Value (Current Market) for 'T's

[TClassic]

Guys,

I've been contenplating selling the Mint Silver T in my Sig, but the market, especially for 'T's' seems REAL soft right now, the only person I see getting TOP dollar is Kirban! Now that begs the question, I bought my T in Feburary of 01 in Mass from the 2nd owner with a Documented (Carfax & orig. owners dealer recipts)62,000mi on it, and also the First owner was an elderly Gentelman who Garaged it always and had it 100% STOCK! The second owner, who I bought it from took it right to Cottons and had $2000.00 worth of work done, Rear main seal, Valve Springs, Trans service, THDP(not really nec. but OK), Complete 3" ATR Stainless exhaust, Headers Welded, Cottons tune up, etc.. And after inspecting the car, and talking to Jack about the car I thought it was WORTH his $12,000 asking price. So I did not even ****er and PAID IT. Now 2-1/2 years later I've put ~about $2000.00 into the car (New stock Rad, Translator, New EATON Posi, etc.) and I just turned 69,000mi. And I ALWAYS keep the car in the Car bubble in my Garage. So.... Could "I" get $12,000 for the T NOW??!!! I would like to, but with Todays Market I HIGHLY doubt it!!

Sorry for the rant, but my point is that the Market for our cars really seems to have DROPPED in the last 2 years!!! And although
I'd surley have to take a loss, I'm not inclined to GIVE it away!

Thanks!

 

[RobV6]

I don't think the market is that soft. But GOD knows
jobs are down.

I think a couple of factors maybe hurting the sale of your car.


One is it isn't spring just yet. Hard to sell any car unless SUV.
In winter cold.

Second. Most important. Is you have to find, someone,that wants the setup you are running.
If you notice with Kirban. He usually puts them back as stock as he can. Except for his personel car.Which needed a motor.
But had a a GNX rear. I wouldn't buy it but the idea is someone did.
I HTH'ed. You'll get your price. Just need a little patience.JMO

 

[CHARGED]

12k, That would definetly be on the high side of the value of that car, somewhere around 9-10k would be the usual selling price.

Think about it, original paint?, possible trans rebuild, possible engine rebuild, all of these things plus more problems could start to happen with a 16yr old car with the miles starting to get up there. The next owner could be looking at 10k more to fix those things.
It sucks but I think you paid a little too much for it, now if that were a GN you wouldn't have this problem

 

[MeanBuicks]

As they say, something's only worth what someone's willing to pay.

As long as you're in no hurry to move the car, advertise it for $12,000 firm and see what happens.

 

[TClassic]

Originally posted by RobV6

If you notice with Kirban. He usually puts them back as stock as he can.

Rob, Thanks, and very true, and other than THDP & the exhaust, my car IS stock, I really don't count the 340 Fuel Pump upgrade as not stock as thats ALWAYS the first thing I do, and interestingly, Kirban DOES NOT always add the pump. I also took off my K&Nand put the Stock assembly back. The Performance of this this car is also WAY above average, and since I'm onlt 10 minutes from the track I would offer ANY prospective buyer the oburtunity to Track Test the car BEFORE Purchase!!! How many folkes would do that??
And charged, YES, if the car were BONE stock, yes the value would be more like $8800-$9000. But all the work that the Previous owner had Jack Cotton do, and my normal BPU upgrades, and ABOVE average Performace (very important), as well as the Phenominale way this car is and always was STORED indoors "Should" bump the value up to around $12,000 but what the heck do I know??

 

[UNGN]

Jobs and the economy have very little to do with the soft market in 10 - 20 year old cars. If it did, people wouldn't be paying $50K for musclecars and street rods (and they are).

The problem is that Zero percent financing on new cars has made the used car market saturated with really nice, really cheap used cars.

$10-12K will get you a nice 50K mile 4 year old car with leather, heated seats and 250 HP.

 

[Gary Wells]

FWIW & IMHO: I think that the value of t-types is not down, I think that it has come up at about the same rate as muscle cars in general.
I believe that the economy and the job outlook do have a bearing on collectible car market. Why do some people still buy $50K-$60k CARS. bECAUSE they can afford it. That doesn't mean that you and I feel comfortable with the same thing.
The differentation between a no 1, low/no mileage highly desirable car and whatever else there has grown considerable.
I think that the resale value/market for '86-'87 T-Types, Turbo-T's. GN'S, & GNX'S, & '89 TTA'S is pretty much holding it's own.
FWIW & IMHO: I think that solid roofs, in general, are more desiralbe than otherwise. Especially notable in the '89 TTA market. I think that, in general, non modified is more desirable than otherwise. Caging & tubbing, in general, for a street car will not help it's value any, regardless of how fast it goes. Low/no mileage cars seem to be climbing in value more than medium mileage cars, but much more than high mileage cars.
No flames intended on anyone's cars

 

[TClassic]

Originally posted by Wells
I think that, in general, non modified is more desirable than otherwise.

By NON-Modified, you don't mean BPU upgrades (Fuel Pump, Feeder wiring, New Rad., Posi Upgrade, ect.) do you?
Just Curious?

