MGRAB

If I feel compelled to replace a plate/tag, I place it beneath the reproduction on the firewall. This way it can be easily shown if required and it will stay with the car in the event of my demise vs the file cabinet. Good example is the ID/patent plate on my Packard which is in poor shape. I plan on doing just that.

While that may be the case on some convertibles, I am fairly certain all GM C-body convertibles are bolted. My '41 is out right now. It was woodgrained but manufacturers were learning by the late 40's the painted dashes held up better than the woodgrained when exposed to UV rays. Packard had bolt-in and painted dashes in '48-50, while all other models had graining. I can see where Hudsons would have welded them in being uni-body.. though I have no experience with them.

For the kick panels, you might want to try Restoration Specialties in PA. They were able to supply me stock sheets to cut down years ago in a green close to what I was looking for and had other colors available at the time.. may still sell.

Nice car but, pretty sure it is the one that sold for $44k in June at the Wheeler auction.. at least looks like it to me.

Thank you! I will do just that.. I'm traveling for work this coming week and will be looking for something to do at night vs the same old shows.

When I built my latest garage, I started it right when Covid hit. I had budgeted to hire out a number of elements but in the end, I built most all of it by myself (all but concrete and roofing). People weren't available and it made me get creative. I've been involved in a number of builds before, but never did one solo. I used wall-jacks, scissor-lift, Genie Superlift and raised all my walls and even erected trusses solo without a crane. My father is a retired electrician, so I knew what I was doing there... even installed the custom garage doors I had made. Last thing I have to do is put copper gutters on it this fall. Eventually, I'll get back to insulating and finishing on the inside but will be saving money by recycling one of the air-handlers from my house when I remodel/add-on this winter. I would have loved a much larger footprint (and could have if my topography would have allowed 1/2 cost was in concrete work). I'm lucky that my wife lets me have the whole basement for my hobbies too. Right now, I have ~$75k into it, probably closer to $80k once it's all done. If you're willing to roll-up the sleeves and get creative, you can do any hobby on a budget (even today).

The Packard came from a farm in Ontario (just across from Detroit). It was in that barn since the 60's. The gentleman's father started working on the car in the 70's but had given up working on it only after a couple years. The Cadillac was in a barn in Avon NY since 1953. Sadly, I didn't get the privilege of pulling that one out, the prior owner did but didn't document that event. It changed hands a couple times before I got it.

Years ago I had a '51 DeSoto Sedan project car. The best attribute this car has is the grille and its the most expensive to find or plate. The chrome on these pit so bad and you really need to find NOS to do it right. In the 90's I found a complete set in the box and slowly acquired other pieces. Doubt you can do that now.. all the Merc guys ate these up. I never had anything plated on the car, but had a guy once tell me the ridge on the teeth was usually rounded down to get to something worth plating. Long and short I bailed on the project, got my money back and it got parted for a more worthy coupe project. I never found a place to recast the steering wheel either. Very hard to find all the parts you need cosmetically.. not like Dodge or Plymouth. If you really want one of these I'd wait for a low miles example. These are neat cars that don't get the love they deserve. If you are really serious, forget the mechanical concerns. These are insanely easy to work on. Focus on the chrome. If it is all pitted up, bail. If it looks good with little pitting, ok price. You can get these for $10-15k with low miles and you won't be beating others off to buy it. I love project cars and hate steering someone away but this is one of those cars I would only do if the top went down. Mike

Think we're going to have to keep agreeing to disagree. I work with all sizes of contractors and vendors daily, I see it all. My company has many customers, most of which are a LOT smaller than we are. All get different deals, and none are the same. Example: One small mom and pop distributor sells 100% of our product in a region they own, i.e. only show in town. Two states over a regional vendor (much larger) sells ~20% our product. Who do you think gets a better deal from us? Here's a hint the one that buys more.. not the bigger one. If you buy from maybe 10 distributors probably don't have much leverage, but if it's from one and your loyal and have good credit, why not try.. your money. Credit is not credit. If you want, I'll have my buddy Rocko slide by in his black Town Car... he'll make you a good deal.

Credit is not credit, a CC has a much higher interest rate if you carry a balance and I'm assuming this shop would have one. How many average people never escape the CC trap. My challenge back would be have you ever tried to get better than Net 30? We have some Net 45, 60 etc. When I heard Net 90 I thought it was crazy town too. Someone from a competitor came onboard and I remember the day he told the sourcing team with particular OEM "we were leaving money on the table." I had to see it to believe it. From there it happened with a couple others too. I don't think restoration shops should be francises however, I bet you could find ten things they do well that would improve this shop if implemented.

I think your failing to consider the other side of the equation. I guarantee the shop in this thread is paying for most everything via credit card instead of picking up the phone and negotiating credit with suppliers to maximize cashflow. If you never try, you'll never know. I spent a decent amount of my career on turnaround teams working seven days a week trying to make unprofitable plants profitable. All of these facilities had the worst use of POs and undisciplined operations calling in people without negotiating anything.

I was told above "shops are checking credit and having people pay Net 48 hours." I later stated if you can't check credit you get cash. If your doing a $200k car.. I could see someone doing a check. Maybe, maybe not. There are 20K contractors and vendors in our system large and small, all but maybe a small handful that work with us have established payment terms. Just because your small doesn't mean you don't conform when you work with someone large if you choose to do so. Why do large companies roll this way? They are best practices that lead to higher returns. This is why locally owned franchises succeed at a high rate, the large parent won't let the small investor fail by going rouge. Something any failing business should ponder.

I completely agree that I would want full payment before releasing a car. However, if payroll alone puts you over the edge... you're barely hanging in there, all businesses have to make payroll. You should have enough cashflow from the previous month and retained earnings to cover that. Net 30 is the standard that everyone works off, I have cash coming in, cash going out hand to mouth. If someone were that tight on cash (such as the one discussed in this thread), my suggestion would be to offer discounted terms to accelerate payment to 10 or 15 days that would alleviate that problem and suggest a closer look at bad debt allowance and collections.

I will add a little more context and try to create an example that related to your businesses so you can perhaps see my perspective. I welcome any challenge that gives a real-life example rather than banter that doesn't explain why I'm wrong. I'm a high-net worth client with a car I want on the show tour. I come to you, get on your list, you conduct a credit check and take on my project. You find me to have excellent credit and begin work. Now, let's say we have no contract, and we don't clarify in writing. I would expect Net 30 payment, if we did clarify and you told me Net 48 hrs., I would look at you funny and ask why. There is no good reason to do a credit check on someone then require rapid payment, none whatsoever unless the shop is in trouble and has more cash going out than in. That's the only business reason. That isn't the finance conversation I would expect to happen at the clubhouse over brandy and cigars, it's the conversation I would expect to hear at the 7-Eleven next to the title loan store. I would love to know an actual business case for a successful shop (good credit) and an affluent customer (good credit) to have net terms any more aggressive than 15 days (what I have seen for people with marginal credit). One day you have a show at your site and welcome a club to park there. I have a water pump fail; you invite me inside and graciously fix me up. I ask you want I need to pay and I offer cash, CC or check and you take my card. I would never expect payment terms of Net 30. You don't know me, I don't know you. The payment terms and framework I described above is standard for all industries and businesses and clients that do repeat (the important part) business where credit is checked, and agreements are made. I don't care if you make snow cone machines, run a strip club or restore cars, business finance and credit collections is totally agnostic. If you can't check credit, absolutely cash is king, pay me now!

Read what I wrote again sir... it does.