I have been thinking about our GT40 mistress's and their value for some time. I am amazed at how so many owners and enthusiast's seem willing to perpetuate the down grading of the value of our GT40 replicas. I reckon that I have 800+ hours (1000 counting prep and paint) invested in my GTD. I don't blame anyone for looking for a bargin. We all want the best value we can get for our hard earned money. I don't understand people who, knowing that these cars can easily eat $70,000 to $100,000 to build register and legalize, continue to help newbies find $25,000 to #40,000 bargins. To bad more of us don't try to explain the facts to the buyers. i.e unbuilt kits with no engines,paint, registration, import fees etc.,sell for more than they are willing to pay. Maybe they aren't ready to make the plunge! When you follow a little history you begin to understand what cheap prices might cause.
1. GTD came close to bankruptcy trying to keep costs down and to respond to government regulations. They squeaked by and sold to Roger Marsh and made a licensing deal with CAV and then GTD folded.
2. CAV goes under after over expansion and a disasterous attempted deal with Shelby. Then it managed a resurrection under Auto Futura, spending needed time and money on needed upgrades.With an upgraded product and uprated pricing they look like survivors. However they live in a low cost building enviroment and could not survive for long without higher prices if they were in a higher build cost situation.
3. What happened to Saber/KVA, GT40 New Zealand, our own home grown mono to compete with ERA etc. etc.
4. Last but not least, what happened to RF? Having been to Roberts shop on 2 different trips; having met Robert and seeing his dedication and organization of the company and his love of the gt40, it is hard to believe he has not succeeded .
I think the lesson hrer is that you cannot survive without a reasonable profit, no matter how much you love what you are doing or how goood you are at what you do. All of this rant is my way of saying, I think that the more we continue to downgrade the value of our GT's the harder we make it for quality suppliers to survive. A business evaluation done in the early 90's told me that as a stand alone business with proper licensing, insurance etc.,you would have to sell turn key cars for $80,000 US to stay in business. So guys quit trying to help people steal our cars for 1/2 price. Instead try pushing what they are really worth - maybe then we will have a few more survivors. End of Lecture.
1. GTD came close to bankruptcy trying to keep costs down and to respond to government regulations. They squeaked by and sold to Roger Marsh and made a licensing deal with CAV and then GTD folded.
2. CAV goes under after over expansion and a disasterous attempted deal with Shelby. Then it managed a resurrection under Auto Futura, spending needed time and money on needed upgrades.With an upgraded product and uprated pricing they look like survivors. However they live in a low cost building enviroment and could not survive for long without higher prices if they were in a higher build cost situation.
3. What happened to Saber/KVA, GT40 New Zealand, our own home grown mono to compete with ERA etc. etc.
4. Last but not least, what happened to RF? Having been to Roberts shop on 2 different trips; having met Robert and seeing his dedication and organization of the company and his love of the gt40, it is hard to believe he has not succeeded .
I think the lesson hrer is that you cannot survive without a reasonable profit, no matter how much you love what you are doing or how goood you are at what you do. All of this rant is my way of saying, I think that the more we continue to downgrade the value of our GT's the harder we make it for quality suppliers to survive. A business evaluation done in the early 90's told me that as a stand alone business with proper licensing, insurance etc.,you would have to sell turn key cars for $80,000 US to stay in business. So guys quit trying to help people steal our cars for 1/2 price. Instead try pushing what they are really worth - maybe then we will have a few more survivors. End of Lecture.