jerrykdc

I was looking into buying a Midyear and it seems that real prices are softening. The Mecum sale this weekend had a number of C1s and C2s and most of them didn't sell. That seemed to be the case at other auctions as well. Is there a trend toward prices coming down?

Boyan

No!

HS Vette

I got the opposite impression watching the mecum sale this past week. Seemed like most of the C1 and C2's that crossed the block were average to below average drivers and where bid up to very high prices. Infact a car I used to own crossed the block and was shocked to see it bid up to $50,000 the consignor not pull the reserve and as it was being pushed off the block have John Kraman comment that it needed another $5000 to $10,000 to sell !!

Frankie the Fink

Wow - pretty cynical outlook for the guru of old Rochester fuel injections.

I think we have another few years before the sky falls, but I won't disagree that the general trend is prob heading towards the 'dark side'. The early vettes' styling is timeless, I think younger folks' objections will be to the underlying technology.

Soooo, if you have a decent C1/C2 and sell off the original drivetrain for $10k-$15k (maybe more) and pay for a top of the line restomod build (I certainly don't feel competent enough to do a world class job) then you are looking at about $80K in paint/drivetrain/chassis/etc. so you are $65K into a car, net.

Good restomods bring $125K-$150K...split windows are a huge premium on top of that.

So, there is your golden parachute....of course, if you can do the restomod conversion yourself you're in even better shape. One risk is that nobody might want your old drivetrain but hell you're still in the "black" on the whole deal; the other worse risk IMO is that the best restomod guys aren't kids either

I'm not talking ZZ-3/4 engine swaps with IFS front ends. I'm talking aftermarket frames with modern F/I LS-? motors and A/C and killer gauge sets and interiors. Mike Coletta / Mark Napoli level stuff....

jackal396

Hopefully the prices go down.

jp

mike coletta

Jerry,

That's a cheap shop, and an insult to what I do. I guess the prices on that stinky, leaky, antique gas pumping mechanical stuff is slowing down, so you need to resort to insults. My mother always told me that "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all". You could have commented on the OP's post without that remark (which, by the way, you have used in the past).

On the OP's post, the price of restomods (resto-thingo-chango cars), is going up, and holding. Everything else is going down, or staying flat. The buyers are changing, just like they have for the past 100 years. Inflation will correct for some of it, but the rest boils down to supply and demand. 16 years ago, I built my first "restomod"...........I'm NEVER going back. Life is too short. BTW, Jerry, I'm 65, and I'm glad that you put me in the "younger crowd". LOL.

Mike Coletta

BOB WINSKI

Mike i have to agree with you.100 percent.BAREET JACKSON AT PALM BEACH SOLD A 62 RESTOMOD FOR $194 GRAND for that auction that was a very good price.

davidarborg

The dollar is pretty strong these days, that might explain minor shifts in demand.

jerrykdc

I always looked at C1s as beautiful looking cars but I never really liked driving one even when I was much younger. C2s are also beautiful to me and comfortable and fun to drive without being very complicated or expensive to maintain. I wonder if the suspicions about the authenticity of the cars is affecting the values and would they be better if they had records like Pontiac or Ford or someone to authenticate the cars like they do with Mopars.

dahogan

I didnt buy my midyear almost six years ago now as a financial investment, so I dont give a damn about current or future prices.

After38Years

I'll let my heirs worry a bout the prices.

Frankie the Fink

My 35 year old daughter has threatened patricide if I ever sell the split window...

dahogan

Bingo

Randy G.

I hope Jerry is right. I have my eye on a restored original fuel injection unit with a distributor for my '62 for $10 grand. When he lowers the price to $500 because nobody wants it I'll buy it.

dcaggiani

I agree with Mike and Frank - pricing for the RestoMods are holding strong if not rising and for good reason. The combination of modern technology with classic styling (if executed well) is the best of both worlds - I should know - still smiling when I take my 64 resto-thingo out for a cruise !!!!

mcb55-210

Hope it goes soft-I'd still love a '59, and softer price will put me in the market.

Never selling the '62-way too much fun!

Mike

c2performance

Restomods just a fad real cars will always bring real money!!

chevahaulic

A lot of personal opinions weigh in on this subject. To be absolutely correct from my point of view .... I would not pay the extra 20-30k for the " born with " drive train. When it comes on down to facts, you and your ego only care. Your friends, admirers see great paint, nice soft interior, and a dependable drive train. The NCRS inspectors are going by the " Maytag Repair Persons " scene and will be forgotten soon after the baby boomers close the door.
Restomod, ... don't own one, would love to. I'm into classic style and the reason I have four stock C-2s, coupes of course. The market for straight up old cars is falling and it doesn't take a scientist to see this happening. Sure there are high price hold outs and they will be for sale long into the future. The project cars are snapped up quickly. Most only care for the title. tags, and complete body. The hundred plus restomods are getting harder to market now that the big three offer so much horse power, modern conveniences, warranties, and classic styling.
What goes up certainly goes down. In the case of C-1s and 2s they have had their day in the sun and the sunset is on the horizon. Like stocks, the investment participants are looking once and throwing caution twice.

mark6669

I agree with Mike I built my first Restomod 5 years ago after doing over 15 correct body off restorations, getting ready to start ordering the parts for my next Restomod have sold all of my original cars but my 66 BB which is listed for sale now on this forum. I drive my all cars several times a week and there is nothing like the new technology. The prices on original cars are still holding their own but I think their days are numbered unless they are something special.
Mark

Mcmurb

I think you're spot on! Collector cars are a global market and the dollar spike makes a US corvette much more expensive for a everyone but US buyers.