<VV> Was eBay $19k 66 'vert (long); Now Classification/Rarity

[RoboMan91324@aol.com]

Good point Todd,

I agree that it is not too difficult to claim your car is nearly unique when 
you consider the wide variety of options, colors, etc. and all the resulting 
permutations.  I also agree that at some point it really doesn't add value?  In 
the collector market, the documented quantity for a given year with make, 
model and drivetrain are the primary factors.  Options are important but 
secondary unless they are very rare.  Lon whittling down the uniqueness of a '66 Corsa 
ragtop turbo is appropriate because a Corsa is more valuable than other 
models in its two year lifespan, the ragtop is more valuable than a hardtop and the 
turbo option is more valuable than the 140.  All of these variations show up 
either in the VIN or the build plate so they can be documented.  To further my 
point, I have a '66 Corsa turbo hardtop made in Canada.  I believe that 
around 143 of these were made and only 60 some convertibles were made.  However, 
though this Canadian distinction makes the car much more rare, I don't think 
that it adds a vast amount to its value if I were to sell it.  Hmmm, now that I 
think of it ... consider the normal attrition of all cars on average over 
nearly 40 years ... now consider the additional attrition that the Canadian winters 
must have had on these cars ... now consider that I am in SoCal and how many 
of the few remaining cars may have migrated this far over the border.  I could 
be wrong ...... make me an offer I can't refuse.  :-)

I guess that my point is that it is perfectly valid to classify a collector 
car more and more precisely if that finer classification really does add 
perceived value in the collector car market.  If further classification does not 
matter in the real world, what's the point?  Yes, your 3 speed makes your car 
more rare but it probably decreases the value and the color may or may not add to 
the value for a particular buyer.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Of 
course, this sort of thing is more predictable with collector cars like 
Corvairs.  When you get into the stratosphere of collector cars like Vettes and true 
exotics, things like a rare documented original color or trim item has real 
value.  I don't think that our Corvairs will ever get to that point and I see 
that as a good thing.  JMHO

Doc
~~~~~~~~~~~
In a message dated 12/10/2004 12:08:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
virtualvairs-request@corvair.org writes:

> Message: 13
> From: ChiefTAM@aol.com
> Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 14:36:57 EST
> Subject: Re: <VV> Was: More thanks/More questions, Now: ebay $19k 66
>   'vert (long)
> To: flash@vicspdi.com
> CC: virtualvairs@skiblack.com
> 
> I agree with all the comments on rareness and how it really  relates to what 
> your definition of "IS" is.  Lon has come up with a number  of around 300 
> '66 Turbo Convertibles, although there were many more '66 Corsa  Convertibles 
> and many, many more '66 Corvair Convertibles.  Dick Shank  reminded me that 
> there were 521 '69 Convertibles built, (only one model,  more options) making 
> it a very rare or low build number "model", and  several others have mentioned 
> how people refer to rarity in the number of cars  built in a certain color 
> or with certain options.  It is all relative to  what you want to make your 
> facts sound like, how good a story teller you are,  and of what value that 
> rarity is to you or someone else.  
> 
> Now, if we want to talk about rare, the car I learned to drive in, my Dad's  
> 69 Monza Convertible in LeMans Blue with a 140hp, 3-speed......only one or 
> two built that way from what I could determine!
> 
> Todd
> Texas