is there a market for high quality automotive novelty?
Discussion
hello all,
Just a quick question I suppose (not actually so quick in the end). Having been messing about with cars for over a decade, I have accumulated various spares for cars I don't own anymore, but having sat for a while, I can’t guarantee they still work 100%, so cant in good conscious sell them on. So for birthdays, xmas, house warmings etc I started to put together furniture constructed from them, to give as gifts.
Most of the people who see them, seem to be impressed and the inevitable "you should sell them" comes up. The problem is, they cost quite a lot to put together. Even using parts that I have laying around, the cost of the glass, raw materials, and little touches adds up at an alarming rate. I only like to use quality parts as well, as the stuff I make is airing on the side of tacky as it is, to use cheap, fake parts etc would push it way over into that territory. Most of the stuff I make usually ends up as £250 to £300 in parts alone. I’m not sure anyone would pay such a large amount for novelty furniture? I guess I’m asking what kind of money people would be willing to pay for the below pieces?
I just posted a few examples of what I have made so far, I’ll keep making them as I enjoy doing it, and if I can cover my material costs then all the better. If not, then I’ll just make them for friends and family ?
The TEIN coilover (green) table was for a good mate of mine when he moved into his house.
The glass is a cnc custom cut piece that I commissioned.
The wheel is a Volk Racing GTC split rim in 4x114.3 (I even managed to save the build sticker :P)
The bolts have been stripped, then zinc coated (you know for all the corrosion protection required :P).
New tyre valves, seals and valve caps were installed.
The barrel has been blasted and powder coated black, with the "VOLK RACING" decal around the circumference.
The TEIN coilover has been stripped, and all the oil drained out, reassembled and painted, then the large "TEIN" decal applied. I then machined the wheel centre to bolt up to the TEIN top mount. The base of the coilover was then welded to the spanner. The spanner was then machined and bolted to the base using Inconel 12 point bolts.
The springs have been powdercoated black aswell.
The lips have been polished and new "VOLK RACING" stickers applied.
The centres were stripped and painted white. The centre caps were then polished and reapplied.
The bolts on the base are stainless cap screws with stainless serrated nuts.
The studs holding the glass up is all stainless threaded rod which I cut to length.
The glass was then levelled using a spirit level :P
The black one was for my brothers birthday. Someone hit his Supra, causing one of the coilovers sever damage, So using that as a base, I put together a similar table.
So the glass was, yet again, custom cut to my drawings.
The coilover is a BC Racing unit, with all the oil drained and internals removed.
The wheel is a Volk Racing GRN (sort of like a CV-pro but not) in 15 x 6.5, 4x114.3, et25.
The Strut brace is from the Supra, but didn’t fit anymore due to other modifications on the car.
The brake disc is from a Kawasaki ZX10R
The Bolts holding the strut brake in place are MIL spec, 12 point, cadmium plated with rolled threads.
The rest of the bolts are A2-80 stainless cap head screws.
The base is powder coated and the wheel lip was stripped and polished by moi.
The spiked nuts holding the glass in place are Downstar Spikes on A2-80 stainless threaded bar.
The last one I made is more traditionally when you think of wheel tables. It’s based around a formula 1 OZ-Racing centrelock wheel. It’s a magnesium wheel that has been stripped and powder coated white. New decals have been applied (proper automotive wheel decals) in place of the originals which were on it when I purchased the wheel. The base is brushed stainless and the rest is nickel plated steel with a 500mm glass top. It’s finally been topped off by a reverse printed tyre decal applied to the underside of the glass. It doesn’t come across in the pictures, but the wheel touches neither the floor, nor the glass, giving it a sort of floating effect.
Whilst this one is simpler, the cost of F1 wheels Is obviously much higher.
Any thoughts would be appreciated ?
Just a quick question I suppose (not actually so quick in the end). Having been messing about with cars for over a decade, I have accumulated various spares for cars I don't own anymore, but having sat for a while, I can’t guarantee they still work 100%, so cant in good conscious sell them on. So for birthdays, xmas, house warmings etc I started to put together furniture constructed from them, to give as gifts.
