Chuck:
When I bought #142, it was at a stage that was about 65% complete compared to a roller. I spent a lot of time (and money) understanding what details meant the most to me, and I came to realize that they all did. With a Kirkham, you start with an excellent canvas, and how close to original you want to go depends on the time you are willing to spend to sweat those details.
You cannot go wrong having the Kirkhams build the car to roller status. They will do a superb job, and from a financial standpoint, you really can't do it yourself for the same price. For me, however, the build was much of the fun, and since I am mechanically inclined, and intimately familiar with the details, the end result has turned out great. The biggest challenge was understanding what tasks were better contracted out, and then finding someone you trust to do it correctly. My car, because of those details will be slightly different from one out of the Kirkham factory. Not better, but more accurate to the original '60's product, and as a purist, that means a lot to me. TC is correct, however, on the importance of the pedrigree, but if you are doing one of these with an eye to resale, well.........
David, Tom, Steve and crew are the best, and regardless of who finishes up the car, you are in for a treat. Feel free to contact me anytime, and I will be happy to advise you on any aspect of the car.
All the best,
Bud
