Value

John Gibson

John Gibson

Senior Member
There has been a fair amount of discussion regarding ‘value’ on this forum lately. Mecum has a Trio of Genuine Ford Classics to be Offered at Mecum Glendale: March 18-22, 2025. A 34 Cabriolet, a 34 & a 35 Phaeton will go on the block. All appear to be nice original vehicles. Last months Mecum auction at Kissimmee, Fl had a 34 coupe and a 34 roadster, both stock, nice vehicles hammered in the $37,000 range. There is no doubt in my mind that the market for nice original cars has dropped off sharply. Hot Rods, however, have been bringing strong $$$$
 
Hagerty Insurance puts out a bi-monthly magazine which along with a bunch of articles, has been tracking values of collector cars and just mailed out it's yearly list of predicted 'winners' for the coming year. I wouldn't be caught dead in most of them. Apparently there are folks out there that need this info to know what to buy. With very few exceptions I buy, fix up and enjoy Ford flathead era trucks (because I love them) and don't give a rat's hind end what they will bring ten years from now.
 
GB SISSON said:
Hagerty Insurance puts out a bi-monthly magazine which along with a bunch of articles, has been tracking values of collector cars and just mailed out it's yearly list of predicted 'winners' for the coming year. I wouldn't be caught dead in most of them. Apparently there are folks out there that need this info to know what to buy. With very few exceptions I buy, fix up and enjoy Ford flathead era trucks (because I love them) and don't give a rat's hind end what they will bring ten years from now.
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My thoughts exactly. It's a good thing they sell insurance; they'd never make it in the publishing game.
 
GB SISSON said:
Hagerty Insurance puts out a bi-monthly magazine which along with a bunch of articles, has been tracking values of collector cars and just mailed out it's yearly list of predicted 'winners' for the coming year. I wouldn't be caught dead in most of them. Apparently there are folks out there that need this info to know what to buy. With very few exceptions I buy, fix up and enjoy Ford flathead era trucks (because I love them) and don't give a rat's hind end what they will bring ten years from now.
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Now that's the attitude of a man who enjoys his hobby. Not to say that one cannot both enjoy and make a living on his hobby, the hobby does certainly need those individuals, but there is a point where for some, making the almighty dollar becomes the driving force of continuing in the hobby. For those folks, the hobby is the money, a sad state of affairs.
 
tubman said:
My thoughts exactly. It's a good thing they sell insurance; they'd never make it in the publishing game.
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I believe they track the values of the cars they select for their "rising stars/yearly Bull Market" for collector vehicles. Their record of appreciation for their choices is pretty impressive.

We may not like their choices, but they deal in old cars all day long, so I'm sure they have some pretty good way to track what's becoming popular and what's not.
 
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GB.. I like your post! :) I never plan to sell my '35. It's just a pleasure to saddle up and ride it out thru the countryside. Any increase in its value is just icing on the cake.

My next project will be an old Ford truck. Plan to fix it up for my wife. She's put up with me for many years and it'll be fun so why not. :) Besides... speaking of value... it should improve my reserve of indebtedness with her and that has all kinds of benefits too.
 
Thank you scubacheif, and Tim, I agree that Hagerty has done a good job of reporting the ups and downs of the market. In fact in the issue I received a week or two ago, they were able to show how close their history of picks was proven. This current issue features their 'Bull market list' and presents 11 collector cars that they have chosen to be vehicles that are on their way UP in value. Their accuracy is indeed impressive, it's just that nothing on their list holds any interest to me personally.
 
GB SISSON said:
Thank you scubacheif, and Tim, I agree that Hagerty has done a good job of reporting the ups and downs of the market. In fact in the issue I received a week or two ago, they were able to show how close their history of picks was proven. This current issue features their 'Bull market list' and presents 11 collector cars that they have chosen to be vehicles that are on their way UP in value. Their accuracy is indeed impressive, it's just that nothing on their list holds any interest to me personally.
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Yep. I'd have to think it's like when guys in the '40's-'60's got into old Fords. They were still plentiful, earlier in that time range, they more than likely represented cars that guys saw as kids and always wanted one.

Back to Hagerty's Bull Market list. Would I ever want a Suzuki Samuari? Nope, but there was a time in the '90's that was the hot mini-SUV to have. Guys did some cool things to them. Fast forward, those kids that saw in magazines then and now have the means to purchase them which drives the price up.

It's all a cycle.
 
