New Business Yes No ?

[airads]

I am thinking of setting up a business giving work experience for people from the local collage and making one off kit cars and repairing classic cars this year do you think that there is any room for this sort of business in the kit car scene ? I have over 45 years’ experience in custom /classic and kit cars. cheers bill

[V8RX7]

I'd suggest the best starting point is for you to get work in as a garage, then offer people discounts if their car is a longer term job.

That or buy part built kits and finish them off.

To start as a "college garage" I'd suggest you'd find it very hard to find enough customers

[P I Staker]

Sounds really cool.

I wouldn't know a good business idea if it slapped me across the face though.

[TooMany2cvs]

airads said:

I have over 45 years’ experience in custom /classic and kit cars.

Then, frankly, you really should know whether it's a viable idea FAR better than a bunch of random people off the internet.

[steveo3002]

wouldnt want trainee's working on my classic cars (if i had one ) and if you have to hold thier hand all the way then weres the labour saving

[mattley]

Talk to the college.

Using apprentices in a "high risk" environment is a nightmare regarding the levels of individual supervision required, the stupid amount of paperwork required by the apprentice system but there may well be specific grants available which might make it worthwhile.

You really need to get a business plan together that relies on normal labour rates, then look carefully at how you could shift that model given the skill set and supervision levels required for each part of your operation.

I looked into doing a similar thing when I had my own IT Support business but I just didn't have the admin time or supervision ability to make it work.

[Happy82]

My dad tried similar with his engineering company, by the time he'd read the list of demands from the college and how much it'd cost him he thought "fk it"

[Ari]

Do people buy completed kit cars? I thought the whole point of them was building them yourself.

As to classic cars, if you had a cherished classic, would you trust it to the sort of garage you describe..?

[xRIEx]

Ari said:

Do people buy completed kit cars? I thought the whole point of them was building them yourself.

Yes - a lot of people want the lightweight sportscar but don't have either the skills or time to do the build. Also it's much easier to deal with an already-registered car, strip/rebuild or modify to your preference etc. rather than get a new build through the rigourous IVA.

[thatdude]

V8RX7 said:

I'd suggest the best starting point is for you to get work in as a garage, then offer people discounts if their car is a longer term job.

That or buy part built kits and finish them off.

To start as a "college garage" I'd suggest you'd find it very hard to find enough customers

I agree here. Maybe offer an apprenticeship to one or two lucky, lucky young 'uns....but screen heavily for ones that will do the work, both in the garage and at the study desk.

[airads]

hi all thanks for the feed back it looks like that I may have to think about it a bit more I had a look into it about 5-6 years ago after a company wanted me to build kits for them but it did not work out with the company. I have not been into the kit car scene for some time has I have been building my armoured car and one offs specials that is why I ask the question about if there is room for a new business like this. cheers bill