the problem seems to right itself well before the very generous 18-year warranty runs out ;D

Congrats.

cheers
RET

[Blown_FC]

Shit....18 years warranty.....didn't think of that one !

Just wish he would grow up quick so he can pass me the spanners in the shed....then again, if he grows up too quickly, he'll want to drive my FC......now I may love him to bits...but drivng my (Yet to be finished) FC whilst going for his learners.....Hmmmmm.....I don't think so !

I know !

I'll buy another FC just for him, that way the wife can't say I have too many FC's....cause one would be his !

[nicko]

great idea,works for me,now go test theory on your mr's ,hang on wait while i hide first. ;D

[Fast_Eddie]

Mark,

It's all about exposing them to the right experiences in life



He had the engine out and front end dropped in no time.

[Martin]

Congrats on the Riley

At 16 will he need a new set of "rubbers" each week?  :P

[Martin]

btw

At $10- per hour you're robbing yourself.  That's nearly McDonalds wages.  For the skills you have to offer at least double the money.  

Don't think about what it will cost the client - think of what you have to offer that he hasn't got, and what it's worth to him.  

[robbzfc58]

not too sure about that 18yr warranty....try taking him back to where he came from :o ;)

btw   i remember seeing a thread about a dodge ute somewhere a  few days ago.......another lost topic ;D
did i already say congrats. mark...
          cheers trev

[Blown_FC]

I'm sure my wife would love to take him back from where he came, especially at 2:00am when his horn goes off for know apparant reason, and seems to get stuck on.....but the dealer won;t take him back...something about being used and he won't fit back in the showroom floor ???

Could be fun trying though !

[robbzfc58]

aye you nearly said "he wont fit back in the box" :o :o

[Blown_FC]

Naaah.....me to clever for that sort of politically IN-correct banter.

I used to think Men were the stronger species...but I now have a new look on life.......Women are bloody tuff, and I don;t think any man could go through what women go through when delivering a new model from the showroom floor !

It certainly was a great experience taking delivery of the new addition.

[RET]

Yeah, it's a fair call that if it were men that had to have the babies, we'd all be only children ::)