Musclecar value question

[442w30]

I still am not seeing some opinion that agrees with mine, so I'll go into detail a bit more. Of course, it's an opinion and nothing more, and I could be full of it.

Chevys have always demanded top dollar in the hobby. Even when 1000s have been built (like the LS6 Chevelle), they have always been on the higher side of the market. Look at 10 years ago . . . weren't LS6 cars about equal to Hemi cars? But they made a lot less of Hemi cars. They've always been strong and in demand, but the LS6's status of being a Chevy always kept its value elevated. Of course, it having the highest rated hp ever helped a bit, right?

But, today, look at the marginal difference in price of a Hemicuda and an LS6 from 10 years ago. The Mopar has changed a lot more than the Chevy. Even the hallowed LS6 ragtop, once purported to be among the rarest musclecars, has lost its luster. Most high-dollar collectors know it's not as rare as once was thought, and documentation is a lot harder to come by than Mopars, which have the data plates under the hood with all the options. Of course, these have been forged, which elevates the value of documented Hemis because collectors are willing to shell out the dinero for examples whose pedigree is beyond reproach.

So, back to one of the premium comments . . . the complaint about "on the disproportionate values placed on these Mopars compared to other, sometimes rarer, musclecars" is sour grapes. The Buick guys think the GS Stage 1 ragtop should be close to the price of the creme de la creme of the hobby. The RAIV Judge ragtop guys don't understand how their car - just about the rarest out there - is worth less than a Chevy. And Ford guys have it tough except for some Mustangs. At least the Marti Reports have helped buffer Fords' values, but in many cases they lag other, equally fast and rare Brand X vehicles.

[Dave Rifkin]

442W30; it was I would made the comment, not a complaint, about the disproportionate values placed on these Mopars compared to other, sometimes rarer, musclecars and I can assure you it is not a case of "sour grapes" since I don't own any of these super valuable cars.
I simply don't understand why the Mopars, particularly the Hemis, are valued so highly when they aren't the rarest, the fastest or the best looking of the musclecars. In my original post I used the L88 Corvette as a comparison; here's a car that's rarer than most of the super valuable cars, performs as well or better than most, has a real racing history behind it and in my opinion is one of the better looking cars of their time. Yet, with all of this going for it, the prices still lag behind many of the Hemi cars.
Some have tried to explain the huge differences in values due to supply and demand while others seem to think it is because the Mopars,as well as other musclecars, represent the cars that most could afford back in the day so they relate better to them. The Corvette demanded a premium and was not something most young men, or women, could afford so these Mopars and other branded musclecars are more familiar and therefore more in demand.
These explanations I can see as making sense but, I can assure you there isn't a case of sour grapes here. I love all musclecars and I can safely say that each manufacturer built at least one car that I would truly love to have in my garage so I have no strong ties to any one brand or model.

[njsteve]

A big block Chevy looks like...well, any other big block Chevy. There is no major visual difference between a 396 and an L88. But a hemi looks like no other engine, except for what they run in Top Fuel. Maybe it boils down to the fact that the hemi is just a name everyone knows (even though they may have no idea what it means other than FAST)...and its a lot sexier to look at.

[mockingbird812]

[ QUOTE ]
A big block Chevy looks like...well, any other big block Chevy. There is no major visual difference between a 396 and an L88. But a hemi looks like no other engine, except for what they run in Top Fuel. Maybe it boils down to the fact that the hemi is just a name everyone knows (even though they may have no idea what it means other than FAST)...and its a lot sexier to look at.



[/ QUOTE ]

But, you don't quite get it. You see in most social settings a disproportionate head size is a detractor. You know....

"Look at the size of that boy's melon. It's like an orange on a toothpick.
No kidding. His head's like Sputnik. Spherical, but pointy in parts.
Oooh, that was a bit offsides. Now he'll cry himself to sleep on his <u>huge</u> pillow".



P.S. Do you actually like haggis?

[Hotrodpaul]

No other engine but the Hemi gives me that WHAM! in your face hit when I see one in person. The mile wide heads and valve covers, huge ports, directly opposed valves, cross bolted mains, and nothing sounds like it idling like a coffee can full of rocks. A Hemi Cuda or Challenger has always been my favorite musclecar. I have driven several but never been able to afford one. The race winning heritage and mystique have kept the prices up.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
P.S. Do you actually like haggis?

[/ QUOTE ]


Sean Connery: Haggis?
Christopher Lambert: Yes, sheep's stomach filled with meat and barley
Sean Connery: How revolting.
(Stolen from the original Highlnder movie)

[WILMASBOYL78]

We celebrate a Robbie Burns nite every year and the "haggis" is the center of attention. The bagpiper plays and it is brought in for all to see. The party is great fun with poems, songs and stories...there is always plenty of haggis left over!

wilma

[TimG]

Dazed and Confused was filmed entirely here in Austin. In the credits, they thank "Pat Sullivan" for the use of his cars, most of the cars in that movie were his. He's the fellow that owns Bill's old silver LS6 Corvette and a blue '65 fuelie Corvette that Charley used to own.
The stars in the movie just loved the old cars they had around for the shooting. The movie company really hurt his GTO and didn't want to provide any funds for the damages. The GTO that got it's door flung out in the parking lot scene was a stand-in, but the one in the shots with everyone sitting and leaning on it was his. They damaged the hood pretty bad. In the end, he got a mention in the credits for providing six cars for filming and some monetary reimbursement for damages.
About the only car that he still has that was in the movie is the big blue Grand Prix that was in the drive-in restaurant sene.

[olredalert]

-------Only my opinion but I think rare Corvettes are lagging a bit at the moment because they were popular collector cars a long time before the johnny-come-latelys (Hemis, COPOs, etc.). Collectors have just in the last several years come around to consider these other rare cars as truly collectable. Corvettes have just been in the public eye a bit too long and are therefore a bit old hat. They will have thier day in the sun again. They always have. Just throwing this out to see weather you guys give this brainstorm of mine any credence........Bill S