Are we pricing our old cars and hobby out of existence?

[Xander Wildeisen]

Nobody has talked about how the global market has driven up prices as well. Back in the 50's-90's you could buy this for that. But as other countries grow, so does the interest in American classic/collector cars. Investors/collectors around the world want the good stuff to. No one will spend the money to buy/transport a car around the world, unless it has a good value where it is going. A lot of lesser cars have gone up in value, because the cost to build/restore has gotten very expensive. If you find a nice car worth around 12K, listed for sale for 25K. Everyone says the sellers dreaming. Go buy that same car needing restoration for $1,800-$2,500, and see what you are into it. The 25K will seem like a bargain. Quality always has a market, no matter what the car is. If you can not do any of the work on these cars yourself, it will be a very expensive hobby. Always buy based on your abilities. Buy a finished quality car if you have to pay to have everything done.     

[Dynaflash8]

2 hours ago, Skyking said:

The good prices are still out there,  you just have to be at the right place at the right time.  I picked up this nice Chevelle for less than half the price they're selling for on eBay.  

Not on pre-war cars or even cars in the 50s. 

[60FlatTop]

I have probably given away more cars than most people have owned. Other stuff, too.

 

I would not have a problem giving one of my cars to a younger relative who really wanted it, or to a stranger who was since. It wouldn't be the first time.

 

To give something away to someone who is just challenging the idea is about as lame as the challenge. They are missing the whole thing at a much deeper level.

[CarNucopia]

10 hours ago, Rusty_OToole said:

I don't want to be morbid but probably the best buys are in run of the mill 1930s and older models. The guys who owned and loved them are dying off or dead and the cars can often be bought reasonable. Not the Duesenbergs and top museum pieces, the Studebakers and DeSotos.

 

It's been my experience that the owner you are talking about spent the last 10 years of his life doing things other then maintaining his cars. I've looked at a number of prewar Buicks that were inherited by that guy's children. In every instance, the car suffered seriously because of neglect. 

 

3 hours ago, Dynaflash8 said:

That doesn't bring down any prices on the old cars that I do want.  Maybe it is sticker shock.  I mean my daughter had to pay $197 for a battery for a 1998 Chevrolet tin can last week.  That included installation, but even so, a battery for that car should be $55.  We are living in a time where money is cheap.  So, I think the four cars I've got might well be the last old cars I'll ever own.  I can buy mutual funds and get over 6% on $30,000 and use the monthly income to travel rather than watch my old car sit in the garage for $152 a month.  I'm just tired of these prices.

 

What kind of Chevy was it? I

[John348]

We all heard this many times

 

The price is dictated by what the market will bear

 

There are plenty of four door cars out there that are very good deals to enjoy the hobby with, and even sme two door cars as well. 

As the Rolling Stones said "you can't always get what you want..... but you find some times..... you get what you need"

[60FlatTop]

24 minutes ago, Buick64C said:

a battery for that car should be $55.

 

Actually $43 with exchange. I showed my son where to go for his 2000 Park Ave.

 

When my Daughter moved to Boston I connected here with Ed Moore, who helped her out, and Ed connected her with Ed Moriarty. Someone ran into her car on the street and damaged the door. I called Ed and asked if he could get her one. He replied "What color?"

 

My Daughter asked "How can I move 300 miles away, and you know all these people and places to go?"

 

Old cars, you gotta pass the collective knowledge along.

 

I got the Packard inspected yesterday and was talking with the mechanic I always go to. He said he was 50 years old. I asked what I was going to do when he retired in 15 years. I had no doubt that I wasn't going to need a mechanic to make judgement calls in my favor 20 or 30 years from now.

Bernie

Edited July 3, 2017 by 60FlatTop (see edit history)

[Dynaflash8]

41 minutes ago, Rusty_OToole said:

Dynaflash let me turn the tables on you. You say you have some nice restored cars. How much would you have to get for them, to get back the money you spent? Would you sell any of them for $300? You must know what things cost these days. Can you expect someone else to take a major loss so you can have another play toy? Lets be reasonable.

