i am going to pose a question to the H.A.M.B. that i realize has about a billion slight nuances but please bare with me as the root of my question has validity. I am asking for clarification on what i consider drastic price fluctuations of the 1932 Ford Hiboy cars out there for sale on the market. Now, again, i know everything from the engine size/maker to the hub caps affect a custom car's price but i am referring to the median or average price (the standard "going price") for the Hiboys. I have been saving toward on for a little while but the end is in sight. Recently the price seems to be $17 - $22k can get a pretty decent 32 hiboy; slightly higher for a steel body. But often i will see ones listed close to or above $100k. Why? Since many here have been around these type cars for quite some time i ask the awesome rodders of HAMB, what causes these huge disparities in price? Is it just supply and demand, were a lot of these purchased by uneducated rich people that overspent and pushed up the market now they are trying to recoup what they lost? Just curious.
At low end, the plethora of nearly identical gl*** kit cars with indifferent detail and paint, at top end very detailed and finished metal cars or even real '32's. Add in effects of the various economic panics of the last decade, which affect low end more than high.
You are basically comparing a shade tree built fibergl*** '32 on a repop frame ($17k to $22k) vs. a pro built or legit rod from the day real Henry steel '32 ($100k).....yup, expect an enormous disparity in the sticker price.
A real deal Henry is going to bring a premium where as a gl*** car can be had for the aforementioned 17 to 22 grand but in the low range (If you can call it low) the bodys are not going to have working cowl vents and there will be many thinks that are not up to the Hamb standards such as 4 bars,coil overs,disc brakes, billet bit's & pieces,sbc and automatic transmission plus goofy wheels. A high boy that fit's most hambers standards even in gl*** would be considerably more.Throw in a flat head,5 speed ******,bias plys,steelies and a traditional build and the price goes up. Add to that a Brookville steel body and hood and you can get on up there in price. Paint,fit,finish makes a big difference..HRP
I have found that normally the seller knows what his car is worth if it is 17k-22k then that is not much of a car
That's about what i figured, i was a bit apprehensive starting the thread because pricing is very subject to so many different variables. There are a lot of 32's out there, i will just have to do the best i can. Mostly likely will have to run the fibergl*** body but time will tell. Thanks everyone, i really value the opinion of the HAMB!
Seriously, good luck with your search. Yes there are dozens of variables to consider. Do your due diligence, search every "sale" site out there, try to get to some major car events, talk to current and past owners of '32 Hiboys, let people know you are in the market and most of all, decide just what type of car (gl***, metal repro, original Henry) that you can live with. And one last word of advice, the car you ultimately fall in love with will usually cost more than you expected it would.
Just keep saving, so you can afford the best example of the car you REALLY want. Do NOT jump at the first "okay" example. If you do, it will screw with you forever. That's it.
Find the best one you can afford and look it over real good. If you think it is a good deal then buy it. You will always find someone who is willing to deal if you have the money available. Don't worry about what the body is made of, as most of them are reproductions and very nice. Driving is what you will enjoy the most and whether they cost $25K or $100K they have a tendency to all look alike after a while. A high end built 32 hiboy car on the West Coast can run $150 -$200K, yet you could purchase several older builds this year in the $25-35K range at the LARS. As mentioned earlier, quality in paint, upholstery and construction will command a much higher asking price. Good Luck and let us know what you purchase.
The trick to remember is that the better the car you start with, the better the car you end with. Never take the one that has more work than you are capable of, it will haunt you forever. If you have to save a bit more and wait, then so be it. When you get that drive, it will be worth it!
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