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alsancle

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Posts posted by alsancle

  1. Contrary to what I tell my wife about our cars, buying a car as an investment is not a good idea.

    1. They require lots of care and feeding (maintenance & insurance & storage)

    2. They are not liquid. They require effort to sell.

    3. They are hard to value. I don't agree with the notion that a qualified appraiser can value a car correctly. There are too many varieties and subtleties to value. A single person can't know every car.

    4. They are subject to the same market dynamics of investments that don't have the downside of 1-3. Sometimes the values go up and sometimes they go down.

    The stock market is off 35%, the car market is still at a high in most cases. Wouldn't it make more sense to move your money to the place that's already gotten hit?

  2. By detailing I'm probably talking about 25 or 30 thousand dollars worth of work depending on how much work you do on your own and how expensive your restorer is.

    I'm not a big white wall fan myself.

  3. I didn't notice that until you mentioned it. I think the car is cool either way but I think I prefer it with no trunk.

    West, looks like polished aluminum to me too. Taking the ebay car and detailing to the specs in the factory photo would make a very stunning vehicle.

  4. <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 1937hd45</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: John Gelfer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I concur with the 810/812 Cord dash. With the simple but elegant engine turning, and the short and shapely knobs, it is a true work of art. The pre-selector shift stalk mounted on the steering column may not actually be part of the dashboard, but they pushed it over the top for a unique look. My late father in law owned three of them. What beauties! </div></div>

    I spent about a half hour last night trying to steal a photo of a 810/812 Cord dash! Can someone post a photo for those that never got to sit behind one? Just like sitting in a vintage airplace cockpit. </div></div>

    Bob, go back about 5 replies and you'll see one.

    As a side note, one of my earliest memories was that of a 4 going on 5 year old in 1969 riding in my dad's 812 coupe from Mass to Akron where we'd get dropped off at my Grandmas before my Parents would continue on to Auburn Indina for the ACD festival.

  5. <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dynaflash8</div><div class="ubbcode-body">We can only hope it affects prices. I personally think the prices at these auctions is simply a case of money laundering, probably from drug money. Nobody has that much money to simply throw away, or, if they do, I agree with Obama, let's raise their taxes. The country needs it, and true old car collectors can only benefit and maybe afford a car they want. </div></div>

    Do you really feel that way? Wouldn't it be better to support the right of any of us to waste our money, little or large any way we want? You could make the case that many of us blowing 10k on some beater is a worse investment that some of the million dollar auction purchases. Who gets to decide what was wise or unwise or who the "true" collector is?

  6. "I'll have to borrow to acquire the car and it will put a substantial strain on our monthly budget just to buy it, never mind restore it."

    I hope this doesn't sound bad, but a life changing decision like this is not something I would trust to an internet message board. Everyone here is well meaning and knowledgeable. However, none of us will have to pay the bills if your job goes south or the kids need braces and the money is not there.

    My advice is to wait, save your money and get one down the road. 1932 Packards are wonderful cars, but they are available and there will be another one. Do not underestimate the cost and length of the restoration. My experience has been that restoration costs are much more expensive then some of the other posters. Of course this might just be the bad luck of living in an expensive state.

  7. If you can do all the chrome on that car for 25k you will be doing really really well.

    To repeat some of the good points from this thread. If you have to borrow money to buy it you have to pass. There are many many cars that you can get for "free" and be underwater when the restoration is finished. Restoring a classic is unbelievably expensive. The cars you see sell for top dollar usually have restoration costs that exceed the value of the car. Unless you are exceedingly talented a "backyard" restoration will not bring top dollar so don't use those sales as a benchmark.

    I can understand the urge to "do it" but if it has any amount of negative effect on your families finances you have to pass.

  8. Ed, the town and country is a great car and sells for more then many classics. However, you are right about the club losing focus. Many people still don't get the purpose of the club i.e. the "classic era" which in my mind lasted from about 1930 to 1940 or so max. The problem is that once the mass-produced standard bodied Caddys were let in, that kind opens the barn door. People have a hard time getting their arms around the difference between a great car, and one that falls into the "Classic" category as original defined by the club.

    A.J.

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