Current musclecar market

[Mike69cuda]

I just sold two non Mopar classic cars recently. Bottom end of the spectrum cars, 10-15k. Got my money back on both after about 3 years. However, probably made about a nickel
(+ or -) an hour for my labor. I am pretty happy with the results. If I can drive one for a few years and get close to breaking even, I am good.

 

[toolmanmike]

I just sold two non Mopar classic cars recently. Bottom end of the spectrum cars, 10-15k. Got my money back on both after about 3 years. However, probably made about a nickel
(+ or -) an hour for my labor. I am pretty happy with the results. If I can drive one for a few years and get close to breaking even, I am good.

Absolutely.

 

[318willrun]

I am pretty happy where I'm at with my two. Not in too deep with either one.

It won't matter with my Duster. Never plan to sell it unless fortune puts a better '70-72 on my doorstep at an unbelievable price.

 

[MMissile]

I am pretty happy where I'm at with my two. Not in too deep with either one.

I'm in way too deep, but my cars are for me. I have no kids, so rather than have my wife give them away when I die, I'm having them crushed.
It won't matter much, at that point.

In the meantime, if that guy walks up with cash.....

 

[Lefty71]

Ask the guys who love the 50's rods, or even the Model A crowd, if you can find anyone. After long enough, everyone ( for the most part ) that wants one, has one.

 

[YY1]

If that were true, then those cars would be real cheap.

 

[sam69sat]

This beauty 4 door Coronet carcass came up for sale the other day on fbbo. Seller says it's worth $3500 because if you bought amd pieces it's be over $5500.

 

[toolmanmike]

This beauty 4 door Coronet carcass came up for sale the other day on fbbo. Seller says it's worth $3500 because if you bought amd pieces it's be over $5500.

 

[mvh]

I think a lot of people saw the prices go up during COVID and decided their "project" was now worth a fortune. But now it's languishing on the market and they are crying that the market is going soft. But all it is really is that they overpriced their vehicle, high on "hopium".

Case in point: 68 Barracuda fastback, 318 auto. Lots of bolt-on "performance" parts, but older driver-quality paint, needs complete interior, some assembly required, asking $45K. That's a ridiculous ask, IMO. I figure you are at least $15K from having a presentable, show-worthy car... probably more... at THAT point it MIGHT be a $40K car, at a stretch. But probably not, since it isn't a Formula S or even a 360 swap.

 

[Davco]

Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.

 

[MopaR&D]

I'm in way too deep, but my cars are for me. I have no kids, so rather than have my wife give them away when I die, I'm having them crushed.
It won't matter much, at that point.

In the meantime, if that guy walks up with cash.....

You'd rather crush them than give them away? That would be 2 less classic Mopars in existence, you could at least auction them off for a charity or something idk. Could give someone else a chance to enjoy them.

 

[YY1]

If that Coronet above has the complete doghouse in good condition, then it's at least $2500.

 

[barbee6043]

I traded my Ford buddy my turtle for his frog. I had my turtle advertised for 1 million $ and he had his frog also priced at 1 million $ also.. We both figured we cleared 1 million $ EACH> WE are now Texas's newest millionaires! Go figure??????!!!

 

[matthon]

4 doors, no name, no option, junkyard cars are now all over the road and internet.

People lower their expectations as the name cars get bought up by mega collectors and dealers.

Competition has unlimited funds, and we applaud their collections.

I can speak to the lower end of the musclecar market.

They're worth too much when you're selling, too little when you sold it, and you paid too much when you bought it.

 

[junkyardhero]

4 doors, no name, no option, junkyard cars are now all over the road and internet.

People lower their expectations as the name cars get bought up by mega collectors and dealers.

4dr bread and butter strippers that used to be 1K cars are now 4~6K all day. there's a whole market segment of people that have an idea of "cool old car" and don't really math it out beyond that.

how long ago was it that nobody wanted beak nose darts? now? 10K + all day.

 

[67Dart273]

This beauty 4 door Coronet carcass came up for sale the other day on fbbo. Seller says it's worth $3500 because if you bought amd pieces it's be over $5500.

Was it the sixpack hemi test mule?

 

[67Dart273]

What in the heck is a "spectrum" car?

 

[barbee6043]

4dr bread and butter strippers that used to be 1K cars are now 4~6K all day. there's a whole market segment of people that have an idea of "cool old car" and don't really math it out beyond that.

how long ago was it that nobody wanted beak nose darts? now? 10K + all day.

Yep FB is full of 4 door whatever brand, usually Mopar and Ford projects, most asking $3500 to $5000 here is overpriced and (not selling) Texas. Yes NO ONE here is paying such but dozens for sale. But here is Texas not Calif. and... Hardly ever does their price drop to reality. Amusing. Then occasionally you will find the guy that has a really nice 4 door, needs very little, for sale on such FB and seldom do you ever see them selling for that price. Here in Tx. The seller has put the time and $ in that car but the audience for it is small. 4 door cars are still regarded as parts cars by 99% of the people. Maybe their value will rise?????? (here)..... Probably not as long as there are hundreds, thousands of similar 2 door projects for sale. I guess there are 50 cars foir sale for every buyer here. and prices for classic projects are way higher here in Tx than any surrounding state. Average ways are higher also.

