Buyer's market for pristine RWD Caddies?

[mharker]

Hello group.

When everyone's complaining about high gas prices, my car buddy and I always say "great... it's time to snatch up some bargains!". (we both like big RWD GMs)

Granted old RWD Caddies are almost always a bargain in my view, since demand is low as it is. But we like pristine examples and 1-2 owner original cars well maintained by old guys.

What have you fellow enthusiasts observed in the marketplace? Certainly the higher mileage Caddies, fixer-uppers, or cars that need attention will be slow sellers. But what about the pristine top-line cars? Is grandpa finally getting rid of his low-mileage car because of the gas prices... or are sellers recognizing the value of the best cars and keeping prices high?

Feels like it's time to buy, before people get used to these high gas prices.

[96Fleetwood]

My Brother and I expected his 136,000 mile 1992 d'Elegance to bring no more than $2,000 on eBay. It is clean, but needs a few minor things fixed.

It is already at $3,000 and probably will go up a couple hundred more dollars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MESE:IT&ih=004

... so if that is the case, what is a low mileage example worth?

[tenmark]

It's more than gas. When times are hard, people start dumping their toys. While it's a buyers market for boats, campers, motorhomes, antiques and collectible cars, I haven't seen Fleetwoods tank.

Nice low mileage cars are selling for $5,000 + and good higher mileage cars are getting upwards of $3,500. That's for 94,95, and 96 FWBs. 93s bring less but not much less. And that's about what they were a year or so ago.

The difference likely being these are mostly still daily drivers rather than toys.

[Highway Star]

As a whole, I don't think prices have changed much from a year ago. Also, it may depend on age with these cars. Caddys less than say 25 years old, probably fall into the "used car" category, while those older are considered "classic/vintage". That will affect prices somewhat.

I've been following prices on the late '70s models for nearly 2 years now, since I decided to purchase a low mileage one back in '06. At that time there was a '77 Coupe with 8,000 miles @ $25,000 (kinda high), a '79 Coupe with 23,000 miles for around $12,000 and a '77 Coupe with 67,000 miles that was being offered @ around $7,000 (nice, but was needing some attention). There were several others at the time with less than 25K miles in the $8,000-$12,000 range.

A mint 2,800 mile '79 Coupe had brought $14,000 at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2005. They (Barrett-Jackson) acquired the car in a collection sometime later, and they offered it at $19,995 in their showroom (they sell cars too). Some months later, they marked it down to $15,995. Around that time (late '06), I offered them $14K and purchased it (car had 2,833 miles).

Caddys are considerd "shallow market" cars, meaning there's a limited number of people seeking them out (most '70s cars fall into this category). '50s models will continue to rise in price, and perhaps '60s models. '70s Caddys are gaining somewhat in prices, mostly the well cared for low mileage coupes. Surely the economy is going to slow things down on some of these cars. Meaning deals will be found, especially with the later model RWDs of the '80s/'90s.

[deVille33]

This weekend gas hit 4.00 / gal. up here in the Northeast. We'll see how that affects the bigger car prices.

[96Fleetwood]

Some people are just plain idiots. My neighbor came over last night to tell me she just bought a new TDI Jetta because of the rising gas prices (She financed $25.5K out the door). Does she understand how much diesel prices are and that she will have to drive her Jetta for at least 10 years or 200,000 miles to see any savings occur? I congratulated her and took a quick look at it. Looks like a fancy Corolla to me.

... then she said she doesn't know how Nicole and I do it with three gas guzzling V8s (Roadmaster Wagon, Fleetwood, and M45). I told her my wagon is a hybrid and we have no car payments. She had a puzzled look on her face

Any of these big V8 cars that cost under $5K will not be heavily affected. They are affordable, simple to work on, and relatively reliable.

There is always the low rider and hot rodders who buy these cars up regardless of age and mileage for insane amounts of money.

The low mileage pristine examples will not be affected because they are being bought up by collectors.

Just my .02$

[caddycruiser]

All very true, especially on the diesel Jetta Elias. VW's diesels have been a favorite of mine for many years, but right now, diesel is SO high compared to already high gas...the great economy negates that, at least significantly.

A an older friend at home who works with my mother has an '05 diesel Jetta and averages 45-50 mpg everyday, but that higher cost doesn't make it as great anymore. A good kicker? If you do a bio conversion and run them on old grease...then, well, the economy is supreme.

It's the ongoing battle of economical new car with payments, economical used car without payments, big old barge with iffy mileage and the only payments being mod money, etc.

