Value increases, was: <VV> Greenbrier and corvair values (long)

[airvair]

I think we're dealing with a couple of factors here, and both are value 
relative to cost. One is whether value goes up faster than the cost of 
restoration. The other is whether value goes up faster than the rest of 
the market. The former actually brings restorers into the hobby, as the 
cars become worth restoring. The latter is what happened to the various 
muscle and pony cars as each were "discovered" by collectors. Suddenly 
they became high-priced, and that tends to drive out those who can least 
afford them. I think what we want is an increase in value that's 
relative to the rest of the market, without having the cost of their 
restoration become unaffordable.

I think why the Corvair has remained so "affordable" is because it 
hasn't attracted a sudden market increase in value, like the muscle and 
pony cars have experienced. Meanwhile, parts have remained relatively 
plentiful, which has held down inflation to reasonable levels. I think 
the Corvair's sour public reputation has been a blessing in this respect.

-Mark

Western Canada CORSA wrote:

>Funny this post and thread should be up.  I just finished a conversation
>with a friend, non-Corvair owner, but part of our gang, and coming to the
>convention.  We were talking about the type of people and the different
>"groups" of Corvair owners we were going to see at our first convention.  I
>think the biggest change I've seen in the 6/7 years I've now been involved
>in Corvairs is a decrease in the percentage of cheap-skate "Transportation"
>'vair owners, as I tend to think of them.  The other  groups (and this is
>WAY over simplified) being Stock Restorers, Racers and Mod Restorers.  While
>low priced parts serves all of these groups, higher priced Corvairs and
>their parts only discourages the "Transportation" 'vair owners, and while
>I'll probably offend some folks with this comment, what's wrong with seeing
>the "Transportation" segment get squeezed out a bit?  This group buys 'vairs
>cheap, does minimal work, (in many cases making a quality resto more
>difficult if the car ever gets to somebody that is truely interested in
>saving a 'vair) and flogs the car to within an inch of it's life.  This
>"group" I should mention, are IMO, the least likely to support CORSA and
>it's efforts as well.  Is the Corvair hobby changing?  "Yes" I think so.  Is
>it a change for the better?  Again "Yes" I think so.
>
>Have the Main Vendors increased the selection of products they are offering?
>If the answer if "Yes" then that bodes well for the hobby.
>
>Is there an overall increase in the number of vendors?  If the answer if
>"Yes" then this too bodes well for the hobby.
>
>Are Corvair values increasing?  If the answer if "Yes" then I believe this
>too is a good thing.  Restoring any car is expensive, both in terms of
>dollars and time (and time IS money).  If top Corvair values had stayed
>around $8-10K there would be a huge disincentive to doing a quality
>restoration (such as yours Norm, very nice btw) to a Corvair, and things
>would pretty much be limited to the backyard bondo jobs of the
>"Transportation" group, with the exception of those select few that just
>loved their Corvair and were willing to do a quality resto regardless of
>what it may be worth when they were done.  However, if values get up into
>the $15-20K range and you do spend some money to do a quality resto, even if
>you don't want to sell it, you can at least be assured on not loosing your
>shirt if an accident happened and your 'vair was wrecked in some tragic
>manner.
>
>With the skyrocketing cost of Classic Cars these days they are getting more
>and more exposure, which brings our Corvairs into the fringes of the
>spotlight as well.  Even if Corvair values go up, they are still a
>relatively inexpensive Classic Car to get into, which is a good thing.  And
>the farther we get away from 1965, Mr. Nader and USAAS, the more people will
>become interested in Corvairs.  (Has anybody else noticed LESS people
>telling them about 'ol Ralphie lately?)
>
>Just my .02.  Flame suit on.
>
>Regards,
>Joel
>
>
>I have to agree with Mark and Joe.  One of the things I like about Corvairs
>is the relatively low snob factor.  While this results mostly from the
>relatively low dollars these cars command and their besmirched reputation,
>it benefits those who have the depth of character to see through these
>superficial things.
>
>Another corollary of rising car prices is rising PARTS prices.  If the cars
>go up in value, parts suppliers will certainly raise their prices as well.
>
>I see myself more as a buyer than a seller of Corvairs, and so do not
>welcome price increases.
>
>Finally, a great way to encourage new blood in a hobby is to make it
>affordable.  Increasing values excludes newcomers to the hobby.
>
>Norm Witte
>  
>