<VV> Was: More thanks/More questions, Now: ebay $19k 66 'vert (long)

[NicolCS@aol.com]

<snip> Also, can anyone explain the reason for that high end price for the 66 
Corsa turbo 
vert that sold on eBay.  Obviously a great car but thats the highest number 
I've seen in my few short months of involvment. Has the rest of the world 
discovered Corvair? <unsnip>

Yes, $19K for a Corvair is pretty amazing.  I think there are a couple of 
factors at work. The collector car market is in the middle of another run-up like 
we saw in '87.  The desireable stuff (muscle cars, Camaros, Mustangs, 
tri-five Chevys) are all in the 20K to 35K range.  Most first gen Camaro convertibles 
are now $30K to $35K.  There's enough demand to permit reproduction of entire 
Camaro convertible bodies ($12K).  Mopar muscle convertibles are $65K+.  This 
run-up has priced many out of the "main" market and the secondary collector 
car values are now being pulled-up, including Corvairs.  A couple of years ago, 
it was rare to see a Corvair exceed $10k (or even $7500), now it's becoming 
more common.  The good news in this is that restoration of a Corvair 
(restoration of which costs the same as a Camaro or Mustang), may no longer be a money 
losing venture.

The other factor in the sale of the '66 Turbo convertible is the combination 
of rareness and desireability. This car, in fact, has more points of 
desireablilty and rarity than any I can recall. Rareness can either be due to the fact 
that nobody wanted the car (like a Loadside, apologies in advance) or because 
they were all "used-up" long ago, or because they were desireable but few 
"stepped-up", like this '66 or a 427 Impala 4-speed wagon, for example.  AFAIR, 
they only made about 2500 '66 Corsa Turbo convertibles; rare and desireable (1 
point), great shape (2 points now), highly optioned (3 points), rare, 
desireable color (4 points), low miles (5 points), semi-famous owner (6 points), 
unstock modifications (minus one, back to 5 points). Kinda like a trifecta sweep; so 
many points in one vehicle. The typical Corvair, let's say a '63 Monza 2dr AT 
in great condition might hit only one of the above points, so it won't "break 
the bank" like the '66 did on ebay.  My most desireable Corvair is about a 
3-pointer.  My other two, while very nice desireable cars, hit only one or two 
points.  A 6-point car is extraordinary and the selling price reflects this.
Craig Nicol