 

[TurboRegal84]

The Market Value's on these cars is a rollar coster. They are still a bit too 'New' for the collectors to start reaching for their wallets. Give it a few years (when the cars become 20-25 years old) and I bet the Value of Un-modded original cars will climb in price.

Just from looking around. I feel that the Grand Nationals sell for a higher price than the T's. Most people do not know what T's are, and want a 'Grand National' because of the name.

Prices will settle at some point and I feel that when that happens you will see more of 'our' cars at Barret Jackson.

 

[Gary Wells]

Previously posted by:
"TClassic":
"By NON-Modified, you don't mean BPU upgrades (Fuel Pump, Feeder wiring, New Rad., Posi Upgrade, ect.) do you?
Just Curious?"

FWIW & IMHO:
Unfortunately, yes, I do, but mainly in general context. These are my personel beliefs from owning 5 Turbo Regals, 1 modified by someone else and me, and the balance pretty much stock. On a very or ultra low mileage car, yes, I think that any mods other than upkeep, (air filter, oil filter, oil change) and replacement when required can and will hurt the resale value of the car. Fuel pump, feeder wiring, even possibly a posi upgrade that wasn't on the car originally could hurt the resale value of a very low mileage car ( below 10 K ). On mileage above maybe 15K, I don't think that it will matter that much. These cars are not exactly like Model A'S, T'S, 32 & 40 fords, 50 Merc where using well dressed street mods and the like will raise the value of a car. I think that the days where you could modify, but using what was commonly acceptable amongst the well dressed street crowd/cult are gone forever for these late model Buicks & TTA'S.
Keep in mind, though, there is always someone out there who is bored with his stocker and is getting ready to build a car just like yours is. Smog restrictions are starting to play a larger and larger role in this. I think that the main dirrerence that you might see is not getting back most of the money spent on modifications.

 

[TClassic]

Well....Considering I just Turned 69,000 yesterday, and I DO NOT want to hit 70k over the next year or so, I guess I'll put it on Ebay in the coming months, and maybe here, and START at
$10,900Reserve (~$2000.00 loss for me, but...what are ya gonna do!!)! Thanks for all the comments!!

 

[BJM]

Good points made above. I know I don't want to buy anybody else's modified car since I don't know if they were hacks or were highly skilled. Our cars will slowly move along the spectrum to where unmodifed stock will be worth more. As someone said, at 20-25 years old a car with tubs or non-removeable changes will drop in value. A GNX rear is cool on a GNX but people may not want an extra frame member welded in even if it does stiffen the car. Keep those original seats and especially the rims. I have a GNX dash but the unmolested original can bolt back in easily.

 

[Gary Wells]

Hey: TClassic:

Sorry, sir, I am not trying to rain on anybody's parade, nor discourage their pending sale. The comments stated above by me are FWIW & IMHO. This is just the way that I see things, and I see things in the near future. I think that if you think that your car is worth more, then by all means put it up for more, especially on E-bay. You are liable to find someone that is looking for a car that fits your description to t tee. I am only seeing things from my point of view, and that view may or may not be shared by the Buick community in general. Sorry if you mistook this for anything else than my personel preferrence.

 

[DKREDT]

Originally posted by TClassic
Well....Considering I just Turned 69,000 yesterday, and I DO NOT want to hit 70k over the next year or so, I guess I'll put it on Ebay in the coming months, and maybe here, and START at
$10,900Reserve (~$2000.00 loss for me, but...what are ya gonna do!!)! Thanks for all the comments!!

Kirban has a listing service for cars on his website. I think it is like $50 for a month. I would consider listing it there if you are not in a hurry. People go to his site to look for clean cars that are generally in very sound (near stock) condition. I think the potential buyers there look more for overall value than those that frequent the Turbo Buick sites. IMHO of course.

HTH

Joel

 

[buickman69]

My personal opinion, I feel that Ts and T-Types should be worth MORE than a GN. That may not ever be but they are more RARE and to ME more desirable and a "sleeper" with the chrome, etc than a GN. I can tell ya if anything ever happned to mine i'd paint it another color, chrome the bumpers and put a '86 Grille in it.

I DO feel that the market is down on Buicks in General these days. I've noticed however a slight increase in the V8 Buicks but as mentioned above the age factor probably has a lot to do with it. The used car market (in general) STINKS these days and as mentioned above the 0% is what has hurt that.

There is a 43,000 mile GN here @ a local dealer and they are asking $14-15,000 for it. I think it's a little rough also. They've been sitting on it for some time also.

Good luck in selling your car. I think it'll take some time.

 

[RobV6]

Give you an examlpe. I own a bone stock 4,506 ORG>MI.
GN hardtop. Can't driveit. Paint too nice. So Once in a while I show it wax it and wonder.

My other car now working in progress, is a white Limited , blue interior.With 163,000 Org MI. Bought from a woman. Still tight. But I'm going,
to do the motor and New turbo ect.
This car I know I won't get back everything I put in. But looking to have fun.
Meanwhile. Have had to very serious offers on my GN.
But it's too nice.
So it's what is valuable to you. Thanks Guys..........HTH'ed