Spring price bubble or certain classics on the rise?

[Loose_Cannon]

It doesnt seem that long since I cruised Car and Classic but got a bit of a shock tonight at how much some cars have jumped in asking (if not selling) prices.

For instance, Calibras, instead of £2k or less, now £5k upwards. Fiat Mirafioris in tens of thousands, Fiat coupes £8k plus, Lancia Betas £9k etc.

Is there such a thing as the "optimistic spring price rise"?

Or have certain cars genuinely jumped perhaps due to the morass of "Modern Classic" type magazines on the shelves? During a rare trip to a shopping mall I was in a large WH Smiths and couldn't believe how the shelf groaned with new-classic and one-marque titles.

Edited by Loose_Cannon on Wednesday 15th May 09:43

[CanAm]

A friend had a Fiat 131 Mirafiori which had rust in the middle of the doors in 18 months from new. Any survivors must be incredibly rare.

[CoupeKid]

If rarity meant value Talbot Tagoras would be the price of a small house.

[aeropilot]

CoupeKid said:

If rarity meant value Talbot Tagoras would be the price of a small house.

Yes, but the Tagora was a pile of poo. A bit like the Marina really, which are still a cheap 'classic' to buy, and for a reason.

Whereas the 131 and things like the Alfa Sud were great cars let down purely on their ability to dissolve before your eyes, so rare and good, means prices climb for the few left.

[lowdrag]

I've been wondering for a while if, since some cars are now way into the stratosphere,, whether it is for that reason that the affordable market has taken off. I was looking at a little Midget, and was surprised to see the variation in price, up to £15,000 now. A Sunbeam Alpine at £20,000 anyone? Last time I looked they were all below £10,000 as were the Midgets.

[Ambleton]

lowdrag said:

I've been wondering for a while if, since some cars are now way into the stratosphere,, whether it is for that reason that the affordable market has taken off. I was looking at a little Midget, and was surprised to see the variation in price, up to £15,000 now. A Sunbeam Alpine at £20,000 anyone? Last time I looked they were all below £10,000 as were the Midgets.

I agree Lowdrag.

As more and more cars go into the "dreamer" category, the ones further down the food chain are being dragged up.

For the last 3 years I've been trying to persuade my dad to get a TR3. 2-3 years ago you could get a good example for £15k. They now seem to be going the same way as E-types and even snotty ones are £20k+.

At one time of day (not that long ago) road worthy 2CVs with an MOT were worth maybe £250. Now, even half decent ones are £5k+ and you can't get anything that even runs for <£1500.

I wonder how long it'll be before the likes of A35's and Moggies go the same way?

[lowdrag]

Too many moggies I think, but since Ray Davis took to winning at the Revival in an A35 (I am not sure I remember them being quicker than a Mk 2 in the day!) they have moved up, and James Hunt's association with A35 vans has pushed them way up too. You talk of 2CV's and while it is somewhat different a 2CV Sahara is coming up for auction with an estimate of £120,000! Yet a good Dyane though will set you back about £5,000. Fancy a supercar at the price of a Sunbeam Tiger? Try an NSX. Cars are out there, but you have to think outside the box. Fancy wining a prize at the Ace Café for the best bike? £3,000 wil get you there surprisingly. Buy a step-thru Honda 70. But my personal favourite that sold the other day was at Silverstone auctions. An immaculate Honda 800 coupé; £17,000 got you a rev-for-ever little bomb guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Edited by lowdrag on Tuesday 14th May 13:41

[DailyHack]

Yup, my 1966 Beetle was picked up 10 years ago around £2500, good luck finding one of these that price now, more or less original (think how many of the dam things were built!) Not alot left road worthy.

Cant see it subsiding either, many are MOT + Tax Exempt now, dam cheap motoring and simple mechanics many aspire to now in a sea of over complicated'ness, so will add to their price I am sure.

[aeropilot]

DailyHack said:

Yup, my 1966 Beetle was picked up 10 years ago around £2500, good luck finding one of these that price now, more or less original (think how many of the dam things were built!) Not alot left road worthy.

Cant see it subsiding either, many are MOT + Tax Exempt now, dam cheap motoring and simple mechanics many aspire to now in a sea of over complicated'ness, so will add to their price I am sure.

Not to mention in an ever increasing speed camera infested land, something that is still fun to enjoy driving at speeds consumate with the increasing traffic volumes and speed enforcement measures.