Most of the people who see them, seem to be impressed and the inevitable "you should sell them" comes up. The problem is, they cost quite a lot to put together. Even using parts that I have laying around, the cost of the glass, raw materials, and little touches adds up at an alarming rate. I only like to use quality parts as well, as the stuff I make is airing on the side of tacky as it is, to use cheap, fake parts etc would push it way over into that territory. Most of the stuff I make usually ends up as £250 to £300 in parts alone. I’m not sure anyone would pay such a large amount for novelty furniture? I guess I’m asking what kind of money people would be willing to pay for the below pieces?
I just posted a few examples of what I have made so far, I’ll keep making them as I enjoy doing it, and if I can cover my material costs then all the better. If not, then I’ll just make them for friends and family ?
The TEIN coilover (green) table was for a good mate of mine when he moved into his house.
The glass is a cnc custom cut piece that I commissioned.
The wheel is a Volk Racing GTC split rim in 4x114.3 (I even managed to save the build sticker :P)
The bolts have been stripped, then zinc coated (you know for all the corrosion protection required :P).
New tyre valves, seals and valve caps were installed.
The barrel has been blasted and powder coated black, with the "VOLK RACING" decal around the circumference.
The TEIN coilover has been stripped, and all the oil drained out, reassembled and painted, then the large "TEIN" decal applied. I then machined the wheel centre to bolt up to the TEIN top mount. The base of the coilover was then welded to the spanner. The spanner was then machined and bolted to the base using Inconel 12 point bolts.
The springs have been powdercoated black aswell.
The lips have been polished and new "VOLK RACING" stickers applied.
The centres were stripped and painted white. The centre caps were then polished and reapplied.
The bolts on the base are stainless cap screws with stainless serrated nuts.
The studs holding the glass up is all stainless threaded rod which I cut to length.
The glass was then levelled using a spirit level :P
The black one was for my brothers birthday. Someone hit his Supra, causing one of the coilovers sever damage, So using that as a base, I put together a similar table.
So the glass was, yet again, custom cut to my drawings.
The coilover is a BC Racing unit, with all the oil drained and internals removed.
The wheel is a Volk Racing GRN (sort of like a CV-pro but not) in 15 x 6.5, 4x114.3, et25.
The Strut brace is from the Supra, but didn’t fit anymore due to other modifications on the car.
The brake disc is from a Kawasaki ZX10R
The Bolts holding the strut brake in place are MIL spec, 12 point, cadmium plated with rolled threads.
The rest of the bolts are A2-80 stainless cap head screws.
The base is powder coated and the wheel lip was stripped and polished by moi.
The spiked nuts holding the glass in place are Downstar Spikes on A2-80 stainless threaded bar.
The last one I made is more traditionally when you think of wheel tables. It’s based around a formula 1 OZ-Racing centrelock wheel. It’s a magnesium wheel that has been stripped and powder coated white. New decals have been applied (proper automotive wheel decals) in place of the originals which were on it when I purchased the wheel. The base is brushed stainless and the rest is nickel plated steel with a 500mm glass top. It’s finally been topped off by a reverse printed tyre decal applied to the underside of the glass. It doesn’t come across in the pictures, but the wheel touches neither the floor, nor the glass, giving it a sort of floating effect.
Whilst this one is simpler, the cost of F1 wheels Is obviously much higher.
Any thoughts would be appreciated ?
Edited by hkz286 on Friday 20th March 09:04
You're clearly very skilled at doing that, they look fantastic! I personally don't think they are tacky in the slightest, but only on the grounds that they are using things that mean something, rather than just using any old thing to make a table from.
I guess you've got two options if you are going to make a go of it - bespoke, made to order pieces using the customers parts, or generic pieces using whatever you source.
I would think that if you went down the route of spraying it yourself and using perhaps lower quality fixings instead of zinc coated, you'd knock one out for less and in less time. Although, the question would then be, 'is it still worth £300'? Probably not, as the price point demands the higher quality finish. That's where the distinction needs to be made between bespoke or otherwise.
