Nobody wants to pay "too much" for an old car. I read an earlier post about the NADA books and I agree, there's no listing that you can go by. But if you start at the bottom of the reality pile you can come a lot closer. First of all, any old car is gotta be worth at least $500 scrap value. That's about what a crusher will pay for anything you drag in. Also scrapwise, if you pull the different metals out of a car and scrap it with sorted metals, it'll be worth a bit more. If you were to "part it out" that figure would double, maybe even triple depending on how complete and solid the car may be. So you see, any old car is worth $1000 to $2000 no matter what. If it actually runs and drives, you can double that price. Really, a car you could drive back and forth to work everyday has to be worth $3000 to $4000. After that it becomes a "matter of the heart". That's why some cars are $100,000 and more. Past that and it becomes a rich man's fancy.
He started a new thread to encourage a conversation about a subject relevant to all car owners. The real question is why did you reply if you didn't have anything to contribute?
Amen Fat Christ! I'm sure there has to be some guys who are new to this hobby and maybe want to know how to value an old car. And my figures are not off! I have had that experience twice in the past 12 months.
prepared car bodies with the fluids drained, no interior and the windows smashed out are getting between 180-220 per ton in my area. Let's call it $200. Now onto the vehicle. Let's say we are scraping a 1955 ford f100 pickup something I think we both can agree is in the middle of the pack as far as weight. It has a curb weight of 3460lbs. Now let's subtract the fluids, tires and glass. That is 500 pounds or so. So let's call the truck 3000lbs prepared @ $200 per ton.....that does not equal $500 dollars thus every old car is not worth $500 dollars in scrap nor is any and every running and driving example worth $3000 to $4000 dollars.... If they are worth that much, I have at least 2 or 3 old cars I would like to sell you.
Are you a scrapper or car builder ? Just because you can drive a car back and forth to work doesn't make it worth $3000-$4000 dollars Why not post a picture of your car that you think is worth $1000 -$2000 no matter what. Your theory is not reality.
The car, any car, is worth what the buyer and seller agree on as a fair price. That is it, nothing more. You can't put ANY numbers on it, except for the dollar-per-ton for scrap value, as the minimum. Thread over.
"anything you drag in", "worth at least $500.00"..factor in your time, fuel for tow rig, insurance for tow rig, license for tow rig, removing and disposing of interior, fluids, glass, etc, is the hastle still worth the "at least $500.00?..not to me. Other peoples value of their time, and labor will vary. Good luck to you, it looks like you've identified the proverbial goose that lays the golden eggs, (at least for yourself).
For all of you who think that scrap value is $200, read this: Click here: Nearly 100 indicted, arrested in APD/Fulton auto theft operation | ajc.com
unclmx - so, how about sharing something about yourself and your current ride(s)? also, what experiences have you had with putting the value on a car that made you think of starting this thread? over $10K is beyond my reach, much less $100K
Just came in for a sandwich after soldering wires all morning on my 37 and look another grilling from guys who arent out working on there cars.
When we drag something off to the scrapper here we don't have to pull the interior. Only the gas tank and battery, or they will deduct $20 off for each.
Im really not into posting pics and I don't carry pics around. I hate it when I go to a car thing and somebody sticks their damn phone in my face to "show me what they got at home". I really haven't had a "trad rod" for about 45 years. Honestly when I used to drive them I always said "when I make some money I ain't drivin this rattle ass shit no more". Subsequently my cars are all pretty and shiny these days. Some are even too new to be on the HAMB. I guess I'm not a scrapper or a builder or a collector but I've done all that and more. But it's all good, I enjoy every minute of it and I do love these old cars and to me, that's all that matters. Y'know these forums are just a good place for car people to carry on a conversation about cars. It ain't all about who's smarter than the next guy or who can weld a better bead. I can appreciate all kinds of cars except I really have trouble with these 24" "rims" on these ghetto cruisers
So you're basing your price for scrap on a news article? How is second hand information a accurate basis for comparison? I am basing my response on pricing from local metal recycling centers using current price sheets.
The Jalopy Journal