[caddeville89]

Originally Posted by 96Fleetwood

Any of these big V8 cars that cost under $5K will not be heavily affected. They are affordable, simple to work on, and relatively reliable.

That's what I tell all my co-workers who want me to sell my FWB and get a hybrid. Aside from the fact that there is no way I'm going to sell the car I want and love and saved and worked for so I can buy some ugly tin can I can barely fit myself into that has no power just to save a few bucks on gas. Economy is a value, but if I can afford the quaity of life of having a vehicle that I like, I will keep it as long as I can.

[delzy]

Very rarely does the math work out when considering newer fuel efficient cars. The only times I've ever seen it work was when salesmen were driving 60-75k miles per year. Compared to interest and insurance, $4/gallon gas is cheap when your car gets half the mileage of a brand new one, doesn't require collision/comprehensive insurance and is already paid for.

Plus, the new cars just aren't very cool.

[kevm14]

Originally Posted by delzy

Very rarely does the math work out when considering newer fuel efficient cars. The only times I've ever seen it work was when salesmen were driving 60-75k miles per year. Compared to interest and insurance, $4/gallon gas is cheap when your car gets half the mileage of a brand new one, doesn't require collision/comprehensive insurance and is already paid for.

Plus, the new cars just aren't very cool.

Absolutely agree on the first paragraph.

But new cars? Yeah most don't do anything for me, but I can think of a handful that I would gladly own if I had the cash. I know I like to think I choose to drive older stuff, and to some extent I do. But a lot of it is just budgetary.

[deVille33]

I watch '77 - '79 devilles and Fltwd Broughams on ebay. There are a couple listed now and there seems to be conciderable interest there. There is a pristine looking '77 Coupe (yellow) from Fla. listed that looks like a spectacular buy at 4M.
I have been concidering an overdrive unit that bolts to the back of the TH400. With gas now above 4.00 it looks like a reasonable expense at 2M+.

[N0DIH]

A built 4L60 is probably best way to go, you don't need a 4L80E, too much cost, you won't break even for years. But if you have the 2.28's, you won't WANT OD, you already have it. You would need to drop in some 3.08's to 3.23's and then the OD trans. Expect a nice $2K by the time you are done. You can do it cheaper, but still won't be saving $$ for a while.

Buy w solid parts car that has a good drivetrain, swap axle and trans in and beef up trans before it goes in, and you will have a killer combo.

Originally Posted by deVille33

I watch '77 - '79 devilles and Fltwd Broughams on ebay. There are a couple listed now and there seems to be conciderable interest there. There is a pristine looking '77 Coupe (yellow) from Fla. listed that looks like a spectacular buy at 4M.
I have been concidering an overdrive unit that bolts to the back of the TH400. With gas now above 4.00 it looks like a reasonable expense at 2M+.

[kevm14]

I calculate that 3.23 gears and a 4L60 would give the same cruising RPMs as the current config. Wow. And the 4L60 has a short 1st gear, on top of the gear difference. The drivability of the car would be like you put a new engine in it...but I agree on the cost savings. Not there at all.

[tenmark]

Best place for a hybrid is in the trunk - in the unlikely event a FWB leaves you stranded!! Sort of like having a fire extinguisher under the seat. You'll probably never need it. heh ha

I wouldn't mind the bumper sticker "My Other Car's a Hybrid" printed up for the bumper?

[deVille33]

[quote=Highway Star;1513542]As a whole, I don't think prices have changed much from a year ago. Also, it may depend on age with these cars. Caddys less than say 25 years old, probably fall into the "used car" category, while those older are considered "classic/vintage". That will affect prices somewhat.

I've been following prices on the late '70s models for nearly 2 years now, since I decided to purchase a low mileage one back in '06. At that time there was a '77 Coupe with 8,000 miles @ $25,000 (kinda high), a '79 Coupe with 23,000 miles for around $12,000 and a '77 Coupe with 67,000 miles that was being offered @ around $7,000 (nice, but was needing some attention). There were several others at the time with less than 25K miles in the $8,000-$12,000 range.


I found this coupe on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cadil...spagenameZWDVW

It's different in that there is no landau or vinyl top, and is all white which makes the car look very clean. There is a suggestion of bondo along the bottom lines. There are not good pics of the driver's seat or the driver's door panel, which I use for a judgement point, but what is evident in the pics looks good. The new paint could be covering a lot.
It's been bid up to near 4.9M with less than 11 hr.s to go. The guy selling wants 7.5M, which I think is a stretch.
We'll see how this plays out.