Hot Rod Kings: Top Traditional Rod and Custom Builders Book

No one buys a Porsche or Ferrari to save money. Like the guy at the Ferrari parts department says, "That's why God made Toyotas, Sir." Still, $69,805 for a 1983 SC has a little premium built into it.

So, why? Well, Mr. Wilkinson talks about how his favorite toy as a kid was an Erector Set, and how much he loves taking stuff apart and putting it back together. Later on in the book he relates how he built a friggin' plane for heavens sakes.* So there's that.

So he's definitely, and voluntarily, going upside down with this thing. The reason being he likes, even needs, to do the work, and secondly, he's GOING TO DRIVE this car. It is not an INVESTMENT. (Sorry about the CAPS.) It's a trend we're seeing at the Barrett Jackson** auctions with C1 and C2 Corvettes. The stockers are now being, in some cases, out priced by restomods.*** The old adage about stock being worth more than upgraded and modified is being challenged by cars being bought for driving purposes. If that 1965 (1963?) Corvette split-window is going to sit in your fifteen car garage attached to a Battery-Tender under a cover, who cares what it drives like? And it is probably a safer, more predictable investment. On the other hand, if you only have an SUV and a sports car, you may well want to upgrade to disc brakes. (Heck, 400 horsepower with side pipes and some fiberglass screwed on, might be a good idea to be able to stop, right?)

Anyway, all that being said, not having a fetish for 1983 911s, I myself might be inclined to pay Mr. Wilkerson a premium over a stock version of the same car. Not anywhere near $69,000, though.

'''''-
*He also tells of how he flew Russel Means (Indian activist guy) around in it, was investigated by the FBI, edited "Car and Driver" and "Flying," went to Harvard, etc. He's kind of a Baron Munchausen, I guess. Not doubting his stories, they're really pretty interesting, there's just more of them then there is of actual, um, wrench turning. ("Like my car? Let me tell you about myself...") Like those guys in Stereophile always talking about their wives. Why's this guy talking about his wife? Why does he think I care about his friggin' wife? What's she got to do with tube amplifiers? Is he afraid I'll think he's gay? I thought we were beyond that. Don't get me started on David Eggers in the New Yorker always talking about his boyfriend. Is he afraid we'll think he's straight? Jesus.

** "You couldn't build it for that."

*** Restored and modified. I think.