[bird72]

OK, I can look at used car / truck trader rags and $10,000 transportation vehicles are a mixed bag of half worn outs, or funky stuff present, or just garbage, with decent vehicles mixed in, but most with a bunch of miles. So why do some hobbyists expect to find $10K or less, vintage vehicles, far rarer than the ones I described above, with shiny new engines, paint and nothing wrong? Oh and no incorrect parts

[Fullsize455]

Originally Posted by bird72

OK, I can look at used car / truck trader rags and $10,000 transportation vehicles are a mixed bag of half worn outs, or funky stuff present, or just garbage, with decent vehicles mixed in, but most with a bunch of miles. So why do some hobbyists expect to find $10K or less, vintage vehicles, far rarer than the ones I described above, with shiny new engines, paint and nothing wrong? Oh and no incorrect parts

My assessment is based on constantly watching the market, scouring craigslist and other sites very regularly, maintaining a feel for what cars are actually selling for. It isn't hard to figure out, when something gets posted over and over and over again at a high price, week after week, month after month, it isn't selling at that price. Then when something comes up for a reasonable price and the ad is gone within a couple-few days, its logical to assume it probably sold closer to that asking price.

People who have more money to spend are not stupid about how they spend that money, contrary to that some folks apparently believe. Nobody who had a GTO in high school is going to way overpay for a Tempest with a big block Chevy and a goofy colored paint job.

Lets be honest here, when it comes to most of these sought after classic cars, they WILL sell quickly if the price is right. They won't if the price is too high. There are also lots to choose from, so somebody looking for their high school GTO doesn't need to buy a way overpriced goofy Tempest for a price he can find a good driver GTO for. That just doesn't happen in practice. I guarantee you I can find a decent driver '66 GTO for $35k within a short period of time.

Comparing classic car prices to modern daily drivers is pointless. Totally different cars, for totally different buyers who are not cross shopping them even slightly, so any similarities or differences in pricing are irrelevant. The market for $10k used modern daily drivers is completely different from the $10k classic car market in basically every way.

Fact is, most of the classics listed in this thread are readily available for sale somewhere if someone is looking. Regular availability in the market means anyone can research what others are selling for, which translates to a rough price cap for different types of cars. Basket case project GTOs that need $50k+ in restoration work simply don't sell for $18k when a good driver can be had for somewhere in the high $20ks - $30ks. Goofy Tempests with Chevy motors don't sell for more than nice GTOs with Pontiac motors.

The myth about older folks with money way overpaying for their high school dream cars is largely a myth, and the odd exception to it involves proper pedigree cars, not half-ass base models with all the wrong stuff.