I remember a time when I would look at a 1972 Dart & claim, “It ain’t worth much. If it were a ’70 or ’71, I’d give you $250. Since it’s a ’72, I’ll give you $75.” And the seller would agree! I remember buying a ’74 Duster with a fold-down rear seat for $125, thinking I paid way too much…but I wanted that fold-down rear seat for my ’71 Demon.
At one time I owned 2 ’70 Dusters — Gold Dusters; one with a turbo, and a second with a built /6. I didn’t pay squat for either, because they were everywhere. Now, fricken Neons are “Classic” and commanding stupid prices! Cars I once considered parts cars are now demanding several thousands of dollars!
What happened, and when?!? I bought a ’73 Road Runner; 400-P Code/4-speed for $650. I got a ’72 Satellite with the P-Code 400/727 for $650 with virtually no rust. I remember when a 318 was worth more than a /6, and a 340 was worth the most (A Bodies). I look at Craigslist and /6 cars are listed at prices above what I used to consider fair for a 340 car — and they’re 4-doors to boot!!
Apparently collector prices have driven me out of the hobby. I sold my ’70 Duster, ’71 Demon, ’73 Road Runner, and ’65 Imperial around 2001 when I lost my son (and went crazy/suicidal/homicidal). I got $450 for the Duster & Demon (as a package deal, with numerous spare parts), $2200 for the Road Runner (400 4-speed with full vinyl top), and $2500 for the 21k mile ’65 Imperial. Now if I’m lucky, double the price I sold it for and I could possibly buy something worth 1/4 value of what I sold back then.
Here on FABO we have 2 types of enthusiasts; those that lucked out and bought their pride ride way back when for a reasonable price, and those the antied up and paid (what I consider way too much) recent asking prices. Decades ago I would “fix up” on old A-Body using junk yard parts, with a few special pieces sourced from the dealer, or even the local auto parts house. Now folks working on the same cars buy from restoration suppliers and pay many times what I did for comparable parts (way back then).
I guess I’m having a tough time wrapping my head around a $6k /6 Barracuda that needs floors and a trunk, plus rear quarters, with a ragged interior. I parted out a few cars that got crushed; as have many other folks in years gone by. These cars are no longer available for sale. As us older geezers parted out less desirable cars (even thou they may have been in stellar condition), similar cars are now being sold for what once would have been stupid prices.
AM I HAVING A MID-LIFE CRISIS?? (Speaking from a Mopar hobiest point of view.)
[Post Script: I’m 54 years old, owned about 30 A-Bodies, 10 B-bodies and a half dozen C-Bodies over the years. A few years after losing my son, I started buying FWD Turbo Dodges; Daytonas & such. They still haven’t reached the value 1970 +/- cars did at the same age.]
This thread is officially open for discussion -- old geezer opinions appreciated!
At one time I owned 2 ’70 Dusters — Gold Dusters; one with a turbo, and a second with a built /6. I didn’t pay squat for either, because they were everywhere. Now, fricken Neons are “Classic” and commanding stupid prices! Cars I once considered parts cars are now demanding several thousands of dollars!
What happened, and when?!? I bought a ’73 Road Runner; 400-P Code/4-speed for $650. I got a ’72 Satellite with the P-Code 400/727 for $650 with virtually no rust. I remember when a 318 was worth more than a /6, and a 340 was worth the most (A Bodies). I look at Craigslist and /6 cars are listed at prices above what I used to consider fair for a 340 car — and they’re 4-doors to boot!!
Apparently collector prices have driven me out of the hobby. I sold my ’70 Duster, ’71 Demon, ’73 Road Runner, and ’65 Imperial around 2001 when I lost my son (and went crazy/suicidal/homicidal). I got $450 for the Duster & Demon (as a package deal, with numerous spare parts), $2200 for the Road Runner (400 4-speed with full vinyl top), and $2500 for the 21k mile ’65 Imperial. Now if I’m lucky, double the price I sold it for and I could possibly buy something worth 1/4 value of what I sold back then.
Here on FABO we have 2 types of enthusiasts; those that lucked out and bought their pride ride way back when for a reasonable price, and those the antied up and paid (what I consider way too much) recent asking prices. Decades ago I would “fix up” on old A-Body using junk yard parts, with a few special pieces sourced from the dealer, or even the local auto parts house. Now folks working on the same cars buy from restoration suppliers and pay many times what I did for comparable parts (way back then).
I guess I’m having a tough time wrapping my head around a $6k /6 Barracuda that needs floors and a trunk, plus rear quarters, with a ragged interior. I parted out a few cars that got crushed; as have many other folks in years gone by. These cars are no longer available for sale. As us older geezers parted out less desirable cars (even thou they may have been in stellar condition), similar cars are now being sold for what once would have been stupid prices.
AM I HAVING A MID-LIFE CRISIS?? (Speaking from a Mopar hobiest point of view.)
[Post Script: I’m 54 years old, owned about 30 A-Bodies, 10 B-bodies and a half dozen C-Bodies over the years. A few years after losing my son, I started buying FWD Turbo Dodges; Daytonas & such. They still haven’t reached the value 1970 +/- cars did at the same age.]
This thread is officially open for discussion -- old geezer opinions appreciated!
Like was said above this is happening to everything from old tractors, boats, antiques of all kinds, and furniture. I am 38 and a pessimist but I truly believe it's because people know that the way things were, were as good as things were ever going to be. Of course not as efficient, or quiet, but on the scale of simplicity and just joy to use. Just the feeling old stuff gives you of touching another time, a better time. The worse the world gets the more people are willing to pay to remember it how it was. Just my opinion.
I'm thinking we are buying up the available stock as bucket list purchases, although we may not be thinking that, but it's coming down to the wire so why not. I just turned 71 and I'm healthy enough to enjoy my car but, who knows what's around the corner. 