Okay, here is exactly what happened to me.  I paid a current price for a 1939 Buick Special convertible coupe when I sold my home in Virginia and moved to Florida in 2005.  I thought the price was about 40% more than it was worth, but I was going to go out on that limb "big league" that one time in my life.  I spent seven years getting it restored to National Award Condition, and I did get that National Award I always had worked toward.  I did it the old way, and the only way I could afford to do it.  I found a body man and painter willing to work in his home garage.  I paid the price in the time it took.  I personally handled all of the parts purchase, transportation to and from the plater and the upholsterer.  I acquired outside parts from suppliers (floormat, tires, trunk kit, on and on) before the prices could go up or the supplier died.  My best friend did all of the disassembly and assembly in my garage, and another mechanic friend rebuilt engine drivetrain at his personal hobby shop.  All of this labor was far less than any restoration shop would have been.  Soon after winning the AACA National Award (first Dunham Award) I got sick (and scared).  I didn't want to leave all that money sitting in the garage for my wife to deal with.  So, I read that another one had brought 13% less than I had in mine at an auction, uh huh. I'd have took that!  I took it to an auction and it brought 33% less than I had in it, and the dealers then told me the price was set.  Yep, that's what they said.  In desperation I called a western dealer who wasn't at that so-called auction, and he agreed to pay me 30% less than I had in it.  It was a huge loss, but I felt desperate.  It has migrated around and now Volo Museum has it for sale at $79,500, which is a whole heck of lot more than I got for it (tremendously more).  Tell me about paying all these high prices.  I don't want to hear it.  On the other hand, I'm thankful to still be alive, and so far, barring any bad results of my next checkup on July 25, I'm okay until some other event comes along.  As I said, money is cheap now for many.  They make big money and can pay big restoration shop expenses.  That said, restoration shop have to pay big money now to employees and they have unemployment insurance to pay, any machine work or reproduction parts are astronomical in price because they too have all those expenses.  All the way down the line.  As for modern mechanics, bodymen, painters who work in shops, they make so much money now that most do not want to any sideline work at home for an affordable rate, or for any rate for that matter.  So, to answer your question, I would sell any of my cars for what I've got in them, but I think even that would be impossible to do except for the blue one; the only one I plan to die with still in the garage.

Edited July 3, 2017 by Dynaflash8 (see edit history)

[Pomeroy41144]

There are plenty of reasonably priced antique autos out there.  Some for under $10,000.  Unfortunately, these are not the types of cars that are popular at the fast food car shows or cruise nights.  Younger folks are not interested in a 1931 Model A,  a 1940s era Pontiac four door sedan or similar make.  These are not the "matching numbers" muscle that they flock to; they are not convertibles or roadsters.  My survivor 1937 Ford, which has an interesting history and was in storage for 50 years, barely gets a look when all that 60s GM muscle is around.  The stupid auction shows don't help.  I think once the guys my dad's age start dying off, there will be a glut of old cars that just are not popular with young folks or in the culture.  Then what? 

[Dynaflash8]

54 minutes ago, Xander Wildeisen said:

Nobody has talked about how the global market has driven up prices as well. Back in the 50's-90's you could buy this for that. But as other countries grow, so does the interest in American classic/collector cars. Investors/collectors around the world want the good stuff to. No one will spend the money to buy/transport a car around the world, unless it has a good value where it is going. A lot of lesser cars have gone up in value, because the cost to build/restore has gotten very expensive. If you find a nice car worth around 12K, listed for sale for 25K. Everyone says the sellers dreaming. Go buy that same car needing restoration for $1,800-$2,500, and see what you are into it. The 25K will seem like a bargain. Quality always has a market, no matter what the car is. If you can not do any of the work on these cars yourself, it will be a very expensive hobby. Always buy based on your abilities. Buy a finished quality car if you have to pay to have everything done.     

