The Value of a Grand National {?}

[Thomas Gentilin]

Is it me or is the price of these cars getting a little out of control?

Take for example..........a well-used T type on Ebay with over a hundred thousand miles on it.....going for 18,000 Bucks !

And it doesn't end there......I've been looking for a decent 50-70K mile Gn and the prices are Crazy.........even Crazier are the GN's that have 140,000 miles on them and some guy thinks he has a GNX or something.....asking a mere 19,000 dollars

I don't know. I bought a WE-4 about three years ago for 8K and it needed a paint job BUT only had 63,000 miles on it.......but like an IDIOT.....I sold the damn thing because I had to.

Now.......looking for another Turbo car......the prices are getting a little out of hand.

Honestly, I think an 87 GN with 50- 70K on it, and in decent shape {runs well, no issues, no rust etc.} is worth 11-12K...

What do you guys think?

Am I just off my rocker?

Tom
{By the way.......I'm still looking for a nice one!!!!}

 

[TURBOTERRORV6]

Is it me or is the price of these cars getting a little out of control?

Take for example..........a well-used T type on Ebay with over a hundred thousand miles on it.....going for 18,000 Bucks !

And it doesn't end there......I've been looking for a decent 50-70K mile Gn and the prices are Crazy.........even Crazier are the GN's that have 140,000 miles on them and some guy thinks he has a GNX or something.....asking a mere 19,000 dollars

I don't know. I bought a WE-4 about three years ago for 8K and it needed a paint job BUT only had 63,000 miles on it.......but like an IDIOT.....I sold the damn thing because I had to.

Now.......looking for another Turbo car......the prices are getting a little out of hand.

Honestly, I think an 87 GN with 50- 70K on it, and in decent shape {runs well, no issues, no rust etc.} is worth 11-12K...

What do you guys think?

Am I just off my rocker?

Tom
{By the way.......I'm still looking for a nice one!!!!}

imagine 10 more years from now

 

[dz28]

Is it me or is the price of these cars getting a little out of control?

Take for example..........a well-used T type on Ebay with over a hundred thousand miles on it.....going for 18,000 Bucks !

And it doesn't end there......I've been looking for a decent 50-70K mile Gn and the prices are Crazy.........even Crazier are the GN's that have 140,000 miles on them and some guy thinks he has a GNX or something.....asking a mere 19,000 dollars

I don't know. I bought a WE-4 about three years ago for 8K and it needed a paint job BUT only had 63,000 miles on it.......but like an IDIOT.....I sold the damn thing because I had to.

Now.......looking for another Turbo car......the prices are getting a little out of hand.

Honestly, I think an 87 GN with 50- 70K on it, and in decent shape {runs well, no issues, no rust etc.} is worth 11-12K...

What do you guys think?

Am I just off my rocker?

Tom
{By the way.......I'm still looking for a nice one!!!!}

Prices are strictly market driven, if the market is moving north then cars of lower caliber are going to go with it. GN's are doing well right now whereas T Type or T pkg cars seems to have a delta of 10-15% less. I just purchased an 87 Buick T pkg Turbo car with the intention of improving performance with more turbo, more intercooler, more fuel, that sort of thing but am struggling with making changes to an original car with just 13,600 miles on it. I think if I make any significant changes to the car I will hurt the value so I may sell the car and buy something with more miles. Seems crazy and I think with the spring selling season just around the corner it will only get worse. I have a friend who is in the process of moving a true ZL1 Camaro (non original motor but correctly dated NOS ZL1 engine installed) in the $1.5 mil range. Don't see GNX, GN or T pkg cars ever getting to this point but with GNX's selling for double what they were new just a short 19 years ago I surmise the resell value of the Turbo Buicks will hold strong for many years. The original cars with little or no mods will always bring top dollar. Just my $.02.......

 

[NHRA Super Gas]

A rising tide lifts all boats, and the ZL1 car above is why you cannot touch a POS 69 camaro small block car for anything close to reasonable money. I think these cars have a bright future because muscle of the 60s/70s is quickly moving out of reach for many, and what else are you going to get to go fast and have fun at a cruise night? I wanted a second fast/fun car and couldn't fathom dropping the type of money that muscle is commanding in todays market.

 

[speed11]

20 yrs old

:wink: These cars are turning 20yrs. old this year. I would expect another 15%-30% increase in value per NADA.

