Prices of the big Buicks.

Discussion in 'A boatload of fun' started by EEE, Feb 18, 2008.

  1. EEE

    EEE Straight out of lo-cash!

    I just wanted to check in on your thoughts about the big Buicks prices, up/staying/down? I myself prefer the cars to fly under the radar so it's more accessible to find a car and to not have to pay a "muscle car" premium on it. I don't really care for making money on a car, but prefer to see it as a hobby that I can enjoy as cheaply as possible, even though it's getting to be pretty pricey by just stopping at a gas station. What's your point of view on this?
     
  2. Phil Racicot

    Phil Racicot Well-Known Member

    It's the same as yours.


    But, the bad thing about low prices is that it makes cars affordable enough to derby them or to part them out rather than restoring them.
    It's also harder to justify spending money on cars that sell for less than what was required to repaint them, rebuilt their engine or repair their seats with the original material...
     
  3. pphil

    pphil Well-Known Member

    when i bought my 70 wildcat the guy told me how rare it was only so many built blah blah blah...well after looking it over i asked how much and he said $6500 so i told him to have a nice day and that it was way too high for me.As i started to leave he stopped me and asked what i would give.after 15-20 min. of dickering back and forth i bought it for $2500.:Dou:

    When i got an estimate to paint it they wanted $80.00 an hour and for me to just bring them a check every week(lol)then quoted "around $10,000.00"
    my point is my car in #1 condition is only worth around $9700
    the only reason i am fixing it is,its mine and paid for. It will never be a #1 OR #2 for that matter. Just hoping for a nice weekend driver.
    I sold (or parted out)my 64 wildcat to get the money to paint this one.
    and i will still need to get the seat covered and one day maybe the motor(but i am putting that off as long as possible):dollar:

    so i am like you i want the prices to stay low( the price of gas is helping out there) and i want to fix mine as i can afford it.:TU:
    scott phillips
     
  4. lapham3@aol.com

    lapham3@aol.com Well-Known Member

    Yup-agree-the Sky GS and Barrett/Jackson world is far from my mind. I like to have fun with the cars and not fuss about the $ too much-
     
  5. MikeM

    MikeM Mississippi Buicks

    Seems to me like the asking prices are going up for the big and old cars.

    Yesterday, as I was looking through ww2.collectorcartrader.com it seemed to me like there were more 1935 - 1962 Buicks on there than I've ever seen before. Many were over $50K. Seems like a lot of the nicer cars are coming onto the market. I wonder if it has something to do with both real estate and the stock market going down over the last fifteen months. Perhaps people trying to cash out other things at the moment, but I think they're going to have trouble finding buyers at the prices they're asking.
     
  6. RIVI1379

    RIVI1379 Well-Known Member

    I find that to be the case as well, I have been an Electra 225 owner a few times now-there is a market out there for Electra's, I feel, but also an understanding that they are not a high dollar vehicle. I sold a 76 Electra for 4000.00 on E-bay to a gentleman in France, and it had 38,000 garage kept miles, I paid 2800.00 for it. I thought 4000.00 was a good price. if that was a 70 GS w/38,000 miles, it may have been 40,000!
     
  7. Dale

    Dale Sweepspear

    They've been making some gains in recent years from what I have seen.

    Since many cars like the A-Body GS's have increased in cost beyond what the average person wanting to get into the hobby can afford, the next best thing is a full size car. Many with big block engines.
    Besides, the leg room is much better. :laugh:

    I was thinking about this the other day that I see a lot of SF coded 455 engines from '70 Rivieras for sale, which means many have been parted out since they are kind of the odd duck, and not the most desired year.
    (Heck, I'd rather have a different year.)
    I figure at some point I may own one of the rarest model years of the Riviera if that continues. :idea2:
    That can do nothing but help value.

    I'm not in this hobby for the money anyways, though I am being carefull not to spend more than I can get for the car if I should have to sell it.
     
  8. 65specialconver

    65specialconver kennedy-bell MIA

    i just sold my electra to a guy in chicago after 3 times on e-bay.i only got $2200 for it & imho it's worth double that.i basically broke even on it & got to drive a very nice car for awhile.i dont think i would buy a big car as an investement however:Dou: but then again,i got a ton of bites from e. coast guys,the transporting was the deal-killer.
     
  9. MullyClu

    MullyClu Well-Known Member

    Hi,

    Regarding prices, I just posted on the Ebay Cars and Parts thread about a car for sale. It is 68 cat vert and its at $22,000+ with 2 days to go.
    I have always wanted a cat or lesabre, but an earlier year model, ie 65, 66.

    Any boat guys feedback on this car?

    Thanks,

    Steve
    NC
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2008
  10. furiousgoat

    furiousgoat Sold goat, bought Buick!

    On a whole, I think the big cars prices have remained steady. Although every now and then you do find a rot box that someone thinks is worth a fortune. Maybe it has always been that way.
     