It's harder to spend that whole $25K at one time.  On the other hand unless you are hands on, the guys who would work on the side aren't out there, hardly, anymore.  But you are also right that the global market is much to blame for the prices.  Our old cars are going overseas at a very fast clip and it's happening every day.  Just follow the money (who said that? }

Edited July 3, 2017 by Dynaflash8 (see edit history)

[Dynaflash8]

39 minutes ago, Buick64C said:

 

It's been my experience that the owner you are talking about spent the last 10 years of his life doing things other then maintaining his cars. I've looked at a number of prewar Buicks that were inherited by that guy's children. In every instance, the car suffered seriously because of neglect. 

 

 

What kind of Chevy was it? I

A Lumina.  If I'd been there I could have done a lot better using Walmart.  But, I wasn't there. Still, batteries have gone completely out of sight.

[Dynaflash8]

12 minutes ago, Pomeroy41144 said:

There are plenty of reasonably priced antique autos out there.  Some for under $10,000.  Unfortunately, these are not the types of cars that are popular at the fast food car shows or cruise nights.  Younger folks are not interested in a 1931 Model A,  a 1940s era Pontiac four door sedan or similar make.  These are not the "matching numbers" muscle that they flock to; they are not convertibles or roadsters.  My survivor 1937 Ford, which has an interesting history and was in storage for 50 years, barely gets a look when all that 60s GM muscle is around.  The stupid auction shows don't help.  I think once the guys my dad's age start dying off, there will be a glut of old cars that just are not popular with young folks or in the culture.  Then what? 

No, it's more like streetrods at the cruise-ins.  For a couple of  years I had a 1941 Buick Roadmaster 4-door convertible with dual carbs.  I took it uptown and opened the hood thinking some of those people would be impressed.  The first guy by asked, "when are you going to put a Chevy 350 into this thing?"

[padgett]

Sears is having a battery sale today. I generally pay $100-$125 for a battery but all except the GC2s in my trailer are AGMs. The problem is that few today enjoy fixing things despite the wealth of information on the Internet.

 

Same way the Lumina is a W-body like the '93 Grand Prix (25 in January) in my sig (of course it has a DOHC 6 and a five speed manual trans but to the price guides it is a $2k car. ($200 1957 dollars but does have AC).

 

These are the good old days.

[60FlatTop]

3 hours ago, Dynaflash8 said:

it brought 33% less than I had in it,

 

I would have to guess that somewhere between 1980 and 1985 I came to the conclusion that for every $1,000 more I was willing to spend on an old car I could get about $4,000 worth of work they had invested. That math works out pretty close to your experience.

 

For three decades I have frequently said that, taken advantage of the fact, and understood how it affected me. I am not a restorer. I do component restoration. If I do enough components on the same car I might get close. But I have no desire to do all the parts. Knowing that, I balance between cosmetic and mechanical work. Leaning toward the cosmetic ALWAYS keeps the value higher than having a mechanically sound and reliable car, that's for sure.

 

It's my hobby and I don't care about cost. I have never really cared much for money. If I needed some I went out and got more. I hear some of the guys my age talk about "not spending their hard earned money on..." Hard earned money? I never had any. I haven't worked hard as many days as I am years old.

 

Learn to have fun with the cars, but learn how to play pool before you take one apart. It's good for planning.

Bernie

[cxgvd]

About 1975 I spotted a very pretty 1964 GTO conv, in dark blue and low miles.  The used car lot wanted $5000 for it when most similar cars could be had for 2000.  I thought to myself the GTO would never be worth that much, it sold quickly though I don't know the details.  In 1997 my friends and family though I had lost my mind buying a 1913 Buick for more than a new car costs.    We are taking our Buick to the AACA Vintage Tour in a few weeks, still driving and having vacations in it.  What would I do today with a 20 year old new car?   What is the point, buy what you want to drive, let the future take care of itself.   Regards, Gary

[Dynaflash8]

