Just had a squiz at the Classic car section and don't get why the pre -1930s vehicles don't command higher prices. Most of the offerings look immaculate and in running condition, but lots can be had for the price of a Mini. Was wondering if these old girls will die off as nobody seems interested. I guess the Baby Boomers will be the last brigade to relate to the old cars as they don't seem to hold any interest with the later generations, who would probably be hard pressed to drive crash boxes and operate manual ignition advance/retard levers, let alone trying to crank start them with their limp Xbox wrists. I can't see who in the current generation cross section would be up for owning these lovely old girls. I presume they will all end up on display in various museum collections. Shame really because it's always great and well worth it to see the odd one chugging along holding up traffic. Your opinion?
guneet,
Jul 6, 12:18am
Hi all, Does anyone know how to edit the listing when it says:- Oops, there was a slip up! Sorry, you cannot change your listing to that category.
I have tried few categories but it doesn't work.
s_nz,
Jul 6, 12:53am
Obviously anything pre 1930 is only useful if you value the nostalgia, styling etc. A $6000 Nissan Tiida is objectively a better car for daily use in most way. As such the only people interested in these cars are enthusiasts.
Probably a number of factors they don't command high prices:
- Recognition that running and maintaining a pre-1930's car isn't cheap. if for example the alternator fails, you likely need to have it custom re-wound. - General power to weight ratio of the vehicle fleet has gone up a lot of late. Not so appealing getting passed by 22m long fully loaded trucks up hills. - Increasing in urban living (and urban density in major cities) means a reduction in available shed space available to store such vehicles. - Increase in interest in classic car's. Cira 1970's USA stuff is in my mind more desirable, and while more costly, still at attainable prices. - General cost of living increases reducing the number of people with funds for expensive hobbies. - Decrease in the price of travel (pre-covid), providing another competitor for recreational funds.
Should note that this is not the only sector that is currently hurting. The following expensive recreational activities / hobbies have also seen reasonable declines in regular participation:
I don't think you're getting the gist of my post. I'm alluding to the fact that the V&V cars are doomed to obscurity. They were simplistic in design and mechanics (alternators didn't happen till the 1960s BTW) and there is much written about how easy it was to keep them maintained. For me, these old vehicles have great historic value because of the now many defunct car makers that once built them. They are rare compared to the later 1940s onward classics, which by their more modern unitary construction, no longer had the vestiges of the 19th century carriage makers. It surprizes me, that old cars aren't valued in the same way as other old collectible stuff. I'm presuming that with the younger generations becoming minimalists most collectible things will have little value. More's the pity.
807,
Jul 6, 2:03am
" Limp Xbox wrists " . Love it !
gunna-1,
Jul 6, 2:12am
I grew up on old cars and dont have a "limp xbox wrist" and can use a crankhandle, and nearly busted myself up countless times useing one on an old dunger with a crook starter and the timeing out, the thumb goes on the top of the handle not underneath, i do admit i dont know what a crash box is though, i hate driveing minters and dont have alot of cash so it would likely rule me out.
sw20,
Jul 6, 2:47am
The market is dying. Literally.
We are going to move on my fathers '52 Armstrong Siddeley at some point in the upcoming months. I don't have the inclination nor the mechanical patience to keep it on the road. I'm hoping there will be someone that will enjoy it like we have for the last thirty years.
peanuts37,
Jul 6, 2:57am
Its a generational thing, same with cars as old radios, windup gramophones etc. People seem to want what they grew up as they get older or what mum and dad had or drove or something that looked good when your young. Later generations have no nostalgia/memories towards Model T's etc, more just a museum piece. Everything comes back after 30 odd years, prices go up then slowly fades away for good unfortunately.
poppy62,
Jul 6, 4:11am
In a way I can understand the mass produced Post WW2 stuff, eventually losing value because of low demand unless it's rare. The vast amount of USA/OZ cars that have been on sale for a long time here on TM, shows that the following and demand for them has dropped sharply. However some of the 100+ year old cars were handmade and should be preserved for posterity, or an important era of motoring will be lost. Unfortunately, I just cannot see who will do this for the real old cars.
curlcrown,
Jul 6, 4:16am
Just a few years ago I had the opportunity to buy a WOFed and regod and running Austin 7 for $3500. At first I thought it seemed cheap but upon thinking for just a few moments I thought of how impractical it would be even to drive to work once in a while, it would really be nothing but a toy. At least with an old mini or even MGB I can use it, drive to work and even drive to Wellington if need be. No doubt anything pre 1930 would be horrible to drive, hopelessly slow in modern traffic and have woeful brakes and handling. Possibly bordering on dangerous to use in all but the quietest of conditions.
curlcrown,
Jul 6, 4:21am
It begs the question, how many pre 1930 vehicles do you own?
tamarillo,
Jul 6, 4:28am
As above we mostly buy what we wanted or had in our own younger versions so pre war era is no longer of interest. Now a mk 2 escort is expensive and desirable.
poppy62,
Jul 6, 5:47am
I've had a couple in the past. 1928 Fiat, 1930 Essex. Would like to have another one, but I'm having a problem moving some of the 10 vehicles in my driveway at the moment.
richardmayes,
Jul 6, 7:07am
There is a whole constellation of half century old classics that can foot it with modern traffic (or just about can) and those are constructed out of mostly familiar tech, just without the modern electronic control systems.
