Hot Rods Deuce guys are in trouble

Must have been Neal's place.

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I have a standing (stupid money) offer on my black Deuce sedan and to be perfectly honest if money was more important to me it would have been gone a couple of years ago.HRP

 

Springsteen wrote the song "Blinded By The Light" and recorded it; the lyrics were "cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night." Manfred Mann's Earthband recording changed the lyrics slightly to "revved up like a deuce, another runner in the night," but many heard "douche" due to a significant lisp.
When American Graffiti came out just before I turned 17, I wanted a '32 Ford coupe. I ended up buying a '30 Ford coupe because it was about 1/10th the going price of a deuce, and that was 40+ years ago. Prices have been going up and up for decades, literally. Once in a while there will be a plateau and even a small retreat, then the upward climb continues.
To make my point, let me show some values from the Old Cars Price Guide, beginning in 1986, for a #1 condition '32 Ford Deluxe coupe.
1986: $15,000
1990: $16,500
2000: $25,000
2003 $30,000
2004: $30,000
2006: $35,000
2007: $62,500
2008: $62,500
2015: $88,000
2016: $88,000

I have some OCPGs around somewhere in my magazine stash to fill in the gaps between 1990 and 2000, so when I find those, I will edit.

 

Here's a link to "sold" auctions on eBay

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Cars-Trucks/6001/i.html?Model%20Year=1932&_dcat=6001&makeval=Ford&_sop=7&_stpos=95376&_nkw=Ford&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684


Pay attention to the auctions that actually sold.... Not the pretenders whose car didn't "meet reserve". Not as high as you've been led to believe, huh?

 

Hey ol buddy, I think the satire was missed. Just sayin. One of the safest places to "hide" $$$$$ is in significant cars. They never fail in long term planning and you can use em. Never saw a Stock Certifirama, you know, like an Autorama? How about a Sharacruise? The Great American Dividend? Concours d'Tax Stamp? Nah, we can play with cars and almost play with land, but...

 

You need to practice your spelling; then practice on your punctuation and stringing your sentences together into an understandable paragraph. A little hard to understand.

 

Most of the guys that complain about '32's not being worth the money...are the guys that don't own a '32.....just an observation........it took me years before I got my first one....since then I've had several.....to me showing up in a '32 at a cruise in or car show is like when you showed up at senior prom with the prettiest girl at school.....there are lovers and there are haters.....

 

I provided a link to sold auctions on eBay way back in post #105.
The Old Cars Price Guide values I listed are for a #1 car, which OCPG describes as "Excellent: restored to current maximum professional standards of quality in every area, or perfect original with components operating and appearing as new. A 95-plus point show car that is not driven. In national show judging, a vehicle in number 1 condition is likely to win top honors in its class. In a sense, it has ceased to be an automobile and has become an object of art. It is transported to shows in an enclosed trailer, and, when not being shown, is stored in a climate-controlled facility. It is not driven. There are few number 1 vehicles."

Now, if it would be helpful, I could list values over the years for #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6 vehicles.

BTW, I didn't see a single true #1 car in the "sold" category on eBay, although one unrestored 3 window sold for $85,000.

 

I think that's "Honest John Swander's Used Deuces" - "Your Volume Deuce Dealer"

Right Gary?

 

Yea, I had John and his father Neal mixed up.

 

election years are always slow in sales, people worry stuff is gomna change when in fact daily life probably wont, spend that money!

 

Truthfully, I don't care...never did (well, I cared when I was buying them). I'm always going to buy cars or parts, sell them, trade them or whatever I feel like. I would still build, repair and drive my cars even if I was the last man on earth, I do it for me, I do it for the past, I do it to appease the ghosts that haunt my head. It's a costly release, a time machine that's all consuming.....and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Brady, I can bring my trailer down to Arizona Deuce Day so you can unload your 5W before the almost certain coming apocalypse on November 8th ..........

