Determining value of a 1-off car

[bcliff]

I have an english car that is unique. Not just to me, but it is truly the only one in the world. The car was custom built for a particular person in the 1930s. The custom work was carried out at a high skill level. While some cars are obviously more valuable in their stock configuration, the value in this car lies in its history and its uniqueness. Much like a car made for Elvis or the pope.. It has been suggested that I throw it on ebay and see how it shakes out, I don't really want to spend $50 just to troll for bids. It really needs to go to an enthusiast that will get it out and show it. As far as offers I have had, I was offered a 69 XKE and a 66 AH3000 (Both cars together for mine), but they were too far away for me to personally inspect them. That was 10 years ago. Whenever I have shown it it has always drawn a crowd. Here is the vehicle

I would appreciate any thoughts anyone would have as well as any information about anyone that would be interested.
I will respond to emails with questions. I will also respond to any replies here on the forum, so that any information will be available to anyone that cares to read it.
Bruce

 

[AngliaGT]

You might want to contact Dean Kirstin of
Anglia Obsolete,in Vista,Calif.He works for one
of the VW magazines,& runs this business on the
side.

- Doug

 

[SilentUnicorn]

i would have taken the XKE



mark

 

[Banjo]

Man. I dunno. Was the person it was custom built for well known. that would play a huge factor.
Otherwise it's a Really cool vehicle. I'd love to have something that unique. I could never afford it, but I'd love it.
Good luck in your quest.

 

[bugimike]

Was that based on an old Anglia?

 

[Bayless]

Looks like something that predated the Anglia.

 

[GB1]

i would have taken the XKE



mark

IMHO If so, not a '69.

Patrick

 

[bcliff]

The car is a 1934 Model Y Ford. The Model Y was introduced in 1932, and was the first Ford produced in England for the english market. Although similar to the american Fords, it is much smaller and they don't share any parts. This car was modified to the pickup style as a presentation car for the Earl of Suffolk's gamekeeper. It was an estate car. It is outfitted with lots of little extras like a fishing pole, golf clubs, and a picnic basket. The additional custom coachwork is aluminum over a wooden framework. It is literally sewn together with lots of screws. Although not created for a particularly famous person, it is a special vehicle created for a particular need. It also survived WWll, when a huge number of cars were recycled.
Several reasons I did not trade years ago (I was actually offered the XKE and the AH3000 together for my Ford) is that these cars were near the east coast and I coultn't get there to look at them. The owner of them mentioned that there "had been some rust issues, but they had been fixed". Too many horror stories about "fixed" rust for me to be comfortable. The other reason is that when I take the Ford to any show, anywhere, it is the only one. People will literally line up to see it. On the oter hand, when I have shown it, there were at least half a dozen XKEs and a dozen AH3000s. So I guess this points back to my original question, how do you price a one-off car. I think the answer, which I had already suspected, is it is worth exactly what someone will pay for it. I just need to find that person. Of course I would consider trades too, but I doubt that I would want a Jag or an Austin Healy. I drive a Riley Elf, so that gives you an idea as to where my head is at these days.
Bruce

 

[MadRiver]

Bear in mind that a great many automobiles in that time frame had custom bodies. Manufacturers may have offered a small range of "standard" bodies (likely meaning bodies built in-house or by a coach-builder with whom they had a standing relationship), but in those heady days you could have almost anything you wanted. My father is a professional restorer, and has done numerous pre-war ACs. At last count, the three or four AC 16/80 sports cars he's done have all had radically different bodies.

If you wish to sell, think about an ad in Hemmings, and see what kind of offers you get.

Good luck! It's a charming vehicle.

 

[bugimike]

Or you could do what I have seen others do, which I think you mentioned at the beginning of the thread, and that is, put it on e-bay with an unrealistic reserve and see what the market offers!! I have seen this done a few times! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/rolleyes.gif

 

[PAUL161]

Looks like a car/pickup that belongs in a British museum. Especially with it's background.

 

[YankeeTR]

I think you must find a QUALIFIED auto appraiser who has a pulse on the current auto market...particularly the one for British cars.

Then establish an asking price.

After that, I would contact a few auto museums around the country and see if there is any real interest in your car. It may be a case of little interest in this country but there may be more potential buyers abroad.

I would also contact some of the more well know auto auction houses here in the US and see if you can arrange to include your car in one of their sales. They SHOULD know which particular venue would be best for your car.

I would talk to RM Auctions, Barrett-Jackson, Mitch Silver or Dana Mecum. They all have high-visibility sales and publish good pre-sale catalogs and do extensive advertising to publicize their events. An auction can provide you with hundreds of pre-qualified buyers in a setting condusive to BUYING cars...after all that's why people attend auctions...they want to buy.

You can establish a reserve price in most sales...you can always pull the reserve if the price is close to your reserve and you think it's time to let 'er go. Or you can stick to the reserve and take the car back home.

An ad in Hemmings Motor News would be a good start, too. They have subscribers world-wide and many cars cross the ocean on their way to new homes.

One thing you DO NOT want to do is advertise this car EVERYWHERE you can find a free listing. Savvy dealers will tell you that over-exposure is a death-knell for classic car prices. Once every potential buyer has seen your car advertised everywhere on earth it will become 'invisible' to buyers...they will become leary of even inquiring about the car simply because they assume there is a good reason that the car did not sell...namely it's not worth the $$$ due to condition, hidden defects, etc.

I was in the classic car transport buisness for several years and my brother ran a successful resto shop for over two decades. I've been to many of the premier auctions across the country, I've hauled the same cars to three or four auctions trying to 'unload' them. Buyers like 'fresh' merchandise...fresh to the market, that is.