Car Prices Reality Check...

[greenmachine]

Sublimegtx that is a great looking car! I mentioned the loss of the blue collar guy being able to drag a car home a build it for less than 25k when I got mine. I have learned a ton on this site, but I did drag home a 69 coronet that was triple green, non-runner for 5500. with media blasting, trunk repair, trans rebuild to handle high hp 440, etc., im in mine for approx. 12 without bodywork. Paint/clear/primer is crazy expensive! 600 a gallon for my color. I love my car and come hell or high water I will finish it, but I coulda' laid that 5500 down on a 25k finished bee or charger, etc. and drive it while making payments. Its all about how you wana spend your time. Wrenching (which I like to do almost as much as driving...almost), or, hop in, hit the key, and lay a patch. I'm one of the crazy ones that gets something out of building something. This site is full of fellow crazy guys!

 

[satman72]

I'm putting mine out there for sale in the $16,500 area and it's a pretty nice driver. It's a Sport Sat (GTX clone) Only selling due to financial difficulties. Kid going to college. Otherwise I'd keep it. I love it. View attachment 142588

Sorry to see you have to let it go.

 

[4ever69]

I HEAR YA!! I'm trying to find a decent fixer-upper that is not pretty, but can drive and it's hard! I've tried Hemmings and Carsonline and the vast majority of the cars for sale(Mopars, including barely uncollectible, stupid 4-doors) have already been mostly or completely restored or fixed up nicely, so the prices for the more popular ones starts around $10,000. ! Good grief! Thanks to the well off retiring Babyboomers for jacking up the prices of what was once a blue-collar hobby and pastime.

I think you would be hard pressed to find something complete and running for less than $10k. You bargains are going to be somebody that started a resto, got part way through (stripped the car) and lost interest.....

It's funny how we talk about how the cars are flat-lined as far appreciation, but yet the yuppies jacked the prices up!!! Either they are worth something or they ain't! Imagine dumping $20 or $30k into a rest project for a car that's worth $10k finished....

 

[BigBlock61]

Either they are worth something or they ain't! Imagine dumping $20 or $30k into a rest project for a car that's worth $10k finished....

That truly is a labor of love at that point.

 

[pro-streeter]

I agree the prices for many of these cars did get out of hand Hemi or otherwise. I have noticed cars that are live auction tend to draw more money than current internet value woud indicate. I have done several Mopar restorations on basic model offerings example 383 4 speed RR. If you are looking for one of these with a reasonably docummented resto your average price range is $25K to 32K. In my opinion cars in the price range would be nearly nut and bolt. Also reasonably correct not resto mod stuff but not nessaraly numbers matching. This type of car should be very show worthy and drivable. In most cases the restoration would have a cost over and above the sellable value. In my case if I was to restore this type of car to the level I am indicating I would have at best made $5.00 an hour not a good business model. This is a topic that can be viewed from several angles as people's motivation with these cars varies. All in all if you are a true Car Guy Mopar or other we are in the market wave high or low. As I have read this thread most of us are pretty informed on the market and true value in general emotions aside.

 

[4ever69]

Honestly, I don't think the finished car prices are out of control, it's the project cars that crazy..... a 1/2 a car is not worth $6 or $8k...

 

[greenmachine]

Problem is most of those 6 to 8k project cars already have double that in them. You can easily spend 6 to 8 g's on paint/bodywork alone. I got quotes for 12-14k on my car and that was three different shops! Those projects are still selling at serious loss, mostly cuz the owner didnt realize the crazy money investment they were lookin at from the beginning. Try finding a solid 68-70 charger in that range.

 

[Superfreak]

I fall into the category "labour of love and stupidity". The pics blow is showing where my project is at and to date there is $37,000 sitting in those
two pics, between buying the car, shipping, duties, the motor,rear end, front suspension, rims and tires, and lots of other parts both interior and exterior.
Wise investment...... absolutely not but part of my dream and currently have $22,000 into my blown Hemi build being done in Florida also part of the dream.
If you take on that project and find yourself complaining about how much everything costs then you are probably doomed. I do most of the work myself and will be doing bodywork and paint as well which all falls into the labour of love category and all the money of course falls into the stupidity part of the category.......... maybe I will wake up one day and realize hey that was a bad dream LOL...........Ya right!!!!

 

[4ever69]

Problem is most of those 6 to 8k project cars already have double that in them. You can easily spend 6 to 8 g's on paint/bodywork alone. I got quotes for 12-14k on my car and that was three different shops! Those projects are still selling at serious loss, mostly cuz the owner didnt realize the crazy money investment they were lookin at from the beginning. Try finding a solid 68-70 charger in that range.

I'm not talking projects that were started, I'm talking starting points.... Just rusty shells missing most everything and they're asking crazy prices....

Freak, what K is in there?

 

[greenmachine]

Fair enough. That I agree with. Crazy prices for seriously rusted cars is a bad plan. I like the labor of love comment/stupidity analogy. I fall into that category too. Lol

 

[Superfreak]

I'm not talking projects that were started, I'm talking starting points.... Just rusty shells missing most everything and they're asking crazy prices....

Freak, what K is in there?

Alterkation with Wilwood brake kit, $5800 to get it here.