Hershey car corral--asking prices exorbitant?

[ex98thdrill]

$1,500 to ship a car to Sweden?? That's not bad. It cost us $950 to ship the Bronco from Northglenn to our house last year, and didn't require a trip across the pond.

I saw you walk by me Saturday, but I was at the fire truck talking with a spectator to where I couldn't break free to talk to you.

[John_S_in_Penna]

ThomasBorchers, thanks for the opinion from an overseas visitor! For the money you save by avoiding high-priced Hershey cars, you could make several buying trips to the U.S.A.! (But the show itself is always lots of fun--it's free <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />!)

Have any of you folks been to some of the other car corrals around the country? It would be interesting to hear your observations of prices and cars available there in comparison to what we saw at Hershey. Iola, Wisconsin for instance? Auburn, Indiana? Charlotte, North Carolina?

(This would be informative to anyone who hasn't been there.)

As a regular attendee at Spring and Fall Carlisle (Pennsylvania), I will say that prices there tend to be more sane, though of course there are good deals and overpriced cars anywhere. I think at Carlisle the asking prices tend to be noticeably overpriced primarily from old-car dealers, who buy cars from others and are in business to make a profit. At Carlisle, as many of you know, newer collectible cars predominate: 1970's, 1960's, some 1950's. You're not likely to find a Moon or a Marmon or a Mitchell at Carlisle.

[R W Burgess]

Very nice Steven. No, I should say very impressive! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[59chevyguy]

Thank you Wayne.

As to whether a 59 with undercoat would have tied, I do not why not as the dealer offered undercoating.

BUT...............AACA says as it was delivered TO the dealer. So I guess it is possible but up to the Lead Judge. I say let it happen. Not everone trailers their car like me so live and let live. The more the merrier.

I would have no problem with a 59 with undercoating got their award with me.

Steven

[Ron Green]

Pat, Sorry I missed you as I wanted to check out the fire truck. Congratulations on your 1st junior as that is a lot of surface area to restore. I was probably on my way to or from the bathroom. I don't like to leave my car unattended to long especially when displaying all the accessories. The day flew by quicker then any Hershey meet.

[R W Burgess]

Sorry I missed you and the car Ron. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You're right, it was a busy day.

Wayne

[ex98thdrill]

Thanks Ron. That's okay that you missed the truck. By the time you see it, the truck will be nicer than what it was at Hershey. You're right it is a lot of area to restore. So much to the fact that it wasn't done. Less than 10 days before the meet, we didn't even have the interior in the truck. We spent all day Thursday before the show still working on the truck while it was on the trailer, and believe it or not, we didn't even get time to get the whole truck rubbed out before the show. Even though the truck wasn't rubbed out, we had still had enough of it done to score enough points to get our first junior. By the time Binghampton rolls around, it'll be rubbed out, and the striping and lettering will be finished. That will make a big difference to the appearance of the truck.

You've heard the term "fresh restoration?" well if that truck was any fresher the paint would've still been wet. Earlier in the week my father and I had gotten into a p***ing match because I didn't want to bring the truck because in my mind it wasn't done enough, where he wanted it down there. That restoration is fresh enough to the point where we didn't even get the time to get the truck licensed.

[Ron Green]

Well even though not 100% done (and I know what you mean) in your eyes, the ride home had to be both a pleasure and a relief. Hope your pop didn't rub it in to bad that "he told you so". <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[Durant Mike]

On the note of Hershey asking prices. Being a member of the Durant club I keep up on selling prices of the Durant automobiles. I often see an individual trying to sell grandfathers Durant product for starting prices in the $25,000 to $50,000 range and try to send them a courtesy email advising them if they are really serious about selling the car to come down in their listing price. You'd be suprised at the number of individuals that give me a bunch of @#$#$. One individual responded that he'd put it back in the barn until prices went up for it. Of couse a couple of months later I saw it posted again at the realistic price which it sold for. I think the B-J auctions are for people who have more $ than brains, and want to be able to just brag that they paid $200,000 for that 1969 Mustang. For them someday the bottom will drop out and if they were to go and try and resell it, it might sit for awhile. Restoring several cars, I know you never will get your time out of them, and if your lucky you will get the cost of parts etc. But a real car guy doesn't restore one to make a profit, but to enjoy while he has it. Who cares what your kids will sell it for after your gone.

[ex98thdrill]

Yeah the ride was pleasant but quiet because we had two pulling rigs and each of us were alone. The '37 pickup took a repeat preservation (they are hard to get after getting the Senior AGNM this year <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />).

My dad never said "I told you so," but where him and I have a MAJOR difference in opinion is that if I don't feel that a vehicle is 100% ready, I don't want to bring it, where he does. I know we had the points, but if a 400 point vehicle showed up, we might have been in trouble. I can't see putting the hitch in my truck, borrowing a gooseneck trailer, and spending all that money in gas to haul a fire truck to a show to get beat because the vehicle isn't ready. We'll be fine in Binghampton, because we've got the time to get the truck finished. We were still working on getting the truck finished all day Thursday before the meet while it was sitting on the trailer. The interior was put in three days before we left for Hershey, but the truck still wasn't wet sanded, buffed and striped.

[Guest boettger]

ex98thdrill,

Look forward to seeing the fire truck in Binghamton in June.

Notice that there is no P in Binghamton. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

O.K., I know that that statement opens me up for some jokes, but I'm just talking spelling here! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

That will make us easier to find on the map programs! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

AACA Spring National Meet

June 28-30, 2007

Binghamton University

Binghamton, NY

Details should be in the events section within a couple of weeks

[ex98thdrill]

You're right. Just so I don't spell it wrong again, I'll see you at the intersection of I-81 and future I-86 <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[RVAnderson]

Reminds me of August '04, when we went to Sweden for a Model T tour (36 cars). Stopped at a pizza joint on one the bazillion lakes in that part of the country, and the young waiter's excellent American English led us to inquire how he'd acquired it. He said he'd been an exchange student in the US in a small city that he "knew we'd never heard of" called Binghamton, NY. Living only 180 mi. E. of there, we had a good laugh about it.

