Reply to "Auction prices"

The three cars that I saw at Russo did not have smoothed engine compartments, totally stock interiors that had not been touched probably since new -- but the sheet metal looked great on all three. Again, there was not one trailer queen Pantera at Russo, these cars were driven. Nothing wrong with that at all -- again, someone purchased some nice gear.

After saying that, I would not want to sell my car at auction. Just seems like the wrong venue for cars like ours. Neither totally foreign car nor are they seen as American muscle -- which was thoroughly represented at Russo and Barrett for that matter (even though I did not see one Detomaso at Barrett). So to take a Euro hybrid to an American muscle car seems like a mistake? Yup, absolutely; without question. I'm sure most people attending Russo's auction didn't have the foggiest what a DeTomaso even is (the kit car confusion comes to mind). And Adams is correct, the write up on the yellow 72 at Russo was forgettable. Did not talk the car up at all.

So Doug, take a deep breath, and repeat after me -- everything will be fine, I have a nice car that I like, I'm going to enjoy my car in the way that makes me feel good........

It is what it is. I had a discussion at Barrett with a good friend of mine about a 70 Chevelle that just crossed the block and hammered sold at $80,000. My friend thought the guy was making a ton of money -- "....I've got one of those in my shed...." I rolled my eyes and told him, for starters, his Chevelle looked nothing like the nut and bolt take down to the frame rotisserie restoration that just sold for $80 large. The just sold car had new paint, a restored engine compartment, rebuilt motor, trans, and rear end, along with a totally new restored interior, the trunk even was detailed and great looking. My thoughts were the buyer paid for the restoration labor only and got all the parts and the car for free. My friend thought I was from outer space. "How could a car cost that much to restore?" O.K., if you don't have the skills to do the work yourself, which would be me, you have to pay someone to do this work. What is the hourly rate, $50/hr; $75/hr? Taking a car completely apart and putting it back together is not a weekend project. I would estimate that there was at least 1,000 hours in that Chevelle, and probably more -- I tend to side on the no way can you do it for that portion of a restoration. So right there you have $50k to $75k on just the labor. So again, I don't think anyone was getting rich restoring those cars. And if you wanna say that you did the work yourself, great; don't know about you, but I would not want to donate all kinds of time to something where I don't get a return on my time invested -- that seems like a crazy way to have "fun," although I'm sure people do.

Take care,

Mark