[R/ABANDIT]

What is the going prices for a clean 69 or 70 goat with a 4 speed?

[R/ABANDIT]

What is the going prices for a clean 69 or 70 goat with a 4 speed?

[BLKBRD]

I don't know what the selling price is, but the asking price, in my opinion, is way out of control. Go to Ebay and see what stuff is going for. The prices listed in the Collector Car Trader are also out of control these days. Unfortunately, any one looking to sell a car these days bases their asking price on what stuff is selling on Ebay. I've had the same problem buying parts. I can't tell you how many guys have told me "Well, I saw one sell for that much on Ebay". Do yourself a favor and try to locate one in a local car trader, or buy from a guy that is not computer savy and hence unaware of the rediculous prices that people are willing to spend on these cars. Most of the nice cars are listed in $20k these days. Judges are getting insane money. I recently saw a non-numbers matching '69 Judge with visible rust get $34k on Ebay.

[R/ABANDIT]

Thanks BLKBRD I'll check that out.

[1gr869]

Just thought I'd offer what I've heard...

My folks were told during their tax preparation this year that there's more money in classic cars than in stocks, IRA's, and other investments. I think that might be a reason you're seeing the market so incredibly high. I also think the Barrett-Jackson sales on TV are having some sort of effect too.

My older sis paid $18k for her #'s matching 71 Chevelle SS with a cowl induction 454 three years ago. It's extremely original triple black and any work done on it has been done with original GM parts (NOS if possible). We thought she was crazy then but she just had it appraised for insurance purposes and they quoted her $35k. Not a bad investment if you ask me. Two summers ago we pulled into a gas station to fill up and a guy asked how much she'd have to have for it. Jokingly, she said no less than $65k and the guy was practically ready to write her a check!

The bank also told me they are seeing an increase in the number of loans for the purchase of classic cars because they are a good investment.

Who would have thought that a car worth $4500 in 1971 would be worth $38000 now? Nuts, ain't it! I wish I had the 442 back! Up until the salvage yard got it a couple of years ago, it only had 85k miles on it. No body or frame left but that engine never stopped purring!

[getmygoat]

I think demographics are driving these prices.. All the baby boomers are reaching the age where they've got the money.

30 years from now, GTO's will be worth a lot less (in real dollars) than they are today.. because their market will basically, well, be dead.

As a proof of concept, how much do Model T's cost these days? Not much, cause the people who were 25 when the model T was popular are no longer spending much money.. at least in our world.

[tom s]

I paid 16K for a nice clean 69 4 speed GTO.Needs a little touch up paint,had a fresh rebuilt motor.Was not a RA car.

[tom s]

pic

[Gus_Mahn]

I agree completely with GetMy Goat. There was a time (about 1977-1985)when American cars had few redeeming qualites( no power, lacking style). Muscle cars filled the void for lots of us missing those qualities. The vast majority of musclecar lovers were at least aware of cars in this time frame. As we get too old to care, the value will decline for most of the run of the mill muscle cars. Special, unique, or limited production should continue to hold their value/rate of appreciation longer than standard cars.

Modern cars have far surpassed the performance of most muscle cars. They are easier to make big power with and have fewer downsides when they do. I'm sure they will go through the same type of $$$ curve as all collector cars do over the years.

Nice car Tom. That is in the typical range (+- $3000-$4000) of $$ you can get a nice driver standard musle car around here for. I'd say that 70's are worth a little more than 69's. I've seen several decent project cars in the $2500-$5000 range lately.

[Pod]

Is there any premium for a convertible?

Pod.

[1gr869]

I agree with GetMyGoat too, but I've been going to the Back To The 50's show in St. Paul for the past 7-8 years and there are quite a few guys my age interested in old cars. I think it's probably like anything else. It will have it's peak and then drop off (look at how people went nuts over Beanie Babies). We had over 250 of those things and now you can't give the darn things away!

[68GTOHT]

Pod, there is a big premium for convertibles, although I can't quote any specific numbers.

