It cost what?

After acquiring an '89 Porsche 944 Turbo and having it appraised for the insurance company, Gary Savage, the appraiser saw the in progress Factory Five roadster and we got to talking. He made some really good suggestions in regards to the build and I got a lot of reassurance that I was on the right track.

We also talked about insurance for the vehicle in the build stage, particularly for loss or theft. I thought that this was a very good idea since there is a fair bit of cost involved with all that shiny and metally stuff. So, in preparation for Gary to complete an in-build appraisal I tallied up all of the costs and invoices that I have collected so far. I was delaying the task since I was afraid of what I would find.

But I girded the loins and manned up to add up all of those loose receipts floating around the garage. Wow, I should have bought a Porsche instead....it would have been cheaper....wait a minute, what's wrong with this story.

So the cost to date is about $45 grand, without paint and body work. Pretty much what I thought it would be with a non-donor build and almost 100% new parts. Since it is coming around to two years since the beginning of the build I am looking at it like a monthly car payment/lease with an initial down payment. So it works out to a burn rate of $800/month after the initial kit cost. So... nuts and bolts and fittings...hundreds of dollars....engine and transmission...thousands of dollars....fun and friends....priceless.

I wouldn't have done it any other way.