How come my car isn't even worth scrapping?

[dumb person]

So i see cars for sale online and in real life, in worse shape than mine (My car still has paint! and my panels are made from metal, not bondo) and they want twice what some skinflinty mc'scrooge would ever offer me? And their engines sound like a cement mixer. At least mine runs properly & pulls hills in high gear. Theirs won't.

I'd rather watch my car rot into my lawn than sell it to those ppl.
What gives?

[slammin]

Perhaps there isn't much of a market for cars like yours on "South Pacific Island"? Your exact location and what you are trying to sell will be very helpful to get a good answer to your question. Pictures would be good too.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Originally Posted by slammin

Perhaps there isn't much of a market for cars like yours on "South Pacific Island"? Your exact location and what you are trying to sell will be very helpful to get a good answer to your question. Pictures would be good too.

Sounds like the song, "NO MAN IS AN ISLAND"---
BILL Can'tswim

[Bob Bidonde]

I do not value my cars as investments, they are toys for my enjoyment. I am in this hobby because I admire the designs of Model A Fords, they are affordable antique cars and I enjoy the adventures of driving them. Both of my Model A's are restored, and there is no way I will recoup the money I have spent on them.

[ronn]

send it my way, Ill get you top dollar here in NJ!

[1930artdeco]

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I think it has more to do with our society today. Cheap.

Mike

[wingski]

Just to let you know. I’ve cetainly felt just the way you are feeling right now. I’vehad several cars that I knew were exceptional, but no one else seemed to. In fact, I have one right now. It’s a lot smaller than a model A, but it is probably the most dependable car I’ve ever owned. It’s a red 1972 Honda n600 sedan with 68 K miles on it, and it is so neat that I’ve almost come to the conclusion that nobody else deserves to own it.

In fact, I think that me and the Honda should be buried together. Just dig a hole, prop me up in the driver’s seat, strap me in, push us into that hole, and cover us up.

Hell, you’ve got sand instead of dirt. Just have them dig a bigger hole. One with a view. Can you even imagine the questions that would arise in a couple of thousand years when they discovered you and your car? Just make sure they prop one of your hands up so you are giving the one-fingered salute.

Don’t sell your car, keep it forever and ever. That will teach the SOB’s.

Mike

[WHN]

Model A’ & T’s are now true antique’s.

There are a lot of places were you really can’t drive them safely any longer.

Unlike some other antique cars, Model A’ & T’s were made in very large numbers, MILLIONS. Most at the end of there useful life, were not worth even taking to the scrap yard. A lot were put in chicken coops and barns to be found later by our fathers and grandfathers. Restored or made road worthy in one form or another.

Here we are today. It could be called a hobby, or maybe remembering another time. What it is for sure are two Ford cars that bring a smile to peoples faces, a wave, a request from children and grand children to go for a ride, blow the horn Dad or Grandpa.

How do you put a value on that? Enjoy.

[BillCNC]

Originally Posted by WHN

Model A’ & T’s are now true antique’s.

There are a lot of places were you really can’t drive them safely any longer.

Unlike some other antique cars, Model A’ & T’s were made in very large numbers, MILLIONS. Most at the end of there useful life, were not worth even taking to the scrap yard. A lot were put in chicken coops and barns to be found later by our fathers and grandfathers. Restored or made road worthy in one form or another.

Here we are today. It could be called a hobby, or maybe remembering another time. What it is for sure are two Ford cars that bring a smile to peoples faces, a wave, a request from children and grand children to go for a ride, blow the horn Dad or Grandpa.

How do you put a value on that? Enjoy.

Well Said +1

Regards
Bill

[Dick Steinkamp]

1. Asking prices are rarely selling prices. Be sure you are comparing your car's worth to actual sales of similar cars...not the "dreamer" asking prices out there.
2. Marketing is the key to getting top dollar. There are many threads here about the different ways to advertise your car. Whichever ones you choose to try make sure you offer a complete description and plenty of pictures. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer. What would you need to know?
3. Are you sure you have a realistic figure in mind for your car? It is quite common and understandable that we feel our cars are worth more than the actual market for them. If you really want to sell it, it has to be at a price reflective of the market...not reflective of your love for the car.
4. Location is important. Not many will buy a car long distance, sight unseen. If you live in a major metropolitan area, you have a better chance of having more interested buyers and getting a better price than if you live on a South Pacific island (for example).

