How true is this web site, and are there any others out there to get a good value on my 1970 Chevelle ss396 for possible sale. Thanks John

There is no way a research group, NADA or anybody else, can accurately give prices on these cars. There is just not enough similiarity to place these cars in three categories.

The best way to evaluate your car is research, research, and more research. As you compile your figures you will find two things:

1. The more you learn the less you know.
2. There are a lot of cars not selling now and the ones that are have taken reductions in price over where they were 6-12 mos. ago.

Just sold my 69 this weekend and got a good dose of this markets reality.

I agree with most of John's points.
The NADA is not "black and white" in it's pricing. It is supposed to be a guideline that is published on auction results, sales etc.

If you read the front of the book, it tells you how they arrive at their values.
It doesn't mean every similar car will be the same price. As we know, each car is different in someway from another car. Therefore you have to be honest with yourself and adjust the value of your car up or down based on the reality of your car.

It is very clear in the front of the book how they rate cars, how they are putting values on cars that are correct cars. How to truly place a car in the high, average or low category. They don't put values on clones or cars without the original drivetrain. That is why you have to discount the car for each item that is not correct or original. You can increase the value if it is documented. Several tips on using the guideline are in the front of the book.

If you are honest with your valuation of your car, you can use the NADA only as a guideline. Keeping in mind how to classify the car (high, average, low), is it numbers matching is it correct.

Putting a $2,000. paint job on a car and replacing the seat covers and carpet is not a complete restoration that would put a car in the "high" value category.

I am not saying that I swear by NADA or the other books that are similar. I am merely stating it is a starting point for someone, especially people new to the market, to use as a guideline if you are honest in your interpretation of the car in question.

NADA pricing is based on research of all cars FORSALE
It has no bearing on selling prices. They research a particular model take the highest asking price the lowest asking price and an average based on number of cars and asking price. Its why I never use NADA as a guide for car prices.
I find that Collector Car Market Review has more realistic prices than most.

If NADA only places values on original, documented cars with original drivetrain you would eliminate possibly 90% of all 69 and 70 cars. These price guides cannot be updated quick enough to take in consideration sudden market corrections but if they are only considering 10% of the cars it really does not matter.

The largest number of cars selling in any market will always be back of $30K. The majority of these cars are undocumented and there are too many things that cannot be considered by a price guide. Poor location and color are becoming two large obstacles to overcome. The market has become so twisted here in Texas it is becoming very difficult to predict what a car will bring. A car bought out of the strong market in the NE could easily lose up to 20% on the trip here .

NADA pricing is based on research of all cars FORSALE
It has no bearing on selling prices. They research a particular model take the highest asking price the lowest asking price and an average based on number of cars and asking price. Its why I never use NADA as a guide for car prices.
I find that Collector Car Market Review has more realistic prices than most.

I don't know where you obtained that information but it is wrong.

If NADA only places values on original, documented cars with original drivetrain you would eliminate possibly 90% of all 69 and 70 cars. These price guides cannot be updated quick enough to take in consideration sudden market corrections but if they are only considering 10% of the cars it really does not matter.

The largest number of cars selling in any market will always be back of $30K. The majority of these cars are undocumented and there are too many things that cannot be considered by a price guide. Poor location and color are becoming two large obstacles to overcome. The market has become so twisted here in Texas it is becoming very difficult to predict what a car will bring. A car bought out of the strong market in the NE could easily lose up to 20% on the trip here .


If you read my comments about the documentation you will see that I said a documented car can add value. There is a percentage that is added depending on the documentation.

Again, if you read the front of the book you will see all of this information.

I don't know where you obtained that information but it is wrong.

Not what a NADA guy told me.

My youngest son has a 1976 Dodge Colt Wagon. He paid $200 for it. I thought the price was high. NADA has it listed as low value $1425..high value as $5250. How many of you would pay these prices for a Colt wagon?
Although it would be a cool car to stuff a small block into :)

Not what a NADA guy told me.

NADA is based on SELLING prices from auctions and member dealers. The difference in opinion from NADA to Manheim To Market Review is based on how large and diverse their data base is.

NADA is the oldest and largetst available. When you read the guide lines (as previouly stated) you can get a lot of help from their info. It does not try to evaluate modified or custom or streeet rods. Just original or restored to original cars.

Bottom line for me when using a book: My Checkbook!

Me and a buddy was talking the other day about the new younger kids/guys look what they like today they crack me up just the way they sound. NO big blocks which we love all your forms show that you/me have 69's 70's 67's etc....so my question is in 10/15 yrs who is going to want our cars what will the be worth and to who.Like us do we like the model T's whould we go buy one NO.So where do we go with this?

NADA on the average, I have found it to be about 25-30% too high. When I traded for my truck last year, it said my STS was worth about 12000. I was lucky to get 9000. I appraised a wrecked Mustang last month, using my own formula of research. I figured the value to be $18000 in pre-wreck condition. NADA listed it at $23000. A few days later I found a Mannheim auction page, and it listed the value much closer, at $18750.

NADA is based on SELLING prices from auctions and member dealers. The difference in opinion from NADA to Manheim To Market Review is based on how large and diverse their data base is.

NADA is the oldest and largetst available. When you read the guide lines (as previouly stated) you can get a lot of help from their info. It does not try to evaluate modified or custom or streeet rods. Just original or restored to original cars.

I'm glad someone else has read the front of the book besides me. Now if we could get a few others to take the time to read and understand the guidelines in the front of the book and the correct way to classify their cars...

I'm glad someone else has read the front of the book besides me. Now if we could get a few others to take the time to read and understand the guidelines in the front of the book and the correct way to classify their cars...

Hemmings also puts out a price guide book. It is very good one also.

Some of these sites Like Manheim for example have not updated their base for maybe years. Their numbers are still the same as they were two years ago. I guess at this point I will have to say that is just my opinion. Before all the yelling starts.

This site is another checkpoint

http://www.manheimgold.com/

NADA is based on SELLING prices from auctions and member dealers. NADA... does not try to evaluate modified or custom or streeet rods. Just original or restored to original cars.

A big problem is (generally, IMO), Auctions and Dealer prices are no where near "real world" prices in most cases...

i think the NADA might as much as 35-40% too high. i looked up my '68 SS conv 4 speed after i bought it and it said high value was about $60,000. you can't get that anywhere except BJ's maybe. they don't even ask the right questions. for example, they don't take into account a car that is completely loaded with options is worth more than a low optioned car. the only add ons were for 4 speed and 375HP models. IMO, NADA is worthless on old cars.

Posted my car, on this web site and got 29,500 for it I thought it was a fair price, Thanks for all the replys. JOHN ( NADA Question )