Folks Of Interest Is there a problem with the Market Place?

What's going on with the hotrod market place? Is the market flooded? Asking too much? People not interested?
For last 4-5 months, I've had my 1940 Chevy Coupe for sale on a few websites including the HAMB. I've had a few low ballers but really not much interest. I've lowered my price to a point where it's a ridiculous number. I have good photos, lots of info but no interest. I wanted to start another project but really need to get this sold before I can start an another. Anyone have any solutions?

 

post a question that lets folks know you are selling your car. that way they can find the ad right away...oh wait....

 

Then bump your for sale post so its first on your post list. I also dont know about your price being ridiculously low.

 

I have to agree with agree with junk yard kid I am not really sure you price is ridiculously low either. No offense but not a highly desirable model and built in a way that probably limits the number of interested buyers. If you are looking to get close to what you have into the build out of it I think you are going to be disappointed.

 

Well, a lot of folks are dealing with the "TAX MAN". That could explain it..... maybe.

 

Soft market? HRP

 

You have a nice car with mostly nice H.A.M.B. features. Your price is fair, no way you could build the car for that price. That being said, as stated above, it's not in the top 10 desired cars for hot rodders. It will take time to find the buyer. '40 Chevys are nice cars but it's not a '40 Ford. Same mods on a Ford it would have been sold quicker and for more money.

 

Hundreds (thousands) of hot rod crazy kids are looking at cellphones now, kool kemps and chicks are on the back burner.
Think our 'window' is closing rapidly.
Watch for the "Cars that Drive Themselves"! Gadfry.

 

Ridiculously low? not really, half your asking price would be ridiculously low. For your asking price you can buy a nice 1940 Ford coupe, most guys on here would probably go for the Ford.

 

riprap, no offense but I have to agree with the others and not sure your price is extremely low. The style and being a six cylinder might be limiting your market. Besides the Streetrod market is extremely soft right now.
A friend of mine who is in a large long time established club says most of their members are trying to get out of Streetrods and into 50's-60's cars. Thats where the interest appears to be right now.
Another example of investing lots of money into a not very desireable body style. Thats why I always build with resale in mind.

Gary

 

I'm just going to go ahead and say this at the risk of offending you since you did bring it up. No matter how much anyone thinks their car is worth or how much they have "invested" in it, the sad fact is it's only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That's just the nature of the world. Often, the more you personalize a car, the more it becomes less desirable to others with differing taste. This may or may not be where you're at, I don't know. I've looked at your ad and your bumps more than once and the car just doesn't appeal to me. Sorry, just being honest. I hope you find a buyer out there. Usually when you continue to incrementally lower the price, the "market" will ultimately determine the true value of the car. Good luck.

 

The problem with ANY hot rod is there is always a certain amount of personal taste involved. Resto-mods sell the easiest because they are basically stock appearing, which usually offends no one. Anytime the vehicles appearance starts to deviate drastically from stock you limit the number of prospective buyers to those who have the same taste as you. Car prices in general seem to be strong. Maybe a live auction might work well for you. Someone might not know they want it until they see it. I believe there are a lot of impulse buys at live auctions, thats why you see prices that are high in many cases.

 

Unfortunately, it's real easy to spend a LOT of money building a car, that won't be worth 20% of your :investment" after it's finished. It's sad, but true. Build a car because you want to, not because you think you'll get your money back. "Investment" ? - open an IRA, 401K or see a Stock Broker.

In my 55+ years of play, I've managed to lose money on almost every one of them, but I've had a really fun time doing so !

 

Well said Don..

 

Thanks for the comments. I know '40 Chevys are not on top of the list. Yes, I hope we all understand that we will never get out what we put into it. I guess I'll hold off and hope to find someone that wants a finished car and can personalized it himself. I appreciate all the honest thoughts and comments. No harm no foul!

