I've drove my 71 rag top for 18 + years with full enjoyment without having to really spend anybigl money except for maintance and the little incindental repairs that go with owning a classic car. Man did I just get my wake up call for deciding to the do a frame on resto machanically.Last winter I did the front end less steering gear box and did it with polygraphite ,the cost was minimal compaired to the parts estimate for the rear suspention and the upgrade for the interior. I wanted to put a singe din cd player in the car and they want 238.00 for a aftermarket radio bezel? 2500.00 for side pipe covers? I believe that a vendor should make some money,it's the american way.But come on, that is totally out of control. I rember buy parts for customers for a LOT less 10 years ago. Maybe I'm just becoming one of those old farts I used to laugh at when they talked about the  things in their day,or has shows like Barrett- Jackson put the hobbie out of touch for the working class guy? Yes I'm gonna have to bite the bullet and pay ,and I did get my use for 18+ years but parts is parts and thats all I got to say about that    

I do a lot of shopping around. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet to get the parts you need. There are a lot of parts that are car generic and engine family generic. Keep safety in mind and check all of your lines that run from front to back for corrosion or deterioration.

Supply and demand.

And they call it the "Corvette Tax". I had several Cadillacs and they were no different.

My Pop always said if you can afford to play then prepare to pay. He was right!

But I hafta admit..... for me half of the fun of it is finding a "deal"......

I do the math every spring and think I'm going to be able to afford getting X, Y and Z done to my Corvette. And then something always costs a bit more or an unexpected repair comes up.

[QUOTE=KDADDY79]I do the math every spring and think I'm going to be able to afford getting X, Y and Z done to my Corvette. And then something always costs a bit more or an unexpected repair comes up. [/QUOTE]

The real problem is: we are addicted to our babies........

We have researched making some of our own parts.  The cost of tooling for even a simple part is staggering, and it must be spread over very few parts to be worth the investment.  There are a few parts that sell enough to bring the cost down in time.

We have had to cut our margins to almost nothing to compete.

Larry

[QUOTE=corvette440hp]The real problem is: we are addicted to our babies........[/QUOTE]