AC Daytona project. "The bodyshop"

[a187lbird]

WOW that paint is more reflective than my bathroom mirror!

[Paul]

lucky you

[Paul]

Two things I'm working on:

Aluminum bodies for the Daytona and the Cobra
Scale tires for the Daytona and Cobra(in rubber)

Actualy three: the spokewheels for the Cobra. What a job...
Just prototyping..

[Paul]

Mold of the quarterscale AC Datona is ready.
Now make some bodies.
At least 5 in a row. If all the bodies looking good the mold is 100%

Unfortunuatly there's a delay in machining the parts like wheels, wheelcenters, steeringwheel etc.
But some progress is better than noting..

[CALracing]

Great Job Paul!

[Paul]

Honestly? NOPE

I do sell but not enough. That is why my e-shop is closed.
But what I make is sold.
I only do projects which are sold already.

But for example the competition Cobra and the white Cobra with spokewheels are mine.
Not because I want to have them but I have to prototpe and learn to make perfect products.
Problem is that my prototpes as good as the production types

I know what the problem is: My products are too expensive.
I don't care. Want to make quality.
Not a shitty chassis with a V8, with a shitty body and no details.

Spend three months full time on that crappy Daytona body to make it nice and shiny.
Than the paintjob,the polishing.
Than a decent mold.
I have to sell at least 30 bodies for Euro 375.- to get my investment on return..

I prefer to sell to people who has a eye for quality and detail.
Quality will cost some..

For example: The Daytona is a project which is already sold.
But: I got a body from that customer, well.....bad quality, no headlights etc.
To learn I decided to make a mold etc.
He will not pay for the mold, do it myself. Hope to sell some more.
And: I can use some bodies to prototpe to make adjustments, experimenting etc.
Learning money..

But: because I invest I get some other intersting projects, projects no one will see.
From drawing to plug to mold etc.
From nothing to a high end model.

Believe me: If you want some nice stuff, start saving, buy from me!!!!
And everything is possible.

[Paul]

I considered buying a Cobra body a while back because they looked to be great quality, but I could never find the price on them so I gave up.
I don't like having to email someone to get a price, or to hunt around trying to find a price. If I have to do that just to get a price, I usually won't bother and I just move on to something else where they openly list their prices.
I'd probably consider buying one of the Daytona bodies, but again what's the price?
If someone were just to post the price here and say "the bodies are $xxx", then maybe it would motivate people like me.

Had a shop for years, with prices. No one used it. everybody e-mailed me for a quote.
But I understand your opinion.
With the regulair stuff I have the same, want to know the price.
But with these models there a lot of possibilties with a pricerange from Euro 360.- to Euro 10.000.-
So the list will be that huge, no one will understand it.
Thx.

[Paul]

The first body out of the mold.
I'm satisfied

[Paul]

And for DTW:

The price for a body and a well fitting spoiler will be Euro 410.-
What you see is what you get.
Other options like splitted body/bonnet are posibble

Other parts not available yet, butt will be soon.
Do not no the price yet.

[fuzzymuff]

Hi Paul.
I understand you problem with price.
People do not realise the amount of time and money you need to invest in certain projects to make quality products..
Your cars you build look FANTASTIC.
Graham

[Paul]

Exactly!
Thx

[Paul]

DTW:

You're right!
Pm me, you can learn me something, maybe you can advise me.
Love the opinion from different people.

Thx. Paul Smallenburg

[Paul]

Hey Funky,

I know. Had a lots of thoughts about it.
Few points:

I had a Conley Cobra and T-bucket in my hands.
With all respect but the quality is not my thing.
It is obvious that those cars were build to sell the engines.
Nothing wrong with it, I would love to have it!
Again: it is a choice of the designer.

If Mr Conley pays the same attention to his bodywork, chassis and details as for his engines he would be the "Quarterscalegod"

I think I have to move to the US and work together with him, than we have 2 "gods"

My pricing is high because I build not that many.
And:very important: the Tax in Europe is unbelieveable high in comparing the US.
Example: if I sell a part for 20 Euro: 21% is VAT.50% is productioncosts and 29% is profit.
From that 29% profit I have to pay at leat 34% incometax.
So what do I have for myself??

And yes. I do not believe in the old stuff.
I build rc cars, full alloy. High quality.
And a 10 grand will contain a fully RTR high end car.
To build a Cobra will cost me 150 hours.

Did you ever hold a Jeron?
I did.
I would never drive it, looks very nice, high end etc. but it will fall apart after 10 minutes.
It is not build to drive it but to have it.
That is a difference.

Most ugly thing: everybody want the cars you can not drive it but only show it.

My mistake!

Nice discussion by the way
It is nice when everbody can tell their opinions in a nice way, love mit.

[Paul]

I love the old stuff, which in my opinion is far from "shitty", but the classics (Conley, Jeron etc) had to start somewhere.
I firmly believe Pauls cars will be equally sought after in 20 years. They will be classics. Get in now while the prices are right.
You're right with rims though Emilio. Good scale rims and tires will always sell, and sell at premium prices. It's one of those things which can give an average car a quality look. I dislike the thought of putting foam tires on any car. I'd much rather put real rubber tires on a car. If someone did a run of cast halibrand rims, or some of the other old classic rims, surely they would sell.

Hmm,

I made those Haliband rims.
Sold: 2 sets.
Rubber tires I'm working on.

The Spokerims:

One set of spokerims with hubs, old style brakediscs and wheelnuts will cost Euro 2700.-
Production time: 8 days. Fully handmade.
Believe me, it is a hell of a job to assemble those.
Developing time: 18 months
Costs: too much.
But there premium

Quotes: a lot.
Sold: 5 sets.

[Bobby Dodger]

Paul speaketh the truth. Lot of guys talk; not many write checks. My hat is off to anyone who offers a quality quarterscale product for sale. He sure isn't doing it for the money!

Cheers
Rick F