Are prices rising on our beloved cars?

[dagdal1967]

I recently moved to Fort Worth Texas (from Dallas) and also recently was introduced to StreetSide Classics; a Car consignment shop with offices in multiple US locations.

I went out to their DFW show-room just for a peek and too my glee discovered 2 1964 Corvairs for sale. Both were priced WAY over what I thought was normal and respectable.

You can see the black one (listed for $15K) here ( http://www.streetsideclassics.com/showc ... nza-Spyder )
and the yellow one (listed for $18K) here ( http://www.streetsideclassics.com/showc ... vair-Monza)

As you would expect, I climbed all over both of them for as long as my other half would let me and got a really good feel for the shape they were in.

The black one had several severe paint problems but all in all looked like a solid car. The interior was very original if not a bit worn.

The yellow one was clean, but was in "daily driver" shape. The paint was in good condition as was the convertible top. It had a Clarks A/C kit on it but had an original under dash unit to make the A/C look original from inside the car.

Both cars were "nice" examples but my1964 Coupe (also with a clark's A/C kit on it) would blow both of them away in terms of paint, bright-work, cleanliness and overall state of repair, so I was amazed to see these listed at the prices they were at.

I spoke to one of the sales guys who knew I wasn't interested in buying and he said that very recently Corvairs have started raising in price and they get a lot of people asking about their availability. They seem to be gaining popularity as an "affordable classic" or "starter classic" so they're actually getting the list prices as posted on the web site.

Since I went I know the black car sold for $300 less than list and the yellow one was "under offer".

Does this mean that things are on the up? I know this is but a small sampling of the number cars out there. Just wondering what y'all think.

[Scott H]

Yes, the prices on our beloved cars are climbing. They have been climbing slowly for a few years now but have been climbing faster in the last 6 months to a year.

Those cars are in a full blown retail environment and over priced for sure, but if they sold then hey, good for us I guess. :)

[Nickshu]

I think the entire classic car market is going up and Corvairs are no exception.

[91blaze]

I think the entire classic car market is going up and Corvairs are no exception.

This exactly. I'm constantly watching the prices of classics and have noticed a steep climb over the last few years. This is part of what prompted me to buy my car when I did. Part of it has to do with the typical rise you would expect with age and part may have something to do with different generations and more publicity with older cars. I have noticed Corvairs themselves are becoming more popular as a low budget classic and as a performance vehicle with their unique handling characteristics. This is both good and bad in that our cars and original parts may become more expensive, but at the same time aftermarket parts may become more common and affordable as need rises. Time will only tell, but it's better than interest in Corvairs dying.

[72BBNova]

Yes definitely going up. Back in November I went to an estate auction that had a 64 Spyder coupe, body and paint was about a 6 out of 10, interior was maybe a 4-5,and the motor was just bad, wouldn't take the gas, ran on 5 cylinders and sat idling there for probably 25 minutes strait and never stopped smoking and it went for $9100 couldn't believe it. I would've given maybe $3000-3500 for it, it just needed to much work to get it road ready. I did score on a 65 turbo motor with an EM transaxle with a 3 speed for $150 minus the turbo. Jeff

[Nickshu]

Corvairs themselves are becoming more popular as a low budget classic and as a performance vehicle

They are but this is relative. Younger generations are seeing Corvairs as a unique car and most don't care about the "Nader stigma" because they didn't live thru it (hmm guys like me!). As people look at $75-100k typical classics a $25-30K Corvair becomes a bargain. I sold a very nice classic 911 to buy a Corvair for several reasons one of which was after 12 years of owning the 911 I was tired of paying $2000 for every little part. I don't mind paying a few hundred dollars for a nice Corvair part, I'm still coming out ahead. None of us are in this as an investment.

-Sent from my Galaxy s5 using Tapatalk

[flat6_musik]

I sold a very nice classic 911 to buy a Corvair for several reasons......

*How to make a fellow corvair owner smile*

I've noticed that prices have gone up on certain models of corvairs, and mostly ones that are rare or "done". Corvairs must be benefiting from "a rising tide lifts all boats" type of thing, where prices on all classic cars are on the move higher again. With gas getting cheaper again, and spring not far off, we might even see some new highs! Still plenty of inexpensive "orphans" out there though.

