How is the collector market doing for 2008? Well, if trends we saw last year continue, there is a correction in some, but not all, muscle car pricing. Barrett-Jackson will again be a bell-weather event this year, but it would appear that Hemi car prices are moving downward mildly. That is not to say that there is any collapse, just that the record levels of appreciation between 2003-2006 are probably done for the moment. The cost of restorations is not part of this trend, and doing any car right will be expensive. My own guess is, depending on what happens at B-J this month, we will see fewer high-end Hemi E-bodies and B-bodies offered for sale until the market gets healthier.
 Inexpensive B-bodies are drying up. This is a 1965 383-powered Plymouth that has been completely restored to stock specs and are collectible in their own right now. Owner Buzzy Bondurant bought it new. |
Meanwhile, where there does seem to be a lot of action right now is in the performance 383 Magnum B-bodies. With prices averaging out at about $20,000 when offered through dealers, they remain one area that middle-class purchasers can still enter the market. These lower-demand B-bodies (Road Runners, Super Bees, and Chargers) are drying up from non-collecting sources as the years roll by, and some that were formerly being sacrificed for parts on a more lucrative project have come into their own as collector cars. High-impact paint 1970 and ’71 cars are at the upper edge of this trend.
For truly investment-grade vehicles, the normal prerequisites of originality and provenance apply. The desire for numbers-matching drivelines is still very high for a car to commend a premium price, and high-option packages continue to hold the most attraction beyond that. Rarity is an obvious factor, though there is still some softness for non-Charger/wing car 1966-1970 Hemi models even if the production figures are in the single or teen digits. The investment market is volatile, however, and if more higher-end cars were to become available as the economy contracts, it will push overall pricing down. My money says this won’t happen, as many of the current investor-level cars are in the hands of people who will not be overly hurt under worsening market conditions and can afford to keep their cars for better times.
With 440 and Hemi cars getting more expensive, 383 models like Brent Ball’s Go-Green ‘71 Charger Super Bee have grown more popular. Restoration parts and labor remain a big cost in getting a car rebuilt. |
And, that said, all of this still hinges on the health of the economy and the hobby’s ability to withstand overall downward pressures, especially from increased fuel prices. The fuel issue is one that is unfortunately here to stay, at least until Washington gets more serious about extracting petroleum from our own nation’s ground. Nonetheless, I would hazard the guess that very few of us only have a vintage-era vehicle for regular transportation, so it then becomes a question of what we are willing to pay for fun as opposed to necessity. Personally, I think that this is something of a non-starter, since most Mopar (and general muscle car) fans have a distinct appreciation for the styling and flavor of the 1960-1975 era cars, and will continue to drive and show their cars despite the higher costs involved. Of course, if inflated fuel prices become a larger drag on the economy, there will almost certainly be retractions in show attendance and aftermarket purchasing.
This is an era where automotive enthusiasts do need to be aware of what is going on legislatively in 2008. The current batch of politicians from both parties are becoming more ingrained with believing the global environmental firestorm, and they will frankly leap on the hobby if it will score points (and sometimes to protect monied interests with larger pollution challenges). Keep in mind that the EPA has been given additional leeway for policy making during 2007 (due to an executive branch decision) and SEMA and other auto-related lobbying groups will have their hands full with the potential for harm this could cause; the Congress will have to vote to prevent the execution of edicts from the EPA’s priesthood. If you are asked to contact a state or federal legislator about upcoming bills, make your voice heard.
And if someone gives you a hard time, tell them you’ll park your car when somebody pulls Al Gore’s private jet keys from his cold, dead fingers...
Stunkard can be found here at MoparMax once a month, or all the time over at www.quartermilestones.com.
