Sorry long post...

Gents - I've been pondering for a while now the tough choice of selling my 66. A couple of years ago I was able to contact the owner of my father's old 69 RS Camaro (the one I loved since I was born but dad was forced to sell in the 80s). There now is a decent chance that I may be able to buy it back from the same owner. I simply don't have the room for any more cars so i'm considering selling the 66 and put the $ into restoring the Camaro (if I get it).

My question is... how do you value a PT car? I've searched on Ebay and the prices are all over the place. I'm not looking to be paid for my time i've put into it but i'd at least like to get some money back for the parts or perhaps better? I've been through the process of restoring a numbers matching 70SS Conv, which I sold, and had no emotional attachment to but that was much easier to value at the time.

My 66 started off a solid shell California Malibu. Nothing special just relatively clean and rust free. I purchased it with the intention of building a canyon/street/vintage_track car but haven't found the need to rotisserie it. I've got maybe a few thousand in parts alone for suspension, brakes, LS1/4L60e, etc... I guess the question is.. is it better to part it out or sell intact and find a way to value it as a whole? Ebay it? Craigslist? I'm not looking for a specific $ value, guesstimates, etc... just hope you can guide me towards an approach or methodology to come up with a value that I can live with. I'm really a little lost thinking about this.

In one way, I hope the current owner doesn't sell it to me so I can continue to enjoy the 66 but it's also been my dream to restore my dad's old car while he's still alive to drive it.

Personally I don't think there is any ryme or reason as to how these cars are valued other than what one individual is willing to pay for something they love and what you are willing to let it go for.

I have seen cars that IMO should have sold for half of what they where sold for. Hell start high and go from there and when it is right unload it. But before you wait to long for that high price, think of the feeling you'll have when your Dad see's his car again. You cant put a value on that

I just restored a 1965 Cadillac Convertible that my uncle gave me. It was his first new car he bought and he really loved it but at 83 he just could keep up with it anymore. He's 87 now and last week I had him over and left the car in the drive way. When he saw it he was so excited he started to cry. That made everything worthwhile.

Then we got in the car and took it for a ride to the beach. It made his day! I hope you can make your dads day also

Good luck either way

I figure a lot of it depends what it can do.

Has it won a slew of show trophies? That's what it can do.

Do you have it all dialed in for autocross? That's what it can do.

Has it been run at Silver State or some other well-known high speed event? That's what it can do.

Does it get 25 mpg on the freeway? That's what it can do.

If it can't be proven it can do anything, it's tough to justify asking a lot for it. Regardless of what some future owner may want to do with it, being able to prove it does something really, really well can justify asking a fair amount for it.

take however much money you've got into it and divide that by 2.

It would be hard for me to pass on going after the 69 RS as well. I've thought about putting my Chevelle which is my HS car on further hold to put a car my parents' have together.

You may want to post this topic on Lateral-G and Pro-Touring to get their thoughts as well. I'd be looking into the Pro and Cons of going the auction route especially being close to some major auctions out on the west coast. I've noticed the same thing on the range of values, alot of it has to do with building something alot of people like visually as well as the performance factor. Which your car is very clean so I would think it'd get a good price.

95% depends on build quality, fit, finish, body/paint, wheels, stance, interior, over all look, etc.

That's what counts, anyone can put some brakes and suspension on a car.

If your going to sell prepare yourself to be disappointed at what the car brings. I'm not knocking your car at all! Its just that these car (old cars in general) are never a good return on your investment. The more you put into them the greater the % $ you'll lose.

As far as were to advertise the car to sell I'd stay away from Craigslist. I've tried to sell a car there and had alot of interest but most guys ended up being dealers or car flippers looking to lowball me.

Whatever you decide I wish you good luck.

That piece of junk is worth about $2. :D I'll be a super nice guy and give you $5 bucks for it though. :D :D :D

Here's an idea that might cause you to shoot me....sell your NSX! :D

That piece of junk is worth about $2. :D I'll be a super nice guy and give you $5 bucks for it though. :D :D :D
Tim - I was hoping for $3 which is just slightly higher than what it's worth but still under what you're willing to give. Sounds like a deal!
Here's an idea that might cause you to shoot me....sell your NSX! :D
The thought has crossed my mind. (Selling the NSX not shooting you. HA!) btw... when are you going to be ready for a cruise? PM me


Thanks everyone for your comments. I realized a good way for me to gauge value is to ask the guys at the local Cars & Coffee meet. I made a few acquaintances there and they can give me some thoughts. Another possibility is to rent storage space close by.

The bad thing about selling any customized car is finding a buyer that has the same taste as you.
James

The bad thing about selling any customized car is finding a buyer that has the same taste as you.
James
I completely agree. This goes with all sorts of cars in my experience. It's especially true in the import world where you are better off returning the car to stock form.

it all depends on what u paid someone to do and what u did yourself. i have about 3500 im my wifes 69 chevelle bench seat 4 speed car. it still needs alot of body work but i pasted up 8000 on the car. i should of took it but me and my wife want a car to drive this year because without a job my 70 wont be done for a while. seeing the smile on my wifes face when it starts up and telling her its hers is worth more then 8000 to me. but thats just my thoughts.

My question is...how do you value a PT car?



95% depends on build quality...

Agreed.
With the exception of a numbers matching SS, build quality will be the primary determining factor (in most cases) for determining the value of any of these cars...and only you know what level of build quality your car has.




These cars (old cars in general) are never a good return on your investment. The more you put into them the greater the % $ you'll lose.

Agreed...for the most part.
With very few exceptions, these cars are a hobby, not an investment. I've always maintained, if someone has thousands of dollars at their disposal and is looking for an investment, they'll be much better off putting the money into a financial instrument instead of a 40 year old Chevrolet.
The majority of people doing a quality restoration will be upside down, just like the majority of people will be upside down in almost any other hobby they put their money into.
So, be realistic with your asking price.

Bottom line, you're the only one who intimately knows the build quality of your car. Determine your asking price by the level of that build quality.

Regards,
-Greg

Greg, Iwill agree that there better investments, but classic cars are a great investment. It all depends on the deal itself.I traded a VW for a healy 3000,bought a porsche 356 for $1650 Somebodywould be locked up for making those deals today. Last week found a solid '68 SS chevelle for $4000. Great investments are out there.

...classic cars are a great investment.

Yes, if they're in that unique sector of investment grade cars.
A '70 SS LS6, bought at a decent price, would be a "great" investment.
A numbers matching '68 L78 SS, bought at a decent price, would be a "great" investment, etc.
But, the majority of Chevelles do not fall into that category.




Last week found a solid '68 SS chevelle for $4000. Great investments are out there.

Is it numbers matching? How many thousands of dollars will you have to put into it to give it a quality restoration?
Even if it's numbers matching, after a quality restoration you'd be very lucky to just break even.
If you don't plan on restoring it, and it's not a numbers car, then what you have is a $4000 '68 Chevelle in need of thousands of dollars of restoration...not really an "investment," just my opinion.

If you're talking about buying old cars to try to flip them for chump change, that's something different.
But, even so, I still say you're better off putting the thousands of dollars you'll spend on "flippers" into a financial instrument if investing is your goal.

I maintain that most people who do a quality restoration are upside down with their cars...and there's nothing wrong with that, it's a hobby, and most people are upside down with whatever hobbies they pursue.

Regards,
-Greg