35 minutes ago, cxgvd said:

About 1975 I spotted a very pretty 1964 GTO conv, in dark blue and low miles.  The used car lot wanted $5000 for it when most similar cars could be had for 2000.  I thought to myself the GTO would never be worth that much, it sold quickly though I don't know the details.  In 1997 my friends and family though I had lost my mind buying a 1913 Buick for more than a new car costs.    We are taking our Buick to the AACA Vintage Tour in a few weeks, still driving and having vacations in it.  What would I do today with a 20 year old new car?   What is the point, buy what you want to drive, let the future take care of itself.   Regards, Gary

Easy to say, easy to say.  First I don't have 20 years, but that isn't the point.  The old man used to say, "waste not, want not".  I've found, if you suddenly get down and out, an old car is really hard to sell in a hurry, and a house is worse.  But, you can live in the house.

[Xander Wildeisen]

1 hour ago, 60FlatTop said:

It's my hobby and I don't care about cost. I have never really cared much for money. If I needed some I went out and got more. I hear some of the guys my age talk about "not spending their hard earned money on..." Hard earned money? I never had any. I haven't worked hard as many days as I am years old.

 

Learn to have fun with the cars, but learn how to play pool before you take one apart. It's good for planning.

Bernie

Sounds like you went out dancing.  

 

[cxgvd]

That's funny, I'm reminded of a saying in the HCCA.  If your wife wants to redo the kitchen or you want a swimming pool or you want to step up to a Stanley steamer and everything is expensive.  It goes something like this " You can always sleep in your car but you cannot take your house to a horseless carriage tour."

 

Dynaflash, could you swap cars you have for something different you want?  I realize you pointed out one is a keeper, maybe something else, as you say your not a young man.  

Regards, Gary

[R W Burgess]

2 hours ago, cxgvd said:

 In 1997 my friends and family though I had lost my mind buying a 1913 Buick for more than a new car costs.    We are taking our Buick to the AACA Vintage Tour.   Regards, Gary

Post a picture of it Gary. See you there by the way.

Wayne

[60FlatTop]

In 2011 I bought this '94 for $9000. It is pretty much ready to go to a show. And its 25th birthday is coming up fast. I have had collector car insurance on it for 3 years now so it is not much of a burden to own.

 

Best part, if I keep it for the long run; no restoration needed and I have been collecting some reserves of NOS parts.

 

I do enjoy driving it. Just like the '64 Riviera I have that I bought when it was 15 years old.

 

 

 

[cxgvd]

Wayne;  I do not have a photo and find this site difficult to post photos with the Apple system

  However if you go to the Buick forums, Me and my Buick, then DEI post called my 58===58=== half way down on page 24 is a photo Doug posted of our 1913 Buick model 31 touring car.  Also my friends '09 EMF.

 

See you at Wellsboro, This will be our first tour with the AACA.

 

Gary

 

 

[R W Burgess]

16 minutes ago, cxgvd said:

Wayne;  I do not have a photo and find this site difficult to post photos with the Apple system

  However if you go to the Buick forums, Me and my Buick, then DEI post called my 58===58=== half way down on page 24 is a photo Doug posted of our 1913 Buick model 31 touring car.  Also my friends '09 EMF.

 

See you at Wellsboro, This will be our first tour with the AACA.

 

Gary

 

 

*

*

*

This one must be yours then Gary.......

[R W Burgess]

Look for us in my wife's (Gloria) 1926 Chrysler. Looking forward to meeting you.

 

Wayne

[Joe in Canada]

See you both in Wellsboro and leaving the touring at home again. No side curtains and the wife has no sense of adventure. 

 By chance does anyone know if there are ethanol free gas along the route??

Edited July 4, 2017 by Joe in Canada (see edit history)

[R W Burgess]

10 minutes ago, Joe in Canada said:

 

 By chance does anyone know if there are ethanol free gas along the route??

*

*

I went online and found one station in Corning New York, one of our stops, so there should be more.