So if you're now buying a classic to remind you of your childhood, it's probably going to be a 60s 70s or 80s car. If you're buying a classic because you want something with historic style and not completely obsolete performance and handling, again you're probably going to look at 60s 70s and 80s cars.
Old cars are only really "worth" their weight in scrap metal, because objectively that's what they are, old obsolete machinery.
Any difference between scrap value and market value depends on people's perception of beauty, and beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder. So if there are no beholders left who can see the beauty, then you are left with a very slow, very unsafe car that has wooden spoked wheels and it is impossible to buy tyres for.
This is why I've become completely supportive of classic resto mods, tune ups and engine swaps. Petrol is going to go out of fashion as it gets dearer and dearer. If you have the opportunity to enjoy a great car now, go for it while you still can. Every interesting classic is already well and truly documented to death in books and magazines and tv. You don't owe it to the children of tomorrow to have the original carb or a period correct radio in your Morris Minor, the children of tomorrow won't give a rat's Rs.
poppy62,
Jul 6, 7:25am
Well I guess that's curtains for most of the stuff. Although Vinyl LPs are back and originals are fetching a fortune. Film cameras are gone (i think) but why are old paintings so astronomically expensive, are stamp/coin collections now fairly worthless, Antiques have lost their values as de-clutter and lack of sentimentality kicks in. Most of the reason that collections have/will become a thing of the past is down to. Phil Twyford and his Kiwi build homes. There is a lack of wall space in the new Crapitechture homes that one can't put a display cabinet/hutch dresser against to show off some of the beautiful works of art from yesteryear. It's now just $2 dollar shop nic-nacs that grace the fake wood floors of the Millenials. Off to see what needs ditching! where to start is more like it!
franc123,
Jul 6, 7:36am
What richard said was basically correct. There will be no attachment to anything in the future, only the latest iPhone and even then only until the new model comes out that's 12g compatible that will even be able to tell you how may beats your heart did that day and how much emissions you made from either burping or farting and how much urine and faeces you produced all of which will be forwarded to Govt agencies for you to be automatically billed for your environmental impact. Don't laugh.
gpg58,
Jul 6, 7:48am
Yup, and by then we will have intergalactic space travel, and any imbalance on the mass you consumed, versus the mass you released, will be surgically removed before you can leave our planet (from - hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy)
poppy62,
Jul 6, 8:19am
Nah mate! Some form of Virus will get out of hand and decimate the planet. They'll end up sending a chosen group to orbit the Earth for a while and then when they return with a mission to repopulate the planet, they'll find that the Primates have taken over drive around in Teslas and have made slaves of those that survived. Actually that could be a great theme for a Movie!
poppy62,
Jul 6, 8:22am
I've got this Blue Police Box in my back garden! Can't open it.
franc123,
Jul 6, 8:23am
Don't give politicians ideas please.
poppy62,
Jul 6, 8:32am
My apologies, I thought the words primate and politician had the same meaning. Chimps/chumps same thing!
glang,
Jul 6, 9:05am
Pre 1930 motorbikes are the opposite of that era cars - if you watch the TV show American Pickers, those guys pay astronomical money for rusty parts from old Harleys, indians, Indians and other US makes, and a complete bike is virtually mortgage your house money. Check out what old pommie bikes are worth in the UK marketplace and it will make your eyes water. I'd love to own a pre 1930 motorbike but they are too expensive nowadays. The majority of pre-1930 cars don't do anything for me, 1930's was the first decade when most US and some UK manufacturers began producing beautifully styled motorcars, and again in the 1950's and 60's. Those 3 decades are the epitome of car design.
sw20,
Jul 6, 10:13pm
Disagree on the film cameras. It's become very niche, but it's no where near gone. Kids these days love it for the hipster value. Those extra steps required to make a print.
matarautrader,
Jul 7, 3:13am
I also find it interesting that a stock Model A sells for say $25000 and a "hot rodded" one sells for up to 3 time that
sw20,
Jul 7, 3:25am
Hot Rodded would require less work to keep on road and would keep up with motorway traffic.
Modified later model vehicles like 1970s and onwards are compromised in someway.
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