What a deal! - Be concerned...

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by SoCalCoupe

When you look at it like that, it's a very smart investment in living well. Like one my car club buddies likes to say, "I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack."

I thought about that for a while, and then ordered a handsome set of hand tooled leather saddlebags for my urn.

[TJ]

Originally Posted by SoCalCoupe

When you look at it like that, it's a very smart investment in living well. Like one my car club buddies likes to say, "I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack."

The Brinks truck never follows the hearse and there "ain't no pockets on a casket". Spend it while you have it and have a good time.

[richard crow]

i am waiting for a 1936 three window coupe to drop to 15,000 i dont think it will ever happen

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by ford38v8

I thought about that for a while, and then ordered a handsome set of hand tooled leather saddlebags for my urn.

Well, I tried to get AI to create an urn with saddlebags.
What we have he-aah... is a fail-ya ta communicate.

[Ggmac]

My 41 was cheaper than some caskets , only problem is finding a cemetery with a plot large enough for me and the 41 to be planted in it .

[terry]

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Stop and think, too, about the number of people nowdays that can even drive a standard
shift...not very many! terry

[Kube]

Originally Posted by terry

Stop and think, too, about the number of people nowdays that can even drive a standard
shift...not very many! terry

Interest in automobiles, any automobiles is going down and expected to continue to drop. At the very least, GM and Ford have been planning for a few years now what their major business will be in the future as they fully realize it will not be building cars.

To restate my earlier post, what we are experiencing is supply and demand at work.
Someone had stated in part within an earlier post that most guys want a car they either had in high school or college or the one they didn't have but lusted for.
So, a middle-aged guy that saved a few dollars now seeks out that car. The issue when related to our old Fords? That middle-aged guy was born in 1985 or so and was in college in 2003 or so.
A '32 or '40 Ford to these guys is a museum piece (at best) and little more.

[Hitman]

Originally Posted by Kube

Someone had stated in part within an earlier post that most guys want a car they either had in high school or college or the one they didn't have but lusted for.
So, a middle-aged guy that saved a few dollars now seeks out that car. The issue when related to our old Fords? That middle-aged guy was born in 1985 or so and was in college in 2003 or so.
A '32 or '40 Ford to these guys is a museum piece (at best) and little more.

A different take, from a middle aged person. The high school cars I would want now, are either extremely expensive in clean, low milage versions, or are more reasonable, but with high mileages and need to be restored. Either way, parts for 1990-2005 or so era cars are hard to come by. They aren't in the junkyards anymore, and if they are, well they're high mileage and wrecked. ECM's and other electronic controls are nearly impossible to find on most cars from that era. Don't forget about all of the plastic parts that are dry and brittle now, and nearly impossible to find.

On the other hand, the instagram and YouTube people are of the younger demographic and are very interested in 30's era cars with flatheads. Iron Trap Garage has a big following on instagram, YouTube, and eBay. I see these crowds at the swap meets too.

Some prices seem to be coming down on cars and parts, but others never will like 3 window cars, speed equipment, and others.

[GB SISSON]

I was gonna ask what prices are for a roadster/3 window done up in the 'Race of Gentlemen' style? That event has been growing and interests young guys as well as old codgers like myself. Basically I'm talking stripped down beaters that are pre-war hot rod survivors (or built to look like one). It is interesting how many of these hot rods are Fords. There is hardly anything in second place. I almost never see a car like these for sale.

[flatford8]

I follow a few Flathead/Old Ford groups on Facebook. Every day there are multiple posts about people buying there first Flathead or first old Ford/Model A…I’ve never been in this hobby to look for a profit….and I don’t sell much anyway…but I’m not scrapping stuff yet………Mark

[Zax40]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

I was gonna ask what prices are for a roadster/3 window done up in the 'Race of Gentlemen' style? That event has been growing and interests young guys as well as old codgers like myself. Basically I'm talking stripped down beaters that are pre-war hot rod survivors (or built to look like one). It is interesting how many of these hot rods are Fords. There is hardly anything in second place. I almost never see a car like these for sale.

Survivor cars like that can go for pretty high. My TROG style Roadster was pieced together from cast offs from a street rod and swap meet/forum for sale parts. Very fun car.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

I was gonna ask what prices are for a roadster/3 window done up in the 'Race of Gentlemen' style? That event has been growing and interests young guys as well as old codgers like myself. Basically I'm talking stripped down beaters that are pre-war hot rod survivors (or built to look like one). It is interesting how many of these hot rods are Fords. There is hardly anything in second place. I almost never see a car like these for sale.

