For Sale 1971 two-door LeBaron

[cantflip]

Cantflip: Thanks for posting the above info and your input.

The pleasure is/was mine... besides... Dave thinks we are hurting ourselves with our "Standard Formal Price", "SFP", of $2500... he is probably right, but don't tell him I said so.

 

[Robert Saigh]

^^ Maybe...$$$$! Maybe it's time we raise our monetary expectations on some of these models/years....I've always been a tightwad though!

 

[cantflip]

^^ Maybe...$$$$! Maybe it's time we raise our monetary expectations on some of these models/years....I've always been a tightwad though!

Mentally, I'm still in acquisition mode, even if reality won't allow another one. Because I have zero intentions to sell anything anytime in the foreseeable future... I like low prices.

 

[polara71]

He's been in business (dealership) for 25+ years. I don't think a person minds paying a little premium after the seller replaces a few belts, gas filter, plugs/wires, ect., and touch up the paint, a stitch or two of a seam on the seats and so on....but not 200-300%!!

I'm not against paying, or overpaying if it's a gotta have car. I've probably done it twice, no regrets

 

[1978 NYB]

Price values are pretty standard on Formal's based on condition and mileage. Most of them that we see look great with 10 foot pictures. But most of those pictures really hide the true condition of the car. My 78 NYB looked great in just about any picture taken....the reality was that it needed $10,000 in rust repair and that $$$ amount could of easily been a lot higher if I didn't have a friend do the bodywork.

 

[polara71]

Mentally, I'm still in acquisition mode, even if reality won't allow another one. Because I have zero intentions to sell anything anytime in the foreseeable future... I like low prices.

Some of us here have had our cars a long time. We've seen the value of these car increase to a price we'd never thought we'd see. If I had to pay today's prices I couldn't have what I have.

When the Derby guys are willing to pay more for a moderate example than the guys that are supposedly into said cars there's probably a problem a skew in the valuation process.

 

[polara71]

Price values are pretty standard on Formal's based on condition and mileage. Most of them that we see look great with 10 foot pictures. But most of those pictures really hide the true condition of the car. My 78 NYB looked great in just about any picture taken....the reality was that it needed $10,000 in rust repair and that $$$ amount could of easily been a lot higher if I didn't have a friend do the bodywork.

Ok...... so avoid the hassle , look , wait, and find a good car and pay the 8000 up front.

 

[1978 NYB]

There are some uniquely special Formal's that are in perfect condition and low mileage that in my opinion are worth $10k-$20k.

I let one get away....Dodge Royal Monaco with the Diplomat Package. It was a blue one.....go figure. I hesitated one day too long and somebody (a lurker) scooped it from me. I'll find another one of these days.

 

[polara71]

This is the weekly debate that the board seems divided on

 

[cantflip]

Some of us here have had our cars a long time. We've seen the value of these car increase to a price we'd never thought we'd see. If I had to pay today's prices I couldn't have what I have.

When the Derby guys are willing to pay more for a moderate example than the guys that are supposedly into said cars there's probably a problem a skew in the valuation process.

I do agree... but I think the biggest problem is we don't have enough Formal lovers to adopt all of the remaining cars. The derby guys are a lot like racers, they will put out the cash for what works for them.

Dummy's like me tend to try to justify our expenditures with thoughts like "I could sell out of this close enough to even if I had to." I would be neck deep in rust and Bondo right now if I was to have spent the same money I've invested into ONE BB B Body.

I think Formals will eventually pick up a little, but the parts will be harder to find than Forward Looks before that happens. Right now truly nice parts are tough to find for ugly prices, and buyers seem to be focused on exact matches (as in unwilling to dye interior pieces). The rest of the derby stash seems to be extremely low valued moderate wear parts... with few takers even when dirt cheap.

The high priced stuff on EB will sit forever... Apparently the sellers are willing to wait out that one person who will someday pay the price.

The flippers must really not understand supply and demand of these cars... the supply only seems to dry up as the sellers wait out a few months before relisting the same car... and none seem to understand the differences of condition #4 cars presented as if #1... It is very skewed.

 

[imperialman]

Yes a number of the derby crowd will spend the $$.
When talking with the derby person that sold me my 78, he told me that there is a guy in Minnesota that derbies Imperials and NYBs and spends crazy money to buy them .
I'm not sure what "crazy" translates to,but probably more than you would think.

 

[Fratzog]

Taking the glass half full approach, if not realistically available at least the cars at this dealership are being preserved for posterity .

 

[Robert Saigh]

I'm in Iowa and I know a couple of those guys in Minnesota....and also Wisconsin. Some of them save and sell the parts they've stripped off the cars before wrecking them.....It makes me ill just thinking about it!

 

[cantflip]

I'm in Iowa and I know a couple of those guys in Minnesota....and also Wisconsin. Some of them save and sell the parts they've stripped off the cars before wrecking them.....It makes me ill just thinking about it!

I think it's probably better to play nice and get a working relationship going with them. They have parts and some of them won't crash a really nice car, so they flip them (or try to).

I missed this one in Iowa at an estate auction a couple years ago...

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

I am not sure on prices for Formals.

All I can say is they are not really popular in Europe in example.
Some BB guys always want to buy 74 Monacos but Formals in general, mostly Chryslers are sold comparativly cheap and are not highly requested.

Slabsides or Fuselage cars have a way bigger following overhere.
Check my pics from the last Mopar Show. 50 Full Size Mopars attending around 30 of them Slabs, many Fuselages and then there was one Formal (76 Gran Fury) in the hole bunch.

If there would be a request: More private guys and dealers would import them which is not happening.

So at least the Europeans will not drive up the prices on those IMHO

Carsten

 

[Robert Saigh]

fc7_: That's good to know about the European collectors. I've kept a pretty decent relationship with a few Demo guys around here and they have leads on parts/cars you wouldn't believe!

 

[330dTA]

It's wise to keep good talking relationship with the derby guys, too. We need all the parts they can give. (Edit: in exchange for reasonable sums of cash, of course.)

 

[Robert Saigh]

cantflip: I almost attended that auction for the '74 Imperial....and not too far (50 miles from here), just couldn't get down there! It went in the $2800 range if I'm not mistaken.

 

[cantflip]

cantflip: I almost attended that auction for the '74 Imperial....and not too far (50 miles from here), just couldn't get down there! It went in the $2800 range if I'm not mistaken.

Almost got to 6K (my predetermined limit), but last second they pulled a no start, no brakes disclosure... just couldn't think through the transport fast enough. Things turned out better for me in the end, no regrets.