[John_S_in_Penna]

Now that Hershey 2010 is here, I thought it would be interesting to get people's opinions for this year. This thread started in 2006 when things were booming. The economy is totally different, but it seems to me that asking prices for antique cars are still often 'way out in left field, even DOUBLE the realistic price. So as you check out Hershey, give us your impressions here!

Last weekend at Fall Carlisle, there was an older gentleman selling a really nice #2 condition 1975 Olds Delta 88 convertible, 40K miles, with an asking price in the $14,000 range. Looking at all the other high asking prices, he said he thought he might not be playing the "game" right--his asking price was too reasonable!

Sometimes the high asking prices are demoralizing to me. When I'm in a better mood, I figure I'll just collect interesting cars that aren't so popular and find better deals.

So, what have you found?

[joe_padavano]

So, what have you found?

I've found that Barrett Jackson and the like have given everyone unrealistic expectations of what their turd is worth. I like to check completed auctions on ebay. If you do that, you'll begin to notice that the high dollar cars almost never sell, and those that do are often relisted a couple of weeks later.

[R Walling]

Quote "I like to check completed auctions on e-bay. If you do that, you'll begin to notice that the high dollar cars almost never sell, and those that do are often re-listed a couple of weeks later."

<O:p

No that is not true! <O:p

Just because I bid in a set of windshield wipers, and was out bid, and they were re-listed and I bought them for less than I bid previously, it MUST have been a mistake.

Who would bid on their own stuff? I never heard of such a thing! (;0<O:p

<O:p

I had mentioned several auctions to E-Bay and they said no, there is no shill biding on E-Bay. YEA!<!-- google_ad_section_end -->

[joe_padavano]

I had mentioned several auctions to E-Bay and they said no, there is no shill biding on E-Bay. YEA!

Ebay apparently has a feature that says "next bid meets reserve" on some auctions. Again, if not shills, how does one bid to just under the reserve price without knowing what it is?

[Guest BJM]

I'll be at Hershey on Friday. I'll check it out

[John_S_in_Penna]

I'll be there Friday too. Hope asking prices are reasonable--not that I'm looking for another car, but you know how interesting cars tend to follow you home into your garage!

[1937hd45]

The question we want answered is what are ACTUAL miles and ORIGINAL Miles? There were but 2 or 3 cars in the lot that were of interest to me, and I've forgotten what they were now that I'm home.

[Guest Silverghost]

You need to get the realistic asking price about an hour before the car corral & show itself officially closes !

Many, but not all, will "get realistic" near the end ...

Also many real sales are made in the weeks after the Hershey meet has long since ended!

[auburnseeker]

I attended this year. My wife and I ventured through the car corral on Wednesday and I believe it was a little to early in the day. There was alot of empty space. By Friday though ( the weather being really nice) it had filled up almost full. We were actually in the market for a new addiditon to the stable. I found a few cars were actually priced pretty reasonable. Although not in the car corral there was a 1952 Ford 4dr sedan with very nice paint new chrome and good replacement interior for 7,000. A great car to get in the hobby but probably priced right around book value. A very good 3-3+. There was a 1953 Packard Convertible. Very well frame off restored car with nothing being untouched. Beautiful paint Chrome Interior top and just very nice detailing throughout for 32,000. We really thought that one over but the current owner had neglected it all sumer and the carpets got wet and even started to mold. When we went back to talk business he wasn't around and there was no way to see under the carpet without removing the sill plates. We called later in the day for more info and he had sold it by 6 PM that night. That was probably a solid 2 and was close to a 1 when it was first done. You couldn't do the restoration on that for 50K

Overall alot of high prices. But I think there was alot of wiggle room in the prices. A few people even told me that. I would have liked to have been there late Saturday to see just where prices ended.

[John_Maine]

Most people do put very unrealistic prices on their vehicles, I think hoping that someone will come along and pay what they're asking or near it because they don't know any better. I noticed a few cars this year that were there last year and even the year before - again with same unrealistic price. There were a few that I thought were priced quite reasonably and prices did drop on Friday and Saturday. It's tempting for someone to ask more than "market" prices, though, just because everyone else seems to do it. Heck, if I could sell my LTD for 2 or 3 times what I paid for it, I'd be tempted myself.

[mikesbrunn]

There a few who will use the car corral as a parking lot, they put a stupid price on the car so no one bothers them and can do the flea market. As far as the old car price guides, I find them a little out of touch with reality. They tend to leave the same old prices in the books month after month, I would love to buy

some of these cars at the number 4-5 prices

[joe_padavano]

As far as the old car price guides, I find them a little out of touch with reality.

They are a lot out of touch with reality for the simple reason that with a few exceptions (Camaros, Corvettes, Mustangs) there just aren't enough cars sold to form a statistically valid sample. How many 1968 W-30s are sold in a year, at least in forums where the prices are publicly available? Precious few. Certainly not enough to have a valid database of the value of these cars in every condition. The data in these price guides are mainly extrapolations and estimates. Little of it is hard data. It just can't be, given sales volumes of non-mainstream cars.

[earl e rizer]

Sounds like it was a good year not to go. My friend had wanted us to make the trek from Ontario to get some parts for his '34 Pierce. He couldn't get away and I'm in no position to buy a car right now, but always enjoy shopping for a bargain. Doesn't appear like anything there for me.

[Tom Laferriere]

Sold my 1934 Packard in the Car Corral the first day. I put a sell price on it.