Build time
 

To the guys that built there cars from kit form, who's kit manufacture and what was your build time?

Supposedly, you can put together an ERA in around one to two weeks. http://www.erareplicas.com/427/con1.htm

Doug at ERA probably could, but not a first time builder.

Ehhhhh, I don't even think Doug could do that anymore -- we're all getting older, after all. On their web site they have a video somewhere of a stunt build that they did at one of the big conventions, maybe about twenty years ago, and they put one together in a little more than an afternoon. Personally, it takes me all weekend just to do an oil change and valve adjustment.:cool:

Tricky question. Depends what stage kit you get. I got a Classic Revival in "Rolling Chassis" Stage - Body on Chassis, Suspension, Brakes and Steering done.

Got it in Sept and had it in Engineering late Dec - 3 months of late nights and a few weekends. (then took 12 months to finish it off with Paint and Interior etc)

I reckon the "rolling Chassis" stage is about half distance effort-wise.

All depends on the kit you get and how comprehensive it is, e.g. how many parts you have to scrounge/buy etc.

I believe the Paces have been built in 3-4 months of solid work. Just depend on how much spare time you have. Also how much cash to buy things as you go too. cheers Gregg

A friend and I got Factory Five kits at the same time. He was retired and had his registered within about 18 months.

I am not retired so tended to mostly just work on my car on Sundays. Took me 4 years to get rego.

Harrison's kit. 752 hours. Over the course of about 20 months.

a roller can be completed in about six months if you work on it a little every day and a lot on the weekends. PLUS paint, a couple of months to 8 years.

First time builder, I would guess 2 years.


And then there is the anal factor. Rough and ready, anything will work, 1/4" bolt in 1/2" hole kind of guy. He always fast. 2 -3 months?

The guy who wants everything perfect, very slow, just ordering the correct parts takes a lot time. A couple of years. Or he gives up and sells.

I have a buddy who has built several over the years. First FFR was done in 5 months. He had a full time day job but worked on the car till one in the morning, every spare minute he had. Even if it was just 15 minutes.
The last one was a roller. I think it took 4 or 5 months but he was retired and had a lot of time and experience and tools.

Experience is a big time saver. The biggest factor is the personality of the builder.

I'm a slow, do it several times till I get it correct kind of guy. When I see a kit car build in a month or two, I'm thinking a lot of stuff needs to be redone.

I bought a GT 40 built in 6 months. HUNDREDS of problems. After two years of band-aids I torn the car down to the frame and started over. When I received the car it was unsafe on the road. And the potential for break downs was certain.

I have seen and worked on a lot of kit car, muscle cars, hot rods that were unsafe because of the guys who build or worked on them.

Bottom line, take your time and do it correctly. Your life may depend on it.