 

[matthon]

Watching WIW threads recently, many chime in with a range higher than I thought, much more in some cases.

Car gets listed here, lingers, reduced, marked sold, shows up on fb for $ in the middle, reduced, removed or marked sold.

I've seen this with original bb a-bodies, with or without an engine, and sb Formula S cars, as that is my area of interest.

Looking at sold on ebay, excluding the sold with offer, prices appear extremely high for even non Formula S cars.

Talking with a few friends, it's at the point where we don't know what anything is worth, including our own cars.

Without the knowledge of buying and selling actual cars on a regular basis, how is one to accurately value a classic car, especially the junk my friends and I own?

 

[Lefty71]

If that were true, then those cars would be real cheap.

True to a degree, but....and you will find this with our cars soon too.... The best ones got scarfed up and the brunt of us will never be able to touch them, and the rest that no one will pay for (and then dump their life into to restore a less than great car), they are going to sit behind the barn or out in the field and rot until they are nothing but a few good pieces someone will enevitably unbolt or cut off of them and sell. Whatever, your era, THEY AINT MAKEN EM NO MORE LOL.

 

[barbee6043]

Watching WIW threads recently, many chime in with a range higher than I thought, much more in some cases.

Car gets listed here, lingers, reduced, marked sold, shows up on fb for $ in the middle, reduced, removed or marked sold.

I've seen this with original bb a-bodies, with or without an engine, and sb Formula S cars, as that is my area of interest.

Looking at sold on ebay, excluding the sold with offer, prices appear extremely high for even non Formula S cars.

Talking with a few friends, it's at the point where we don't know what anything is worth, including our own cars.

Without the knowledge of buying and selling actual cars on a regular basis, how is one to accurately value a classic car, especially the junk my friends and I own?

I admit I have restored to "some" degree, years ago nut and bolt restos, now just cut out the rust, patch, prime, block, paint and get it runnin/driving and NEVER a real desirable" car! But I know what someone will eventually pay and what I have in it. My hobby I love, but I can not afford to give it away and I know how long it can take to sell and how hard.
IF I see a project car for sale, the first thing I ask IS he a old car hobby guy??? or if not, IF he has ever restored an old car to any degree? and if he sold it, did he come close to breaking even???? If the guy says in his add, he has too many projects to ever get too, then there is hope to make a deal maybe.

Last four door car I sold, a 64 Belvedere, I got it in a trade and had zero in it except meeting the other guy 5 hours away. It was a great runnin/driving car except needed a couple of wheel cylinders, a PO had done engine work, rebuilt the front suspension, car near rust free. I did all the body/paint, patched the exhaust, 4 new tires, bought a little missing trim, replaced the bent grill, etc etc.. It took me 6-7 months to get one offer of $2500 and he drove here to Tx. from Ne. and put a modern hemi in it. I might have broke even. Labor was free! So why would I ever think every ones 4 door roller is worth miniumum of $4-5000!

What are they worth? I figure anything a guy gets over scrape price is salesmanship. I have little sales skill!!!!

 

[Mtrhead]

Front clip

 

[NC Engine Builder]

Sadly, almost ALL of these cars are worth more as individual parts than complete. Regardless of paint and "done" condition.

 

[junkyardhero]

Watching WIW threads recently, many chime in with a range higher than I thought, much more in some cases.

Car gets listed here, lingers, reduced, marked sold, shows up on fb for $ in the middle, reduced, removed or marked sold.

I've seen this with original bb a-bodies, with or without an engine, and sb Formula S cars, as that is my area of interest.

Looking at sold on ebay, excluding the sold with offer, prices appear extremely high for even non Formula S cars.

Talking with a few friends, it's at the point where we don't know what anything is worth, including our own cars.

Without the knowledge of buying and selling actual cars on a regular basis, how is one to accurately value a classic car, especially the junk my friends and I own?

this is so very true. i can only comment on the cars in my solar system that are selling or bought thru myself or my friends and colleagues.

and while i see some straight up wild prices and speculation for stuff around here (especially S or bb project cars) the sole fact remains: it's only worth what somebody will pay for it that day, right then.

and that's the rub. because people buy with nostalgia brain, or passion, or their lizard brain says: V8 go vroom-vroom, wheels shiny! or they always wanted a 4dr 76 valiant brougham in turd brown with tan interior because that was the car they lost their virginity in.

the cream of the crop will always be the cream of the crop. there's too much value there, a lot of those cars are investments and that "class" of car doesn't ever really go soft. the bottom doesn't just fall out of it one day.

it's all the stuff in the middle that is more subject to the buying climate, and even now as decent pieces become more and more scarce even the bread and butter 318 2bbl cars are inching their way up, because where are you gonna find another? can you afford the upper tier?

i think there's been a market correction, and there will continue to be. but not for desirable cars, those will continue to steadily rise until the heat death of the universe.

 

[RustyRatRod]

after all, there's no "app" for it.

You got that right. If it caint be done while veggin out on the sofa, forget it.