VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Parts costs over car costs

Has anyone had the problem of selling a car for what is considered a fair price? I have been trying to sell my '40 because of health issues and being confined to a wheelchair. I only want what I considered is a fair price including the new and used parts that I had to purchased to make it a running car. The new parts seem to be increasing in costs but no one is willing to pay the price of what I have in cost of the car, not including the love and labor that I put in over the years. I'm not going to give the car away for some lower price offered by someone because they think it's a steal or that I'm desporate to sell at an extremly rediculas low price.
I know everyone wants a good deal but offering 3-5 thousand dollars or more less than asking price is not acceptable to a person who only wants what was put in parts alone. It kind of wants me to say forget it I'm keeping the car I'm not going to give it away.
I've seen what other cars are asking and I'm amazed of what prices are listed. there seems to be a fine line over a complete restored car and a car that is a total project to start with.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I hope I did not offend any body.

Ken, I think that all of us who are addicted to these old prewar cars face a similar problem: We will never recapture the investment we have made in restoring or fixing up the cars we love. Even if I discount my thousands of hours of labor to 10 cents an hour, I won't recover my costs on my last couple of projects.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the only group that's really interested in these beautiful old machines seriously enough to buy one is guys like ourselves: Over 60, retired, and often with limited income. What's worse, our population is shrinking fast due to attrition, but the number of cars available is not. That puts further downward pressure on the prices.

I used to get quite frustrated about this situation, but I've now decided that even with the depressed (and depressing) prices for our old cars, this is what I love to do and NO hobby comes for free. In fact our hobby can be pursued much more reasonably than many, many others. So, it's time to enjoy the cars and realize that this will never be a money maker.

Sorry if that's too blunt, but that's my view of the hobby. On that note, I'm off to the workshop to turn a few wrenches and blast some rust away. Aaaaahhhhhhhh.

All the Best, Chip

I'm seriously upside down on my car with respect to it being worth what I've got in it money wise. With few exceptions the only people I've seen that make money fixing up cars is the person doing the work (restoration shop that's paid by the car owner). I long ago came to the realization that I'll never get the money out of my car that I have in it so I've decided that I'll just give it to my son when the time comes.

Both Chip and Tiny are dead on with their observations. A good rule of thumb is that a restored car may sell for about half of what is invested in the restoration.

I look at this as a hobby. I also work wood. I've built many cabinets, furniture items etc. and never really recouped my costs in terms of money. I've spent lot's of time, effort and money in pursuit of waterfowl and big game. Those costs have never been recouped either. For me, in the end the true value with each of these interests has had nothing to do with money, but in the intangibles: the pleasure, fun, experiences, fellowship, learning, memories created etc. Besides the options of such things as sitting bleary eyed in front of the boob tube or somewhere on a bar stool just don't appeal to me.

As the writers above are expressing: There are only very limited car brands/years that "create" a selling price covering what the total restoring costs end. Some good mechanics and professionals may get sometingout of it, but for all normal (or may be: a little crazy) enthusiasts we end just like the ones buying raffle tickets. In Norway we call it "LOTTO". You have ONE chance in 12.000.000 to win. May be we have a better chance when we sell our cars.

We sold Petrine in May for USD 15.000 incl. a heap of spares, and were quite happy with the deal, even if we had spent around USD 70.000 from 1986, driving 21.000 miles (from 1994) to several parts in Europe. It has been a pleasure and a lot of excitement most of the time, and some challenges as well.

We were specially happy to find a company willing to preserve our pick up as original and a typical truck from when Chevrolet was the leader in Norway. They will use her in parades etc. and she will be very happy and satisfied with such a solution.

When you are thinking about selling a car (not the last one) you may consider to find a friend or a young enthusiast nearby, in the same village etc. and sell it for a sum which makes him or her want to buy it. Then you both can enjoy driving together and have fun for more years too.

I needed thinking the last 3 - 4 years before I decided to sell Petrine. But when both "boys" (36 & 40 years) in that period have ended up with enough other hobbies (and which would leave the pick up as a "left-over"), the decision was easy.

Instead we will use Solan (490/1916) as much as possible, and keep him running. And that car will not be sold for years as long as the government and spare parts makes the car running.

There is a 490/1920 ad here now asking USD 30.000,- or more, 30 year old restoration, but I doubt it will be sold at that price.

http://www.finn.no/finn/car/used/object?finnkode=30640587

He most likely will have to reduce with USD 5.000 to get a deal, in my opinion, and whatever he has paid for the car and restoration and parts. There are so few youngsters wanting such old cars, and our own car friends have enough cars stored already. But we love our Solan and enjoy all his habbits and behaviours. And he is quite a showstopper to lots of females. Hehehehehe!!!

Thanks heaven, 100 in 1911!!!!!

Car restoration is not very profitable for many including the restoration shops. When the dust settles most just cover actual costs when wages, rent and parts are counted.
Tony

I have done quite a few restos. for different shops in my day and you are correct about the profit margin. That type of work is generally taken in as "filler" work and done when things get a little slow. I have collected "6" 50's Chevys to restore and doubt if I will ever get to all of them. Two are 57's and although I can do all the work myself, as I age I feel less and less like tackling that feat.

The GOLDEN years????

Findoctr
I know how you feel and I am a few years younger than I suspect you are. I find the mind is willing but the boss or my own customers and other factors wont allow the time.
Tony