Hypothetical Vs. Actual Values(Was 55 Imperial not sold on Ebay)

["ronald" <ronald@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Every old car is worth $2500.  If it is a convertible, it will be worth a
thousand or two more.  Beyond that,it is pure emotion.  This muscle stuff is
99% hype and l% reality.  Most of us old curmudgeons know that when we
bought this stuff new it was between 3 and 4 thousand.  Heck, my Jag was
only 5,000.  OK, OK, inflation needs to be factored in, but I don't think
you can do that with cars.  Nope, it is what someone will pay, period.  Most
of us guys would not pay $2,500 for a nice diamond ring, but we would buy it
for the woman in our lives.  That's because we don't value stuff like that,
and we know the markup that jewelers make on this stuff.  The only time we
see inflated prices is on new models that are scarce, like when the Vipers
came out and some dealers were scalping them for 30,000 over sticker for the
egotists will to pay to have the first one in their territory.  Does not
apply to used cars.  Sorrry guys, be these are old used cars.  A good
analogy is antiques (old junk).  Would you give 500 bucks for an old pub
table if they are selling new knockoffs for 200?  Yes, some would.  The
other writer hit it on the head.  Some people can hide their emotional
responses, and I play that game all the time with people that ask me about
my cars.  I love to price them where folks think they ought to be, knowing
full well that if I gave them the lowest, most rediculous price I could
dream up, they still wouldn't buy!  Try this one to prove my point.  Ask the
curious what they would give.  You will almost never get an answer.  The
reason being that most people don't even know what they are looking at.
Let's look at two old used cars:  l957 Chevy Bel Aire Convertible.  New,
maybe 35 to 3700, really loaded.  Know what?  It was a cheap, mediocre car
new, but why all the fuss?  Because back then, people made $l00 a week and a
3000 dollar car was out of their reach, especially if you were young and had
other obligations.  Next example:  l956 Imperial.  New, let's say $5,000.
Way out of reach for the average Joe.  But, back then, if you were like me,
you could buy one two years old for $2,000 while your friends bought new
fords and chevies for 3000.  Who had a better car?  No contest.
----- Original Message -----
From: "A. Foster" <monkeypuzzle1@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 6:58 PM
Subject: IML: Hypothetical Vs. Actual Values(Was 55 Imperial not sold on
Ebay)


> David;
>  That's may be they way you look at things but that's not how it works.
Just
> because something is somewhat rare doesn't make it valuable, its whether
> someone wants it and how badly. Its the law of supply and demand,
especially
> demand; if there is no increase in demand there is no increase in sale
> price. With mid and upper range cars like Buicks, Imperials, Lincolns, and
> even most Cadillacs, its like waiting for the bus, you don't like the
price
> on one car wait awhile and another one will come along. The simple reason
is
> that most people are not lining up to buy one like the mid fifties
Chebbies
> (even they aren't as popular as they used to be.)
>  Maybe someone didn't bat an eyelash at what you thought your car was
worth
> but they didn't cut you a check for it either. You can ask anything you
want
> for something but if the money doesn't change hands your percieved value
is
> totally hypothetical, regardless of anyone's opinion. I for one couldn't
> care less what my car is worth because I like it and don't plan on selling
> it, to me it is a diversion not an investment.
>  Obviously the same can't be said for the seller of the car on E-bay since
> he is posting this car for sale everywhere, and frequently. I think that
if
> you may check the ad for that $29,000 55' Imperial, from last summer, you
> will find that its the same car. As I mentioned before this car has a
Quebec
> license plate on the front and for that reason alone, let alone the others
> cited. it is unlikely to be an original, mint condition, car. I think that
> people have every right to be picky about a car priced that high but is so
> blatently misrepresented. No one would even be discussing this if the car
> was listed as a low number two condition car, which it is, and priced
> accordingly.
> Best Regards
> Arran Foster
> 1954 Imperial Newport
> Needing A Left side taillight bezel and other trim parts.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <frye55imperial@xxxxxxx>
> To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, December 26, 2002 7:52 AM
> Subject: Re: IML: 55 Imperial not sold on Ebay
>
>
> > Hi Ken, of course I watch the prices of 55's when possible, somewhere
the
> > showroom condition sometime last summer was listed at $29000.  That one
on
> > ebay got knocked around alot, but where are you going to find one any
> better
> > for sale?  Too much picking at something that there aren't very many of
in
> > the first place and so what if the guy wants a high price, it's not
going
> to
> > get any lower!  It can only go up even if someone pays his price.
Sorry,
> > that's just the way I look at things.  I know there are people with
> > absolutely fine, almost perfect cars in their collections, but even if
> there
> > are some things not right about the white 55, I didn't see too many
others
> > for sale, at any price!!!
> > Mine isn't perfect by any means, but it's amazing how many people have
> > approached me about it and after I threw out a high price they didn't
> blink
> > an eye, so that's my little input about the subject of the white 55
Coupe
> on
> > ebay!  It may possibly have a few things not exactly correct in some
> people's
> > eyes, but go find twenty or thirty others that are better!  I don't
think
> > so...Thank you for not cutting down the car or the guy selling it,
> granted,
> > he should not have started his bidding price so low and maybe it isn't
all
> > that original in the first place, but it's still a beautiful car that
> isn't
> > going to lose it's value!
> > David Frye
> >
> >