  11. Haka

    Haka Member

    Hi guys

    In 2005 I bought a 69 2Dr Electra in very good shape in Phoenix for $4200.
    (I am a German living in New Zealand). I restored it over two years and today the big fellow owes me around US$ 21.000,-
    It was never my intention to spend that amount of money but once startet restoring you will get it nice.
    I love it and enjoy driving it but here I won't get back my invested money and that's not for what I did it.
    In Europe it looks different. People over there pay for example for a 70/80is Chev Caprice up to US$ 7000,- or more.
    Here in NZ the market is overfilled with US classics and cars for sale sitting stuck over month and years.

    Haka
     

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  12. wildcatsrule

    wildcatsrule Well-Known Member

    So many of the big cars have been sacrificed for their engines to be transplanted into the A-body cars that they aren't as common as they once were. But then again, rarity doesn't always translate into increased value. According to the price guides, my '68 Cats have held their value, but not increased any in the last 3 years....I looked at the aforementioned '68 on EBay.......I see several issues with it that would cause me to balk at the current price.... I don't mind that the big cars aren't commanding huge prices....if you want to get one it is still possible to afford them....unlike a GSX or other highly sought after models.
     
  13. jimtash

    jimtash Well-Known Member

    In the current Hemmings, they value the '65 Riviera GS at 40-45K. I doubt the '63's are far behind and that's what I'd concentrate on if I was looking for future appreciation.

    I know it sucks because it leaves a lot of people out of the hobby, but as the years pass don't expect to find too many deals left. One ad I saw even had a 1976 AMC Pacer going for $15,000 and the sad fact is somebody will probably pay $10,000 for it. So if someone is willing to shell out that kinda cash for that POS, just imagine what some of the lesser known or rather the lesser appreciated 60's and 70's cars are going to command in the future. Get in while you can.
     
  14. patrick91914

    patrick91914 Well-Known Member

    That sounds a little high for most cars, but I'll take it. :laugh:

    I bought my ’65 Wildcat GS knowing that it will probably never bring what it will take to get it to show car shape. Resale value is not a quality that I consider before purchase. I’m only interested in how much I will enjoy turning a junker into a jewel. I like cars that are rare, but not so rare that I can’t put it back together because parts are impossible to find. There’s nothing special about my Wildcat. It has few options, a column shift, AM radio and I’m converting it to a non-A/C car with bucket seats/console, but as a GS, it’s one a few left and deserves a good life. With few exceptions, I have no interest in 4-door grocery-getters and cars built before ’64 and after ‘68 (I love '68 Wildcat coupes!)—what I consider to be the best years of the muscle-car era.

    For the life of me, I don’t understand why anyone would want to restore a ‘77-’78 Riviera, an ’80 Lesabre and other cars built in the worst quality and design time in American car history. That’s just me. I was fortunate enough to be born when you could see great cars driven daily and parked on the street. When style and goobs of power were offered in abundance from every manufacturer. When the words “Super Wildcat” made caused sweaty palms and made babies cry, a GS was a death sentence for all challengers and a “Gran Sport” badge was not relegated to a 4-door errand runner. Those born in the late 70s or 80s probably have a different perspective and enjoy the cars they grew up with during the post-muscle car/gas shortage era. So, I’ll do my part to save cars worthy of saving so that we don’t forget.

    I'll step off the soapbox now.
     
  15. Dale

    Dale Sweepspear

    I recall my Father saying the same about the cars from the 50's & 60's.
    "Why would anyone want to restore that garbage?"
     
  16. lapham3@aol.com

    lapham3@aol.com Well-Known Member

    There are all kinds of price guides-compare the Hemmings with the Old Cars. Other guides also look at the older as well as less old-the $ are all over the place. If you factor in the auction car world vs not, a big change happens. Dale, there are two '70 Rivs in the current Old Cars Weekly-rarely ever see one! (Nope, you can't retire on yours yet :laugh: )
     
  17. lapham3@aol.com

    lapham3@aol.com Well-Known Member

    I was wrong-same '70 Riv in 2 ads-must be a redundant ad special going at OCW!
     
  18. Dale

    Dale Sweepspear

    A guy can dream.:laugh:
     
  19. 68 LeSabre 4dr

    68 LeSabre 4dr Well-Known Member




    :Dou: Gotta giggle ..... My Dad ( rest in peace my friend ) bought a twin 68 LeSabre when I was 13 years old . We washed , waxed , tuned , brakes etc . on that 68 till 1982 . One day Dads 68 needed the front end basicly rebuilt and the turbo 400 needed a rebuild .

    He decides to sell the car ( that you could not tell it was even ideling with the hood open ) for $160.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:rant:

    It took me till 2002 to find a "close" twin to his and bought it Pronto !!

    I have alot of money in mine today and it is priceless in my eyes and heart as well .

    I follow NADA every year and this 68 Le Sabre goes UP in value every year enough to say " hey this is not all bad Shirl .... )

    Anyways , A big ole Buick will never be a GSX but then again we can't all have one .....:Brow:

    :bglasses: :bglasses:
     
  20. 73riv455

    73riv455 73riv455

    There is a 69 2 door electra creampuff on phoenix CL for 3500, guys been trying to sell it for 2 months.
     

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