"Collector Car and Truck Market" magazine at http://www.vmrintl.com has created an online version of their auto and truck valuations.
Please look up your Chevelle on this list and report back to me whether their valuation is reasonably accurate. Please read how they evaluate vehicles before you form your opinion about your Chevelle.
Please base your information on what you have read in other valuation guides and your own knowledge of Chevelle sales.
Thanks,
Tom Wilson, 66ss396@gte.net

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Well, for my year I think the prices are a bit too low.

67 SS Convertible in #2 condition for $13,650?

#3 for around $9000?
especially with how they rate a #3.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
#3 Good: Presentable inside and out with some signs of wear. Not detailed but very clean. Body should be straight and solid with no apparent rust and absolutely no rust-through anywhere. Shiny, attractive paint but may have evidence of minor fading or checking or other imperfections. Runs and drives well. May need some minor mechanical or cosmetic work but is fully usable and
enjoyable as is.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If these prices are accurate, then I've never bumped into them. Appox $3000 too low from the cars I've looked at. This is the only year I feel qualified to comment on.

I'd have to agree with Al that the prices seem a little low. They show a #1 condition '70 LS6 hardtop w/ 4 spd, cowl induction, & rally dash to be valued at just under $25K. I think this is about $3 - $5K under the market.

I didn't like it at all. In addition to the low prices, they're assuming that everyone wants a fast car. the expect me to deduct 20% because I have a 250? Yeah, ok.....

Where's the compensation for milage? power brakes? Various trannys?

Seems like a pretty weak site to me.

Kurt, who wants to see someone replace his car for $2,500.

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The 68 Chevelle info page. [last updated Nov. 30, 98]
www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html (http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Garage/6873/Chevelle/68_Chevelle_Info.html)
Email: Kbyfield@terracom.net

I would realistically grade my recently purchased '70 396SS at between a #2 (which they value at $10,500) and #3 (at $7450). Subtracting 10% for bench seats and column shift but adding 10% for cowl and rally dash, their estimation is pretty close to what I paid for mine - - - $9,200 (and I had an extra 454 engine thrown in for good measure).

Here in Ontario, I would consider their idea of a #3 to be a 4 1/2 or 5. For our area I would agree with Al. You could easily add $3000 or more to these prices for a good solid honest car.

I have to agree with all above, the prices do seem a bit low compared to what I have seen around the market. In some categories it deducts for 3sp. trans, but mentions nothing about the Muncie HD3spd that was a desired racing option on later Chevelles. In the 72Malibu category, it adds 10% for buckets and a console, but does not add this for Chevelle SS. Why not? Are buckets less desirable in the SS? I know they weren't standard. Guide seems a little incomplete and under priced.

Before I began to restore my 68SS, I read in the Year One catalogue that it would be a poor investment and that the only reason to restore a car like that was strictly for the love of the hobby and the love of the car in particular. Judging from the prices listed, that must appearently be true. I've got about $3000 more invested in my car than they say it's worth. I DON'T CARE! Chevelles (and 68's in particular) are the coolest cars on earth!

I definatly agree with you guys. I own a 1972 El Camino, with a 350 2bbl. It's a very high 3 or low 4 (recently painted and has great gloss and depth, no rust and a very good running clean car, but not near perfect). The guide says about $6000 for my car, anybody would buy 100 of my car for $6000. The price guide is probably $3000 off.

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Speedway/6673

Ship, why restoring a 68SS is a poor investment? Where in the Year One Catalog does it say it?
Luis!! 70SS

As far as 2 door wagons (64 and 65) they are bonkers crazy!!!!!

Where do people come up with this stuff??

