The 'E' Type Forum

Interesting to hear what others may think about the current market.

Comes from a story in a classic car mag -
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/new ... on-the-up/

I dont know what they change hand for in the UK but Hagerty has a price guide and it sure aint cheap over there either.

(1961 Flatfloor OTS)


Hagerty may be on the high end (auction and dealer data?) but the US market seem to agree somewhat, it is absolutely not based on backyard sales ... :)

Have a '85 Testarossa and it is the same with that car, the ferrarichat members discuss the prices as well, most seem to agree that they have cond 2-3 cars even if they are in very very good condition. Maybe it is true, most weekend drivers should be found a little better than condition 3 but worse than 2.

Just to show the similarity the TR value did the same.

(85 Testarossa)


Most classics today are expensive compared to 5 years ago, yes the air may go out of the balloon.. Prices usually come down after a classic car boom as we've seen it last few years.

Hi...my rambling thoughts...
Interesting reading....I agree that the rate in rise of S1s has or will slow down....however they will always be the most valuable in the range. However the article says that values of S2's has not risen....I have monitored the market in the UK over the last 2 years and values of unrestored cars have definately risen.

I think that good condition S2's have increased in value (but not by the same rate as S1's). In my mind as the supply of solid unrestored cars starts to dry up any upward pressure in prices will be limited by the number of potential purchasers out there. As significant numbers of S2's were manufactured, I think that this factor will underpin prices (ie not vast increases), there is a natural point that people will not pay beyond for volume available cars ....so there will be a natural price cap.

The issue is that an etype is a difficult and expensive car to restore..(v a TR6) and it will put off many people wanting an unrestored classic car to purchase for long term hold.

Some people may think that I am talking my book as i own a S2 that is going through restoration...but to a degree I dont bother re value as not going to sell it for some years....and by driving it I will diminish the value anyhow

I have just sold my 1966 Healey 3000 for about 30% more than I paid for it 5 years ago....I consider that a more rare car than the e type....its a great car and I loved driving it...but for me the etype is a more useable classic...

David :)

I don't wish to be contentious but who really cares about the value apart from 'investors'. Mine is there to be used and I'm sure the more its used the more its value is diminished but the smile on my face continues to get bigger.

Tim

How about the seller.........I have a friend with a nice S2 roadster but he,s struggling to price it......the current advertised prices vary considerably.....cars we have looked at at auction are also hard to judge as you cant really have a proper look under or test drive.......

ernie wrote:I have just sold my 1966 Healey 3000 for about 30% more than I paid for it 5 years ago....I consider that a more rare car than the e type....its a great car and I loved driving it...but for me the etype is a more useable classic...

I like to use an interest calculation to get some idea of a selling price taking inflation et al into consideration. Here is a simple interest calculator.

http://www.moneychimp.com/calculator/co ... ulator.htm

Your Healey come out fine, it performs like a low risk investment fund, approx 5.5% annual interest rate more or less. You grew your initial investment and had fun with it, what more to ask for? Have a 57 100-6 myself and love the Big Healeys.

Values may not be the most important for hard core classic car enthusiasts but decent values sure make it less difficult to cough up for quality work or parts.

Understand that some find these numbers boring but there is nothing wrong about looking after your wallet.

I think the key to this discussion is condition . I go to most auctions and mostly , other than Goodwood Festival of Speed Bonhams, the cars are very average and are no doubt dressed for auction but require in my opinion full strip downs and rebuilds. At Blenheim Coys the E types I viewed had a mixture of no engine numbers, incorrectly stamped engine and cylinder head numbers and the same with frame stamps, either missing, eligible or incorrectly stamped. Panel gaps were appalling as was trim and chrome fit . The downside of the auctions now selling so much , they are bigger auctions than ever, is that very suspect stuff is being tarted up for sale to the unsuspecting retail buyer . Quality sells and always will do and we all know how much it costs to achieve that quality whether you do the work yourself or not . The numbers stack with a series 1 but not with a series 2 so there you have your answer imho .

It is interesting that no-one has commented on the main point in the article which is about the large number of US imports and its affect on values.

A quick look at adverts and auctions seems to show a large proportion of LH drive cars for sale, either newly restored or else fresh imports in tatty condition.

I am a little surprised that there are so many buyers for LH drive cars in this country, or is it that many are continental buyers who come here because there are more specialists E-type restorers. Maybe forum members 'in the trade' could comment...

I assume that the prices paid for LH drive cars by British buyers are generally less than for RH drive UK cars, so maybe that is the simple explanation for prices flattening off.

Hi Andrew.....just read the artical and it does contradict itself quite a bit....with the Haggeryt guy as the only one saying that prices are softening.....all the traders were saying prices are strong, and Richard Barnett, Classic Car Weekly?s market editor, said: ?At the top end of the current market, early, fine E-types aren?t just holding up but firming up, especially when it comes to the coup? models.......however as we know there are a lot of investors holding cars that will move them as the stock market rises...and its creeping up now....re the US imports it does give a lot of diy,ers a cheaper route into E ownership, especially as its possibly the only classic where all parts are available, but for a restoration you do need deep pockets.....so with more cars on the market they should become cheaper...but i dont see it yet

Agree entirely with Andrew. I see a lot of cars and a lot of them are bad. The price difference between the S1 and S2 cars doesn't make sense.

I had dinner last night with Pete Crespin and we discussed this very subject. There is a school of thought that subscribes to the view that as we are getting bigger, the future is in the LWB cars. You heard it here first!

A lot of buyer/restorers are not put off by LHD

After, as previously discussed a good CA car at least has it's original metal and RHD conversion is so easy with no welding or drilling.

Many a retail buyer doesn't even car if it was once a US car with LHD.

1954Etype wrote:I had dinner last night with Pete Crespin and we discussed this very subject. There is a school of thought that subscribes to the view that as we are getting bigger, the future is in the LWB cars. You heard it here first!

I resemble that remark! The pizza wasn't THAT big ... :-)

Pete

Just seen this....

http://www.rmsothebys.com/mo15/monterey ... er/1076068

Seems prices still haven't stabilised yet for the right cars!

This car was in Historics Auction at Brooklands yesterday.
It didn't reach the reserve on the day, now for sale by private treaty

http://www.historics.co.uk/buying/priva ... r.aspx?p=1

Hmmm, seems to be a lot of things wrong with that car from what l can see!

I think the point is clear....perfection will sell as will matching number project, the tricky area are the cars in between

Coming up at Brightwells in a few weeks time

http://classiccars.brightwells.com/view ... hp?id=5921

1954Etype wrote:Hmmm, seems to be a lot of things wrong with that car from what l can see!

Never mind the FHC seats etc, it shows up on XKEData as an A registration restored car, with LHD and with 4.2 manifold according to an engine photo added June 2015?