 

[vintageracer]

Follow the age of the group of people who are 40-50. Look at the particular cars that age group dreamed of owning in high school and cracking their girlfriend in the backseat. The cars this age group "dreamed about" in high school will be popular with this age group since they will now be shed of the kids, have some money and a first or second wife with whom to enjoy their "second" childhood.

Look at the car hobby today. Go to a Corvette meet and what do you see? Fat and 50+ with Momma in C5/C6 Corvette with all the Corvette trinkets and trash they can hang on their body/car. The collector car side of the hobby is also the same with this same group enjoying the success they have achieved in life. Spending their money on the cars/things they lusted after when they were young but could not afford at that time.

What's different this time from the last "collector car" craze in the late 80's? Everything! The cars leading the way are NOT true classics or exotic European cars. They are good old American Muscle! The cars these folks grew up with.

Will Grand Nationals/turbo cars be a part of this phenomenom? Yes, but it's still a few years off so buy very good original/correct cars NOW as they really are CHEAP at $15K or less. Another thing that is never considered when evaluating the driving forces of the collector car market is Labor/Parts for a restoration. An equivalent paint job costs the same on a $100K Corvette as it does on a $6,500 GN. Just because your car is not worth as much as the Corvette, I do not see painters adjusting their price for quality work just because of the finished value of your cheaper car. Labor is labor and it's the same for a 67 Vette as for a 87 GN.

The sillyness will continue at least through the end of January in Arizona!

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

Prices are strictly market driven, if the market is moving north then cars of lower caliber are going to go with it. GN's are doing well right now whereas T Type or T pkg cars seems to have a delta of 10-15% less. I just purchased an 87 Buick T pkg Turbo car with the intention of improving performance with more turbo, more intercooler, more fuel, that sort of thing but am struggling with making changes to an original car with just 13,600 miles on it. I think if I make any significant changes to the car I will hurt the value so I may sell the car and buy something with more miles. Seems crazy and I think with the spring selling season just around the corner it will only get worse. I have a friend who is in the process of moving a true ZL1 Camaro (non original motor but correctly dated NOS ZL1 engine installed) in the $1.5 mil range. Don't see GNX, GN or T pkg cars ever getting to this point but with GNX's selling for double what they were new just a short 19 years ago I surmise the resell value of the Turbo Buicks will hold strong for many years. The original cars with little or no mods will always bring top dollar. Just my $.02.......

No doubt, these cars WILL follow the muscle car Craze! As far as your 13,000 mile Turbo........I'd put it in a GIANT ZIPLOCK bag and not Touch a single THING !!!! {Can you say Hemi Cuda Convertible in 30 years?}

What is saddening though is that MONEY takes all the fun out of the game of owning, restoring, racing, cruising.....whatever on these cars!

Tom

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

Follow the age of the group of people who are 40-50. Look at the particular cars that age group dreamed of owning in high school and cracking their girlfriend in the backseat. The cars this age group "dreamed about" in high school will be popular with this age group since they will now be shed of the kids, have some money and a first or second wife with whom to enjoy their "second" childhood.

Look at the car hobby today. Go to a Corvette meet and what do you see? Fat and 50+ with Momma in C5/C6 Corvette with all the Corvette trinkets and trash they can hang on their body/car. The collector car side of the hobby is also the same with this same group enjoying the success they have achieved in life. Spending their money on the cars/things they lusted after when they were young but could not afford at that time.

What's different this time from the last "collector car" craze in the late 80's? Everything! The cars leading the way are NOT true classics or exotic European cars. They are good old American Muscle! The cars these folks grew up with.

Will Grand Nationals/turbo cars be a part of this phenomenom? Yes, but it's still a few years off so buy very good original/correct cars NOW as they really are CHEAP at $15K or less. Another thing that is never considered when evaluating the driving forces of the collector car market is Labor/Parts for a restoration. An equivalent paint job costs the same on a $100K Corvette as it does on a $6,500 GN. Just because your car is not worth as much as the Corvette, I do not see painters adjusting their price for quality work just because of the finished value of your cheaper car. Labor is labor and it's the same for a 67 Vette as for a 87 GN.

The sillyness will continue at least through the end of January in Arizona!

Yep, you are absolutely right ! These cars are HOT because their MARKET is people young enough to want them, and old enough to afford them!