If you're going to sell one, why not do one to the top quality level you've done those to and then pop it on ebay for £450-£500. Might be too tasty, but you only need one person to like it and the next one you make is essentially all profit. If it doesn't sell, you know what you've got to play with.
If you want to make a few bob out of it, could you buy a ticket to a race weekend somewhere and hand out flyers? Not sure on what you can/can't get away with, but you'll get a few given out before you get caught anyway
I guess you've got two options if you are going to make a go of it - bespoke, made to order pieces using the customers parts, or generic pieces using whatever you source.
I would think that if you went down the route of spraying it yourself and using perhaps lower quality fixings instead of zinc coated, you'd knock one out for less and in less time. Although, the question would then be, 'is it still worth £300'? Probably not, as the price point demands the higher quality finish. That's where the distinction needs to be made between bespoke or otherwise.
If you're going to sell one, why not do one to the top quality level you've done those to and then pop it on ebay for £450-£500. Might be too tasty, but you only need one person to like it and the next one you make is essentially all profit. If it doesn't sell, you know what you've got to play with.
If you want to make a few bob out of it, could you buy a ticket to a race weekend somewhere and hand out flyers? Not sure on what you can/can't get away with, but you'll get a few given out before you get caught anyway
Shakermaker said:
There's already a market for it, people do buy this kind of stuff.
It isn't all to my taste, but I've seen plenty of items being traded that are similar to what you're doing
I know what you mean but I don't think there is. Not the detail that I go to. Most are somewhat basic or badly made. It isn't all to my taste, but I've seen plenty of items being traded that are similar to what you're doing
Jonboy_t said:
You're clearly very skilled at doing that, they look fantastic! I personally don't think they are tacky in the slightest, but only on the grounds that they are using things that mean something, rather than just using any old thing to make a table from.
I guess you've got two options if you are going to make a go of it - bespoke, made to order pieces using the customers parts, or generic pieces using whatever you source.
I would think that if you went down the route of spraying it yourself and using perhaps lower quality fixings instead of zinc coated, you'd knock one out for less and in less time. Although, the question would then be, 'is it still worth £300'? Probably not, as the price point demands the higher quality finish. That's where the distinction needs to be made between bespoke or otherwise.
If you're going to sell one, why not do one to the top quality level you've done those to and then pop it on ebay for £450-£500. Might be too tasty, but you only need one person to like it and the next one you make is essentially all profit. If it doesn't sell, you know what you've got to play with.
If you want to make a few bob out of it, could you buy a ticket to a race weekend somewhere and hand out flyers? Not sure on what you can/can't get away with, but you'll get a few given out before you get caught anyway
thanks for the feeback dude. Means a lot.I guess you've got two options if you are going to make a go of it - bespoke, made to order pieces using the customers parts, or generic pieces using whatever you source.
I would think that if you went down the route of spraying it yourself and using perhaps lower quality fixings instead of zinc coated, you'd knock one out for less and in less time. Although, the question would then be, 'is it still worth £300'? Probably not, as the price point demands the higher quality finish. That's where the distinction needs to be made between bespoke or otherwise.
If you're going to sell one, why not do one to the top quality level you've done those to and then pop it on ebay for £450-£500. Might be too tasty, but you only need one person to like it and the next one you make is essentially all profit. If it doesn't sell, you know what you've got to play with.
If you want to make a few bob out of it, could you buy a ticket to a race weekend somewhere and hand out flyers? Not sure on what you can/can't get away with, but you'll get a few given out before you get caught anyway
I thinks that's the main issue. I have identified quite a lot that I could do to reduce costs and time, but like you said, the detail isn't there and I would be lost in a sea of cheaply made, but expensive stuff that's currently for sale.
I think what you say about eBay is right. I may put one up with a 99p starting bid and no reserve to see how high it gets. I think that's the toughest way to test what something is worth. Would of been better doing it on the run up to xmas but its a bit late now
To be honest its not really about the money, I like making things but cant keep everything I make. If I can just cover the costs I would be happy
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