This is an issue that has been brewing in our hobby since the beginning of time it would seem. What is your opinion on the Big Dollar cars and the homebuilt stuff. I personally like a mixture of both.  

I think it is great because it shows what talent some people have. However, there are quite a few people with that talent but are not being paid to build cars like the "high dollar builders".  If the "homebuilt guys" were being paid the standard shop rate to build their own cars and had no financial restrictions, then they would become the high dollar car builders.  I think it gets down to being a bit envious of those who have the money to have their dream cars built.  I would suspect that if any of us "homebuilders" didn't have to work and pay bills and we had all the time and money we needed, we would build or try to build our own dream cars.  

Yeah there is definatly passion from the homebuilt rod guys. You see amazing stuff from guys who have a wife a full time job, kids, and have been working on there car for 10+ years.  

I definatly like to look at the High dollor stuff.  Being an upholsterer by trade I often look to the big names for inspiration.  On the other hand I have always respected the home builders.  I personally can't afford to have someone build my car for me and I don't think I would hire it out if I could.  I like to work on cars (as long as I don't have to drive it the next day).   Going to the garage is therapy for me, even if all I do is sit there for two hours looking at something with a beer in my hand stairing at my car.  There is no better feeling to me than seeing a project come together and being able to say I did it myself.  

yeah that seems to be the way i feel also, especially the staring drinking beer part  

Burt... pass me a cold one.  

I enjoy any car that looks/runs great.  It really doesn't matter whether they are low-buck or high-dollar.  I probably get more good ideas from talented home builders than I do from the big guns.  

Case in point... major chrome in the engine compartment.  Hm, should I replace all my working components to get the chrome look?  How can I put some lipstick on my pig?

My solution... pull the parts, get out the powder coating system.  Prep, one coat gloss black, one coat clear red.  Ram's horn manifolds get the high-temp silver coating.  The result?  A very clean, matching engine bay with candy apple alternator, water pump, brackets, etc. (I did some suspension components with the same process).  The exterior paint is a very close match.  Cost - minimal, unless you have to buy the powder coating setup.  Fun?  You bet.

I'm now considering powder coating my bumpers and trim in chrome powder rather than re-chroming them.  What do you think?  

Yeah, when the big dollar rides become so fancy that they aren't driveable thats what I don't like, I am more about pure actual functionality as opposed to style.  

I define "undriveable" as anything I have to worry too much about keeping clean or polished.  

i like both but my favorite is the home builder,i'm doing mine myself and it is taking alot of time and alot of money over the years but when it's done, it will be on the road to drive and i will be proud to drive that car down the road  

Yeah you will get more satisfaction out of doing it yourself as opposed to handing a shop buckets of money.  

man that 37 ford in the new street rodder is way cool, top dollar tech while still keeping it looking like her dad liked  

I look mainly for a well engineered car. I don't care how much the car cost or what brand of parts are used. I like seeing the custom made parts, the one off peices, the metal work and the innovation. Anyone can produce a cookie cutter version of cool. But it takes real talent and skill to produce something with amazing detail. The stuff that starts turning my gears, I like seeing tasteful cars from people all over, but you have to try to have that one car in each issue that you can just stare at, and after an hour you see some small detail you didnt catch right away, something that gets you drawing up new ideas. I want to see something that makes me want to learn more, something impressive.

One example comes to mind and thats Spencer2 by So-Cal. I Loved seeing the stripped down photos. Figuring out the suspension and the detail to all the items that arent on the outside, I like seeing the tidy wiring and looming, the one off hardware for running fuel and brake lines in obscure areas. Interesting suspension design, subtle body mods. The kinda stuff that makes me want to step it up a notch.

I think thats what it comes down to ultimatly is I like to see something that makes me want to step it up a notch.

Most of the time this is a high dollar car, but don't just think its some guy with a ton of money, think of the guys that work long hours and  loses sleep at night because they got this crazy idea they want to pitch to the customer the next day.

The owners may finance the car, and provide the initial idea, but if it wasn't for people like Troy, Foose, Barris, Ben York, Sellers, Cole Foster etc etc and the many guys that work for there shops, you wouldn't have anyone to set the bar and progress the art to what it is today, sure there is a lot of crap along the way but that goes with everything artistic from architecture, to clothing literature movies etc..

I guess what im getting at is, ignore the cost, show us something I'm not going to go "thats cool" and then flip the page. So far your magazine has done a better job at that then others and thats what sets you apart.

Sorry for the long explanation, but this is something I am very passionate about.  

I like a mix of both.  The Big Dollar cars show what's possible and creativity not stiffled by a tight budget.  The Homebuilt cars show the passion and variety that make street rodding so interesting.  My son-in-law and I recently went to the NSRA show in Louisville.  I have always like the 33/34 full fendered Fords, and before the show he was focused on Mustangs.  By the end of the show he was showing a definite interest in the 32 high boys.  Even had me admiring some of the Rat Rods.  It's all cool.