OT: Being offered money for your car when you were not trying to sell it....

While I will agree sometimes with the opinion that you need to let go of something even if it was not for sale.....The market is FAR from Down & in a few months it will rebound way past previous prices! There is NO uncertainty in the world, it will end up exactly how it is supposed to! No "Chicken Littles" here.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

From what I have seen over the past 60 years is that the market goes in cycles. Then you have to figure in how much expendable cash people feel that they have at the time along with what the hot lick thing is with the "gotta have one of those right now" brigade who seem to have short attention spans as far as big boy toys go but always seem to want to be in on the latest thing vehicle wise. Stop and think for a minute and there is that guy you know who has always had plenty of spending money who in the past 20 years has had a couple of Corvettes, A harley or two (did Sturgis at least once) has had a hot rod or street rod or two that he sold as soon as they quit winning trophies, Went through the wake boat phase for a while and the last time you saw him he had a motor home pulling a trailer hauling a serious off road 4x4 on it.

 

My dads 1939 Indian he bought in 1943 isn’t… as long as I’m alive.

 

I'm not to sentimental when it comes to cars and parts. I would and have sold for good money.
They can be replaced plus look at the new memories of a new car to you.

 

That is amazing!

My Grandfather restored a 47 Indian when I was a kid....Looking back, I was too young to appreciate just how special that bike was. He had a Hudson Hornet that was really cool, but again I was too young & did not understand the significance of it. He had his spot locked in for the National Event at the Holiday Inn here in Northern Ohio circa 1986 or so. Unfortunately he p***ed away a week before the National Event. It broke my heart, because he was so much looking forward to this event!!! I ended up driving it to the show with "For Sale" signs in the windows & apparently it was something special because I had guys following me as I looked for a spot to park in the show. Sold it within the 1st 10 minutes, probably could have held out for more, but back then I was in my 20's & just wanted to help Grandma with some money to live on!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

Here's my worthless 2 cents. Sell now if you can keeping a car or 2 or build/find something else. HAMB era cars values have peaked, in my view past peaked. Many more people leaving the hobby than joining.

 

Well I guess the market is up (or was that down?)

Todays up may be next years down, so trying to pick highs and lows is a game you may win, or a game you may lose. Maybe, its best to buy what you actually like, sell stuff you have but no longer have the love for, and enjoy every day you have above dirt.

I cant pick highs or lows, and I cant pick when they put me in a box, but I reckon "'Box Day" is a week closer now, than it was a week ago.

So enjoy your cars and, as a lifetime member of the "projects not done yet" club, my best advice is to get something finished, and get it on the road and have some fun before Box Day arrives.

 

I have a friend that keeps pestering me to trade him my Henry J for his Willys pickup, man he's persistent lol

 

Pictures of Willy's truck ? 40 or 41?

 

I’ve been offered ridiculous sums for my truck would not accept any of those offers as they were ridiculously low

 

I have had a lot of offer's to buy my old Deuce sedan over the years and admiditly the most recent was tempting, I have no intention of selling the car and I know it sound sappy but that car is part of the family, I remember the guy said eventually someone is going to offer you the tight price. HRP

 

Nice truck but I would keep the J.

 

I always think of how much it would cost to replace whatever someone is trying to buy off me to at least an equal level of usefulness if not finished. 12 years ago I was offered for more than my ot car was worth them. Realistic value was $3500 to the average person and about $5k to a platform enthusiast..... especially as it was the guinea pig to pioneer a few new modifications for that platform. Cash offer was $10k in 2014 money. I had a total of $4k in the car counting cost of car.....but id gotten SUPER lucky at picknpulls finding ultra rare out of production parts etc. To recreate it would have cost $20k without the same luck. To move on to a better platform that did everything that car did would cost at least $14k in 2014 dollars and wouldn't get the same mpg. Then on top of everything it was a local college kid. So not only would I have honestly taken a loss despite technically making a significant profit I'd also have to watch some idiot kid destroy it moderately slowly. So I p***ed. Still have the car. Still happy I have it. And no regrets on not taking cash. On my 53 I would honestly sell it. But it'd be a more finished two door price instead of its current unfinished four door price lol

 

Old wisdom. If someone offers me the right money, the car is his. The only car I would not have sold is one owned by my father but AFAIK they all got s****ped aeons ago...

