aardvark

Footer. I'm not so concerned about the average age of an Avanti Collector. In the future I have to assume (like all very old collectibles) there will be a market for them based on rarity and condition.

Bob.. 2 points on Your info/ 1) A Hobby and a Job can be one in the same especially if You love what You do.. A Hobby can even be a 9-5 option if retired and dedicated to it. Also there is no reason to think a Hobby cannot show a profit, and be considered in a Business like Fashion. To not do so is throwing money away.. which is fine with me if the thrown cash is headed my direction by me buying at around 50% of said value.. And those deals are out there and offered by sellers. I don't have to lowball Sellers.. They lowball the items themselves. 2) Car values are as you say variable and somewhat dictated by the History of Sales. It's the only indictor we have. Sooo .....there needs to be a Honesty in valuation, but thats up to the Buyer to determine. And yes, the prices cannot be determined by being uninformed or blinded by a Love of something vs actual market value.

Ron... Sounds like Your buying them right and bringing them back.

Nelson... Agree it's usually a financial decision, and I'm seeing the values increase on the '63-4' models...(can't speak for the other models,(cept '01'-'07) since I don't follow them). A completed and very good car in that time range can bring $30-40k depending on condition and options (The R2 bringing more). These prices bring the Avanti into a sensible range to consider resto'ing if the subject isn't too far gone. So what if You took 2 ea. of the $3600 examples and made 1. Is that sensible? You'll likely still need to buy parts and then labor needs considered. Mine, I bought a fine example of a '63' R2. I paid $17k w/ shipping .. It needs some small things, but I consider it worth $35k. To me, this is a ''Keeper'' but there's room on the top if I ever decided to sell off. But others here are not interested in all of the math and spend due to their Love of the vehicle. I guess that's a personal choice but I can't do that. If I did, (as said in multiple) I couldn't afford to be a collector. But we ''Road On!''

thanks

What was the sales price?

First off...I would never mislead a buyer. Also during the purchase I never try to cheat or beat up the Seller on an offer. In fact on my '02', there was no negotiation and I paid the Sellers full price.. But yes, My Hobbies are Business transactions. The two must cross paths or I cannot afford to be into these cars.

Where I agree with You,.. in a lot of respects I just can't.

Yup... Ya can't cure.... Never mind.

I've said my peace.. There needs be a semblance of sanity in spending.

Well, it's good for me, no doubt, since I own one ... but for those involved?

MFG.. Yeah, they were a unique touch.... as were the l.e.d. side markers.(I put them on my H2 Hummer) So, an '85' Avanti in very good condition can be had for around $25-30k. Wouldn't it have made better sense to start with a fine example and improve on it? ... The entire logic of that restoration, baffles me.

This was a old ''Fantom Works'' Tv show... I saw the $150k one Your talking about but this nowhere compared to that one. Nice work but there seems to be a limit to Car Logic.

SO...I was watching a popular car show where a client comes in with an '85' Avanti needing restored. The car was a total mess but did have a radical engine in place. The shop told the owner that the project didn't make sense, but the owner insisted in going ahead. This fool owner had collected a slew of parts at a total tallied cost of $55ish K. His wife was unaware of this and shocked. The bottom line is it cost this individual a 1000 hour labor bill (plus some parts) to get the car finished. So what we can assume is the entire project likely cost this person near $100k. Not added in the mix was the initial cost of buying the vehicle/. This is to me where emotions and desires have gone off the rails horribly. Should a shop out of Moral Obligation refuse a Job like this? (I vote absolutely yes)

Good for You and I am truly happy things work like that for You. It hasn't gone like that for us. I've had 67 vehicles... Only 1 bought new (first car) and I ran it into the ground for 12 years and 250k miles. I figure I got my money out of that car . The rest were to get around but always in my mind has been to sell later for more or use it up until it gets hauled off on a hook. Since I've been blessed mechanically It was possible to do this... Everyones situation and abilities vary.

MFG. Good points and the stability of the markets is not always predictable.... but research over (say) 10+ years can show trends.. with market fluctuations. That said. Your 401K plans are also at risk of the same thing.. (I lost my ass(ets) in 2008). Being I went down the standard investment s... hole in the past, these Vehicles are a far more stable market, BUT.. They must be treated as such IF Your going to get ahead in the vehicle game. And it to me is a safer investment.. Like any Investment much research and time must be done to follow trends. I'm not a Master in that realm but I have watched the Vehicles rise and fall a little,,, but nothing near as bad as the Markets. I also see better offerings in the Vehicle Markets because YOU set the Purchase prices by buying at (say) 50% or more from what the Market is bringing.. Not true when doing stocks/bonds. Their prices are set... no fluctuations. No Negotiations. That said, IF You buy well below market value, You should be safe. You see. I'm in this to win,,, not just because I love a certain model car. As said... I can't afford to lose ... and so far so good. This must offend many that I'm not buying for the desire to own a certain model... BUT.. I do get to buy them.... Just under my terms.

I know this is going to possible\y offend or disturb some, but it's where I have to be. There's an old saying...."The profits are made at the time of purchase!" So to not be aware of the end game market price, and knowing if or if not the Market on the Vehicle will increase is a major loss to many folks . ... I can't (won't) buy without a significant built in profit. I see too many people buying just because it's their dream car. That attitude can be very costly in the end game. If You can afford funding losses, Enjoy! (Would You do this with Your stock investments?) I have to approach any ''Hobby'' as a ''Business Venture''. No matter how much I LOVE the Hobby, if it doesn't show a profit, I personally can't afford to participate. This means, that I also won't restore or Retro a vehicle unless the calculated end game makes a profit (labor included)... I'm just not in the Financial Class to afford to make big mistakes. I'm glad many of You have expendable cash to play with, but that's not the hand of cards that I was dealt.

It's good if You have the free cash to do so.

I was curious about that. Thanks for the info.

Shifting group for sure.

Good point but I doubt the Youngers even know what an Avanti is. They will more likely look at an old Chev / Chrysler / Ford and more likely than those, some Jap 4 to 6 popper. At least that's what I'm seeing at the Car Shows.

I can see that from a Buyers point of view... and agree it's like a good thing. For me.. ALL Collectibles are still surging and it suits me that what I've bought (4 differing Sports cars) have escalated to 2X the value that I spent. So the Avanti's haven't surged to (say) the value of a Camaro or Stang, That's good since the entry level is still available. But to me, the Avanti's are on the rise.

Well, Mfg... I just don't have a choice. I need to watch where my pennies go. I'm also at the age where working on them much is out of the question,

Profit for me is a necessity or I can't afford the hobby. I'm not made of Money ... I make Money... So I buy right and always shoot for a 50% profit, or I don't do the deal. Thus far I have 4 Sports Cars. ALL have a large built in Profit Margin. If they need sold I won't suffer a loss. So I'll be selling and searching for the next vehicle.. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE me some Horsepower and Shine, but I don't get attached to them over the Love.. It must profit or I'm out.

Amen Ron. Considering the rarity, It leaves us room to ask what We want. I'm in conversation with a guy right now who is searching hard for a '02' or newer, He's hitting a wall and can't accurately find any Comps on the vehicles. Imagine no real Comps... when only about 35 a year were even produced.