I could never auction any of my toys, too much blood sweat and tears put into them and get a slow day and you give it all away. like the others said, drive the piss out of them and enjoy the hell out of them and if there is anything left after that, give them to your next of kin. if you have to sell for one reason or another, there is always hemmings, ebay and other venues where you might get what they are worth. :3gears:
Let's pose a question: I know of several guys on this BB that can afford to and do buy and sell some beautiful cars that would/have cost in the >$50,000 range probably in parts and farmed-out work alone. How many folks in your circle of friends recoup those costs when selling? Or maybe as a % of investment, what is the range of both best and worst gain and loss you have made on selling a presentable or better car? Do the % gains generally go up or down based on the total value of a car being sold? In my low-rent experience making 0-10% on cash outlay is a pretty good gain, not including all of my own time and work on improvements. But I can only do mechanical work; no body&paint, or upholsetery. Some might question my ability to do mechanical work..ou:
Don't necessarily agree. I like many different cars Buick being my favorite. Can do minor stuff and have on some of my cars. But my profession is outside the auto world and with time limitations etc... i choose to have the work done by a professional or good mechanic (have used a few here on the board) so its also done right and I pay for that service. Doesn't that help and support the average guy? Just another side to it
Guys it's really easy to beat our chests and poo poo on those folks that can drop lots of money on nice restorations and such, but lets be honest with ourselves. If it were not for those with lots of expendable income, we would not have a lot of the things we take for granted. Here are just a few to think about: 1. Many of the fine repop and performance parts, as well as new technologies and techniques concerning paint, body, etc. 2. Stunning cars restored and preserved by professionals that we all oogle over. I know we all like to think we are little Chip Fooses and master mechanics, but lets be real here... 3. Stunning collections of cars that actually increase the value of our own to an extent. Unless you have a garage full of museum pieces, you ain't gonna make bank when you retire on one car. However, as long as someone is willing to drop a lot of money on something, it will remain valuable. 4. Constant placement of classic cars in the media, TV, internet, and everyday life that keeps these vehicles visible to the public. This is HUGE because if the public thought we were all just toying around with our junkers, they would be well on their way to being outlawed by some regulation due to safety, economy, or emissions. Even if it is BJ that folks are watching, it keeps the interest up and negative perceptions down. 5. Lots of high profile folks with money to lobby against said regulations. If you think for one second that the bureaucrats wouldn't love to kill our hobby, think again. That being said, who here has any right to say that only mechanics or those whoa are mechanically inclined should participate in the hobby? That is hogwash. Should I be a crewcheif, weapons loader, and electronics specialist in order to fly a mission? No. Same difference. You can't judge someones love for classic cars based on mechanical skills. Someone who is making bank might not have the skills or TIME to focus on nothing more than restoring a car. If they can drop their hard earned cash on a nice resto, and then be able to enjoy driving it two weeks later, then more power to them. That is their prerogative! I wish I could! If I was loaded, I would want a nice car to show, and one to tinker with. Many folks have just that. I don't have the money so I just get to tinker, but I love driving as much if not more than turning a wrench! Don't dog on someone that enjoys the hobby differently than you do. I'm sure no one here would question Jay Leno on his passion of cars... For the record, that in no way shape or form means I endorse cars as stable investments! That is ridiculous! Like everything money related, values ebb and flow with the economy! Like I said earlier, as long as someone values something, they will be willing to drop lots of money on that! Look at beanie babies! They are worthless because the public thinks such. Do you want you car to be the next beanie baby? No? Then let the rich folks keep spending!
If I want to go out and buy a new car, not a new hot rod Camaro, Mustang or Challenger, it is going to cost me $25,k minimum. So why shouldn't somebody go out and dump $50k on a new, classic. Fast forward 4 years and your "new car is worth $10k and your classic is now worth $20k. You got to enjoy a car and took the depreciation. On a good set of 4 years, maybe your car held it's value and now you have had fun for the low cost of only $10k for 4 years cruising. I enjoy fooling with my car and will probably have $15-20k into it whenever it is done and it will be a solid $10k car. In the meantime, I haven't spent time in the bar, haven't spent money on cigarettes and haven't spent hours dropping money into the video poker machine while drinking and smoking in the bar. If you make good money, spend it on what makes you happy. For somebody that makes $50k a year, you spend a couple thousand, for somebody that makes $250k, they can afford to possibly lose $40k if it brings them happiness.