[Nickshu]

I think for Corvairs only VERY nice ones are commanding high prices. Junk is still junk and probably in the Corvair world the junk will stay cheap. For 911's even the junk is expensive now. Even rusty "long-hood" (Pre-1974) roller 911 bodies (as in body/suspension only) are commanding close to six figure prices, which is insane to me!! 911's are great but they'll never be getting $500K at auctions like Ferraris, etc but I guess anything is possible.

[SirThomas]

Having been shopping around for a late model coupe for some time now, I agree that prices are fluctuating, often looking higher than expected. Concerning your specific example, however, Streetside Classics is taking things to the extreme. For example, the 1968 Corvair Monza coupe they have on eBay right now for a $14,995 Buy It Now price at http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Corva ... ars_Trucks" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a whole lot more than the $6,500 it was bought for this past summer. See Paul Ernst's original ad which is still up on Clark's website. http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/pages.c ... 55&level=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (scroll down to see the ad)

With a 230% markup on that car, I wouldn't recommend using any Streetside Classic price as an actual guide of what you could buy a Corvair for.

[dagdal1967]

Of course you're right, Thomas, about not using Streetside as a guide as to what you could by a good Corvair for. However, we are in the know and most people coming to classics from the general populous won't know any better than to look at what's on E-Bay or in the consignment shops and figure that these are the prices that the market is demanding.

Plus, many of us are willing to take on more of a project than most "collectors" who want a pretty car they can take out on a sunday or down to the local car show.

It's interesting though that prices seem to be rising. Not that I'm going to be selling mine any time soon, but the prices seem to be creeping up toward what I actually have in it! :P

[SirThomas]

Having the value of our cars rise up to meet our investments would be a dream come true. You're absolutely right about the general public looking to eBay for guidance on car values. So I guess those of us who are deeper into Corvairs than the average collector car Joe may well benefit in the long run from overpriced sales like Streetside Classics seems to specialize in.

[Nickshu]

Well as someone (me) who bought a supposedly "good driver" numbers-matching 64 Spyder convertible for $7500, currently proceeding to dump $30-40K into restoring it to perfect condition, I would say that paying $25K for an already restored one would have been more economical for me (but not as fun). Problem is that my standards are very high and most peoples idea of a "perfect" restoration is below average to me from what I have seen out there. You'll never do as good of a job restoring a car for someone else vs. for yourself.

With Corvairs we'd have a LONG way to go to recoup the investment of restoring one. These cars are very old now, all of them have rust to some degree, and wear and tear goes on with time making good parts fewer and fewer and good cars too, which drives prices up, and makes the cheap junk even more junky by the day/week/year.

[MikeDTuning]

they are on the rise, especially the LM corsa cars,

Realistically, a good looking mid 60s american car should have never been priced as low as these were. so it was just a matter of time.

Also, as younger people look for older cars, one that has non typical things is gaining appeal.

Lastly, the minor amount of media attention, Via internet shows like "big muscle" and "jay lenos garage" go a long way.

Think about it, if one internet show, gets 100 more people a year doing not much more then casually looking around at these cars to purchase, that makes a HUGE impact on supply and demand of an older car. It really doesn't take much

Usually the quality of the work being done to a car, is reflected by its peak value. When a car has a tough time breaking into the 20k mark. its difficult to justify spending 15k in bodywork on one. whereas a 240k dusenburg will easily justify 15k in bodywork to make right.

[JasonC]

I haven't looked at prices for a while. But if they are going up, then it will not be an enjoyable hobby anymore. For those who don't have much of an expandable income, the Corvair is a great classic car that one could afford and still have a nice looking car without breaking the bank. I use to be into Mopars, sold them before the market skyrocketed. Wish I had a few of them back! Like to have another 70 Dart or 66-67 Coronet. But I doubt that will happen since everyone thinks they are gold...

[flat6_musik]

Realistically, a good looking mid 60s american car should have never been priced as low as these were. so it was just a matter of time.

I totally agree! Sometimes I feel like I'm living in crazy town, when I see prices like these Volkswagon buses......something that was originally an everyday, inexpensive utility vehicle,.......and sold for $217,800! And then you have corvairs and their owners, who nearly stand up and cheer just to crack $20K! We need justice here! (BTW, I think that a mint Greenbrier easily looks as cool as a Volks bus, not to mention its engine is a 6 cylinder)

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/ ... BUS-109474

[bbodie52]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!