1976 280Z Restoration Project

[wheee!]

I had three shops quote and they are all around the same price. Basically they are buying the same parts as me from the internet and up charging.

[Pop's Z]

Perhaps you could just not do the seats until after the car is drive-able, then drive to the states to put some break-in miles on, and get the seats done. Put them in as is, throw a piece of foam down and cover with a beach towel. Drive it down here to Colorado and I'll introduce you to my guy...just sayin'.

Cheers, Mike

[wheee!]

Thanks, but I am good now. I have enough parts purchased from local friends to finish them the way I want.

The fact we Canadians have to accept is that the cars we love cost about 40% more to restore here than in the US. We don’t earn 40% more than Americans to cover our costs and when all our parts come from overseas or the US, we pay that much more with exchange, shipping and brokerage.

 

[wheee!]

Today has been a lesson in patience... had to basically assemble the whole door to get the power window regulator installed. Still waiting for the door locks to arrive and this should be good to go. 

 

custom door skins to come later. 

[Av8ferg]

Thanks, but I am good now. I have enough parts purchased from local friends to finish them the way I want.
The fact we Canadians have to accept is that the cars we love cost about 40% more to restore here than in the US. We don’t earn 40% more than Americans to cover our costs and when all our parts come from overseas or the US, we pay that much more with exchange, shipping and brokerage.
 

Why do cars cost more to restore in Canada? Is it a tax thing or just a smaller market resulting in higher prices.


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[wheee!]

Why do cars cost more to restore in Canada? Is it a tax thing or just a smaller market resulting in higher prices.


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Because we buy most of our parts from the states. Our dollar is worth 30% less than yours so if we both make $50,000 a year, you actually have 30% greater buying power. Top that with ridiculous shipping fees, taxes, and brokerage and we end up about 40% more cost in restoring a car. That’s life.

[grannyknot]

3 hours ago, wheee! said:

Because we buy most of our parts from the states. Our dollar is worth 30% less than yours so if we both make $50,000 a year, you actually have 30% greater buying power. Top that with ridiculous shipping fees, taxes, and brokerage and we end up about 40% more cost in restoring a car. That’s life.

Now if only we could add a clause to NAFTA 2.0 that stipulates that all cars restored in Canada shall be purchased at a 40% premium.

[wheee!]

The CUSMA should help keep a lot of our costs down, but there are so many exceptions, it’s hard to say....

[Av8ferg]

Well that makes sense. You seem to be doing a pretty good job regardless. It could be worse, you could live in California, it has crazy taxes, and they are so strict on vehicle inspections it makes owning a classic car very painful there too. I used to live there and had a classic VW that I had to register out of state to get it on the road there. It one of the reasons I enjoy living in the South, its super inexpensive, and the states mostly exempt older cars.


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[240260280]

11 hours ago, grannyknot said:

Now if only we could add a clause to NAFTA 2.0 that stipulates that all cars restored in Canada shall be purchased at a 40% premium.

New NAFTA Sucks.

We do not have much manufacturing in this province.  The largest employer in this area would be the 3 Michelin tire plants. They are about to announce moving one to Mexico with the New NAFTA deal.

[wheee!]

Slim line power lock actuators installed!

[wheee!]

Haven’t seen this for a loooong time...