Value increases, was: <VV> Greenbrier and corvair values (long)

[Garth Stapon]

I think that Mr. Nadar has ensured that Corvairs will remain affordable well
into the future..


LATE POWER GLIDE SEDANS RULE
----- Original Message -----
From: "airvair" <airvair at richnet.net>
To: <westerncanadacorsa at shaw.ca>
Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, March 25, 2005 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: Value increases, was: <VV> Greenbrier and corvair values (long)


> I think we're dealing with a couple of factors here, and both are value
> relative to cost. One is whether value goes up faster than the cost of
> restoration. The other is whether value goes up faster than the rest of
> the market. The former actually brings restorers into the hobby, as the
> cars become worth restoring. The latter is what happened to the various
> muscle and pony cars as each were "discovered" by collectors. Suddenly
> they became high-priced, and that tends to drive out those who can least
> afford them. I think what we want is an increase in value that's
> relative to the rest of the market, without having the cost of their
> restoration become unaffordable.
>
> I think why the Corvair has remained so "affordable" is because it
> hasn't attracted a sudden market increase in value, like the muscle and
> pony cars have experienced. Meanwhile, parts have remained relatively
> plentiful, which has held down inflation to reasonable levels. I think
> the Corvair's sour public reputation has been a blessing in this respect.
>
> -Mark
>
> Western Canada CORSA wrote:
>
> >Funny this post and thread should be up.  I just finished a conversation
> >with a friend, non-Corvair owner, but part of our gang, and coming to the
> >convention.  We were talking about the type of people and the different
> >"groups" of Corvair owners we were going to see at our first convention.
I
> >think the biggest change I've seen in the 6/7 years I've now been
involved
> >in Corvairs is a decrease in the percentage of cheap-skate
"Transportation"
> >'vair owners, as I tend to think of them.  The other  groups (and this is
> >WAY over simplified) being Stock Restorers, Racers and Mod Restorers.
While
> >low priced parts serves all of these groups, higher priced Corvairs and
> >their parts only discourages the "Transportation" 'vair owners, and while
> >I'll probably offend some folks with this comment, what's wrong with
seeing
> >the "Transportation" segment get squeezed out a bit?  This group buys
'vairs
> >cheap, does minimal work, (in many cases making a quality resto more
> >difficult if the car ever gets to somebody that is truely interested in
> >saving a 'vair) and flogs the car to within an inch of it's life.  This
> >"group" I should mention, are IMO, the least likely to support CORSA and
> >it's efforts as well.  Is the Corvair hobby changing?  "Yes" I think so.
Is
> >it a change for the better?  Again "Yes" I think so.
> >
> >Have the Main Vendors increased the selection of products they are
offering?
> >If the answer if "Yes" then that bodes well for the hobby.
> >
> >Is there an overall increase in the number of vendors?  If the answer if
> >"Yes" then this too bodes well for the hobby.
> >
> >Are Corvair values increasing?  If the answer if "Yes" then I believe
this
> >too is a good thing.  Restoring any car is expensive, both in terms of
> >dollars and time (and time IS money).  If top Corvair values had stayed
> >around $8-10K there would be a huge disincentive to doing a quality
> >restoration (such as yours Norm, very nice btw) to a Corvair, and things
> >would pretty much be limited to the backyard bondo jobs of the
> >"Transportation" group, with the exception of those select few that just
> >loved their Corvair and were willing to do a quality resto regardless of
> >what it may be worth when they were done.  However, if values get up into
> >the $15-20K range and you do spend some money to do a quality resto, even
if
> >you don't want to sell it, you can at least be assured on not loosing
your
> >shirt if an accident happened and your 'vair was wrecked in some tragic
> >manner.
> >
> >With the skyrocketing cost of Classic Cars these days they are getting
more
> >and more exposure, which brings our Corvairs into the fringes of the
> >spotlight as well.  Even if Corvair values go up, they are still a
> >relatively inexpensive Classic Car to get into, which is a good thing.
And
> >the farther we get away from 1965, Mr. Nader and USAAS, the more people
will
> >become interested in Corvairs.  (Has anybody else noticed LESS people
> >telling them about 'ol Ralphie lately?)
> >
> >Just my .02.  Flame suit on.
> >
> >Regards,
> >Joel
> >
> >
> >I have to agree with Mark and Joe.  One of the things I like about
Corvairs
> >is the relatively low snob factor.  While this results mostly from the
> >relatively low dollars these cars command and their besmirched
reputation,
> >it benefits those who have the depth of character to see through these
> >superficial things.
> >
> >Another corollary of rising car prices is rising PARTS prices.  If the
cars
> >go up in value, parts suppliers will certainly raise their prices as
well.
> >
> >I see myself more as a buyer than a seller of Corvairs, and so do not
> >welcome price increases.
> >
> >Finally, a great way to encourage new blood in a hobby is to make it
> >affordable.  Increasing values excludes newcomers to the hobby.
> >
> >Norm Witte
> >
> >
>
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