BUTCH- DA Speedster

That pretty red car in the new pics section coupled with the author's question prompted me to ad this post or refresh it as price and value are a constant thorn in replicaP-car paws.

My two model year old Vintage in 2000 cost me $17,500 from Bill at California Classix. I feel he does a great job selling special cars. He is a real car guy and did a fabulous photo spread and his descriptions are both factual and illicit the fantasy to get the sales rolling.

My car was checked out by a local VW mechanic and passed muster with high marks generally and some cautionary upgrades and small repairs like the turn signal return ring, the moving of the gas filter. Future concerns were wiring and fuse overloads.

Required work and repairs over the past six years ad up to about $2500-3000.

Normal maintenance for me has worked out to about $700 annually on average. The footnote here is that the wilder engine and supporting speed equipment has run up the average the past few years.

The optional cosmetic items are an area where a guy doesn't need to spend anything on a car like that red one if he doesn't want to. It is real pretty and represents the original P-car pretty well.
I've spent a few thousand dollars on paint and upholstery.

The optional mechanical upgrades portion of the ledger is where I have learned that you should know everything possible about the VW power-plant before you buy a replicaP-car. For some a 1915 w/dual carbs will be fine as they putt-putt around town and occasionally hit the open road.

I modified the stock 1776, then had it completely rebuilt and then spent lots of money with Massive Type4 for a real powerful engine.
Between the modifications and the complete new engine I have spent about $20K over the past six years.

The related support equipment and cooling stuff and custom engine add-ons tally another $6000 over the years.

Miscellaneous expenditures often get over-looked; a two hundred dollar faux roll-bar. A sixty dollar stop light and another sixty dollars worth of wiring it into aforementioned roll bar. Hell, I have had four combinations of tailpipes and mufflers and tips and I'd bet that will soon embrace another $1000. Getting the 'right' badges to create the fifties flavor, hell, there's another grand, easy!

Of course you have a chance to resell parts, over-buys and unused items as you play with your car as I have done, it's not a guarantee you'll get what you paid, but it can help fund the next foible!

So what does one pay for a replica?
It really depends!

....& Pauly let$ not forget the late$t grand you needle$$ly $pent on Butch due to the Joy Ride that ironically $tarted this po$t.That really $ucked.

Hey Rick,
Yeah shit happens, but my point in outlining costs I have CHOSEN to make in this thread was to point out that with replicars, value and PRICE are very subjective and don't align readily.

Second idea was that a person contemplating a replicar purchase needs to have a good handle on how and where they drive and what the cost of 'adding-to' or upgrading can be...

In real estate the ultimate arbiter of value has always been the price a willing buyer and seller agree to. It's not a lot different here with replicarzzz.

Absolutely true.
Butch is a bargain considering you already did all the $pending where it can become wallet draining: good old fashion reliable go fast driveline. & like you said, the personal stuff can be retrofited reasonably by other personal stuff.That's what Speedsters are all about: "What else can I do next to the Butch canvas?".
I haven't been able to shake that addiction that carried over from the VS to the 911 now. You should come over and see the 27" rims with spinners I was able to fit under the turbo flares. (I think I just threw up in my mouth... :o)

I was just at your house, left something on your porch.
Threw up in your mouth, now that's funny.
Karen says bring home a quart of milk.
8/

Uuhhh.... I won't touch the qt. Too EZ...(O: