I am writing this for my son, he is 13 years old and very courious on some oppions that you guys can give to him about restoring older tractors versus older cars and trucks.. He has a 1958 ford 4 door that he has traded for now and my dad and I are gonna help him finish restoring.. Its about 80 percent restored at the moment and we are gonna finish to have for his first driver. But, He has the idea that restored old cars and trucks will make more profit than older classic tractors. I have told him that the time he puts in on a older car/truck that he could probably turn the same time out on 2-3 older tractors with out as much money out of pocket expences and just as much profit total. I have never restored a tractor my self, just fix them, work them as a bussiness so, that is why I wanted him to here it strait from you guys, You guys have forgotten more than I will probably ever know!! He is very tallented around anything with a engine, rather its a piece of equiptment or autos,.. I AM NOT JUST SAYING THIS because he is my son, he is already pulling motors and replacing them " with my help with the heavy stuff and a little advise ofcourse" and can figure out so much on his own.. He is just looking in the future as far as a career/hobby is conserned. In youre oppinion, is restoring tractor(s) worth considering over old cars/trucks as far as a future ... Shoot it to us striaght, neither of us are "thin skinned".. OR am I telling him wrong? His name is Justin if you want it dirrected to him personally. And you can remain "mr. no name" if it effects your bussiness!!! THANKS GUYS in advance!!! Larry
- Thread starter Dozer Guy
- Start date
olgentdc
Well-known Member
If You Really believe You can make $$$$ You must choose Your model carefully ,, whether it be Car or Tractor , Personally , When I resurrect a tractor , I have every intention of putting it back in the Feild , and getting some of My sweat Equity back,,,I have a Mercury Convertible I will Never Sell,,,All Cars are simply Money -pit hobbies , To Me it has to be a LABOR of LOVE ,, And who can part with their Love without some Heartbreak ?..neighborhood Shop has a sign refering to ladies and Cars that says "If It Has (poof)s or TIRES It Will give You Problems"
P.S .With All due respect , I would encourage the son to find FORD Escort rather than put the classic 58 Ford in the hi -school parking lot ,, Your Son May very Well be a GREAT kid ,, But the other kids Jealosys Will play a major Role to destroy his dream car.. i know From lessons learned .,, best Wishes Jim
P.S .With All due respect , I would encourage the son to find FORD Escort rather than put the classic 58 Ford in the hi -school parking lot ,, Your Son May very Well be a GREAT kid ,, But the other kids Jealosys Will play a major Role to destroy his dream car.. i know From lessons learned .,, best Wishes Jim
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Depending on the outcome of today, the most profit may be in doing nothing and letting working folks pay our way 
But seriously, I don't really see a big monetary profit after buying the project, parts/supplies, and paying himself. So, it's got to be a labor of love. The only apholstery that may be on a tractor is the seat. Plastic parts to restore will be a steering wheel and a couple of knobs. The rest is elbow grease, paint, and tinkering. No windshield wipers to fix, heater core to replace, mouse smell to get rid of etc. He's gotta decide for himself I think.
And, like Mr Heitkemper pointed out, a tractor is less likely to attract a key from some punk that didn't have the ambition to create something for himself. At 13, I had to be doing something that I could see quick progress on (wait, I'm still like that :roll: )
Hope he picks something that he's happy with.
Dave
But seriously, I don't really see a big monetary profit after buying the project, parts/supplies, and paying himself. So, it's got to be a labor of love. The only apholstery that may be on a tractor is the seat. Plastic parts to restore will be a steering wheel and a couple of knobs. The rest is elbow grease, paint, and tinkering. No windshield wipers to fix, heater core to replace, mouse smell to get rid of etc. He's gotta decide for himself I think.
And, like Mr Heitkemper pointed out, a tractor is less likely to attract a key from some punk that didn't have the ambition to create something for himself. At 13, I had to be doing something that I could see quick progress on (wait, I'm still like that :roll: )
Hope he picks something that he's happy with.
Dave
Clodbuster
Member
The best money may be getting hired out to work on other people's stuff. The bad thing about a restoration of a common tractor is that you quickly spend more on parts than the tractor will sell for if it needs much work.
When dealing in old cars or tractors the bigger money is in rare items that are worth a premium when done. You can spend nearly the same time and money doing a 1 of 100 or a 1 of 30,000. The initial cost of the project will reflect the rarity, but the payback will be greater.
This all depends on your ability to find cheap projects to start with and the ways to have your own junkyard or parts supply. The auto rebuilders I know do well but they have well-heeled car owners paying them to work on the car. I know the projects that they have built to try to make money on ended up selling for a loss while taking up shop hours that could have been billed out!
It is a special person that has the mechanical talents so keep working on them. You can make money if you watch every penny spent.
When dealing in old cars or tractors the bigger money is in rare items that are worth a premium when done. You can spend nearly the same time and money doing a 1 of 100 or a 1 of 30,000. The initial cost of the project will reflect the rarity, but the payback will be greater.
This all depends on your ability to find cheap projects to start with and the ways to have your own junkyard or parts supply. The auto rebuilders I know do well but they have well-heeled car owners paying them to work on the car. I know the projects that they have built to try to make money on ended up selling for a loss while taking up shop hours that could have been billed out!
It is a special person that has the mechanical talents so keep working on them. You can make money if you watch every penny spent.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
That brings to mind a friend who bought a '64 Mustang convertible in Florida and shipped it back to Michigan for restoration. When the car arrived it had chain marks and dents where it was lashed to the carrier. He set about repairing the dents and while he was working on it his 3 or 4 year old son was busy pounding somewhere else in the garage. Well come to find out his son was doing a bit of "body work" on the rear deck panel. ARRRGH!
Well in hindsight if I had spent as much time and money on Chevelles and Cudas as I did on John Deere's I'd be FAR FAR better off !
He is allready makeing a mistake in spending any money fixing up a 4 door car as 4 doors are worthless compared to 2 doors. This isn't me saying so it is the way the market is.
I have also found out there is more and easier money to be made in just buying and reselling things rather then fixing them up. As soon as you start spending money on repairs is when you start losing money.
And a restoration done RIGHT you are going to end up with more money and time in it then it is ever worth. These kinda projects are best for items that have setimental value and never planned for sale.
He is allready makeing a mistake in spending any money fixing up a 4 door car as 4 doors are worthless compared to 2 doors. This isn't me saying so it is the way the market is.
I have also found out there is more and easier money to be made in just buying and reselling things rather then fixing them up. As soon as you start spending money on repairs is when you start losing money.
And a restoration done RIGHT you are going to end up with more money and time in it then it is ever worth. These kinda projects are best for items that have setimental value and never planned for sale.
john in la
Well-known Member
You will have more money in any restored car/tractor than you can ever expect to get out of it; but at least rare one of a kind cars come close.
So with that said try to find a car that is as rare as the one in the picture if you want to restore and make money at it.
1 of 4 built and is the only one known to be road worthy.
So with that said try to find a car that is as rare as the one in the picture if you want to restore and make money at it.
1 of 4 built and is the only one known to be road worthy.
Clint Youse MO
Member
IF he is serious abotu making money he could do either one but do it for hire dont buy a project rebuild and restore and expect to make a profit I have some fairly odd tractors nothing super rare but still have more in them than they will bring at auction
glennster
Well-known Member
speaking as a shop owner, if he is going to buy either and restore it to sell as a profit, its a losing proposition from the get go. we will do one auto restoration at a time here for customers, and primarily as fill in work from collision repairs. right now we have a javelin in the shop, done this car will have somewhere in the 30-40k in work. car isnt worth that much. but its the owners passion and he is keeping the car, also, i am repainting a farmall m for one of our customers, and doing some odds and ends work, just going to be a parade tractor. all said and done on that one, including the purchase price, new tires, paint work, some engine work, and new bolt ons, it will have close to 12k in that, far more than the tractor is worth. if he wants to do restoration work, do other peoples projects, dont buy em to fix and sell.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I am glad to see your son is interested in doing something like this. I don't think there is a chance to make much money restoring and selling old cars or tractors. I think a person can make a little money just buying things that are not running at a good price. and reselling them, after getting them operational. I am always on the look out for these kind of things. My problem is I never resell them. Motorcycles are a good investement if you can find one. Just about any old Indian, or Harley motorcycle is good if you can find one in a barn that has been there for 50 years or more, they are out there if you can find them. A complete running Indian four cylinder can bring 20, 30k a restored one can bring 50,60k. Have fun Stan
Tractors and cars are a great HOBBY. Work with your son to get the skills to do it right, but....First and foremost, support him getting an education in whatever he has the TALENT for. Not what society says or what others want for him. We all have some inate strengths for certain kinds of pursuits. Go for it. Keep tractors and cars as a hobby and start building and investing in ASSETS....land, stocks, bonds etc.....maybe even build a small rental bldg or U-Store type building so OTHERS with cars and tractors can PAY YOU.
I have many, many friends that have classic muscle cars. Not ONE, Not ONE has really made money on a car. It is a labor of love, not a business. By the time ya get done with the parts, paint, and do it yourself, you are lucky if you aren't down 25 - 30%. If you hire the restoration out, you would be lucky to be at 50%. The same with tractors. The best deal is probably buy one already restored.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
If you're doing restoration work, the only way to make it profitable is to work with OPM...other people's money. Don't own the cars or tractors yourself. When a 4-bar Cub grille in reproduction is almost $400, you know you'll never make a dime doing it for yourself. BUT if you do it for the owner, and let him pay you, you'll get a return on your investment every time...unless you price your labor too cheaply. And to REALLY make some money, it's better to won the business...but to get to that point, working for someone else and watching them run their business is good experience to have.
With the economy where it is right now,work on restorations might get a ittle scarce for awhile; that's when doing just normal repairs, such as brakes and exhaust work and drivability stuff can pay your wages until the "nonessential" spending returns to more sustainable levels.
My advice is, even if the kid wants to go to college and get a degree in something else, getting trained in a trade such as automotive technology or welding at a local trade school beforehand is not time wasted. I only wish I'd have followed that path myself, rather than learning to weld after age 45 and getting the training to allow me to pass the ASE mechanical certifications after age 50. Had I been trained in these areas when I was younger, my options would've been a lot broader.
Go to the Tractor Tales board and look at Bouncer's pics from the Lanesville show in September...most of these tractors won't ever pull a plow again, except for display purposes. But another way of looking at it is, if push comes to shove, in times of uncertain economic conditions, which wstands a better chance of paying for itself...a restored Edsel, or a restored 8N? I'd bet on the 8N.
With the economy where it is right now,work on restorations might get a ittle scarce for awhile; that's when doing just normal repairs, such as brakes and exhaust work and drivability stuff can pay your wages until the "nonessential" spending returns to more sustainable levels.
My advice is, even if the kid wants to go to college and get a degree in something else, getting trained in a trade such as automotive technology or welding at a local trade school beforehand is not time wasted. I only wish I'd have followed that path myself, rather than learning to weld after age 45 and getting the training to allow me to pass the ASE mechanical certifications after age 50. Had I been trained in these areas when I was younger, my options would've been a lot broader.
Go to the Tractor Tales board and look at Bouncer's pics from the Lanesville show in September...most of these tractors won't ever pull a plow again, except for display purposes. But another way of looking at it is, if push comes to shove, in times of uncertain economic conditions, which wstands a better chance of paying for itself...a restored Edsel, or a restored 8N? I'd bet on the 8N.
Gary in da UP
Member
Justin, as a bodyman/ painter/ restorer with 40 years of experience, I would advise you to have fun with what you are doing . The skills necessary to do this should serve you well thru life.I know could have done other things in life that would have made me more money, but the satisfaction of completeing a major restoration and starting another is something that many careers don't match up to. I have a lot of my customers come from some distance and pass other bodyshops to get to me, and that is satisfying too.More times than I can remember I have pointed out to customers that they could probably buy an already completed car for many thousands less but so far that has not discouraged any one I have worked for. Until you get to restoreing for others and your projects are your own fix up what YOU want. I for one haven't seen a 58 Ford since I was 5 years oldand I think it sounds like a great learning experience and it won't be a belly-button car {everybody else has one} Lets see some photos of your work.. Heres one of what I have been working on.
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215/garyindaup/?action=view¤t=PICT0007-4.jpg" target="_blank">
![PICT0007-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket](https://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215/garyindaup/PICT0007-4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket)
</a>
Good luck, Justin.gh
<a href="http://s265.photobucket.com/albums/ii215/garyindaup/?action=view¤t=PICT0007-4.jpg" target="_blank">
Good luck, Justin.gh
Well I actually learned something new today ! That's what is great about this site.