 

I will try to do better, ( dyslexic )
Then I can build more then 2,000 hp motors

 

I guess that I see things differently to some..........
If I have a item, say a deuce 3 window, and the market or highest offer is say $80,000 and I am not prepared to sell it for less than $90,000, then it is worth $90,000, - not $80,000.
Hope this makes it clearer.
Clemens.

 

um yea, that pretty much makes absolutely no sense at all....but then again, I never went to them thar bidness colleges.

 

Does any one remember theses two cars? Both Va cars, 32 Paul's & Red one (can not remember)
32 was sold north of 80,000 & went over seas I was told, Paul owed it for over 30 years, Fake Blower , ran 7,o's in 1/8 I had the chance to buy Paul's 32 for $ 21,000 in 1991 but just married ,
I kick my ASS to this day !!!
33-34 had a 69 yenko Alm 427', was sold when he became sick, then sold @ B J Florda about 4/5 year ago I think in high 50, I think because it was tubed hurt the selling price , it should have been 75 plus
Both cars where driven to NSRA show's

 

^^^Used to see both of those cars traveling together at shows in the DC/ Md./ Va. area.^^^ Both were impressive but, a bit too "street roddy" looking now.

 

Lothiando1940 , did you come to Manassas to Jerrys Pizza in 80's mid 90's on 28 ? Hot Rod's hangout till about 10:30 pm then all the street raceing began , Or now to the BurgerKing on 28 @ Manassas airport ,
We hang there on Saturday's!
NOW @ 8:30 or 9 most leave , SUCKS , No street Raceing no more ,
I like to move to 405 , street Raceing & Hot Rod's are my life,
But they rarely run for real $$ , back 25 yrs , we in manassas where running for 2,3,4 thousand a run . We had a almost 10 thousand dollar Race with Buds 66 Duce against Montys 68 camaro from North Carolina , the race took place around 1:00 am on 210 Maryland . Monty had a Gean Fulton over 420 inches SBC Back 23 year ago , both car where small tire's on the street ..

Paul's 32 tho was tubed , but the chop, Channel , sitting low , still would fit the look of a hot Rod of the day, change the rims ,it would look 100% better.
I Road in it a few times, Road nice

 

Jerry, I am going to take my chances. Haha.
I just wish I could finish mine. Taking way too long.

 

I'm not arguing, just trying to understand. This is just a friendly economic discussion. I find it interesting.

We bought the apartment building where we live in 2001 for 465k. It peeked in value in 'O7, during the bubble at 700k. In '10 we tried to sell it so we could move to the country. We knew the market crashed and it was worth less than the peek so we put it on the market for 465k (we figured it was at least worth what we paid for it, and that's the least we were willing to sell it for), found a buyer who loved it, wanted it, they met our price of 465k. So we both thought that was the value of the building.

They went to get their bank loan, and the bank appraised at 350k. That's when I understood how serious this recession was. Deal crashed, of course, they weren't going to pay $465 for a house appraised at $350, even though they were willing to 1 day earlier. We still own it.

According to your philosophy, in 2010, when we tried to sell our house, what was it worth? Was it worth 465k or 350k ?

If value is based on feeling, then how can we quantify anything from market values of classic cars to international trade? If I felt and insisted throughout the recession that my house was still worth 700k, did the recession not happen?

 

Me to one more good deal and I'm outa business.

 

All I know is my pop has a '32 Tudor Sedan that he's had since 1970. Black lacquer paint with red pin striping that his father laid down along the belt line and louvers. Someday it will be in my garage.

I don't care if it's worth $10K or $100K, it will be priceless to me.

Doesn't really matter what guys paid for their cars if that's what they like.

The same thing "concern" about a soft market can be said for a lot of cars.

Anyone remember '69-'71 big block Vette prices in the '90's? They went from sky is the limit to couldn't give them away. Same with tri-five Chevy's. Seems like both of these cars are doing OK now.

Conversely, do you really think VW 23 window vans will continue to bring $150K? The market will get tired of these too and move on.

The '32 Ford ain't going anywhere and the value may fluctuate, but it will always be a valuable car.

