New Boxster Hard Top Prototype

[Eric523]

Originally Posted by jb92563

Imagine being able to turn your 986 Boxster into a CayBox for a mere $2,500.

I think that a street/Race version of this will have some marketability as a product.

You just need some kind of trunk access to get at the dipstick/oil/water fill ports and the trunk space.

Someone with decent Fiberglass and mold making skills could probably make a nice business out of this.

Surely theres a retired Porsche enthusiast with these skills and time that could use the extra dough.


$30/hr x 40 hrs per unit = 1,200
Materials 300
-------------
Unit Manufacturing cost $1,500

Once you get into production and with 2 molds
one person could make 2 units per week.

30/hr x 20 hrs per unit = 600
materials 300
--------
Unit Manufacturing cost $900

Profit per unit is $1600 plus earning 30/hr

So in a year thats $1600 x 48 working weeks x 2 units per week = $153,600
Plus $30/hr for 48 weeks = $57,600
---------------
$211,200/yr

Deduct the outsource of 2 mold making costs in the first year ~$15,000

Anyone want to earn their next brand new car for 6 months work.

LOL, you sir, are highly optimistic. If buildings, utilities, and tools were free and you could sell over a 100 of these a year, and find a way to only use $300 in materials, you would be RICH!

Windows, seals, latches, fiberglass, carbon, aluminum, seals, fabric, hardware, electrical, lights, hinges, chemicals, primer, packaging crates, a website, shipping, receiving, accounting, advertising...for $300 a unit.

I think the reality is you would spend $10k-$15k to make molds, sell 10 a year, make $500 a piece, and maybe make your money back in a few years, all the while having to store and maintain these huge molds and materials. Then have people say you are ripping them off at $2500.

The industry manufactures that I've contacted said they would not even invest $1500 of their time/money to make a mold because the return would be so small, even if I gave them the prototype for free.

[kcpaz]

Originally Posted by Eric523

LOL, you sir, are highly optimistic. If buildings, utilities, and tools were free and you could sell over a 100 of these a year, and find a way to only use $300 in materials, you would be RICH!

Windows, seals, latches, fiberglass, carbon, aluminum, seals, fabric, hardware, electrical, lights, hinges, chemicals, primer, packaging crates, a website, shipping, receiving, accounting, advertising...for $300 a unit.

I think the reality is you would spend $10k-$15k to make molds, sell 10 a year, make $500 a piece, and maybe make your money back in a few years, all the while having to store and maintain these huge molds and materials. Then have people say you are ripping them off at $2500.

The industry manufactures that I've contacted said they would not even invest $1500 of their time/money to make a mold because the return would be so small, even if I gave them the prototype for free.

Eric, this is one of the best posts I've read on a forum in a long time. So much truth spoken in one post, and most people will never understand the challenges that shop owners face in trying to justify the cost in bringing any new product to market, especially products that appeal to such a small audience. Most people can recognize and maybe even appreciate exceptional quality, but few people are willing to pay a premium for it.