 

That Willys is beautiful. but I'd suggest you sit in it first and see if you fit. Besides, you know the Henry J, it's a cool car, and it's yours.

 

^^^^^^^^^ You nailed it. We took our car to a couple of meets hoping to meet some car guys. Instead, the bulk of the people there are left over poser's. Too old for the Harley, so now, it's " I'm gonna buy a cool car so I can be what I wasn't back in school".
You can pick them out right away. Wife say's... just ask 2 simple questions that any car guy would know and you'll have your answer.
1- what's the rear gear?
2- Holly ehh, (or Edlebrock)... what's the cfm?

I use the same procedure to weed out fake Veterans.
1- what was your AO, I corp, II, III, IV?
2- What's your MOS on your DD-214?

 

I told him my fat *** isn't fitting in a Willys truck cab LOL
Besides I already have a truck that is a similar shape to a Willys, he's been after my J for awhile now but I'm not ready to let it go.

 

I've had a few ask if one of my g***ers is for sale, and I always tell them no. But I had one persistent guy who wouldn't take the NO answer, and told me everything has a price. I told him it was likely my last full build as I don't want to build another, and I never buy somebody else's built cars. He kept offering more money, which I refused just because I don't want to start from zero again, even with a wad of cash.

 

George Poteet once told me the proper response is "I might sell it, but I'm awfully attached to it."

 

George was pretty subtle guy. His actions and accomplishments will be his legacy. I doubt that anyone will drive over 400 mph more than he did!

 

I get crazy offers on my OT Power Wagon daily , because it looks like a worn out farm truck . I built it with the best possible 4x4 parts available to use on my property and hauling mine and my friends parts and not destroying nice stuff . One guy kept pressing me wanted to know what it would take to buy it . I gave him my honest price , not trying to scalp him . He says “ I can buy a nice truck for that kind of money ! Are you nuts ? “ I just answered “ I know what it would take to replace and build another , you probably need to invest your money more wisely . Stay away from away from a real truck , That your wife couldn’t drive anyway .” He walked away mumbling to himself!

 

I have had cars that someone wanted to buy. I told them I am not trying to sell it but if the money was good enough I might consider it. So they say how much? And I tell them its up to you to price it since I am not trying to sell it. They won't give a number so why ask? Its not up to me to put a price on something not for sale, its up to them to make a bid and up to me to say yes or no.
As for selling a long time owned car, I sold my 56 Chevy after having it about 30 years. I just got tired of it and never missed it. I guess it depends on whether you love it or just like it.

 

Your "fake Veterans" questions will not work on all the branches of service.

 

I build all my own cars, and do either 100% of the work, or very close to 100% of it. But I don't hold anything against those who don't and have to either pay somebody to do it, or buy a finished car. I likely wont spend much time discussing their car with them if they can't tell me much about the build though.
Your military questions wouldn't work for me being Air Force from 1969-1973, as we don't use any of those terms beyond a DD214.

 

In a couple of weeks it will mark 60 years since I got out of the Army and my answer to the first question would be a resounding, "Huh".

 

As my buddy Mike Smith taught me to say, "It's not for sale......but it can be bought."

 

Same thing in CA. Rust Free CA cars have always been at a premium. Today in CA the problem is that people don't know about rust and instead of buying the 60-80 grand rust free car they bid on and buy the shiny Bondo statue of the same car for 40-50. It arrives and then they get their vertical lesson in body repair and in the end sell it for a 10-20 grand loss.

 

How many times do you hear a car guy say, 'boy, i sure do not regret selling that' versus the opposite?

 

Hit the nail on the head so hard you hit the neighbors in the head lol