 

I really need an explanation how this all worked with your building. It sounds to me like the bank set the value of the building based on what? Compared to what?
I remember the talk at shows was" well in this economy car x is only worth blah,blah"
My thinking was when it came to cars "this economy " was in attendance and they would be the ones who decided if they would let go of their money, not a Wall Street know it all.
That's why cash is king.

 

Pewsplace brings up a valid point concerning finding out if the shopper will fit in a 1928-34 hot rod before lusting after or disparaging the auto. For myself I will adjust the interior and my eating habits to accommo date a closed car that has not changed in size over the years although I have.....

 

Lou, I would go on a bread and water diet if I had to if that's what it took to fit into that beauty.

 

If I may chime in, I was told in '09 that my house was only worth $138K. Just weeks before the house next door sold for $190K with 1/2 the land under water (like most every spring), it needed a new roof and new septic field. No out buildings and I have 2. 1 is a small garden garage (about big enough for a Model A) and a pole building that's 30X40 with 150A service and natural gas heat. Still the bank insisted I was not worth what the house next door had just sold for. Square footage is identical. That was all a mortgage scam that was opposite of the crash, as in they went to under value vs over value in order to keep their funds and not loan it out (I can't be the only one that recalls that).
So lets get back to cars and market pricing. Anything significant should still carry it's historic values adjusted for inflation. There will always be anomalies in recorded sales and even those have an effect on the average market value. Significant muscle cars with good paper still sell quite high. Real Deuce coupes still sell high, in fact are in demand enough to justify production of new bodies. To the questions above, "...$90,000..." is indeed the value of that one because you can't get it for less. End of story, no more words needed. It's not the "same car" as the one that sold last year/yesterday/a week ago. If someone sells a 47 Super Clipper for $12K today is that the indicator that mine is only worth that price too? Clearly NO because mine has an interior that cost damn near that much and has near perfect chrome (usually about $15K+ to redo that). And that brings us around to the single most important factor in pricing and market value, and that's QUALITY. Quality is so much more than a casual glance, it takes knowledge of the product/item you're in the market for, knowledge of the costs involved to get a specific example to that level of top, or indeed peer reviewed, quality. We're not talking about late model used cars and dealer price schedules. Market averages on select significant cars (like a Deuce coupe) will always have a broad range of price and value. Limited by public sales (auctions) or media info (sales mentioned in publications) I doubt you could ever point to a book or sales site and declare a firm price. This could go overboard (if it hasn't already) but my goal was to simply give an understanding of how to "take the pulse" of our small market segment. I live this shit every day, helped collectors buy and sell for decades, and indeed have done alright with my limited exploits. I still don't think anyone's in any form of trouble. Some smoke is clearing and there's always panic sellers but I'll go on record to say the beloved Deuce will never lose a dime.

 

Don, you had the luxury of seeing me get in & out of my wife's MG so you know bread and water will only help me but so much. I have discovered that once you are in its a whole new ball game and a few minutes of struggle is well worth it when it comes to tight fitting cars. Thanks again for not taking pictures.

 

I don't for one minute believe Duece Guys are in trouble. They are the quintessential hot rod and the market for Dueces will always be there. I do however believe street rods on the whole are in trouble as prices and demand have plummeted significantly. Right now 55-64 Chevy's are where its at in our hobby. I recently had a conversation with someone whose in a large club thats been in existence for 40 years, he stated most club members are trying to dump their street rods and are getting into early sixties cars. The last five cars I've bought, built and sold were X frame Chevy's that were very easily sold.

Gary

 

Plain and simple, it still boils down to economics 101, supply and demand. How many real-steel '32 Fords still exist. The 'glass ones probably out number the steel ones. So the supply is limited. Who wants one? Any gear head between the age of 40 to 65 most likely would love one. The demand remains fairly high.

I've done fairly well in my life so far, but I doubt that my kids will do as well as I have done, which is hard for a parent to admit. I doubt they will be wanting or be able to afford a '32 Ford unless they make some real sacrifices along the way. At some point all of us grey beards will be out of it, one way or another and a lot of cool cars will be freed up and the supply will rise with a low demand.

Where it will end up is anyone's guess.