There are of course exceptions to every rule. However, in general (overall) the values are going down. There does seem to be an upturn for unrestored, so called "patina" vehicles.
Some cars will retain value better than others. It has always been the case that true #1 cars retain their value the longest and best compared to lesser examples. The reason again is supply and demand. The supply of true #1 cars is very slim. The demand seems to be fairly static. There will always be deep pockets that insist on owning the best. Still, even the true #1 cars have and will for the most part, continue to lose value.
Rest assured, I have sold many #1 restorations and have seen the peak. The "peak" was in the past.

[34fordy]

Originally Posted by Kube

There are of course exceptions to every rule. However, in general (overall) the values are going down. The "peak" was in the past.

Definitely for "our" cars Mike. I believe the "peak" has just moved on to the 60's & 70's cars, especially muscle cars. However, I believe that the love of motor cars is declining as the folks like us that grew up tinkering and improving them die off. Interest has diminished with all the "cookie cutter" cars we have today. I well remember when the brand and year of a car was easily identified. I cannot seem to tell one from another anymore.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 34fordy

Definitely for "our" cars Mike. I believe the "peak" has just moved on to the 60's & 70's cars, especially muscle cars. However, I believe that the love of motor cars is declining as the folks like us that grew up tinkering and improving them die off. Interest has diminished with all the "cookie cutter" cars we have today. I well remember when the brand and year of a car was easily identified. I cannot seem to tell one from another anymore.

For the most part, I agree with you. I disagree to a small point in regard to the muscle cars. Yes, many bring big bucks but not in general the big bucks of even a few years ago.
I could not agree with you more in regard to younger folks having zero interest in tinkering of any kind.
When places like ANGIES LIST, etc. came in vogue, I figured right then and there that younger folks do not want to take the time to repair anything much less learn how to do so. You know, just pick up a phone and call someone else to do it.
I was, as I'm certain you were, proud of what we forced ourselves to learn. Applying that knowledge was what is termed "sweat equity". Not anymore.
On that note, I'd recently read an article that the younger generation pretty much insists on moving into a home that is exact to their desires. No painting to be done, nothing.
Um, good luck with that. And they (that generation) wonder why they are short of money.

[ronn]

if youre worried about making money in the car market- think porsche ferrari lambo


early sls, etc. thats where the $ is..............


not in fords and chevys.

[tubman]

I have a different take on this. After about 1990, cars became too complicated for ordinary people to restore. With plastics that deteriorate and electronics so complicated that they are beyond the skills of even the most experienced folks. Ordinary people are going to find out that trying to restore them is not worth it. Plus, the cars are much less interesting, which is why no one will care about them.

My take on it is that the hobby will morph over the years to a premier pastime with a smaller, more affluent base than it has today. Quality cars will always be in demand by this group, and the really desirable ones will actually gain in value (sorry, guys with sedans and trucks). In the future we will have "car country", which is much the same as "Horse Country" is now. Estates with multiple garages and well-equipped workshops will abound in the outer suburbs. Cars like early Corvettes, high-end muscle cars (no small blocks), full classics, rare exotics, and yes, even certain early Fords will become the coin of the realm and the hobby will see a new renaissance.

Unfortunately, when this finally happens, most of us will be long gone, and it'll be a rough road for the next few years. You real young guys, hang on!

[Kube]

Tubman, I believe you and I are pretty much on the same proverbial page. You have sited some examples of the "whys" but it still comes down to supply and demand. The supply is going up as our group ages / passes. The demand goes down as younger folks, again, for the most part, won't want what we had desired.

[mhsprecher]

There is a good and a bad side to this. Cars we have may be declining in value, but then we can buy cars that were unobtainable to us before.

Something else that I have wondered about. There is lots of social media and YouTube videos of folks rescuing old cars and getting them running again. These are quite popular. Paul Shinn has a popular series on the Model A, which he claims is helping increase MAFCA membership. These are good for the hobby. Regardless, let's enjoy our cars by working on them and driving them. I just returned from driving my 51 Ford to Maine for the AACA Eastern Division tour. A lot of fun and my car did great.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by mhsprecher

There is a good and a bad side to this. Cars we have may be declining in value, but then we can buy cars that were unobtainable to us before.

Something else that I have wondered about. There is lots of social media and YouTube videos of folks rescuing old cars and getting them running again. These are quite popular. Paul Shinn has a popular series on the Model A, which he claims is helping increase MAFCA membership. These are good for the hobby. Regardless, let's enjoy our cars by working on them and driving them. I just returned from driving my 51 Ford to Maine for the AACA Eastern Division tour. A lot of fun and my car did great.

Paul and his videos are great! He was a huge help when I put this one together and back on the road after being stashed away for about fifty years.
And while the membership has in fact gone up, values of Model A's have dropped.
Heck, a beautifully restored roadster can't hit $25k these days.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Kube

Paul and his videos are great! He was a huge help when I put this one together and back on the road after being stashed away for about fifty years.
And while the membership has in fact gone up, values of Model A's have dropped.
Heck, a beautifully restored roadster can't hit $25k these days.

Patina rules...