I've heard it called the '30 year rule'. You hit it exactly Tim. Today's guys in their prime earning (spending) years do not have recollections of weekends on grandpa's farm tossing hay outa the bed of a 37 ford pickup. It was an early 90's toyota. And it wasn't a farm, it was a cul de sac and the hay was grass clippings. The only thing that stays the same is everything changes.
 
I have no dog in this fight and am not insured with Hagarty's, so don't get the publication. But wonder what their data base is for their values? NADA or other more "modern" guides would use resale values, or auction values and was car dealer driven. Since Hagarty's is an insurance company, wonder if they get their values from customers who insure their vehicles with stated values verified by a customer supplied "appraisal"?
Number could be inflated if that were the case. Wonder if they used the values of what they paid for totaled vehicle claims if the number would be somewhat lower? Just a guess.
 
signsup said:
I have no dog in this fight and am not insured with Hagarty's, so don't get the publication. But wonder what their data base is for their values? NADA or other more "modern" guides would use resale values, or auction values and was car dealer driven. Since Hagarty's is an insurance company, wonder if they get their values from customers who insure their vehicles with stated values verified by a customer supplied "appraisal"?
Number could be inflated if that were the case. Wonder if they used the values of what they paid for totaled vehicle claims if the number would be somewhat lower? Just a guess.
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I think Hagerty states how they come up with their figures in the article. I'll go back and check.

I don't know the answer to this question, but does anyone still use NADA for insurance value? NADA's values seem to really be out of touch (both up and down) with current value.
 
Whilst I have a Early Ford business and the values affect my livelihood, my cars are my hobby and if the were worth a dollar I still enjoy them and will own them. The cars have certainly dropped in sale prices the last few years. But even if the Early V-8 cars brought what they did 7 years ago, they still have not kept up with inflation by a far margin.. As a vendor and dealer for most Early V-8 manufacturers for parts we are all feeling the pain, but if you are passionate about something you will strive on. Some of the best people I have met in my life have been the result of this hobby of Early Ford's.

For me it's no different than fishing, guys will spend $50k on a boat and $15k on gear to catch a fish take a photo and throw it back in the water. The money spent doesn't matter, they are doing something they enjoy.
 
Tim, I have had two Suzuki Samurai’s, still have the second one going on 11-12 years. It is the perfect little vehicle for zipping around St Simons Island, GA. SSI is about the size of Manhattan, about four miles wide by fifteen miles long. We just had a bad snow and ice storm, the fourth time since 1830 we had measurable snow. Anyway, lots of limbs down everywhere and the little Suzuki pulled all of them out to the county right of way where the county will pick them up and dispose of them. We get a lot of folks ask, “Will you sell it”?
 
John, I don't think Tim was picking on the samurai, he just drew that out of the hat because it was on last years list of their Bull Market Picks. That means there is a real good chance it will be worth more next year. That island country over there produces some well engineered cars and trucks.
 
John Gibson said:
Tim, I have had two Suzuki Samurai’s, still have the second one going on 11-12 years. It is the perfect little vehicle for zipping around St Simons Island, GA. SSI is about the size of Manhattan, about four miles wide by fifteen miles long. We just had a bad snow and ice storm, the fourth time since 1830 we had measurable snow. Anyway, lots of limbs down everywhere and the little Suzuki pulled all of them out to the county right of way where the county will pick them up and dispose of them. We get a lot of folks ask, “Will you sell it”?
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Very cool and there you go. You are right on par with Hagerty's Bull Market list.
 
GB SISSON said:
John, I don't think Tim was picking on the samurai, he just drew that out of the hat because it was on last years list of their Bull Market Picks. That means there is a real good chance it will be worth more next year. That island country over there produces some well engineered cars and trucks.
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Oh, 100% correct Gary and thank you for pointing that out.

John, please do not take it like that and Gary is 100% correct. The Samurai was one of the vehicles listed in Hagerty's Bull Market list for '25. As someone who is 54 years old, I remember them when they came out and what a hit they were. Not my thing, but I understand their appeal.

In fact, I think the NJ rap act The Fugees featured a Samurai in one of their videos which helped their popularity around my parts at least.
 
My 33 5w had a light wreck [in a ditch] and Hagerty tried to total it for $19K !! I said no thanks and they refused to pay for repairs. It was all done by their 'adjuster'. Newc
 
Newc said:
My 33 5w had a light wreck [in a ditch] and Hagerty tried to total it for $19K !! I said no thanks and they refused to pay for repairs. It was all done by their 'adjuster'. Newc
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Was there no settlement? Did you have to eat the $ ?
 
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