[Frantz]

Quote

And... I think the heavy emphasis on points judging that the AACA and specialist clubs make so much of has had a long term, deleterious effect by forcing up the "price of admittance" and actively discouraging people to do their own work even if it isn't always up to "professional" standards.

Eh, you should judge sometime if you haven't. It's not hard to buy a winner. It might not be a Grand National winner, but you can certainly buy a points winner that's less than perfect. So long as you mind the big deductions you can get away with quite a lot on condition. I think that's good too. Not even talking HPOF here, but general cars that have been well preserved or have an older restoration, they place pretty well unless they are in a very popular class with lots of competition near the 400 mark. I'm working on getting my '54 Ford back on the road, and while I'm certainly mindful of an eventual proper restoration, I'm going to take some shortcuts for now. Really it's not going to hold me back, other than the time it takes to find the right parts for some things. If anything, I think the Hot Rod culture scares folks away. I got to drive a really crappy 1960 Rambler American a few weeks back, stock motor. Frankly I loved it! It felt perfect for what it was and a restoration is out of the question value/conditon wise, but the car would be made far worse by dropping in a 401 (obviously dropping in a 350 would be sacrilege). But the idea that cars not worth restoring are only worth Hot Rodding gets very very expensive too. Our local region has few points winning cars, but they are cars folks can and do take out for runs and enjoy. My '54 will be ugly for many more years most likely, but it will be on the road and enjoyed as a period correct 30 year old car.... that happens to be over 60 years old. I think AACA is actualy more forgiving of stock ugly vehicles than most cruises are. As someone earlier said, it gets old being at a show and hearing about what motors should be in the car. HPOF, DPC, and even traditional points scoring give great flexibility of budget for enjoyment. I for one, would get greater pleasure out of judging a pretty original heap kept on the road than a 400 point Mustang. My fav car I think I saw all year goes between a Model TT dump truck and a straight 6 Mustang. Both at Huntingdon WV. Neither a high dollar car in value, but certainly in workmanship and restoration. I've only been to Charlotte and WV, and probably didn't see everything, so no offence meant... just saying, some great affordable cars are out there.

 

[SC38dls]

20 minutes ago, R W Burgess said:

*

*

I went online and found one station in Corning New York, one of our stops, so there should be more.

Try this.  www.pure-gas.org/index.jsp   It lets you search by state for non-ethanol gas stations. Have fun. 

[Plyroadking]

Maybe someone was listening? Or forgot the 1 in front

 

https://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/6196333188.html

 

 

[Dynaflash8]

Wow!  That Chevy is a steal.  Somebody asked if I'd trade one of my cars.  If I ever get the 64 Buick Wildcat back from the painter, I'll probably sell it as soon as I can.  It was a simple paint job most shops could do in two weeks.  Most shops won't do even that anymore, except restoration shops.  So, I got a painter to do it at home....you guessed it, a  year and a half and still no car.  So, now I'm disgusted with it, and will likely sell it when its finished.....at a loss of course because all the fixup has mounted up so high.  It was a good price I thought when I bought it.  But, it had an awful 1990s fender bender repair I couldn't live with.  Lessen to you guys....this was my first sight unseen car..................don't ever do that.......pictures lie.  Spend the money to go see the car in person.  Don't depend on somebody else looking at it either.  Only you can properly look at a car.

 

