Projects are Car prices going down?

I disagree with this theory if you look back 25 years ago it was mainly young people building period correct hot rods and it was very much an underground thing, and was very much maligned by the older middle aged “street rodders” now the people who are as you put it aging out.

There were a handful of middle age people but not many, however as the magazines and press got a hold of it and talked it up the it became cool to have a period correct premiered car, and jacked the prices through the roof!

These people cared no more for these cars or the history than they did about the tweed and billet Boyd-mobiles or the Pro-touring cars it was just a tread!

As with all things they are moving on to golf, tiddlywinks or pickleball because it is the next next thing and the prices are returning to a normal level.

 

I think they are still going down. Cars are sitting for sale for years.

 

I can’t speak for high dollar or national trends, but locally, everything I like on marketplace is cheaper and taking longer to sell. Old car stuff, shop tools, OT cars, and parts are all noticeably cheaper than they were a year ago in my slice of the Northwest. I’m in a high cost of living state with low wages, and I think folks are getting squeezed and cutting out hobby stuff.

 

are Car prices going down?

Definitely not on the cars that I would love to own.

I seems to me the prices that are being ask for a decent builder would have bought a finished car 10 years ago. HRP

 

I think the reason the younger generation isn't interested in buying traditional cars is because a lot of the older guys don't welcome them into the fold at car shows............but it could just be that they don't know how to shift manual transmissions.

 

I feel Projects requiring lots of labor, paint, mechanical parts are dropping like rocks.
As said, Body shops, Eng Shops want ridiculous $$ for anything. My neighbor always painted our cars for 12 pack of beer. We did all prep work.

Up to age 40, have all the time in the world. After 60 .. time is valuable, better get Seat time.

 

And it's going to continue cause Boomers are checking out.I sold my '64 Chevelle last March and was lucky to get my asking price. I'm 75 now and have been fortunate to have owned quite a few nice cars.Mostly muscle but a '37 Chev hotrod did sneak in there.So I don't think it make sense to buy another one.I really miss not having a car for sure.The money's burning a hole my pocket,lol.I've also started getting rid to a lot of my parts.I just don't want my wife to deal with a lot of **** when I'm gone.As Bob Dylan sang:"The Times They Are a Changing".And will be picking up steam big time in the next 5-9 years!

 

Hamb era stuff maybe dropping or stagnant
The post hamb stuff seems to be climbing

 

I'm in the Toronto area.But most of my parts aren't HAMB friendly.

 

Prices are softer definitely…and the price for us to build them is going up…I saw this one for 5K USD,,runs, new interior.

 

Depends on the car or truck . Now have you priced a 1960-70 ford or Chevy truck . How about a early bronco or 1932-33-34 ford roadster 3w or 5 window..

 

I see prices going down for most hobby cars. Looking around in the background at the event coverage, seems like many of us wouldn’t fit in a three window or baby bird. I’m not there yet but they tell me rowing through the gears is not as much fun in your 80th year as it was in your 18th. Most of our crowd doesn’t want to pay for all that 1-800 billet someone built their car with, just to have to take it out. If you buy a used daily driver does it really matter if it is green or blue? But if your hotrod or cl***ic needs a repaint, that might be half again what you paid for it. If you don’t do your own wrenching who is really going to resurrect that hemi or nailhead, and what is the shop rate? Should you spend your hot rod money for a down payment for your kids house, or maybe put your parents in a nicer facility. So many things to consider.If compared to the price of a new car I would say there is some real value out there. If you are on the younger side, physically fit, can put up with pastel and billet, parents and kids are looking out for themselves, there might be a screaming deal out there for you.

 

80s and 90s BMW/ Audi/ Mercedes stuff seems to be all the rage around here. European prewar cars and 50s to 60s cars seem to be cheaper than they used to, especially if they need work . American cars,especially low milers, survivors or popular cars like Tri5 Chevys or early Fords are still expensive, but not as crazy high as they used to be.

 

This is a topic it seems we discuss every few months at minimum. Overall, it seems prices are lower lately at least for traditional stuff...which is good for those of us that are more interested in buying than selling. However, I fully understand the predicament someone might be in if they are trying to sell something lately. Case in point, I paid very little for the shoebox Ford I recently bought. But, when I did some research on what they were selling for, it was way less than I remembered from just a few years ago.

 

I would describe the market as sporadic. I see stuff sell high and low. Mostly if there is 2 bidders in an auction.

 

In the UK, stuff like 1980s Cosworth Sierras make the top money nowadays, along with anything that was ever used as a Group B rally car. Crazy prices as far as I'm concerned, but someone is paying it. Unless it's just dealers bidding prices up to create a bubble.

 

Enjoy The Fall...Also A Buyers Market...

 

Due to certain groups making folks with internal combustion engines feel that they're specifically bad for the planet , polluters , etc . Younger folks have been pushed away , afraid to be ostracized outcasts , applies to grandpas as well . Lots of " influencers" about ...

 

When you see complete collections at auctions (and I don’t mean only BJ and Me***) you can see prices for many are lower. Whether it is age of the owner or savvy buyers of years ago seeing the light at the tunnel is questionable and time to get out is just a guess.
Old “car guys” of the 50-60’s are dying off like flies and there are fewer buyers of their prize possession.

 

'32 three windows are down to only half a zillion dollars. Is that a price drop?

 

So true!!

 

Yes … but lower!

 

Good to buy and to keep. We won't see the prices ever going up again. At least for HAMB era cars.

 

Same here, the cl***ifieds are full of pre-75 cars, either US or European brands, but nearly nothing ever sells except some ridiculously cheap projects/parts cars or restored cars that are priced way below what the restoration did cost.

Week after week I see the same vehicles for sale that haven't sold for months or even years.

 

In Indiana I don’t see prices dropping. I think people are nuts for what they want for some of the cars I see. And they’re gone before you can call on it. Guess it depends on what states your in?

 

.......True words.

 

Yep. But even those early 2000s Audi RS 4s at over €50K don't move very quickly (I have a friend who's into them). No surprise with our ****ed up economy, people just don't have the money for toys right now.

 

Depends on the car, how it is marketed
and where it is located and priced.

Jim