VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Value of Car

I hope this is the right section for this but I need a little advice. My 1927 is in real good condition and since I bought it I have not seen another one in any condition. I have searched the internet numerous times and only found a few in similar or better condition. Last Sunday at a car show I had a fellow come up to me and made me a firm offer (cash of course)he owns a couple car dealerships and wants to put it in his collection. He said that they are very rare in its condition, I told him it would take a fist full of money to make me consider selling it because I don't think I would be able to replace it with a similar limited car. Well he made a firm offer in writing for me to consider, $20,000 but I think he would go a little higher. Its a tough call, I had other old timers say no its not enough for the car. One even told me it is built on a Golden Gate Frame which is hard to find. Any of you guys sell a 1927 Touring Car, all stock and in very good condition. Its not that I really want to sell but than again I don't know what the real value is. Help please on values.

Perhaps if you were to post a picture of your car and some of the numbers on the seat riser, head and block we could give you a more educated guess. 1927s are not that rare.

Jerry,

Ray is right. We can't give you our best advice without pictures or, better yet, seeing the car in person. Even then those already owning a 27 would be the best bet for getting the price right.

From what you describe, it sounds like it is a rare car and in good condition. Has it ever won any in any (VCCA or AACA) competition? That doesn't mean much but may influence the buyers bid.

I'd tell him that I would take 30K for it and see what he says. Tell him to show you the money. Negotiate from there.

With the 30K or so you could buy a really nice 41 Special Deluxe Five Passenger Coupe. There was one for sale on Ebay a short time ago (Not the Business Coupe, I'd as soon have a coupe/pickup. you know.).

Let's face it, all you can do with a 27 is look at it, show it, or tour in it and hold up traffic and count the "birds" offered by those who eventually get a chance to pass you and the rest of the tour group.

Might as well pass along that 27. Seems to me you have a real bite on the line. Just kidding.

Charlie

the REAL VALUE of an ANTIQUE is ONLY what someone is WILLING to PAY for it...

You may THINK it is WORTH $5 but they may only offer you $3, because that is what it is worth to them.

All things considered, it does sound like a NICE offer...

"the REAL VALUE of an ANTIQUE is ONLY what someone is WILLING to PAY for it..."

The above, which I've seen and heard for years seems a little vague. I think it is true only if everyone in the whole wide world with an interest in the item has a chance to buy it.

If the item is placed on a 3/5 card and posted to a post by a general store out in Iowa where corn grows then the 200 bucks one is asking for a 27 Chevrolet may not not get a buyer. So then with the above logic it is only worth something less than 200 bucks. See the logic?

Now if it is put on ebay for an extended period of time and gets a bid of only 199 bucks then I guess it is really only worth 199 and that all.

What am I missing here?

Charlie

What everybody is missing is that he was offered ONE-THIRD the price of a brand new CORVETTE for his car. THAT'S how you value it. Forget what the AMOUNT of money is... translate it into WHAT you'd use the money FOR.

For me, 1/3 of a new Corvette would be a "Run, don't Walk" kind-of-answer.

Bill pretty much pointed out my problem, and yes twice what I am into it is a good profit, but I am not into the cars for profit (but I am not stupid either). I have spent the last 2 days on every internet site possible looking for a comparable sale to give me at least a base line and as of yet I can not find one current sale or one the market. The other thing I am looking at is a replacement. It has to be unique, some what rare and a good find. I have several options and leads. I want an pre 1931 car. There are thousand of them and excellent deals,but not 1 1927 Touring Car for sale. Trust me the buyer is not in a hurry and money is not a problem for him, I will continue to search for a replacement (it has to be a step up, not a lateral move) and sale comp. Thanks for all the input.

Good focus Jerry. Now that you're zeroing in on WHAT you'd use the money for, then you're close to coming up with a "value" that you can live with (ie. Not regret later).

Since you're looking for another vintage car, it sounds like you might be bumping up against the 4-cylinder verses 6-cylinder issue. Good luck with THAT one!!! Ha ha.

--Bill

Guess it really comes down to WHAT you REALLY WANT. if you LOVE the car you have and are HAPPY with it, then why sell it and get another one like it ??

Only sell it if there is something else that you WANT MORE then what you have.

Okay, after some serious thinking and not knowing the real value after a lot of searching I decided there is only one way to find the value. I put it on Craig s list for almost double what I was offered or best offer. Its really over priced as far as I am concerned but I can always move down or take the standing offer. I will let you all know what responses i get here is the link.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/4595106089.html

Bill,

You should have been a politician. Why? Because that there sentence right there don't make no sense atall. One third of a corvette. What about one third of a Hudson Terriplane? Or a RR? Mercy. What a puzzling reply to Jerry's need for an appraisal. Corn squeezins?

How much is the price of a brand new Corvette anyway. 60K or so?

Jerry,

If you want to replace the 27 with a 1930 or earlier then why in the world are you thinking of selling the 27. Pretty soon that thing is going to be a true antique (100 or more years old.)

One thing to remember. Most cars hit a plateau of value. I would think that if not already reached a 27 is on the slippery slope of value and sliding fast. Negotiate with the car dealer and buy something a heap more modern. Something with lights and brakes. Why does your 27 not have solid wheels? That thing probably has more wood than the Santa Maria.

Ebay would have been better than Craigs List, I would think.

Good luck,
Charlie

Why not have a professional valuation done on the 27 touring , and work from there as the selling/starting point.

I would not have sold that car if it was mine. When you know the qualities of the car for sure, you should keep it. You cannot at all be sure about possible trouble with the next car you are thinking of buying.

I find your present car a real beauty, and as you point out: there are not so many Chevrolets and certainly not of that standard around.

Nice looking car. Your expected buyer will be someone who is looking for a driver or does not value correctness. On the judging block it will score very low, for someone who wants a correct car for judging. There are many errors in the restoration.

Someone looking for a Touring car will look for a 1928 first due to the many improvements over the single port exhaust and 2-wheel brakes on the previous models.

Wish you good luck on your journey.

Your 100% correct if I was a purest with this car starting with points it would not be fair to say it would come close to a scale above fair without starting at zero. But like some car collectors I have made changes to appeal to the eye vs a score card, it purely for enjoyment. But when an average person see's it they get very excited. However at local shows and one co sponsored by VCCA I do get trophy's to put in my closet. The buyer with the $20,000 offer has a 1927 that falls into the class your talking about, but he wants mine for 2 reasons, one it is the same year as his other one and wants to park it next to it,it's a convertible roadster. Second his family owned a Chevy Dealership and it brings back a lot of memories of his Father and Grandfather. I really don't care if I sell it, its a type of a car I have always wanted and never get tired of looking at it or driving it.