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When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 7:20 am
by Domb1972
I was just wondering whats the most money yall have put into a Raco GN ? I was talking to a friend the other day and he asked me "why are you putting so much money into a OLD OUTDATED 1/4 Scale car ? " I had to think for a second then answered becuase its just so cool and not many regular people got one.
I purchased the car for 450.00 with another mint TA RC10 I sold that car for 400.00 so I got like 50.00 bucks into the Raco. I have dropped about 800.00 on machine work but I consider this an investment because I will sell these parts on ebay, and 150.00 on powder coating. traded for some parts I needed and my tires and wheels are gonna cost me about 250-550.00 (not sure if going plastic or those cool aluminum) I have about 10 hours so far in polishing parts got about another 20 hours to go. Plus I spent about 200.00 on a polishing wheel and xtras compounds,sand paper, pads, etc... The body I am having custom painted like Dale Sr. 1980's wrangler car (yellow /Blue) the body shop is gonna charge me $300.00 new Zo RC260 motor 300.00 with new clutch, new servos 150.00, and Killer RC Kill Switch 100.00, Custom Pipe the muffler shop is charging me 150.00. 1/4 Scale Wrangler Decals having a friend run em for me 100.00 bucks.
I will have just under 3000.00 grand into my Raco GN!!!! TOO MUCH?
Just looking for opinions Thanks Dom
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 7:56 am
by Mike Casey
The most expensive Raco GN i ever saw sell was for $2200. Mint unused condition and it was a special edition painted from the factory only sold through Ford and Nascar Catalogs. Generally they sell in the $400 range for one that needs restoration or about 1k for a mint one.
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 7:57 am
by M.R. Ogle
Actually, your machine shop investment may give you some returns if you find others who need the same newly-manufactured parts, and your polishing equipment can be used from now till forever, so you REALLY don't have an exorbitant amount of money invested in just one car.
But with a custom body, custom parts, powder coated, all tricked out like that, you'd probably get the majority of your investment back if you ever decide to sell it. It sounds like it'll be quite a showpiece when done!
Besides, nobody else will have one like it!
Restoring anything older and out of production is a labor of love, not profit. I shudder to think of what guys spend to restore real cars that are long-since out of production. Probably many times more than what the cars sold for new!
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 10:46 am
by bad450
if you enjoy working on it and can afford it . its really dosent matter what its worth to other people. thiers other things you could be spending cash on and have nothing to show for it. in the end you cant take it with you. enjoy your build and show it off.
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 12:06 pm
by Venomusss
M.R. Ogle wrote:Besides, nobody else will have one like it!
Restoring anything older and out of production is a labor of love, not profit. I shudder to think of what guys spend to restore real cars that are long-since out of production. Probably many times more than what the cars sold for new!
Well said!
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 12:14 pm
by CALracing
If you can afford it and enjoy it, cost is not the issue. Have a good time!
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 25th, 2011, 5:11 pm
by Domb1972
Thanks for the replies , yea I have a bad habit of diving in head first lol. This is the reason I kept going back and forth if I was going to sell it or not, I knew once I decided to build it I was gonna go way over board

I dont plan on selling it. I have not seen one GN PIMPED out I have seen some nice ones but none done up like im doing this one and I understand why, the value is just not there. But thats all the more reason to go all out. I have started a build in the projects fourm so check in I will be updating as I progress. I just about got everything on the rear of the car polished out, I strarted to polish the rear ladder bars but the cast is just making it way to difficult so I am going to run those over to my powder coating guy tomorrow I am also thinking of doing the 2 bars in yellow powder coat as well to give the car a nice balance of polish and yellow. What do yall think. This is the what my body is getting painted like.
http://www.thunderplex.com/stockcarmode ... ler_mc.jpg
Thanks Dom
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 26th, 2011, 9:04 am
by Mike Casey
Everyone here overspends on a project. Its no big deal and really does not matter at all as long as you love it. The value does not matter if you dont ever plan to sell

Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 27th, 2011, 3:11 pm
by K
Dom: If it makes you happy then it's worth its weight in gold!
Re: When is to much, to much
Posted: May 27th, 2011, 4:32 pm
by bobjeffreson
"it's worth its weight in gold! "
And isn't the gold price off the planet currently, hovering around US$1500 an ounce . Makes jewellery very, very expensive these days.
I remember as an apprentice in 1966, being sent to buy gold at US$35 an ounce... the price mandated by the US Government.