VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 31 roadster on E-Bay

While I predicted earlier that someone would likely pay $10,000,it wasn't me. But it was entertaining. I suspect from the bidding pattern and the fact it sold barely over the reserve, that there was only one bidder left for the last $2000-3000.

Well, lets hope that the new owner shows up here sometime in the future. And, also, lets hope that EVERYONE gives him/her a hearty welcome!!!!

(And no ragging about the price that he paid. After all, who wouldn't LOVE to begin a project with a car in THAT condition. Wow.)

---Bill B

I personally think that the guy got a good value for his money. Yes there is a lot of work to do but it is a solid, complete car to start on. Don't find them too often. And on top of that it is a roadster. If it were mine I would consider cleaning it up making mechanically reliable and then showing and using it in the condition. They are only original once! Guy got a great deal particularly if he truly recognizes its historical value.

It is back on Ebay. Looks like the buyer had trouble getting the funds.

Maybe it was like "Look at what I bought honey!"

Larry.

Back on for $9800.00 Buy it now.

the link

31 Roadster

Joe, what is the difference in hoods for 1931?

The difference is in the size of the raised part of the hood side panels. Conjecture is that the later design with raised part centered front to back was more stable (less oil canning) so replaced the asymmetrical raised panel after a month or so of production. Seems that each assembly plant made the switch at different times.

Thanks for the response and info Chipper.

The '31 roadster was relisted on eBay with a "Buy It Now" of $9,800. The auction ended with no buyers.

Interesting... There were 8 offers with the highest offer of $9,700.01

From the pictures it would appear that the headlight buckets do not have the traditional extra ring formed in them and are black and shaped like a '30 bucket. Is this correct for an early '31 standard roadster? Anyone know the aproximate date of the switch?

The headlights are not correct. The switch was made with the first production 1931 Chevy at each plant.

It also has a earlier generator and the biggie a '29 head. Looks like it was assembled in St. Louis (plant 3).

The 1931 roadster has been relisted again on eBay with a $9,800 "Buy It Now" or "Make Offer".

The "Buy It Now" price has changed to $9,500 which ain't a bad deal.

Ain't a bad deal! Well I think that depends. If you were to buy it with the intention of simply owning it "as is" and being able to certify it as a car that sat unmolested for 71 years, and be satisfied as having a rare find, I suppose something more than $5000 would be reasonable. However, for anyone wishing to bring this car back to useable presentable condition, IMHO anything more than $5000 is not a wise decision. I see a '31 fully restored and beautiful roadster c/w rumble seat in this month's G&D for $25,000, which I suspect someone could buy for less, lets say $23,000. The eBay roadster would need at least $20,000-$30,000 of work to get to the same level. So is the eBay car worth more than $5000, not in my books.

Maybe not in your book but in my book. Other collectors that know open car values will probably agree than an original Chevrolet open car from that period, in almost complete restorable condition, will bring that amount to a true collector. Heck, even a rare motorcyle in the same condition will bring more than $9,500. I have seen open cars in worse condition go for a lot more. Several decades ago a 1932 cabriolet body....body only, no parts, no pieces, no drive train, just the bare body, sold for $5,000. I know several street rodders who would pay $9,500 just for the '31 roadster body alone. A couple of years ago a dude that I talked to paid almost $3,000 for a complete 1931 roadster top assembly only and it was in poor condition.

As you mentioned at the beginning of this thread you would be "awful tempted to bid on it and simply lift unfinished '31 Coach body off my rebuilt chassis and mechanics and drop this body on." Why? Probably for two reasons; the fact that your chassis would have the rarer open car body and the increased value of the chassis with the open car body installed. I know that would be my reasons as well.

Yes, you are correct.......if you are looking at restoring a car correctly and to top quality condition, you will have more in the vehicle than you can actually sell it for. That's pretty much the way it is. In reality, for someone that is looking for a 1931 roadster to restore, that is in fairly complete restorable condition, $9,500 is probably a realistic figure. And, if it were a 1932 in the same condition, it would probably bring even more. Yep, all things considered, that ain't that bad of a deal for someone that is looking for a mostly original and restorable open car.

I would also pay bigger bucks for a mostly complete vehicle to restore. It's a pain to find missing pieces for such rare vehicles especially it they're are specific to that model only.
....Joe

Gunsmoke & others
Collector cars, with rare exceptions, are not valued based on breakeven or better after restoration cost. As you and many others know you have more invested in your cars as far as time and money than you are ever likely to recover. That includes vehicles purchased many years ago when the dollar outlay was a fraction of what they are "worth" today. I say that because the total cost is not only the initial purchase price and improvements but the storage cost and time value of money.

If the value of collector cars was only economic (dollars and cents) then none of us would have them or someone would pay us to take them. The value of collector cars includes the "wow" or "pride" or "preservation" factors. It also includes the education, fitness and pleasure factors as well. So for most of us it is the intangible value that makes this hobby worth the effort and cost. It's not just the cents that make sense.

Everyone always asks me what my 1930 is WORTH, My Answer is Pretty Simple:

It is ONLY worth what Someone is WILLING to PAY for IT ...

It's just that simple, You say 9,500, he says 5,000 the Worth is all in Perception. . .

Worth is also subjective to how rare a car is. It is far easier to tell what a 1957 Chev convertible is worth, compared to a 1931 roadster. At any given time there are 20+ '57's for sale on ebay, hemmings etc..., and '1931 roadsters come up about once a month. 1957's hold a steadier value because buyers can move along to the next one, where as the value of the '31 depends on who's shopping that day of the month! Does that make sense?

I think in the end we are all saying the same thing. There is a difference between what an average buyer will pay for a somewhat rare item and what a very specific buyer will pay. There is also a difference between what an average seller will ask for a somewhat rare item, and what a seller looking to get "whatever the traffic will bear" will sell for. When I first looked at buying this, the price was within the $4000 range, and with $1500 for transporting, using the body and re-selling the rest (for say $1500) would have been a reasonable proposition for me. I think the fact it has been on market now for several weeks without a buyer (at $9500) suggests its real value is less than that, but the seller is prepared to wait for a very specific buyer. While I know the true value of our cars is based on more than just what we've paid out or how they appraise, we know enough to at least try to get stuff at a reasonable price.
Rainy day here, too much time on my hands!

When I checked this morning he had "ended the auction early as it is no longer available" So I hope it went to a good home.
Jay

Yep, it looks like the car has sold (for the second time) apparently with the "Make Offer" feature. Wouldn't be surprised if it sold for somewhere around the $9,000 figure.

I'm reviving this two year old thread as I think the same car has re-surfaced and is for sale on E-bay; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-O...;item=331314288461&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

I didn't print a picture of the July 2012 sale but it sure looks like the same car to me, cleaned up with new tires.
Last time it sold off E-bay in the 9K range, let's see where it goes this time.
Jay