My problem now is that my three main cars are great cars.  I can do everything I ever would want to do within AACA with these three cars.  I wanted an entry-level CCCA car.  There is a good CCCA Regional club in south Florida I'd like to participate in.  They even let me bring my 39 Special convertible sedan to one of their tours last year, but I felt somewhat out of place.  I want a closed car, because after the 2018 AACA Sentimental Tour, I may sell the convertible sedan.  I want to use it for that (November, 2018, Mississippi...."ya'll come").  After that tour I'd like to get rid of the closed trailer, so I was just looking for a respectable, authentic 4dr sedan without obvious 15-foot flaws for touring.  Pre-41 Buick Roadmasters are accepted but they are almost non-existant at what I consider a reasonable price or good enough condition.  I've never owned a Cadillac, but a 1942-47 Series 62 sedan is accepted....entry level for sure.  They are easier to find in good driving condition at something like a reasonable price...if you call $15-25K reasonable.  I'd most like to have a 41 Buick Limited, and I could buy one, but I just refuse to spend 40-70K for any car at my age.  I guess my even bigger problem is I can't abide anything that is not correct to originality, or is worn so badly as to make me look like one of the Beverly Hillbillies on tour.  I did see a 47 Packard on this website I should have bought...hated the color...but I think it was probably a good car.....I just couldn't get to see it in mid-winter and after the 64 Buick you couldn't give me a car sight unseen.  Maybe I've been an AACA judge for too long....245 National Meets. 

Edited July 4, 2017 by Dynaflash8 (see edit history)

[Guest Skyking]

22 hours ago, R W Burgess said:

*

*

Good to see you on here again Sky!!! Happy Holidays!

Happy 4th to you Wayne!!

[Larry Schramm]

On ‎7‎/‎3‎/‎2017 at 7:04 AM, Dynaflash8 said:

That doesn't bring down any prices on the old cars that I do want.  Maybe it is sticker shock.  I mean my daughter had to pay $197 for a battery for a 1998 Chevrolet tin can last week.  That included installation, but even so, a battery for that car should be $55.  We are living in a time where money is cheap.  So, I think the four cars I've got might well be the last old cars I'll ever own.  I can buy mutual funds and get over 6% on $30,000 and use the monthly income to travel rather than watch my old car sit in the garage for $152 a month.  I'm just tired of these prices.

 

There is no such thing as a $55.00 car battery any more.  With all of the cars that I maintain for the family and the older cars, battery prices for any vehicle basically start at $99.00 and go up.

 

When I started working for GM 40 years ago, I started at $3.85/ hour. I just dreamed of the day that I would make $10,000.00/ year.  Went past that a number of years ago.

 

If you look at the prices of cars of the past and look at inflation, most cars are "relatively" the same price.  High end cars though have gone up faster in price. 

 

My wife's first car was a $10.00 Corvair with 90,000 miles that we drove another 50,000 miles and sold for $300.00.  Over the years I drove a lot of $100.00 cars that I had to work on to save money.  Other that a company car for a few years we have never had a new car.  My current truck has almost 300,000 miles on the clock. It is a lot about priorities in where you spend your money.

 

Being able to afford a car has a lot to do where you place your priorities.  I can not tell you the last time that I had one of those $5.00 fu-fu coffees and other "lifestyle decisions".  My wife and I do a most of the work around the house ourselves and rarely pay for any outside work.  I am still working and have yet to start collecting social security.  We have placed our money where we have the most enjoyment and that is three young'ns including two though college and all out on their own now.  The cars, etc.. came later except the Corvette which we purchased as s wedding present to ourselves and the VW Camper which we used to take the family on vacation which was cheaper than staying in hotels.   We camped on our honeymoon in campgrounds for $2-3.00/ night to save money for the future.

 

Now I am not saying that it is easy, but there is a lot more than just the price of the car.  I agree that the old car hobby is not for the faint of heart or wallet.

Edited July 4, 2017 by Larry Schramm (see edit history)

[Aaron65]

The key to happiness in the old car hobby is lowered expectations.  I'll probably never own the '41 Continental of my dreams, but I have more than a garage load of cool stuff, and other than my '53 Buick ($6500), the most I paid upfront was $4084 (on eBay).  Of course, that's just the beginning of the money spent, but I like working on cars (as frustrating as it can sometimes be).  