I"m in my early 40's and had Super Sport Chevelles, GTO's and Charger R/ts when I was in High School and college {God I wish I owned them now!} But now the next wave is the GN..........and who knows.........maybe even the Biggest adversary to the GN in 87.......the Mustang GT will be a hot item in years to come??!!

I guess the moral of the story is.......we don't need a crystal ball to see where these cars will be heading in the future.........UP!

Tom

 

[vintageracer]

Tom,

You bet the Fox body Mustangs will be hot in the future. Try to find a nice "stock" V8 5 speed GT or LX car now? VERY HARD! They are CHEAP, fun to drive, lots of power and were/are VERY popular.

I think this is one car where a nicely done modified car will also have great value as modification is what the Fox body Mustang market was ALL about!

 

[GNDen]

Hey old school 5.0er's!!

I know, I am trying to sell my 2 GT's right now. I may be asking high but for the right buyer I will move of course. It's all about what someone is willing to pay for what they want... Like ME looking for a low miled fully optioned GN at this time...When I find her I will pay! That's just the way it is!! :biggrin:




http://www.cars-on-line.com/22980.html


http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...&advanced=&end_year=1992&max_price=&cardist=5

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

I know, I am trying to sell my 2 GT's right now. I may be asking high but for the right buyer I will move of course. It's all about what someone is willing to pay for what they want... Like ME looking for a low miled fully optioned GN at this time...When I find her I will pay! That's just the way it is!! :biggrin:




http://www.cars-on-line.com/22980.html


http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?c...&advanced=&end_year=1992&max_price=&cardist=5

Oh how I remember the Daze of racing GT's in my very FIRST Buick We-4!!! I ordered the car and waited 5 months for the damn thing to come in, but it was worth it!

It seemed like everybody had a GT back then, and the "Race" was CONSTANTLY ON ! I wonder how I avoided losing my drivers license??? I only chalked up 8 points the first year of ownership. Ahhhhhhhhh the memories!

 

[GNDen]

GN & GT Days!

How can I forget!!! Those were the days! Not today with all this foreign rice burning junk on the road. Too funny! I sure miss the early 90's... Racing was a thing every time you started up your car and stopped at a red light! Everybody wanted to run!!! GN's and GT's were just about everywhere!! I personally bounced back and forth between owning them :smile:

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

How can I forget!!! Those were the days! Not today with all this foreign rice burning junk on the road. Too funny! I sure miss the early 90's... Racing was a thing every time you started up your car and stopped at a red light! Everybody wanted to run!!! GN's and GT's were just about everywhere!! I personally bounced back and forth between owning them :smile:

Yep, nothing but RICE today, and the kids that own them think they are ALL that and the proverbial Bag of Chips!! Typical Tuner's go 17 seconds in the quarter and think they are a force to be reconded with. haaaaaaaa

Hey, remember the Ford Turbo-Coupe? That was a pretty interesting car, 4 cyl turbo with a 5 speed!!!!! They could hold their own too!

But then Ford got stupid and produced the SuperCoupe. I bought one new and was a little disappointed with the HP. But it looked pretty sharp.

Tom

 

[GNDen]

Yeah, these newjacks watch too much TV like the "fast and the furious"!! Pleease! Those cars are so damn ugly and sound like a lawn mower. No style NO CLASS! American baby!!!!! (Unless it's a stock Ferrari or Lamborghini!) They can keep their 17 second neon spaceship looking rides. They belong in a circus gig not on the road!!!!! :biggrin:

I remember the SVO's... I was going to buy one in like 1990 but it was an 85 and seemed like pushing a 4cyl can only go so far... The Supercoupes were cool and different for the time but I really never got on the bandwagon with them. A few of my friends back then had them...They were ar-ight!


Still my favorite of them all is the GN. not Turbo-T or T-Type. GNX of course but I still personally love the GN most of all.

Big D

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

Yeah, these newjacks watch too much TV like the "fast and the furious"!! Pleease! Those cars are so damn ugly and sound like a lawn mower. No style NO CLASS! American baby!!!!! (Unless it's a stock Ferrari or Lamborghini!) They can keep their 17 second neon spaceship looking rides. They belong in a circus gig not on the road!!!!! :biggrin:

I remember the SVO's... I was going to buy one in like 1990 but it was an 85 and seemed like pushing a 4cyl can only go so far... The Supercoupes were cool and different for the time but I really never got on the bandwagon with them. A few of my friends back then had them...They were ar-ight!