[harleynut]

What you put in an A and what you get back out are two different things. I'm told fifty cents on a dollar is common. Judging by past experience, that's not far off. These reply's are spot on.

[Cool Hand Lurker]

It is only worth what you will accept and not feel like you got cheated, and what the buyer will pay and not feel like he has been cheated.

$$$$ spent mean nothing.

[mrtexas]

Prices out there advertised are way too high. I advertised both my 29 roadster and 28 AR RPU for $5k less than anything else out there on Hemmings.com. Both sold for asking or close to it. Not many lookers or inquiries either in 6 months on either one. Both were fresh top to bottom restorations with new paint and interior. One sold to a local and one sight un-seen. Got lucky though, the 29 looked like new but had gallons of bondo on it and the buyer didn't check. The sight un-seen buyer got a very good truck. It wasn't restored to any specific date but had loads of rare AR parts on it. No shocks but I intentionally included pictures that showed the lack of. Didn't advertise it with shocks. When buyer got the truck he asked where the shocks were and I responded I didn't advertise that it had any.

IMHO the market for Model As is very weak. It is at least for 29 roadster and 28 RPUs in my experience. I think Model As are going the way of Model Ts.

The 29 buyer drives his and has a ball in it. He has stayed in touch and I help him out whenever I can for no charge. Last time he insisted I take $20 for adjusting his horn. He had adjusted it too tight.

https://28fordarpickup.weebly.com/

[Dick Steinkamp]

Originally Posted by mrtexas

Got lucky though, the 29 looked like new but had gallons of bondo on it and the buyer didn't check.

No shocks but I intentionally included pictures that showed the lack of. Didn't advertise it with shocks. When buyer got the truck he asked where the shocks were and I responded I didn't advertise that it had any.

Note to self....Don't put mrtexas on my preferred seller list.

[Tom Wesenberg]

"The 29 buyer drives his and has a ball in it. He has stayed in touch and I help him out whenever I can for no charge. Last time he insisted I take $20 for adjusting his horn. He had adjusted it too tight."


$20 to turn a screw one or two clicks........man, that's the kind of customers I need. LOL

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by Dick Steinkamp

Note to self....Don't put mrtexas on my preferred seller list.

Do you advertise what is not included on cars you sell?

[3.6rs]

Originally Posted by dumb person

... And their engines sound like a cement mixer. ...
I'd rather watch my car rot into my lawn than sell it to those ppl.

You can't sell your car because they can't mixe cement with it...
Who will be watching who ? Who will be rotten first

[Pinesdune]

Kinda sad but I agree with most of the responses. You have to remember, less and less families out there with enough disposable income to own a fun car like an A, mom and pop both work, two kids and a dog to feed, and when it costs 80 g's to put up a two car insulated garage (that hiring it all done) , they can afford to build a place to put another car, (heck they can barley afford the house!) then pay the license and registration. And an A or T is really a common Joe kinda car, not like an Aubourn or Pierce Arrow who have big $ collectors after them.

[Stretch Cab]

Well on the “bright” side of this discussion is that if I live long enough maybe the price of Model A’s will come down to where I can afford a 30/31 Phaeton.

[ronn]

Note to self....Don't put mrtexas on my preferred seller list.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Mentioning someone living on an ISLAND reminded me of a local scene.
I see EXPENSIVE tow vehicles, with FABULOUS Boats behind, headin' for one of our MANY Lakes & Reservoirs, for a day of boating!
On the other hand, I picture a HUGE, Ocean going YACHT, towing a 4 X 4 on a small barge.-----"Where you goin' with thet thing"?-----"We're lookin' fer an ISLAND, with ROADS"!!!!---Sounds like a plot for a 007, James Bond Movie.
Boats & Boat Shops ARE a BIG business, here!!---And Folks think I'm KRAZY?????
Bill Dreamingagain

[mike657894]

The OP hasnt been back. But he may have just been dealing with those first wave craigslist lowballers.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by Stretch Cab

Well on the “bright” side of this discussion is that if I live long enough maybe the price of Model A’s will come down to where I can afford a 30/31 Phaeton.