 

If you're not going to be happy unless you have a mint '69 Camaro or a concours '53 Skylark, of course you're going to feel like the hobby has turned its back on you.  If you keep an open mind and truly just like old cars, you'll find something to suit you.  And if you're worried that the cruise-in crowd is going to bash your business, you're hanging out at the wrong places...  My Dart wagon, which I bought from a salvage yard, draws more admirers than almost anything else I own.  It's a weird old beater and people love it.  

 

I cruise craigslist and eBay weekly, and there's always something to trip my breaker.  Last week, I was drooling over a '61 MG Midget online; it was only bid up to $3800.  At a car show/swap meet last week, I saw the coolest '77 Suburban in the world with almost no rust...$5500.  Auburn seeker posts good deals on here all the time.  None of them are LS6 Chevelles, but they look fun nonetheless.  Lowered expectations, friends...

[alsancle]

The guy with the 74 Gremlin can get as much joy from his car as the guy with the 32 Dietrich Stationary Coupe.   I was never happier in my life than when my wife and I bought our first house,  1.5 bath Ranch that made me trilled every time I came up the drive.  Years later when we built our "dream home" I was happy but never to the point I was with the little ranch house.

[60FlatTop]

2 hours ago, Larry Schramm said:

There is no such thing as a $55.00 car battery any more.  With all of the cars that I maintain for the family and the older cars, battery prices for any vehicle basically start at $99.00 and go up.

 

Here's the connection to the Detroit guys. Give them a call and ask for a price on a new BLEM. I have been using them for 20 years or more.

http://corporate.interstatebatteries.com/www/distributors/southern_detroit/default.asp

If it's an everyday driver I get a dual post in case I get generous and give someone a jump.

Bernie

[mercer09]

Bought a 29 model A tudor sedan yesterday-in 1000 pieces.

price I paid was 2000.

 

price 20 years ago about 2000.

 

some things havent changed much..................................!

 

 

[edinmass]

So, while we are on the prices of old cars........Let's toss out another and often more important aspect of the car hobby, yes much more important than price. That is each of us and our limited time we have, I encourage every car guy to take a look at their life expectancy and over all health. Realisticly you should buy a car today, the best you can afford & justify. The past is forever gone, there is no guarantee of a future, and all of us live in the present. Do yourself a favor and buy a present and give it to yourself. Twenty five years ago I fell into a pile of money.......through hard work. About 150k. I dumped it all into a 100 point Pierce Arrow along with a bunch of other savings, for a total of almost 300.  Have owned and enjoyed that car for more than half my life, showing and touring it countless times. I had and have way too much money in it......and it doesn't matter. If I die today it cost me 12 grand a year to own, and probably about seven figures in real cash money if it were in the market. Who cares......I have had a world class automobile for a quarter century, and with a bit of luck, another twenty five to come. Having been in the hobby since I was very young I have seen HUNDREDS of guys "going to restore it" some day. They are all long gone, the cars sold off, and many true car guys never had a decent car. What a shame. We all have responsibilitys and life issues kicking our ass non stop. But if you dont pull the trigger, you will alway be empty handed. Be realistic, buy what you can afford, but DO IT. You owe it to yourself. Interestingly, it not how much you spend, or what kind of car you buy, it's the friends and family you share your car with that brings you the best "automotive dividends". I have many good friends in the hobby, and some great ones also. Their friendship is much more valuable than any car I have ever owned or driven, and I have "done it all" in the hobby. I have had more fun this year than last, and I expect it to continue long into my future. Today's drive......not a Model J, not a Pierce 12, I'll pass on the world class Springfield Rolls open car, today its my newest addition to my collection, one that I enjoy as much as the others, my unrestored 1915 T touring. It cost me half of what my small John Deere farm tractor cost. And IT IS as much fun as the Pebble Beach Best of Show Winner I was driving two months ago. It's not the cost, it's the journey. Happy Fourth!   Or as we say here in the hills ......Happy 241st Anniversary of Brexit 1776!