 

OK here I go.....................Ditch the skirts, sell 'em separately in the classifieds. JMHO (for what that's worth) the skirts would look better if the car was a tail-dragger. Those giant cans have to go, re-configure the exhaust exits to a less obnoxious (read that: more hidden) look. Put those brass knuckles on the shifter in your back pocket in case a potential buyer wants to back out when they come to get it. ...........and please put a nice rubber radiator hose on there (ribbed or molded) and toss that chrome thing. OK, I'm done. It really is a nice car, it's obvious you've put a lot of effort into it.

 

I really like this look.............except for those giant cans.

 

Marketing is a funny and fuzzy thing. Sometimes all it takes is a few tiny little changes to something to make it appeal to a broader market. Presentation is everything. In the produce business you could have a full display of "average" looking green peppers and people will buy the heck out of them but, if there is only a single, beautiful green pepper left on display, it will just sit there all day because no one wants to buy the last one fearing that something must be wrong with it. Not quite sure how this relates to your car except that presentation is everything. Don't be afraid to make some subtle changes. It might surprise you.

 

OK, one last comment and then I really will shut up. I'm not a "huge" fan of tail-draggers but, If you lost the cans, kept the skirts and got the back down about six inches, your car would have a killer look.

 

You might have something there. thanks.

 

To show you what REALLY low and no sale is compare to this. A Texas rust free 34 Chevy 2dr town sedan on a fully boxed and smoothed frame, Heidt's Super ride MII IFS with all the shiny chrome/stainless shit, Chris Alston (all the shiny shit) coil over ladder bar rear, Genuine IDIDIT tilt, Walker Super Cool, a brand new uninstalled wood kit, junkyard 350 and 700R4, Explorer 3.73 rear, Price 5 grand--no takers. I know you got to be a nut for punishment to put together one of GM's wooden cars but I'm pissed now to where it's getting broken up and parted out. At that price I was going to PAY someone nearly 5k to take it off my hands but will probably do better parting out. No more pre 37 GM cars for me.

 

It's always an up hill battle to sell. When you're building it, you pay as you go. But when you're selling, you have to have a buyer with all cash. Like George Gobel used to say, "They don't make many of them kind anymore". Imagine what would happen to the housing market if all buyers had to have cash in hand because financing wasn't available. The pool of potential buyers exists but it's necessarily limited.

You may have to at least consider the auction route. I don't know much about the fees, the "reserve price" and the rest of it so be sure to find out what surprises may be involved with that before you commit.

 

I would ditch the shifter handle, change the exhaust tips, top rad hose. How roomy is the back seat? I noticed it has AC. If it's roomy, and has AC, try marketing it toward a guy with kids. Might try another site that is primarily Chevrolet. Chevy Talk gets quite a bit of attention.

 

The market is very soft, has been that way for a few years now and there are many reasons one being that the number of us into the traditional rod is getting smaller every day. Dare I say we are getting old. The same thing happened to the vintage race car hobby. Except for some specific areas like Florida it is almost extinct. This particular car although a very nice piece of work appeals to a very limited number I think. I agree with those who said that maybe it should be changed a little to appeal to a broader market. As to the price one of my favorite quotes" I lose money on everything I do but I make it up in volume". Good luck with the sale.

 

You guys think this looks better?

 

Yes.

 

I think it has a limited appeal to a small group right now, mostly HAMB'ers. Change the wheels to something like a Torque Thrust, blackwall tires, and like said above, smaller exhaust and lose the skirts. Take pics of it both ways, and let the new potential owner decide the wheel/ tire combo he likes best. Not as many people looking for chrome steelies and whitewalls as are looking for nice mags. JMHO.

 

Yep.

 

Big cans are for hookers, not cars.

 

It's a good looking car but it seems to run in several directions at one time and I'd think that most prospective buyers can't see past the things like the exhaust cans and some other iffy add ons and see what it could be with a little more than a weekend's work and outside of maybe putting bumpers on it little expense.
There is a lot of personalization in the car that most of us would remove the minute we got it to our own garage if not before.
I see a hell of a lot of potential in it myself but sure don't have that kind of coin.