i think a lot of "mopar flip" guys think the 71 hemi cuda convertible that sold at mecum last year for $3.5 million dollars is some kind of "indicator" of the market for "hemi mopars." THAT is still a record for ANY mopar but that was also an incredibly unique car. it was COMPLETELY original and had like 3500 miles on it. it is probably the most original 71 hemi cuda convertible in the world.
i watch the car auctions all the time and currently you can buy a number of original drive train, numbers matching restored hemi B body cars for $100-$150k. some hemi superbirds and daytona chargers are still fetching over $200k but you could count those cars on one hand AND those cars have just come out of private collections and have some kind of unique histories and are low millage. in about 99% of cases, a person just isn't going to become a millionaire "flipping" "hemi mopars."
so for you BO 68 Barracuda clone builders out there, what WOULD be a reasonable price for an "original" 68 HEMI? well, i've seen rebuilt "crate" 426 HEMI motors on various internet sites advertised for around $35k. you can buy a newly rebuilt "punched out" HEMI for $20-$25k. i'm not an engine builder, but if you found a decent 426 block, i think you could buy the parts to build the engine for probably $15k. AND i suspect that the $100k "gold-plated" california ebay HEMI would need to be rebuilt or at least "freshened up" - probably to the tune of at least $5k in shop labor.
and what about all the COMPLETE hemi cars that are out there right now for sale? i could show the "hemi guy" three ads running right now for turn key, jump in and drive 68-69 "hemi" barracudas advertised for between $70k-$100k!
so what do "I" think the noted "Left Coast" "original HEMI" is worth? "if" you had an "original" or "survivor" "hemi" car that would be worth $100k plus if it had a "date correct" HEMI in it - then it "might" make money sense to pay $50k for the california HEMI. but why not go into the market place and find a "newly built" less expensive HEMI and put it in that car and then have more room to negotiate a reasonable sales price? if a person paid $100k for the ebay HEMI, there is NO "business plan" that one could put together for ANY car that motor would go in that would make the finished car profitable. the only other way you could make out on the $100k HEMI is if you "found" an old "hemi mopar car" in a barn or on a farm or in some old lady's garage and "stole" it from the owner for a couple of grand. GOOD LUCK finding that deal these days.
