No such thing as talking values down

[cleverusername]

Just one of my pet hates, from a discussion on the selling forum. Poster gives honest opinion about condition and price of car and is accused of talking values down. There is no such thing.

I can say that a mark one E-type is only worth 10K, but that isn't going to suddenly make the price fall. In the same way the reason that OHV Dolomites don't fetch that much and Sprints are not as worth as much as MK1 Escorts has nothing to do with forum posts.

A car is worth what the market is willing to pay for a car of that condition, and no more. Hell I wish that wasn't the case, I have easily spent more on mine that the market value, but if I were to sell I am realistic enough to realise I wouldn't be able to pass those costs on.

[AndyJ]

I agree. Values of cars are set by buyers when supply exceeds demand and by sellers when demand exceeds supply. Few Triumphs are in the latter situation but when they are, the TR5 for example, values rise significantly. The chances are that none of the cars represented by this club will find themselves in that situation any time soon. Even Sprints are pretty static in value and have been for some years and for this to change there needs to be less of them or more demand. You can't effectively talk values down or up for that matter. Every classic car club's members talk about under valued and over valued models and express their views but the market decides not the on line forums.

[xvivalve]

...unless you are someone completely unfamiliar with the market, see one, like it, wonder what you should pay for it and then consult the fora for 'expert' advice.

I also observe Sprint values have been rising steadily for a good while now, and that is across the range of condition. Having now owned 74 examples of the model, cars that I once would have been able to pick up for £50 are now in excess of £500; I have to forget that I once was able to buy cars for £50 when asked what something is 'worth'.

This also applies to the smaller engined models, only a couple of months ago I saw an 1850 that was a non runner, been standing outside for 15 years sell for over £800 - if someone had asked me its 'value', then my opinion would have 'talked it down'

[cleverusername]

...unless you are someone completely unfamiliar with the market, see one, like it, wonder what you should pay for it and then consult the fora for 'expert' advice.

I also observe Sprint values have been rising steadily for a good while now, and that is across the range of condition. Having now owned 74 examples of the model, cars that I once would have been able to pick up for £50 are now in excess of £500; I have to forget that I once was able to buy cars for £50 when asked what something is 'worth'.

This also applies to the smaller engined models, only a couple of months ago I saw an 1850 that was a non runner, been standing outside for 15 years sell for over £800 - if someone had asked me its 'value', then my opinion would have 'talked it down'

I think you might be right about the Sprint, judging by the number of articles I have read in the press about it recently. As Escorts and other cars of the period become unaffordable, people are looking elsewhere.

Oddly I think the Toledo has a chance, because people like two door bodyshells.

As for your 1850, there has been something funny things going on when it comes to project cars, their values seem to have gone up. Can't really explain it, I would rather spend the premium to get a quality example than some barn find. The cost of restoration generally exceed the costs of getting a sorted car.

[AndyJ]

I don't think the occasional inexperienced potential buyer makes any difference to the overall. They would still enter a market place dictated to by supply and demand. Over the last few years or so there has been a bottom up push on values, but really nice Sprints have been advertised for about £5k to £6.5k although there's always the odd exception. I've sold two very good examples at the upper end of that in the last seven years and I now have another which I've about finished restoring but I don't see it making a penny more than the last two even though it is now an exceptional example. I'm not talking it down by saying that because there is no evidence that Sprints sell for more and if I decided to sell it I'd either have to accept the best offer or decline it and keep the car (win win though!).

[Edin Dundee]

I have a very solid 1500HL that will be going on the bay soon, it will be interesting to see what it fetches.
Unfortunately being very north I think that effects values, despite being willing to deliver it anywhere.

[Jon Tilson]

There will always be the widely perceived (no matter how erroneously) view that all Triumph slant designed
engines are "fragile" and blow headgaskets.

This must be the single reason why Stags are worth far less than TR5's and sixes and dolomites and Sprints are worth far less
than Scrotes.

Add in a bit of ugliness and the TR7 is bound to be a long term looser.

There is also the general anti BL ethos coming from the Top Gear mob and we get the negative associations of Marinas Allegros
and Princesses too.

I'm not quite sure why the Mk1 Escort is so over valued, compared with say its Vauxhall or Rootes group contemporaries. An HC viva or magnum is just as worthy, arguably better as a car. The Avenger wiper switch and dash though is enough to make them
worthless for ever, Tiger excepted cos of the rarity and fancy paint and webbers.

Must just be a Henry Halo....or more money than sense that goes with being an Essex man...

You tell me...

But whatever...classics are ALL on the up....how long that will remain so as the self maintaining baby boomer airfix kit and meccano
generation passes is of course questionable. I cant see the video gamers and max power brigade keeping it going, so I wonder when the "market" will peak.

Jonners

[tractor boy]

Been involved in the classic car market for a while[not as a dealer!] Two things are becoming clearer pre war cars are not as popular as they were mainly because of the aging buyers and because modern traffic conditions can make them less enjoyable to drive. A modern classic which is being bought by the younger end of the market is becoming steadily sought after and goodexamples of most models make a good price but sadly some models are less popular than others eg mk1 2door ford escorts. Having said that a good classic is well worth buying but dont expect to make a vast profit as some of the inflated prices in the glossy classic mags would suggest. Tractor boy

[Carledo]

The Scrotes are only valuable because of the rallying thing. There are people all over the country still rallying Mk1 Escorts with a degree of success (and failure) hence the demand for straight shells exceeds the supply and prices go through the roof. Before I bought the Carledo, I briefly considered a Scrote but, even in 2008, a rotten, empty, 2 door shell was £5-600 where I paid £200 for a running driving, still taxed (just) Toledo that I drove home 40 miles - no contest!

Steve