[Ron Landis]

I don't subscribe to the "muscle cars to Beanie Babies" analogy, and I don't agree with the folks that say GTOs will go the way of the Model "T" and nobody will want them. There is an intrinsic value in a muscle car that only an enthusiast will see, not a stockbroker. The crazy prices may drop, but there will always be a demand for these cars. I just advised my father to do the same thing, take some of his retirement saving that was drawing @ 2% in the bank, buy a '69 Judge and restore it. Now has @ $35k invested, turned down $60k two years ago. Not bad. Ragtops will always bring more money, as well. Four speeds and engine upgrades should guarantee good returns on an investment, too. Don't take my word for it. Try to get a quote from any good restoration shop and check cost and how long the waiting list is. I see a renewed interest as some of the folks hoarding cars and parts are aging or dying off. I just found a "WW" block for our RAIV project, the gentleman selling has had it tucked away for years, but is now in a wheelchair, prompting him to sell. Also just found an all original, down to the hoseclamps and belts, '67 Firebird. Bought new by a gentleman for his wife, who passed 10 years ago. Finally brought himself to sell, faced with failing health himself. Car was covered up in his garage for past 10 years, with 71k actual miles. My son will be picking up where I leave off in the hobby. I see many kids at car shows and at the track that love the old muscle cars. I know of many in our local club that are passing on their GTOs to their kids instead of selling them. Getting them into the hands of enthusiasts will be the hard part, but there are still affordable cars out there. ["I could be wrong...but I'm not!" Joe Walsh]

[Gus_Mahn]

I don't think anyone said they would be worthless, unwanted, or lack $$$ appreciation in the near future, just at some point their value will slow relative to the economy. Model A's still sell, just not for what they used to.

I'm a member of a GTO club and from what I've see the average age is about 55. I'm 38 and am one of the younger members. There a few that are younger, but they got here by association (father was into cars...). As time goes on, the number of enthusiasts will fall and so will interest. It will never go away completely. We are a car culture, but there are plenty of other vehicular distractions to lure youth away from classic muscle cars.

[Nisseman]

Theres one thing I dont understand with the prices today and that´s how a ordinary Mustang can be worth just as much as fx a Trans am -70 with RA III engine? They made thousands of Mustangs!!! When we are talking about cars that were buildt in less than a hundred, who do you think set the price?

Robert.

[bxm1968]

Unfortunately production rarity vs. popularity doesn't always win out in the dollar game.
I have been collecting for 20 years now, and am an avid collector of the Edsel, and currently own 6 of them, and have had 18 to date. I have one model that only 106 were produced, and there are 17 known to survive. It has a max value of about $10K.
55-57 Chevys, on the other hand, are priced outrageous, even for a 2 door post model, just becuase of the iconic level they have attained. I will go out on a limb and say they [55-57] are not rare, though there are exceptions such as Fuelies and 2x4's that are and are valued accordingly. Likewise, look at the value to rarity factor of a 57 Nomad vs a 57 Safari?
It is an interesting study, and no I do not think the bottom will drop out of the market, it will just level off.

[Jerry H.]

In most cases, Rare = no one wanted it when it was new either.

[tremo]

Want a pretty accurate price reference for any car? Check out NADAGuides.Com They do take into account the current market, but I have found the prices listed are essentially the true price of what the car is actually worth. Here are the Pontiac pages:

Pontiac Muscle Cars

Pontiac Passenger Cars

Everyone one wants top dollar and when they see eBay prices, they jack up their price accordingly. I watched the same damn cars sit there on CollectCarTraderOnline.Com month, after month, after month. What does that tell you? Tells me the price is too high. Here's a perfect example: 1969 PONTIAC LEMANS in Myrtle Beach, SC

I thoroughly checked out this car back in August and at the time it was listed at $10,500. Way over what a LeMans is worth. (My guess it's worth maybe $6K.) He finally dropped the price $700 bucks about 2 months later and here it is ~5 months after that and it's still sitting there at the same price! (Folks, if you keep doing the same thing, you're gonna get the same result!)

The one thing I learned during my 7 month search is there are as many crappy cars out there as there are dealers - and eBay has the most of them!

Seee-ya,

Jim.

P.S. I paid $5K for my '69 Custom S with a new interior and minor rust. It was fair price and it was what NADA indicated for "Average Retail" (aka A "20-footer").

[Pod]

I just looked at the NADA guide prices and must admit I am somewhat shocked! Whilst comparing my '64 GTO post and '69 GTO vert I noted that there is almost no difference! I just can't believe that the '69 is worth anywhere near the value of the '64, but maybe I just don't understand the US marketplace.

Pod

[tom s]

the thing I am seeing is the demand for the 61-64 cars is going down and the late 60 early 70s is going up.Maybe the people that relate to them like myself either have them or lost interest in them while the younger people are in the wage-interst groupe for the 70s?Tom