Quote:
Originally Posted by PatBuckley
I bet the "average" ERA build is around $55-60,000
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Pat is right on the money for an SC car using a original FE 428 or aftermarket iron FE block. Shelby/Pond block would be a tad more of course. I had a few different spreadsheets for second/3rd builds listing every single part, cost, information and studied it for a year before getting my first ERA; the rest of the variances come from the (variables) listed above. This includes things like getting your pipes ceramic coated, having driveshafts and 1/2 shafts made..., custom shifter linkage/parts, correct steering rack, rear battery mount kit, special switches, good wiring harness, ... on and on, ...all the little stuff people tend forget to add in the costs when building one. $500-$1000 for this and that here and there goes fast.
I too followed used 427 ERAs for many years before the economy mess that were built for less than 50K. When looking real closely after building one (then knowing what to look for) and noting many of those sub-50 cars many were missing key parts, non-leather seats, wrong carpets, using 390 blocks, wrong gauges, tired motors...wrong hubs/wheels/offsets, or bad body/paint, or a mish-mash of parts in a few rare cases. And so many built right with the direction of ERA, using ERA supplied parts.
The reason they sell for good prices used when they are well built is because folks who've built them know what it takes to do them right in the first place and know what it takes to replace them with all the right parts/bits. Also worth mentioning is they are not mass produced, and the entry fee and parts to finish them is a bit higher and worth every penny. Hand made custom built quality cars.