Today's cost to build a stocker ?

[Mike Gray]

Originally Posted by B Parker

We all race the cars we do for different reasons. I had a lower class car years ago. We ran R/SA. You might build and keep it running for less than some other combos because you don't have to worry about heads up in the eliminator. I being competitive as I am wanted to have the fastest one in the country. So I spent the money and worked hard and ended up with one of the faster ones. Then when it was time to sell it not many people wanted an R/SA wagon. Even though I spent the same money on the drive train that others did in higher class cars. Sold the car for about 1/2 what it would have been worth if it was a 69 Camaro. So the moral of this story for me was if I'm going to spend the money on the drive train I better put it something that has value body wise. Barry

X2 - Resale value can bring the (final) cost down when you sell the car. I keep telling my wife that as I try to find enough money to finish a '67 Shelby.

[mopacltd]

Doesn't Koski have a U/S mopar for sale?

[Doug Blackley]

If you can do a lot of the work yourself you can cut the costs down a ton.

[alejan1975]

My attempt at building a stocker(89 mustang) is about 30% complete and I have about 7500 in it (car was 600 of that). I expect to have another 3500 in it just to get it running and on the track for some testing. I'm hoping to be .30 under index with this set up. And this thing is U G L Y.

I would expect to sink another 10-15kin it years 2 and 3 assuming all goes well for a stouter motor, paint, race trans/clutch etc.

I'm pretty cheap and will do as much as possible myself, and it looks like 25k might get me a so-so looking car that's not super competitive.

But, I wanna go racing!!

[GrapeApe7575]

I have no doubt I could have picked up a used stocker for a fraction of what I paid to build my F/SA car.....but for me this was a bucket list thing. I also have no doubt that if I had participated more in the build I could have reduced the cost somewhat. But after hearing the rest of you it sounds like my spend was not totally out of line. We were able to go rounds at every race attended, and the equipment was never the reason for an early round departure.

No matter what you spend, whether it's a 5,000 actual mile 69 Z/28, Original Cobra Jet, or my 40 year old $1500 beater, you still have to DRIVE the thing to get maximum enjoyment out of it. Truthfully, I would have had just as much fun in a beater if I had driven it to the winners circle a few times!!!

[Dan Fahey]

Pure Stock will bring in the younger crowd if you start Classifying the new American cars and allow Imports to race. I get an email every couple weeks from someone asking about Pure Stock.

You want the younger crowd. They are buying the little cars. On test and tune days they are out in force. Add Stock Class Record at local track again and you will see interest.

The issue is not young people not wanting to race in Stock.
It is the entrenched American Car only racer community preventing it from happening.

Dan

[Harry 6674]

Originally Posted by Dan Fahey

Pure Stock will bring in the younger crowd if you start Classifying the new American cars and allow Imports to race. I get an email every couple weeks from someone asking about Pure Stock.

You want the younger crowd. They are buying the little cars. On test and tune days they are out in force. Add Stock Class Record at local track again and you will see interest.

The issue is not young people not wanting to race in Stock.
It is the entrenched American Car only racer community preventing it from happening.

Dan

Those young people you see on test and tune days are not driving stockers. They can run tens in their ricer for less money then they would have in a 15 second pure stocker. It's all about cheap boost.

[HandOverFist]

Originally Posted by Harry 6674

Those young people you see on test and tune days are not driving stockers. They can run tens in their ricer for less money then they would have in a 15 second pure stocker. It's all about cheap boost.

You have but to look at the Stock Car Classification guide...there are no slots for their cars.

[goinbroke2]

Talking about young people is a bit of a tangent but, there are lots of "young" guys dropping HUGE freaking money into cars. I agree that the guide has to be updated, but not neccessarily to include imports(Honda and mitsu are already there), but to include everything built.
Here is the guide, look at the latest year and more importantly, note that in the last few years the only vehicle available is the company's flagship. (ford and chev both go to 2013 but only for cobra jet and camaro, dodge goes to 2011 but only challenger)
AMC latest year 84
Buick 1997
Caddy 1990
Chev 2013 (camaro only)
Chrysler 2004
Dodge 2011 (challenger only)
Ford 2013 (mustang only)
Honda 2007
Mitsubishi 1991
Olds 2004
Opel 1974
Plymouth 2000
Pontiac 2008
Saturn 2008

So, you want to build a stocker? Either pony up $$$ for a new CJ or camaro/challenger or buy an "old" car (2008 or older) and restore it then build it.
THAT is the problem as I see it.
How about a new ford/chev/dodge fwd or awd 4/6cyl? The common question when trying to convince people to try is "where would my car fit"? Well, unless it's in the guide, IT DON'T! Maybe somebody doesn't want to build a 2009 fusion or cobalt, but would it really hurt to list all the vehicles?

I see a 74 torino for sale, I look in the guide to see how it fits etc. If it was like this back then, it wouldn't even be in the guide!

Now, back on topic...I have no idea what it will cost to build my crate but it will be as cheap as possible, for better or worse. (probably worse! LOL)

[Dan Fahey]

Originally Posted by HandOverFist

You have but to look at the Stock Car Classification guide...there are no slots for their cars.

Thank you..
Well said !

D