Gorgeous, but seriously?

Here's Hagerty's chart, on the 59 356a, 88hp

http://www.hagerty.com/valuati...rch/Report?vc=930796

I'd say this one was between a s #1 and #2, so he's about $20k high - which still seems crazy to me.  This was Speedster territory just a few years back.  Shortly after I got my Beck I was at a local ACVW gathering and one fellow showed up in a very nice 356C Coupe.  We struck up a conversation and he mentioned that he was thinking of selling it for $30k.  This was back in late '06 or '07, I believe.

$30K, holy smokes, in today's market, some foolishly posts that price,it's gone in 5 minutes.  But back to your point, I too am astounded at the prices.

Beautiful car though....sunroof and all and still a '50s auto.  I wish him luck with those numbers but the trend is certainly up.  Have you looked at the ask of early 911s lately?

It seems that older is better in terms of selling price in collectible cars.  But yikes, that does seem more than a little bit high to me.  I remember seeing a you tube video on a pretty nice Cabriolet with an asking price of 109K and I thought that was unreasonably high.  Maybe, maybe not.  I'm still astounded that my buddy sold his gorgeous 1965 SC for a mere 25K.  He wishes he could have it back and wondered if the person he sold it to would resell it to him for the same price.  FAT CHANCE!!!

I just bought a 356A coupe a year ago -- the prices are nuts. The Excellence Buyer's Guide says about $50,000-70,000 for a nice driver. A concours quality car is about $110,000-120,000 all day long, however (not my opinion, just what I've been told by two good friends who run high end shops here in CA).

Amazing! Who woulda thunk if I hung onto several of my previous Porsches & VW's I could have retired pretty comfortably!  

Oh why did I ever sell my 64  356C. Oh why was my 401K 100% equities in 2008. Oh why oh why. My timing leaves much to be desired.

We were all in stocks in '08. There was nowhere else to be. The beating I took there was almost as great as the one I had after the tech bubble. I've been investing for nearly 20 years, and someday (LORD willing, and the creek don't rise) I'll get my principle back.

I've spent a lot on my plastic toy car, but I GUARANTEE it's given me more joy than my IRA/401k.

Ha!!  Funny you mention that Frank.  I WAS looking at 911's a couple days ago and was blown away at how much the prices have jumped.  The same worn out 70's 911 that would go for around 12k is now 20k.  CRAZY.

Mike

I sold my restored 914 a couple years ago with a Raby engine for $9600.  Probably could have got more for it now.  Even the price of 914's are up.

Mike

Hooooold on there, Baba Louie!

That's a '59 A coupe.  Presumedly, a late-first-half '59 A coupe, because they shifted over to the "B" body style in the second half of '59.  That makes it relatively rare.  For instance, my brother's '59 A Speedster was one of only 47 imported in '59 before they shifted over to the "B: series and the Speedster was dropped in favor of the roadster and cabriolet.

That amount, for that particular car, seems about right.  Wicked High, yes, but about right.   Remember that a past racing Speedster, with only one race with a famous driver behind the wheel, recently brought $462,000 at auction.  Like waterfront property, they only made so many 356's. 

Just think though: if someone pays that then that possibly becomes the norm like Gordon's $462,000 example.  Then what? They're even further away for the regular car lover that always dreamt about owning one some day. I'd like to have any early 911 but I guess that ship has sailed.  Good thing... the Speedster is a better looking car anyway.

Stan;  After one of the crashes, (I'm still numb about both), Citibank had an online calculator, where you input your data, holdings etc. and hit enter and up flashed how many years it will take to get your money back.  Mine was 18.7 years. I'm 65 and the oldest male in the history of my Dad's side.  Guess I'm not gettin it back.

So when the CMC comes off the jack stands, I'm goin to, as they say..."drive it like I stole it"

Yep.  I'm glad to be where I am.  Stan, you da man.  With a lostta over the top, I'll be with you, sometime, for your corn deal in Illinois.  LOTSA JOY!  Yeah. I'm diggin' it.  

Cars are one of the best investments ever!  At least collector type cars, perhaps not daily drivers.  Good quality replica's do very well indeed.  Ever try to drive a blue chip?  Do you get any wind through your hair with a bond?  Can you ride around town on a painting?  Does the jingling of collectible coins stimulate the same as a tuned exhaust driving down a canyon road?  Rolling art is a great way to get a maximum R.O.I. (return on investment) in so many different ways.  To prove this, look at your stock portfolio statement, and see if it gives you any stimulation!  If it does, I doubt you are reading this forum!

old cars, old guns, both are fun to use.

stocks and bonds, not so much.

Y'all are making me really appreciate our Merryll Lynch advisor.  Just before the crash he advised us to pull out of the market into cash.  Saved us a ton, and he's been spot on the right moves since.  Well, except for gold.  He said it was overpriced at $500.

Very good analogy! Spot on!