I never knew such cars were ever built. I even have some old car books and never a mention.
I googled it and read some more about them. In addition to that 1936 model they also made some in 1960 T-Birds and 1967 Continentals and it sounds like all of them have logged many miles over the years being used as advertisements for the stainless company.
I never knew such cars were ever built. I even have some old car books and never a mention.
I googled it and read some more about them. In addition to that 1936 model they also made some in 1960 T-Birds and 1967 Continentals and it sounds like all of them have logged many miles over the years being used as advertisements for the stainless company.
The guys making money on this stuff buy cheap because they have cash on hand. Put just enough effort into the equipment to get it working, maybe slap on a cheap paint job. Then sell it for a profit to the guy who just has to have "one of those", but doesn't have the time or facilities to fix it up himself.
You 13 year old son can talk to my 15 year old self if he wants, [email protected]
Its a geat hobby. You"ll loose a lot of money, but its worth it.
Its a geat hobby. You"ll loose a lot of money, but its worth it.
olgentdc
Well-known Member
Buzz , What is bouncers tractor ??? ,, Thanx for well wishes in Council Race ....... Are You welding these days?, you were pretty cool as radio DJ,,, But i suppose that is a tuf biznes to stay ahead of the crowd also ,, Day by Day
Paul from MI
Well-known Member
Can't speak to finances. I know I have far more invested in my restorations than they are worth. But when someone says "Did you restore it yourself?" and you say "Yes, took me three years" the pride of accomplishment has more value than money. My Dad always said "There's no U-hauls in a funeral procession" and Dad was right. Do what you want, take pride in your work and DON'T LOOK BACK.
Paul
Paul
john in la
Well-known Member
RandyB(MI)
Well-known Member
After reading all and remembering your original question...cars or tractors , I , a 35 year veteran of both (mostly cars)will not attempt to tell you what to do for a profession , you didn't ask that , but rather whether to do cars or tractors. If you are young , ambitious , sharp sense of feel and sight and no sign of arthritis and a perfectionist , then you will make more on cars. Not only in restoring but you will get some good insurance jobs if you are good enough. Tractors are a good alternative to get into when you get older (50+)a little slower , sight isn't 20/20 , arthritis IS , but you need to make some money in addition to your main job , gives you the satisfaction of being a perfectionist that you will never get at that job and still fullfills the passion to make something mechanical and OLD as close to new again as possible. The only way you will make a GOOD living at either is if you get good enough and lucky enough to have Reggie Jackson , Jay Lenno and the likes as your customers. Good Luck.
Gary, them's my sentiments exactly! I worked as an auto body man and refinisher for 50 years, and like you say-the satisfaction of doing a job perfectly, often out-weigs the low pay yer getting!
And, when ya work for a shop, they have the problems with the money, not you!
Yes, i wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I had a good reputation as an auto painter and body man, so i didn't see any reason to change.
And, when ya work for a shop, they have the problems with the money, not you!
Yes, i wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I had a good reputation as an auto painter and body man, so i didn't see any reason to change.
I have several old cars and tractors......got away from the car thing and have been selling stuff I dont plan on using in the future to fund other projects...ive collected a lot of car stuff over the years....still debating on parting with the factory 8 track player from a 67 chevelle ....from what ive found it was the first year installed and pretty rare...
I sold a 65 Chevelle Malibu...minus drivetrain.....a few weeks ago..but Im keeping my 70 Chevelle SS 396 4 speed.....I started resto several years ago and got side tracked....the 70 will be worth way more when finished than the 65 ever will be......
Right now I take a tractor or piece of equipment, go over it, and end up with something I can use right now with little invested....cars can wait till I retire....
I sold a 65 Chevelle Malibu...minus drivetrain.....a few weeks ago..but Im keeping my 70 Chevelle SS 396 4 speed.....I started resto several years ago and got side tracked....the 70 will be worth way more when finished than the 65 ever will be......
Right now I take a tractor or piece of equipment, go over it, and end up with something I can use right now with little invested....cars can wait till I retire....
Similar threads
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.
Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy