An interesting article

[Bill Howell]

This is an article that was in a magazine called Keith Martin's Sport Car Market. It was written by none other than Keith Martin, who happens to be one of the guys on the stage at Barrett Jackson's auctions. Or should I say did sit on the stage, after this article, I am sure he will be hunting another part time job. I will not comment on the text, just read it yourself and see what he has to say about musclecars and values. For someone who thinks he has his finger on the market, I can not believe he said this.
BTW, here is his email addy [email protected]
If you think he is way off base, email him directly and let him know. Obviously he is a fan of high dollar European Rides, but to dis musclecars like he did, there is little doubt he has ever ridden in a true Protouring style muscle car. Maybe we can get him to the next RTHs and have him experience a real musclecar.
http://www.musclerides.com/Pages/pos...ftinggears.jpg

BTW, you can click on the text to magnify it.

[Jimmy Sean]

Linky no work.

[Bill Howell]

Sorry about that, try this one.
http://www.musclerides.com/Pages/pos...ftinggears.jpg

[evilzee28]

He's proabably correct with his assumptions that the bubble's gonna burst. Due to some of the prices achieved by certain cars at auction, everyone & their dog believes that their car is now worth a small fortune. American cars & muscle cars especially are not viewed with any great esteem by the majority of people outside of the USA, it's only a very very small minority that collect these cars. Here in Britain you can buy a really good, clean, V8 '67-'69 Camaro needing nothing doing to it, for way less than $30,000.00. Cars needing some attention, but are roadworthy can be bought for as little as $4000.00. People other than a very select outside the USA, don't want American cars.
People/collectors come from all over the world to the BJ auctions, but you'll find very few international buyers snapping up American muscle, rather going for the European & rare collectable cars. I guess this is what he's basing his assumptions on. The market for these very expensive 6 figure + price tag muscle cars is extremely limited afterall. Once those buyers that can afford it has been exhausted the market values will drop accordingly.
As to taking him out in a PT car to change his opinion, I really don't think it would make any difference,he seems to like the European exotica & if his views are like the majority of people outside of the USA, the cars would be judged as just "another Yank tank, gas guzzler". Sorry but that's how the majority of people view these types of cars in Europe. They are not respected as being of any worth or value at all by the majority of people I'm afraid.

[pdq67]

Probably right, but I do figure that Ron and RJ Gotlieb's Big Red-1, '69 Camaro would create quite a stir if it pulled up in front of a Ferrari Factory and the guys asked the Boss for a tour of the place!!!

pdq67

[Stuart Adams]

Good cars will still demand good money. Look at the housing market, it kinda sucks everywhere right now. Real estate was going thru the roof and so were average cars, now everything is just kinda settling out. But I still honestly believe good cars are hard to find and will keep the market going. They are not making them anymore so the balance between supply (nothing new being made) and demand (babies being born all the time) will keep the demand for good cars alive.

Plus restoration companies are big business and new products are constantly being made for cars that are not being made anymore.

Like for instance a 65 Shelby, original NOS parts are almost extinct, so those cars with original parts will also demand top prices. My .02.

P.S. does anyone have an all original Z they want to sell me for 30K!!!!

[Ummgawa]

To be perfectly honest, what Europeans think about Muscle cars is totally irrelivant to me. I could care less what the chap that wrote the article in question thinks. Most European "Exotics" are high maintenance cars with nice paint and Lucas wiring. Ferraris? Cool cars but would not own one on a bet. Lambos, Aston Martins, etc are all fine in their own rights if you have a small fortune to service them.

I will say that Barrett Jackson is where the big boys with huge egos and giant money go to piss up walls for 8% from the buyer and 8% from the seller just to be seen on TV. It is good only for Mr. Jackson's wallet. If that is the "correction" of which he speaks, then I would dare say that most of us here agree...Correct Away...

After my AMC SCRAMBLER clone sells at BJ on Tuesday.

Most of the folks there look afraid to scratch their a$$es in fear of being caught by one of the roving auction reps thinking they are making a bid.

[bob johnson]

Originally Posted by Ummgawa

To be perfectly honest, what Europeans think about Muscle cars is totally irrelivant to me. I could care less what the chap that wrote the article in question thinks. Most European "Exotics" are high maintenance cars with nice paint and Lucas wiring. Ferraris? Cool cars but would not own one on a bet. Lambos, Aston Martins, etc are all fine in their own rights if you have a small fortune to service them.

I will say that Barrett Jackson is where the big boys with huge egos and giant money go to piss up walls for 8% from the buyer and 8% from the seller just to be seen on TV. It is good only for Mr. Jackson's wallet. If that is the "correction" of which he speaks, then I would dare say that most of us here agree...Correct Away...

After my AMC SCRAMBLER clone sells at BJ on Tuesday.

Most of the folks there look afraid to scratch their a$$es in fear of being caught by one of the roving auction reps thinking they are making a bid.

it's now 10% to buy...8% to sell...18% total...and the beat goes on..

[bob johnson]

Originally Posted by evilzee28

He's proabably correct with his assumptions that the bubble's gonna burst. Due to some of the prices achieved by certain cars at auction, everyone & their dog believes that their car is now worth a small fortune. American cars & muscle cars especially are not viewed with any great esteem by the majority of people outside of the USA, it's only a very very small minority that collect these cars. Here in Britain you can buy a really good, clean, V8 '67-'69 Camaro needing nothing doing to it, for way less than $30,000.00. Cars needing some attention, but are roadworthy can be bought for as little as $4000.00. People other than a very select outside the USA, don't want American cars.
People/collectors come from all over the world to the BJ auctions, but you'll find very few international buyers snapping up American muscle, rather going for the European & rare collectable cars. I guess this is what he's basing his assumptions on. The market for these very expensive 6 figure + price tag muscle cars is extremely limited afterall. Once those buyers that can afford it has been exhausted the market values will drop accordingly.
As to taking him out in a PT car to change his opinion, I really don't think it would make any difference,he seems to like the European exotica & if his views are like the majority of people outside of the USA, the cars would be judged as just "another Yank tank, gas guzzler". Sorry but that's how the majority of people view these types of cars in Europe. They are not respected as being of any worth or value at all by the majority of people I'm afraid.

are we talking American dollars or that hyped up euro funny money or pounds. $30K for an ordinary nice Chevelle or Camaro over here is the money too. Now start adding big block, 4 speed, and factory air etc the price goes up. If you can buy a good car over there for $4K american, you can make some bucks selling them over here. Are you from England? How could anyone from England of all places poke fun at American Iron. I guess we Yanks from across the POND feel the same way about your oil leaking, Prince of Darkness Lucas Electric equipped, under powered rust buckets over here...sorry but that's how the majority felt about your iron until Americans, Germans, Japanese came and took over and showed you guys how to build something reliable. I've sold quite a few American cars in Europe and for good money. I also watch the auction results in different publications and haven't seen any glaring bargains..Hey the sun used to never set on THE EMPIRE but guess what..now...I do like Tony Blair though..he's got convictions and sticks to his guns..I admire him..

[Ummgawa]

Bob has a good point. Hook us up with the cheap American Muscle Cars there and we'll resell them here. The Buffy and Jody Wine and Cheeze crowd can have all the "refined" european cars. Make mine American.