[NAIRB]

I want your guys opinion on something. I own a small repair shop, and I do engine building on the side as a hobby. I have been trading quite a few parts on ebay, and everytime I mess with ebay, I make a tidy sum of money. I have gotten to the point with my garage that I almost hate dealing with boring service jobs and flat tires.
The public runs me ragged, and I'm tempted to venture into the parts and machine shop business full time, but I am almost scared to leave what has paid the bills for the last five years.
Do you guys think the car hobby is going to keep growing enough in the future to make it a living? I know there are guys on here doing the same thing, and everybody keeps what they are doing a secret, but if anybody is doing the same thing, email me with how it's going for you.

[onebadmerc]

I do the Ebay thing too and I surely will say there is money to be made on the internet. I have been doing it for over a year and I have had good results. I have had problems in the past trying to sell stuff locally, but when I sell to a world wide market I have no problems at all. If you can make a living at go for it, I only do it for extra cash for my projects. There is money in selling vintage auto parts on Ebay, no doubt about that.

[ChevyLuv]

Each year, the local retail market goes down, while the internet maket continues to rise. People, especially Americans, are getting to the point where they would prefer not to leave their homes and spend their time searching the web for their next purchase. Why bother heading out in the cold, if someone can bring what you want to your door? I think that the hot rod market will continue to rise. And by using the internet instead of a shop, you save on overhead, employees and other spending. I would begin to wean out the store front and see if you can survive by just selling online. Remember though, the economy takes a dive when a country goes to war. People lose their jobs or take a pay cut (this I've had to learn first hand) and they cease spending money on their hobbies. Good luck.

[Kevin45]

Why not diversify? Keep the business that is good to you now, start your other business and hire someone to run the first business for you. At least some money from the first business is better than none at all and I'm sure you could find some young energetic type to help out.

Kevin

[78 monte]

If your looking to do hotrod stuff what ever it maybe working on cars or selling parts,I would not exclude the imports.I hate them as do most but they are popular and the more the government sticks there nose into cars being manufactured more cars will be small little ****boxes that people want to hotrod.So its only buisness.Old style hotrod stuff will be around but most old cars have either been restored or rotted into the ground by now.RWD cars are not gonna be a common thing in years to come as there are only few models being made today.