[Loose_Cannon]

lowdrag said:

I've been wondering for a while if, since some cars are now way into the stratosphere,, whether it is for that reason that the affordable market has taken off. I was looking at a little Midget, and was surprised to see the variation in price, up to £15,000 now. A Sunbeam Alpine at £20,000 anyone? Last time I looked they were all below £10,000 as were the Midgets.

It was admittedly a few years back now but a colleague bought a beautifully restored ex-USA Midget to commute to work which it did rain or hail for many years. It cost him £3500 and looked new. Now it would be too expensive for many people to risk, especially as most insurers wont put classics on commuting type policies.

[w824gb3]

Actually my insurer put the commuting clause on my policy and it didn't add anything extra to the cost - which is why I came to work in an MGB with the roof down and smile on my face this sunny morning.

[Yertis]

w824gb3 said:

Actually my insurer put the commuting clause on my policy and it didn't add anything extra to the cost - which is why I came to work in an MGB with the roof down and smile on my face this sunny morning.

Yes I've also got "commuting and travel in connection with business" or similar. Don't think it cost me anything and even if it did I'd pay, because otherwise there's sod-all chance of driving the damn things.

[S47]

Plenty of 'normal' old cars can still be bought for realtive peanuts, go to your local classsic car show there will be plenty of choice for not a lot of cash, but anything sporty forget it - even some very average Kitcars are getting expensive, where as a coupla years ago they were only 3 figures. None of it makes any sense to me, sooner the bottom falls out of the market the better IMO - be good to see the speculators getting burnt - AGAIN and us enthusiasts can get back to our hobby without their money causing interfernce

[a8hex]

Yertis said:

w824gb3 said:

Actually my insurer put the commuting clause on my policy and it didn't add anything extra to the cost - which is why I came to work in an MGB with the roof down and smile on my face this sunny morning.

Yes I've also got "commuting and travel in connection with business" or similar. Don't think it cost me anything and even if it did I'd pay, because otherwise there's sod-all chance of driving the damn things.

When I insured the XK150 I jokingly asked the insurer about business use (I mostly work from home, but the occasional trip out) he spoke to the underwriter who just said "That sound nice, I'd do that too" and added it to my policy for no extra. On the other hand they talked about a "classic" policy for my X300 but would consider any sort of work related usage on that. That would have been 10 years ago, might be different now that it's a bit older.

[RazerSauber]

I've always found Car & Classic quite expensive for cars If they're selling Calibras for daft money then I might put mine up! lol.

Being a fan of the Calibra, I'm sure the prices of turbo's have been on a fairly steep ascent for some time now. I think that has reflected in prices of other models. There's been an Icelandic Blue 8v model on AT for £5k! (Quietly wishing late model V6's would rocket up in value)

[classicaholic]

It looked like the market was in freefall a few weeks ago, now its going up, amazing what a bit of nice weather does!

[goodwoodweirdo]

Are Jensen Healeys worth a punt... ?

On paper looks way better than a MGB and when you look around there are a decent few "cars guys" owning them. Prices seem to range from 4k to 15k for the very best.....

just better add I have a 2 door A35 project for sale, yes impulse buy after the Revival...

cheers
Matt

[aeropilot]

goodwoodweirdo said:

Are Jensen Healeys worth a punt... ?

On paper looks way better than a MGB and when you look around there are a decent few "cars guys" owning them. Prices seem to range from 4k to 15k for the very best.....

Funny they get a mention as I saw one this evening on my way home, young lad driving a red JH vert with the top cruising down the outside lane of the A40 heading into London. Looked like a largely original example, far from mint, but no bag of nails heap. As it passed me I thought, blimey, not seen one of them on the road in decades.

[CoupeKid]

Not typical PH fare but I was looking at the prices of Fiat Multiplas at the weekend.

I thought they'd be about £500 but most were about £1800! For early 2000s cars with over 200,000 miles.

I suppose that if you want 3 to seat people across the front they are the only option (my neighbour thinks that there was a Honda MPV where you could also do this) and are relatively compact for a 6 seater but still...

Sleeper classic or cult car?

[Pericoloso]

CoupeKid said:

I suppose that if you want 3 to seat people across the front they are the only option (my neighbour thinks that there was a Honda MPV where you could also do this) ?

Honda FRV has 3 seats across the front ,not classic yet.

My sister has one.