What a deal! - Be concerned...

petehoovie

petehoovie

Well-known member
Sold for USD $16,250 on 8/25/25

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1941-mercury-coupe-2/

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Pete, that is a nice driver quality car, no more than that. The price seems about right to me. Never was a highly desirable car.
Still, I understand your point. Our beloved old cars are going down in value, some quicker than others.
Supply and demand at work.
And in a few years as the supply goes up, up, up, the demand will continue to go down.
 
This car is identical to mine. A bit hard to tell from the pics, but it appears that the undercarraige on mine is cleaner as well as a few other details like the interior. I understand about the values going down. Not a big concern for me as I really like the car's ride, handling and power. I went for a brisk ride yesterday on not so smooth and twisty roads. When I returned I said to my wife "What a car!"

Interestingly, Women comment more than men on the appearance, they really like it.
 
There was some comments during that auction- it was offered twice - about the “complete, body off”, restoration. Sure did not look like one after looking at the engine compartment, undercarriage and in process photos, to me. Really more a body shop restoration with a new interior. I like ‘41 Mercs as I had one before and this one fairly close was attractive to bid on, but the aforementioned aspects put me off.

So is this sale on a highly visible web auction a sign of the times or really the fact that many buyers on that site know what they are looking at? Thus it sold for about what it was worth after adding in the buyers fee and potential shipping.
 
IMHO, this is the way it is. Car people pay the highest prices for the cars they wish they'd had in their high school parking lot. Generally, the coolest cars might have been about 10 years old. The 1941 cars would have been really cool in 1951. Those High School seniors would have been born in 1933. They would now be 92. There are not too many 92 year olds out there buying cool cars.


This is why the car hobby is dying. Because of the way affluence and spending works with age, the biggest spenders now are probably people about 55 years old. Do the math. The 10 year old cars in their parking lot would have been Ford Fairmonts, Chevy Citations, Datsun B210's, etc. Hard to get excited about them. I have an amazing ability to cast a wet blanket over a large area.


Street rods do much better. Not saying they're better, just a fact that a 1941 Ford/Mercury street rod with a later model engine and transmission is likely to sell for more.


Don't hate me for saying that. I was in High School in the late 70's. There wasn't a single 40's or '50's car in the parking lot. I have no memory of them. I'm an odd duck though. One of my current cars is a 1941 Ford. As original as I can practically make it. Flathead, period Eddie Meyer intake, 6v electrical. It's a lot of fun but I paid more for it than I should have and if I don't make a street rod out of it, my widow will lose money on it.


Don't misunderstand, not looking for sympathy, just stating the facts. Love the car, love my friends in the Early Ford V8 club, but this is an expense, not an investment.
 
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Hopefully we’ll have a family member we can pass our vehicles onto, out of 11 grandchildren only one has interest in my ‘41 and he’s only eight years old, he always wants to drive it when he come to visit.
 
Yes prices go down every year as younger folks go for muscle cars. I noticed last 10 years at car shows a few rods but most muscle cars. I purchsed my 34 out of high school in 1952. Spent a lot of cash over the 72 years but like it the way it is. I'm now 91 and not selling since I have a son waiting for it. Yes he wants it along with his GN Buick. Rod/Muscle generation?
 
I wonder if the same thing will happen to the price of old car parts that are stashed away.

Makers of reproduction parts will also fade away.
 
19Fordy said:
I wonder if the same thing will happen to the price of old car parts that are stashed away.

Makers of reproduction parts will also fade away.
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It already has. Parts values, for the most part have plummeted in recent years. Hate to say, but just Monday I tossed out a full truck load of generators, heads, intakes, etc.

The two "big players" of reproduction parts have, for quite some time, stopped making a number of their prior parts offerings.
 
Gosh "Kube", looks like the writing is on the wall. As time marches on there won't be many folks buying 40's and 50' car "stuff". I bet BOB DRAKE and CARPENTER are paying attention.
 
"Quotable Quotes"

-------It ain't over till the fat lady sings---Jimmy Durante?

-------It ain't over till it's over---Yogi Berra?

I have a few parts that I have reconditioned (column drops especially) that I like to look at and operate in my hands that no one wants anymore. When in my little shop in the cold of winter I fondle them and think what a great piece of craftsmanship. I look over my shoulder and gaze at my 36 pickup and think "life is good, really good." Who cares what this stuff is worth monetarily. It sure gives me a lot of pleasure! For me it was never a financial investment but an investment in joy!
 
34fordy said:
I look over my shoulder and gaze at my 36 pickup and think "life is good, really good." Who cares what this stuff is worth monetarily. It sure gives me a lot of pleasure! For me it was never a financial investment but an investment in joy!
Click to expand...


When you look at it like that, it's a very smart investment in living well. Like one my car club buddies likes to say, "I've never seen a hearse with a luggage rack."
 
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