Edited July 4, 2017 by edinmass (see edit history)

[edinmass]

5 minutes ago, edinmass said:

So, while we are on the prices of old cars........Let's toss out another and often more important aspect of the car hobby, yes much more important than price. That is each of us and our limited time we have, I encourage every car guy to take a look at their life expectancy and over all health. Realisticly you should buy a car today, the best you can afford & justify. The past is forever gone, there is no guarantee of a future, and all of us live in the present. Do yourself a favor and buy a present and give it to yourself. Twenty five years ago I fell into a pile of money.......through hard work. About 150k. I dumped it all into a 100 point Pierce Arrow along with a bunch of other savings, for a total of almost 300.  Have owned and enjoyed that car for more than half my life, showing and touring it countless times. I had and have way too much money in it......and it doesn't matter. If I die today it cost me 12 grand a year to own, and probably about seven figures in real cash money if it were in the market. Who cares......I have had a world class automobile for a quarter century, and with a bit of luck, another twenty five to come. Having been in the hobby since I was very young I have seen HUNDREDS of guys "going to restore it" some day. They are all long gone, the cars sold off, and many true car guys never had a decent car. What a shame. We all have responsibilitys and life issues kicking our ass non stop. But if you dont pull the trigger, you will always be empty handed. Be realistic, buy what you can afford, but DO IT. You owe it to yourself. Interestingly, it not how much you spend, or what kind of car you buy, it's the friends and family you share your car with that brings you the best "automotive dividends". I have many good friends in the hobby, and some great ones also. Their friendship is much more valuable than any car I have ever owned or driven, and I have "done it all" in the hobby. I have had more fun this year than last, and I expect it to continue long into my future. Today's drive......not a Model J, not a Pierce 12, I'll pass on the world class Springfield Rolls open car, today its my newest addition to my collection, one that I enjoy as much as the others, my unrestored 1915 T touring. It cost me half of what my small John Deere farm tractor cost. And IT IS as much fun as the Pebble Beach Best of Show Winner I was driving two months ago. It's not the cost, it's the journey. Happy Fourth!   Or as we say here in the hills ......Happy 241st Anniversary of Brexit 1776!

 

Edited July 4, 2017 by edinmass (see edit history)

[SC38dls]

Could not agree more. I restored a 49 Ford F3 pickup over a 20 year span as life and funds allowed. No where near the dollars or class of a lot of cars on this forum but it was what I wanted and could somewhat afford. Got it finished about the same time the docs told me there was nothing they could do for my messed up back. Fifteen years of football when it was legal to use your head as a battering ram comes back to haunt one. The legs don't work too well anymore as a result. Braces on both. A Ford pickup does not have much leg room and I was afraid I would kill someone or myself not being able to get from the gas to the brake fast enough.  I drove it twice and sold it in one day. I found the Studebaker that has plenty of leg room and was in decent shape six months later. It is not a show car. I drive it as my daily driver and love every minute of it. I may have a short time or a long time to do this depending on which nerves get cut off from arthritis next but I'm going to enjoy the old beast as much as possible. If you really want an old car do it sooner than later. Have fun 

[Dynaflash8]

7 hours ago, Larry Schramm said:

If you look at the prices of cars of the past and look at inflation, most cars are "relatively" the same price.  High end cars though have gone up faster in price

I agree with everything you say except this sentence.  I've lived through all those same hard times too, although I did get my first new car in 1971 after starting work at $3175 a year in 1956.  Prices of old cars has gone up exponentially more than income figures since I joined AACA in 1962.  At least that is how I see it.

[mercer09]

It's not the cost, it's the journey.

 

 

some have more disposable income then others, so yes, cost does play a part in the grand scheme of things.

 

Ed, pretty sure you said you didnt have to pay for kids in another thread-HUGE DIFFERENCE!

 

[edinmass]

Mercer09- That was the plan.......and for me it worked fine. With five sisters that were very adept at multiplying, I have my "loaner children".......it didn't work out as well as I thought, I ended up being the favorite uncle, I can't count the cars and bills I have paid for over the years, but it was still much less expensive!