Fuselage Prices/Supply/Demand/Price History--opinions, predictions, thoughts in general

[sauterd]

Hi all,

Sorry if this is a bit of a repeat for some, as I know I've brought this up before. But thought I'd post one more time seeking input and opinions on the prices of the Fuselage cars in general (or specific if you can speak to that)

From being on here a while I have learned about the increased interest in these cars from other countries besides those in the U.S. I also learned that Carlisle is featuring C bodies for the first time which I assume is a pretty big deal.

So, in general, just looking for any opinions, predictions, thoughts in general on this era of C bodies. I'd also appreciate a quick review of how prices have changed in the last 5-10 years or so. Thanks for any more insight you can offer. (For example, would it be smart to get a loan for a car now due to an increase in price in the next "few" years--5-7 or so--?)

 

[The Horvaths]

Though C-Bodies are rising in value, I do not believe they will go much higher. They are not the cars that are looked upon in the same way as the classic Hemi A, B, and E-Bodies. An odd way of thinking about it is how we compare our beloved cars to the unappealing and bland styling of some of the Chevy and Ford cars of the era, is the same way some of the A, B, and E-Body guys think of our cars... they just aren't "sporty" or "cool" enough. They weren't advertised in the same way. C-Body cars are not a good investment. They just will never have the same value as other investment grade cars. A good example of this is Dan's 71 GT Promo car... it is very nice, and should be quite desirable, but nobody will jump on it at its relatively cheap $21,000 price tag. C-Bodies are meant to be loved and enjoyed by the people who love and enjoy them...

But of course this is a 16 year old kid's opinion.

 

[sauterd]

Though C-Bodies are rising in value, I do not believe they will go much higher. They are not the cars that are looked upon in the same way as the classic Hemi A, B, and E-Bodies. An odd way of thinking about it is how we compare our beloved cars to the unappealing and bland styling of some of the Chevy and Ford cars of the era, is the same way some of the A, B, and E-Body guys think of our cars... they just aren't "sporty" or "cool" enough. They weren't advertised in the same way. C-Body cars are not a good investment. They just will never have the same value as other investment grade cars. A good example of this is Dan's 71 GT Promo car... it is very nice, and should be quite desirable, but nobody will jump on it at its relatively cheap $21,000 price tag. C-Bodies are meant to be loved and enjoyed by the people who love and enjoy them...

But of course this is a 16 year old kid's opinion.

very impressive, sir. can only imagine your knowledge when you reach the ripe old of age of 18 !! thanks a lot..

 

[Snotty]

I paid $6,500 for my Newport in 2003. The price was too high but he was wiling to hold on to the car until I could come up with the money. Can't beat that, but $3,500 would have been a much better price, which was all he could get on eBay.

What bugs me is the thought that if I tried to sell my car today I'd be lucky to get... $6,500. When I see '74 GM large-body ragtops going for the 20s I want to scream.

 

[oliver]

It looks like many people tend to go for cars they admired when they were teens and the market is ever changing. IMHO, A, B, and E Bodies are totally overrated cars. They were junk when new and are still junk today. It amazes me that for less than you'd pay for one of those, you can get yourself a pre-war Packard or other fine automobile.
As for the very underrated C-Bodies, I believe their monetary value should go up somewhat in the future primarily due to the demand by foreign buyers and their willingness to pay higher prices; and also due to the general supply of old cars gradually drying up.

 

[Slantsix]

I Think one thing what keeps C-body prices low, is lack of aftermarket body panels. No trunk floor, trunk extensions or floors.
People pay little more to get AEB-body and get easily parts for them vs get c-body cheaper but craft/cannibalize/try find nos etc parts.

 

[oliver]

Agree...but in a certain way, the hunt for hard to find parts can make the hobby more exciting. When all the parts you may need are widely available , it becomes just as original as driving a camry

 

[TheFearlessFury]

Well personally as a young classic car enthusiast I see the C-body as one of the best entry level classic cars, if your looking for a low purchase price and a V8, well then your cup runneth over. It's getting so hard to buy a halfway decent car from the muscle car era, so I think it kind of pushes young buyers away from Challangers, GTOs, and Chevelles towards Furys, Galaxies, and the odd Biscayne here and there.

For what you'd pay for a rusted shell of a GTX you could get a C-body in near perfect shape.

Although it does get a little annoying having to explain to everyone that my Fury handles and brakes just fine anytime they comment on it.

 

[commando1]

I don't care what car you're talking about, let alone Fuselages, if you need a loan to buy a toy, you shouldn't be buying toys.

 

[Big_John]

I think the prices have been inching up for certain cars. Some cars are never going to be worth much more than they are now. I'll let you guys figure out which ones.

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

the prices have increased a lot on the last couple of years.
But they started from a low point compared to other classics.

C-bodys will never be extremly expensive.

There are more desireable models and some are less popular.
Rarity, options and colors do have their impact as well as condition.
But they also require knowledge.

A good example is the mentioned 71 Sport Fury GT pilot car from Dan.
It is NOT a very nice car. Why?
It has had bad bodywork in the past, it will need to be redone again.
Then it will need new paint, correct striping, new correct v-roof and interieur work at least.
So you will have to throw in quite some money to make it right again.
If the car what be original untouched like it was before (meaning with lower quarters rusted, original paint, stripe, original roof etc) it probably would have sold already to an enthusiast. But the die hards are less fancy on fixing old amateur restorations.