Ok, here is something to think about....


I have been in this hobby for about 50 years. Since it is the year 2018 now, lets go back 50 years to 1968, ...then forward to 1978, then 1988, then 1998, then 2008, followed by 2018. If we compare the prices of any Model-A in any of those decades vs. one or more decades later. tell me which decade the same Model-A was worth less than what it was valued at in a prior listed decade. They haven't declined. Each year, comparing apples-to-apples, the value has been greater for the same vehicle than it was 10 years prior.


The hobby as a whole has not declined in any of the decades I mentioned, --nor has the prices dropped in a subsequent decade for equal cars. What HAS changed is the stated quality of the vehicle being marketed. Misrepresentation is way more rampant than what it was a decade or two ago. Adding to that, the Buyer was typically more versed on what they were buying. In this day & age where web knowledge is supposed to be doubling every few years, the typical Model-A hobbyist that can actually work on these things is seemingly declining at about the same rate as knowledge is doubling.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by mike657894

The OP hasnt been back. But he may have just been dealing with those first wave craigslist lowballers.

Remember, this guy is on some South Pacific Island. No craigslist, I betchya.

[Jeff/Illinois]

Originally Posted by Dick Steinkamp

Note to self....Don't put mrtexas on my preferred seller list.

My thoughts exactly. Hopefully he didn't take $20 to adjust the horn I mean come-on. If you did that shame on you. And in the original post this fellow was griping about people not giving him what his car is worth Sounds like he doesn't have a problem taking $$ from people and abusing them with mis-represented cars.

Model A's, GOOD Model A's not 10 pounds of bondo in the body Model A's by the way, still fetch a good price. There are a lot of screwed up Model A's roaming around out there.

And, a GOOD two door Deluxe Phaeton or any '30-'31 Roadster is going to be sought after for longer than any of us are going to be around. There is a demand for these cars. Or else, why would Brookville put all the money into fabricating the '30-'31 Roadsters, '32 Three window Coupes and Roadsters, '40 Ford Coupes if there wasn't a market?

[ronn]

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I have been in this hobby for about 50 years. Since it is the year 2018 now, lets go back 50 years to 1968, ...then forward to 1978, then 1988, then 1998, then 2008, followed by 2018. If we compare the prices of any Model-A in any of those decades vs. one or more decades later. tell me which decade the same Model-A was worth less than what it was valued at in a prior listed decade. They haven't declined. Each year, comparing apples-to-apples, the value has been greater for the same vehicle than it was 10 years prior.

Brent, couldnt agree with you more, but do consider the dollar is worth about half of what it was worth 20 years ago...............

in that case, model A's are cheaper today.

PS great on you for offering that workshop in April-that is an unbelievable offer
and what a stand up guy you are, not that there were ever any doubts!

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by ronn

Brent, couldnt agree with you more, but do consider the dollar is worth about half of what it was worth 20 years ago............... in that case, model A's are cheaper today.

PS great on you for offering that workshop in April-that is an unbelievable offer and what a stand up guy you are, not that there were ever any doubts!

While that may be true about the dollar's buying power is less, that premise is pretty much unilateral throughout the economy when you compare Model-As to other commodities during both time-frames. The one thing we must always remember is comparing to other marques during the 1928-31 era, the Model-A was a cheap car. Comparing the Model-A to other vehicles during the last 50 years, the Model-A has always been a cheap car. That has always been good for the hobby.




Thanks for the kind thoughts on the other.

[WHN]

[QUOTE=BRENT in 10-uh-C;1610356]While that may be true about the dollar's buying power is less, that premise is pretty much unilateral throughout the economy when you compare Model-As to other commodities during both time-frames. The one thing we must always remember is comparing to other marques during the 1928-31 era, the Model-A was a cheap car. Comparing the Model-A to other vehicles during the last 50 years, the Model-A has always been a cheap car. That has always been good for the hobby.