Still my favorite of them all is the GN. not Turbo-T or T-Type. GNX of course but I still personally love the GN most of all.

Wow the SVO......bringin back some memories :biggrin: And what was Mercury's version Xr-7 or something?? {But they were hatch backs, not real attractive}

The SVO was a friggin rocket, a buddy of mine had one. Of course, he blew it up and Ford would NOT honor the warranty And speaking of warranty, I can remember GN's racing down at Englishtown raceway {New Jersey} back in 87/88 and seeing GM "cops" sneaking around and writing down VIN's so that they could REPORT back to GM to VOID a few warrantys!!

I TOTALLY agree with you, the GN is the most beautiful of all the Turbos. I had ordered a T-type in black {cheaper, and all I could afford back then} and then there was some kind of confusion with the dealer and GM. So I get a phone call asking if I want a GN or a black T-type. I tell then I want a Black T-type. Then they ask, do you want the blackout package, I'm like.......YES..............next thing I know I get a We-4 {real rare} At the time I thought it was the only one like it !!

tom
Big D[/QUOT

 

[GNDen]

Oh I hear ya on that!

I remember racing at Englishtown from the early to late 90's. I went to every annual Mustang vs. Grand National Showdown!
Those were the days when things were cool and fun... Not anymore...

I remember when the rednecks went wild back then when the Typhoon and Syclone came out! Still NO comparsion to the GN. :biggrin:

My favorite will always be a high 11 low 12 second stock appearing GN with T-tops! Best even til this day!!!!!

I wasn't old enough to drive in 87 but I have had 5 GN's since 90!! :wink:

 

[bigal614]

Hell, I hate to say but this makes me feel good knowing that I have a high 11 to low 12 second stock appearing T-top GNX'd!! With 23k and also restored :biggrin:

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

Hell, I hate to say but this makes me feel good knowing that I have a high 11 to low 12 second stock appearing T-top GNX'd!! With 23k and also restored :biggrin:

S W E E T !

I am THIS close to buying another 87 GN with T-tops !

 

[Thomas Gentilin]

Oh I hear ya on that!

I remember racing at Englishtown from the early to late 90's. I went to every annual Mustang vs. Grand National Showdown!
Those were the days when things were cool and fun... Not anymore...

I remember when the rednecks went wild back then when the Typhoon and Syclone came out! Still NO comparsion to the GN. :biggrin:

My favorite will always be a high 11 low 12 second stock appearing GN with T-tops! Best even til this day!!!!!

I wasn't old enough to drive in 87 but I have had 5 GN's since 90!! :wink:

Dude, where do you live?? There's a chance we have actually met!! I lived in NJ up until 4 years ago. Now I'm Colorado.

But I LOVED the Buick GN VS Mustang GT shoot-outs at Englishtown! It was GREAT ! I mean ya......it's cool to see a 9 second Pro-Gas car go down the track..........but watching people "Run what you Brung" was a TRIP !

Here's one for you...........Did you ever see the guy who raced his SNOWMOBILE against a GN??? I"m not kidding............some Crazy brought a Polaris 800 to Englishtown in Mid JULY, put little wheels on the skiis and raced a GN in the Quarter!!! HILARIOUS !!!

To this day I'm amazed how they let him do that on a CAR track !!!!

And of course the Buick won!

So, I've got an 87 GN with T-tops and 52,000 miles lined up for 13K What do you think about that deal?

 

[GNDen]

Really? That is a pretty good deal. Especially if it's original and fully optioned!?

What options does it have?

I am working on an 87 GN that has the same miles for around 16k... This guy won't budge... It has everything I want! Everything! Just as I would have ordered back in 87'. It's just the shipping on top of it that's the killer! We shall see... I am so very tempted but I want to play the same game everybody else does when I go to sell my car!!

I now live in Florida but I am from Staten Island, NY.

I do remember hearing about that snow moblie race. I do! I just wasn't there to witness it! That would have been hilarious!!
I would really like to sell my 2 GT's first to make room in the garage before I buy my next GN. Oh well 1 GT will just have to stay out!

Remember the days of D'Alessandro when he Guaranteed 12's for $1,000 dollars!!!!??????

Shoot me a message offline if you like!