Carsten

 

[tallhair]

A good example is the mentioned 71 Sport Fury GT pilot car from Dan.


Carsten

Which car are you talking about? Picture please for reference if you or someone has one

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

Which car are you talking about? Picture please for reference if you or someone has one

here you go Bryan

Plymouth: Fury 71 440-4 T CODE SPORT FURY GT PROMO

 

[The Horvaths]

Which car are you talking about? Picture please for reference if you or someone has one

 

[tallhair]

Thanks. What is the story on those wheels / trim rings / centers combination? I've seen a set like that recently? Are they a period correct option for this period car?

 

[fc7_plumcrazy]

they are part of the 71 SFGT (package) and no option. Extremly rare due to production being 375 units

 

[Fratzog]

At our local cruise night last night I watched 2 kids maybe just out of high school. One showed up in a Veloster that looked like it just rolled off the show room floor. The other kid had a nice but maybe 5 year old Lancer. They spent the entire 1.5 hours I was there fiddling under the hood of the Lancer. Clearly they have a passion for cars but it in no way relates to anything from our era. As we old foggies die off I'm not sure who is going to pick up the baton. I am heartened by some of the young bucks on this board but sadly they are few and far between. Price is a function of supply and demand so I think that demand is beating supply in it's race to the bottom.

 

[polara71]

Ive been passionate about Cs since I was 15 or so, which makes it 35 years now. I took a lot of abuse during my teen years for loving a C body dodge while everyone else was loving muscle and go-fast cars. So I have been watching the prices for one hell of a long time and I really never thought I would see their value as high as they are right now . For the last 19 years that I have been on the internet and the message boards guys have been saying their values are rising and I have been denying it all along, Yet, here we are values have risen , I dont know , what , 10 fold or more?

It seems to me the 70 and 71 cars are the most elusive of the Cs. I only see the value slowly and steadily rising to a point and then they will decline but not for another 20 years. Even as I look for a decent parts car 71 two door the pickings are slim and usually toasted and being held for a kings ransom. Certainly not what I would think as cost worthy but with so few to pick from you have no choice.

I am one of the few here willing to put a higher than normal value on our beloved Cs. Again, with so few available, you gotta dig. Ive always believed a expensive unrestored car is more important than a cheap rusty one.

They arent an investment , I have them till death do us part, because I love them and deeply

 

[Carmine]

Eventually, the value of all old cars goes up. I suppose it's just a function of rarity.

Here is a 1936 Chrysler 4dr sedan. It's not an Airflow, it's not something the hot-rod crowd wants. No one who remembers them from their youth is going to be bidding. It's not a survivor. Just a nice old, fixed up car. Yet it sold for $20k

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1936-Chrysler-Other-345-/141931874239?forcerrptr=true&hash=item210bcc87bf:g:BcYAAOSwUV9WpPtK&item=141931874239&nma=true&si=dVc1g%2Fd6re593SADheH2%2B9PHJbQ%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Now that's not crazy money, I could have cited the $148,000 Town and Country... But that's sort of like a musclecar because of it's oddball wooden body, dedicated following, etc.

So the point is, some $2500 C-bodies that survive into the 2020s will bring five figures, but it will be an inflation-adjusted number, so don't invest to get rich. In the meantime, the most pedigreed musclecars from the same vintage will greatly outpace them.

The X-factor, pardon the pun, will be the Gen Y's and Millennials. There is a culture shift equivalent to the internet destroying the newspaper business. Ride-sharing, Zip-cars, Autonomous vehicles... They'll also either be so brain-washed that they'll look at private automobiles as toys of the rich, polluting class OR they'll rebel against this nonsense. I don't know how this one shakes out? But as Stan said, if you need a loan to buy a toy, you don't need a toy.

 

[tunaboat75]

At our local cruise night last night I watched 2 kids maybe just out of high school. One showed up in a Veloster that looked like it just rolled off the show room floor. The other kid had a nice but maybe 5 year old Lancer. They spent the entire 1.5 hours I was there fiddling under the hood of the Lancer. Clearly they have a passion for cars but it in no way relates to anything from our era. As we old foggies die off I'm not sure who is going to pick up the baton. I am heartened by some of the young bucks on this board but sadly they are few and far between. Price is a function of supply and demand so I think that demand is beating supply in it's race to the bottom.

Unfortunately many of the younger "car guys" are not interested in old cars, they like big jacked up diesel pick up trucks and ricers. And if they do like old cars its typically muscle cars or rat rods. To me as a 21 year old it just makes me appreciate the big land yachts I do see out and about and the people who own them just that much more. While our cars do turn heads and get thumbs up, I don't think they will ever be fully respected and admired even close to what the muscle cars are. But I do think there will be a time in the future when people will stop and realize that more of these cars should have been saved and recognized.

As far as prices go...I picked up a 71 Newport 4 door w/ a 383 in it for only $1100. Which, depending on how you look at it, is both good and bad. Good because the cars we love can be had for a cheap or reasonable price and bad because you aren't going to make a whole lot if you decide to sell and the car collector community doesn't view them as desirable quite yet.