What is it worth?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Baker Florida
What is it worth?
I have a 2004 Medium Spiral Gray Metallic Coupe. There is nothing really special about this car except it is autographed By Will Cooksey (Plant Manager) and Dave Hill (Chief Engineer) important people when the car was made. I am thinking about trading it in for a new Vette. Should I expect a little more in trade by having these autographs on the car? If so, what is a good trade expectation? 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
That's kinda cool.....
Like in the antiques world, if you can build up a little provenance about the signatures, it might help. Maybe some pictures of these guys and their signatures and that they did this on certain cars.....you know, dig up what you can about it and frame it or display it somehow....it might add something to the value.
Otherwise, your car is worth $5000.00.....will you take a check?
Oh heck, I'll pay cash for $4500......
Like in the antiques world, if you can build up a little provenance about the signatures, it might help. Maybe some pictures of these guys and their signatures and that they did this on certain cars.....you know, dig up what you can about it and frame it or display it somehow....it might add something to the value.
Otherwise, your car is worth $5000.00.....will you take a check?
Oh heck, I'll pay cash for $4500......
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22
Likes: 5
From: Baker Florida
Proof?
Do you mean like proof the signatures are authentic? Actually I do have pictures of them signing the car. It was a really big deal for me so I had my wife take pictures. I guess that is what you’re talking about.
But I think the dealer may give me a little more in trade. But .... Nice try.
Do you mean like proof the signatures are authentic? Actually I do have pictures of them signing the car. It was a really big deal for me so I had my wife take pictures. I guess that is what you’re talking about.
But I think the dealer may give me a little more in trade. But .... Nice try.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
Yeah, that's it.......print some pictures up real nice and frame them. Who knows.....it could help. I really don't have a clue just how much it will help though...sorry.
Let me know if you reconsider my offer....I might even bump it up to $5200 cash!!!
Let me know if you reconsider my offer....I might even bump it up to $5200 cash!!!
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IMO, the signatures are really not worth anything to a dealer. And most dealers will not give you close to what you can get by selling the car yourself. You might want to check sources like KBB, Edmunds.com, etc and see what they list as trade, private party and dealer retail prices.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
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From: Chicago IL
Your car is worth more cuz it's spiral gray.. but I may be biased?
When I was searching for my C5, I refused to settle on other colors! I drove 1000 miles to buy this baby.
I'm not sure about the autographs though.. how about running a poll here? Ask people to think of themselves as buyers and if this would mean anything to them (in terms of money).
When I was searching for my C5, I refused to settle on other colors! I drove 1000 miles to buy this baby.
I'm not sure about the autographs though.. how about running a poll here? Ask people to think of themselves as buyers and if this would mean anything to them (in terms of money).
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Kelso Washington
St. Jude Donor '09, '13, '15
He's probably right and "the book" is most likely less than that for the damn "stealerships"......
However, I know that even though they give you **** for your car, is is still easier than selling it outright and doing test drives and advertising and bartering and arguing over money.
Seems it's always the buyer's market.....
However, I know that even though they give you **** for your car, is is still easier than selling it outright and doing test drives and advertising and bartering and arguing over money.
Seems it's always the buyer's market.....
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 2
From: Chicago IL
He's probably right and "the book" is most likely less than that for the damn "stealerships"......
However, I know that even though they give you **** for your car, is is still easier than selling it outright and doing test drives and advertising and bartering and arguing over money.
Seems it's always the buyer's market.....
However, I know that even though they give you **** for your car, is is still easier than selling it outright and doing test drives and advertising and bartering and arguing over money.
Seems it's always the buyer's market.....
The way he put in, after we met was so true. He said while he may have to sell it cheaper, at the same time, he's buying other things cheaper. In his case, he loves RV's. He used the money from selling the vette to buy a RV that is heaveily discounted as well. Who is really losing money here? No one. Prices in economies generally DO move together. If the price of 1 car falls, it's likely other car's prices fall.
A car salesman told me his customers are surprised to find out that their used cars are not worth as much for trade-ins, but at the same time they are buying new cars cheaper. So again, you're not really "losing" what you had.
Bottom line is, dealerships will always offer you a lot less than you can sell it... Just try to sell it privately.
Tech Contributor
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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I think you'd need to go for a private sale as a dealer wouldn't see beyond the book valueSomething signed by those legends has to be a plus.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
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From: Midland TX
I have had lots of Corvettes, but never traded one in - too much of a hit - you will get smashed on both ends of the deal. Sell it outright.
I doubt the signatures are worth anything... that is the kind of story that a new car salesman will tell you to make you think it is a collector's item in order to overcharge you. Kind of like buying a $10,000 diamond ring at a jeweler and finding that they would not buy it back from you the next day for even $500 - all hype.
I doubt the signatures are worth anything... that is the kind of story that a new car salesman will tell you to make you think it is a collector's item in order to overcharge you. Kind of like buying a $10,000 diamond ring at a jeweler and finding that they would not buy it back from you the next day for even $500 - all hype.