Wes. (I sure wouldn't sell MY wagon for those prices) Vann

I'll have to agree with everyone else.They are way too low on their pricing.I wish I could find some of these cars for what they say they're worth.Some of the prices are more than 3000 too low.
John

Here is my 2 cents worth, I think I could part out the L89SEDAN for more than $13,800.00 and still have some pretty good pieces left, this thing may be ok for purchaseing a project car but not a full blown resored car, hell the parts to do one cost more than wat they say the whole car is worth including the thousands of hours we all put into these labor of love cars, I thimk they b smokin somtin not sold across the counter , just one piston heads opinion, L89SEDAN

When I bought my 69 SS convertable, 4 speed 3 I checked with a bank that finances old cars and they were willing to loan me 21000 dollars on a 2 1/2 car. I think if the banks are willing to load that much and this table feels that the car is only worth 13950 their is something wrong. If fact if I remember the high book on a NO. 1 car was around 35000. By the way I paid 14000. Right place and the right time.

All I can say is the drug dealer these guys have must supply them with alot of dope because they are all very high!!! When was the last time you saw a 69 SS396 with a MC1 3-speed stick on the floor and a bench seat with no power steering. Out of 80 some thousand chevelles made the nearest figure i can come up with is that about 2,200 3-speed chevelle were built that makes it a hard to find chevelle, then add the no power steering and bench seat and you have one of the very few price leader cars that were made to lure the customer in to buy the 375 h/p 4 speed fully optioned chevelles.

Well, my 66 malibu came in at $7200. A little high for my car. If body was factored in, I might lose a $500 but overall it seemed fairly acurate for my car. Those of you with lots of money on specialty parts etc., you have to remember that this stuff isnt factored in here, only you know what your car is worth to you.

BTW, I bought mine for $6500.


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Jon Bush
66 Malibu Sport Coupe
Fremont CA, birthplace of many a chevelle

70SS-In answer to your question, it's in the back of the Spring 98 Year One catalog in the article "Collecting: What the rating system really means." This article describes four axioms.
1) The maximum increase in value after restoration equals one half of the money invested.
2) Labor invested is worth zero at selling time.
3)Maintenance/repair is also worth zero.
4)The only way to make a profit in restoration is to restore other people's cars.
Not my words....their words. I think, however, that they are true. Do it for the love of the car and the hobby.

I wish I could have bought my car for what they say it was worth when I bought it. They don't include near enough options, rare models, colors, quality of work, etc., in their guide. They are at least $3000 below market on most cars. They are in business to sell books, apparently to buyers, not sellers. I don't think they would survive too long as licensed appraisers. von

I'll throw in my two cents worth. I think the prices are way low. I sure have more invested in my 68 Malibu than these people think. However the Year One catlog was absolutely correct. You have to do it (restoration) for the love of the hobby; if your in it to just turn a profit you're probably gonna lose.

Dang, are they ever hard on the 65 base models (300 and 300 dlx). With all of the deductions, my three-on-the-tree six-banger four-slammer base-model Chevelle 300 will never be worth more than a fair paint job! Thank god for AC or I would have been the lowest of the low. Better not let my insurance agent see these numbers! Seriously, I've been watching the prices of the 65 base models, and they seem 30-50% lower than the asking prices I've seen. --- Carl

Man, this is crap if you ask me. This is the same text that's in the "old cars price guide" or similar publication. And where in hell is my 69 COPO? Seems as if someone doesn't know his/her Chevelles very well . . . as usual.

Man, this is crap if you ask me. I paid about $2500 for my almost-running, matching-numbers-down-to-the-alternator 70 SS L34 and I think I got a hell of a deal, rather than an average price. I have received offers of $7500 for the car in its present uglied-up resto stage, and I've only dumped about $1000 in the car since I bought it. And where in hell is my 69 COPO? Seems as if someone doesn't know his/her Chevelles very well . . . as usual.

For the most part I think you will find that the good cars never get as far as the local auctions. Barrett-Jackson can attract some big dollar cars but most auctions that I have seen aren't so fortunate. None of the cars that we have bought in the last few years were heading for the auctions. The deals were strictly private. A good car quickly finds a buyer who will pay a fair price for it. These are the prices we need to see. I think Tom Wilson was trying to get this info a while back.