[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

My wife wants a Solstice coupe, and I found 2 of them for sale fairly close to us. The one has only 7400 miles, but is the base engine/automatic (fine for my wife to drive), guy wants $25,000 for it, any thoughts on value ??

According to high book value he's too high by about $14,000, they aren't recognized as valuable cars, just used cars, right at this point in time.

You can pretty much throw the book out on these cars.

While prices on the convertibles are all over the board, the coupes are relatively consistent. With prices in the $23k to $30k, $25k sounds about right for those miles. After my buddy passed, his wife got $25k for his '09 Turbo GXP with 10,000 miles.

However, like with all cars for sale, some infatuated sellers will ask more and in some cases, way more. But they don't get it. Buyer's are only going to pay what they are going to pay.

[Chief of the 60's]

Let's all keep in mind that value does not and should not mean collectible. If you are buying any old car for its value you need to get out and leave that old car for someone that appreciates it on what it is, not what its worth.

I have one car that is 1 of 996 and one that is a 1 of 1 prototype. Couldn't put a price on these cars if I had to and don't really care. That is not why I have them. I have them because they are pieces of Pontiac's great past.

[nas t eh]

I speculate that rather quickly (20-30yrs) fuel burning cars are going to be banned from major cities or outright everywhere, when that happens the value of all of them except the ultra rare museum type cars will be very low and very few will collect them. Banking on the listed Pontiacs to become collectable has a very short time line.

[red1975pacer]

"Inverse Blue 1999 Trans Am Convert, was that the only one made?

[1965gp]

We are decades away from having an infrastructure for electric vehicles.

Think of every city where you park on the street (which are the first to mandate electric vehicles). Are you going to run an extension cord from the house to slow charge the car? In the rain?

How are they going to make every apartment complex install charging stations and pay for the electricity?

Use common sense- we are a good 20 years from this being commonplace.

[nas t eh]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

Use common sense- we are a good 20 years from this being commonplace.

Agreed.

So in 25years who is going pay big money for a 2002 WS6 TA or maybe a 2006 GTO

Would it be the guy who was 15-19 at the time it was built is 33-37 now and will be 53-57 20 years from now when ICE powered cars are starting to be outlawed?


BTW how many forum members here are under 40? and how many 30-35yr.old guys/gals are into cool cars and even more important American ones and specifically Pontiacs? Too many cool Asian and European cars built and sold during the same time frame, the buying pool is much smaller.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by nas t eh

Agreed.

So in 25years who is going pay big money for a 2002 WS6 TA or maybe a 2006 GTO.

Once again...… What does "big money" have to do with a car being collectible?

No one as of yet has answered the question.

Too many "look at me" people vs. true car collector here?

[1965gp]

I think money equals collectible. If it is desirable then there will be competitive bids for it which will drive the price up.

I’m 45 and have a pretty significant collection. I have high school kids from the neighborhood in my garage all the time. I let them drive the cars around the block to get a feel for them- they love it.

True- they do have a lot of foreign cars to choose from as well.

My opinion is as long as they keep putting these cars in TV shows and movies we will be fine.

[Chief of the 60's]

So Steve Ames paying $12,500.00 for a Chevette makes it a "desirable collectible"?

[1965gp]

To someone- not me but someone

He didn’t pay 12k because he wanted- he paid 12k because someone else would pay 11k

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

To someone- not me but someone

He didn’t pay 12k because he wanted- he paid 12k because someone else would pay 11k

LOL! And that guy was Rick Hendrick's buyer.

Goes to show you, there is more than 1 ass for every seat.

B.T.W.: Ironically, there was another Chevette at that same auction with more miles. Hendrick's buyer bought that one for the same money as Steve's.

[nas t eh]

Originally Posted by Chief of the 60's

Once again...… What does "big money" have to do with a car being collectible?

No one as of yet has answered the question.

Too many "look at me" people vs. true car collector here?

I think 1965gp did answer it.

Otherwise I don’t know how to answer it. I’ve had my 73TA since 1979, I bought it because I thought it was the best looking and performing car I could afford. If I had more money at the time I would have bought a Ferrari GTO or Daytona. Maybe I’m just a look at me guy?

$12000 is a lot for a Chevette, but it is hardly big money? However, $125,000 for a VW 23 window van is collectable money.

What is your definition of a collectable car?

[nas t eh]

Originally Posted by 1965gp

I think money equals collectible. If it is desirable then there will be competitive bids for it which will drive the price up.

I’m 45 and have a pretty significant collection. I have high school kids from the neighborhood in my garage all the time. I let them drive the cars around the block to get a feel for them- they love it.

True- they do have a lot of foreign cars to choose from as well.

My opinion is as long as they keep putting these cars in TV shows and movies we will be fine.

For every guy like you(a generation or two younger who will buy these cars and keep them valuable) there are 10 guys like me where old age is going to force us out of the hobby. The demographic of this Forum and every other Forum like it is why I believe that.

Maybe this Forums demographic is the wrong gauge to judge the situation? To those of you who go to the Pontiac car shows, what is the age demographic of the group? Are there lots of 25-40yrs old in the group or mostly 55+

[1965gp]

I think this is the wrong media for 30 year olds. You are more likely to find them on Instagram. I follow #pontiac and you would be really surprised at the amount of younger guys in the hobby.

[GT182]

Chief, my parents had a 6000 STE AWD. That was one of the better ideas Pontiac had. Nice car and it would go anywhere you pointed it. Especially in the snow.

[1969GiPper]

Originally Posted by nas t eh

I think 1965gp did answer it.

$12000 is a lot for a Chevette, but it is hardly big money? However, $125,000 for a VW 23 window van is collectable money.

What is your definition of a collectable car?

Was the Chevette diesel powered?

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by 1969GiPper

Was the Chevette diesel powered?

That was the first thing I asked Steve when he told me he bought it.

No, it was a gasser as was the other one at the auction..

[mgarblik]

I would NEVER own a Chevette as a collectable...........but a T-Grand, now that's quite an automobile!!

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I would NEVER own a Chevette as a collectable...........but a T-Grand, now that's quite an automobile!!

Oh yes Mike, that different grille makes the T1000 right up there with a Rolls...........

That made me think of the online buildup of the T1000 that went to Norwalk one year, with the rompin stompin 301 transplant.

Now that was a car to remember.............

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I would NEVER own a Chevette as a collectable...........but a T-Grand, now that's quite an automobile!!

Steve had a rather eclectic taste for all kinds of vehicles but the one constant amongst them all was that they had some effect on automotive history. He had everything from an AMC Pacer to the Tasca Ford T-Bolt as well as Lamos and a Viper.