I agree with everything you have said.

I do have one comment. Yes, Model A’s and T’s were inexpensive cars for there day, and they built a lot of them. But! How many other cars from that period can still be driven around daily, and have as large a percentage of there orginal production run still in existence? Being cheap and simple is what has kept them going all these years. Remember the old saying, “keep it simple stupid”. Enjoy.

[Jeff/Illinois]

I guess this all comes back to that old saying, 'Buy what you enjoy, what makes you happy.' And, don't fret over values and the like.

How many of us go out and buy a brand new car at $45,000 only to see it worth half that in five years or so We don't fuss over that!

A couple years ago I was overseas and had a Ford C-Max car to drive. I loved that thing, and it got great fuel mileage. Now I see them at a local Ford dealer for $23,000. So, that said, buy that nice antique car and a new Ford C-Max to beat around in you will be ahead of the game. The depreciation difference in a more expensive Ford, will buy that little Ford, and you can have your collector car too.

[BRENT in 10-uh-C]

Originally Posted by WHN

How many other cars from that period can still be driven around daily, and have as large a percentage of there orginal production run still in existence? Being cheap and simple is what has kept them going all these years. Remember the old saying, “keep it simple stupid”. Enjoy.

I believe this often is spoken because it seems believable to us however I also believe it is a huge misconception often spoken. Please understand that a 1929 or a 1931 Chevrolet that is in the same exact condition mechanically as a counterpart Model-A will do EVERYTHING that a Model-A will do, ...and possibly do it a little better. The same can be said for a '29 Dodge Victory 6 or a '31 Dodge DH. My late father has both of those vehicles and I will tell you that both the Dodge and Chevrolets were as good of quality, -or possibly even a little better mechanically than the Ford was. Therefore, a correctly restored Model-A along with a correctly restored Chevrolet or Dodge should go anywhere, for any length and do it reliably. If someone wants to drive one of those Dodges or Chevrolets as their daily driver, those cars will do it equally as well as a Model-A can.


Two things that allowed the Ford to outlast the Chevrolet is body construction and dealer network. Both the General Motors' products and the Chrysler-built products were manufactured to cater to a higher clientele or social-economic owner than what the Ford did. Taking the Chevrolet for example, they did not sell that many open cars for a reason back then. People that had a little money typically did not want an open car for their family's daily transportation. Therefore Chevrolet sold WAY more Coupes & Sedans in comparison to Ford selling Roadsters & Phaetons. The downfall for the Chevrolet was the same downfall as many of Ford's Fordors in that the infrastructure was constructed of wood. That in a nutshell is why Ford outlasted the Chevrolets. The second side of this was Ford had a phenomenally strong dealer network. Back then, much of America was still rural and Ford had an agency in almost every town that had 500 or more people. Chevrolet didn't have near the dealer network, ...and even with that handicap, Chev. still outsold Ford by 3 to 1 in 1931.

[KUDZUVIPER]

I agree with most of what Brent stated, one small point, Chevy outsold Ford in 1931 619k to 615k units, not quite 3 to 1.

[slammin]

This has been a very interesting discussion. What puzzles me, not another word from the OP in 3 1/2 days. I haven't heard of any South pacific island sinking!

[Benson]

Maybe his Model A broke down during the trip out to Uluru


edited:
Sorry ... the red sand and rocks in his old car repair videos on The Old Ford Barn look alot like that area.

[updraught]

>>>Maybe his Model A broke down during the trip out to Uluru

Along with New Zealand we have our own continent.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by updraught

>>>Maybe his Model A broke down during the trip out to Uluru

Along with New Zealand we have our own continent.

Everything I have read says that NZ is not a continent and is not part of the Australian Continent.
FWIW, Australia is the world's smallest continent, the only island continent, the only continent under one government and the only one to have never seen a civil war, except Antarctica. It is geologically the oldest continent, home to the oldest surviving culture and yet the most recently white settled continent, again excepting Antarctica. (The Australian Aboriginal culture is about 60,000 years old.)
Back to Model As!

[updraught]

Might narrow it down a bit if description is correct

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyne...ture_Areas.jpg