I'm trying to find the worth of a 1973 VW Beetle, but the Kelly Blue Book website does not list cars older than 1985. Is there another site that I could use? I really need to find the value of this car as I need to buy it, but I can't find anything...
Mike
cvb.fan@gmail.com
Blue Book Pricing
June 20, 2005 - 1:22am
#1
Blue Book Pricing
Basically anything over 20years old is considered "vintage" or maybe "antique" so all pricing is considered subjective. Old cars have no direct mass market, so it's just what the collector market will pay. You might do some searching, maybe eBay mtors, to see what they go for. You might also contact some local used car dealerships and see what they would sell one it the same condition for.
VW Beetles are one of the most popular cars ever made, so there are lots of hobbiest groups that have sprung up as a result. Most of these groups would be more than happy to give you an estimate range of what a car would be worth. See if there is one in your area and give them a call.
Cheers,
The Czar
Well, if you really *need* to buy this car than the blue book value is irrelevant. Since you need to buy this particular car, the only important value is how much you are willing to pay.
Book value is nice to know but not necessary if you're in a "need to purchase" situation. In this particular situation, it's a case of what the market will bear. Since you're the person that needs to buy this car, you're the market. What are you willing to bear?
I'm thinking about $500, as its in really bad shape, with a broken front axle.
Do you know if this person has had any other offers on this car? Do you know how much this person is expecting to receive for this car?
In my own experience, I generally decide how much I'm willing to spend and then offer the seller 80% of my target price. I indicate that I'm willing to bargain though.
My theory is this: Let the seller talk you up as opposed to trying to talk him/her down. If you let them talk you up in price, they get the impression that they've won. After all, they don't really need to know that you were willing to pay more.
However, if you really *need* this car, price probably won't matter too much to you. Unless, of course, it's a price that you just cannot afford.
my opinion: If you're willing to spend $500, offer $400 and indicate that you're willing to bargain. Then place the onus on the seller to bargain the price up from your offer. Just don't let him bargian you above your target price of $500 and don't let him know how high you're willing to go.
Problem is, they want $2000 and even I can tell its not worth anywhere near that. Around here, Beetles are a dime a dozen. I want that particular one though. I thought if I could show them a blue book price they might be willing to go with that instead of some number they made up.
Just curious, why do you need to buy this particular car?
I've had a few Beetles over the years, nice car for the mid-20th century but nowadays it's seriously past its sell-by date. Still I guess as a hobby/fun kind of thing it'd be interesting for those who never had to endure one back in the day . . .
Pricing eh? Did you try the "old car bible", Hemmings Motor News' classifieds? How about eBay Motors results?
dan k
Just this evening we drove by a nicely restored '69 Beetle for $2600. There was a minor dent on the rear of the drivers door, but was otherwise in nice shape. All chrome was shiny, the powder blue paint was reflective, the exhaust pipes were not rusty, etc. If they want $2k for a beat up junker, they are kidding themselves.
I want this exact one because it was my grandmothers for years and years until she sold it. I have very fond memories of this car, and it saddens me to see it rotting in her neighbors front yard. I want to restore the car, because I love beetles, and volkswagen, and a good friend of mine is the VW expert in these parts. Plus, everyone's first car should be momorable, and this one is already memorable, so it will only get better.
Have you already spoken to the guy about the car? About the price of the car?
Make your offer; you have nothing to lose. Bring your *expert* friend along when you talk to the guy. Discuss the matter with your friend so that the seller can hear what is being said.
Show the guy how much it's gonna cost to fix the dang thing.
If the guy really wants to sell the car he'll be more realistic in his price.
Visit the car (and its current owners) often, moaning about how much it meant to you, but sadly how you haven't the dough to bring it back into its original family . . .
Folks eat that s**t up, before long they'll be paying you to take the damn thing, just so they don't have to listen to your sorrowful story one more time! :EBC:
Heh heh, MR suggests bringing the expert, but I respectfully disagree. Sentiment is the way to go, and bringing in facts and figures and experts and all that will only distract the owners from your heartache at not being able to have your gramma's car that means sooooooo much to you. :EBC:
dan k
That might work too. Assuming, of course, the sellers are human and not alien visitors that have morphed into humanoid form in order to lure real people into the dark and seedy underbelly of the human slave trade.
Hey, are you trying to buy this car from the Conservative Party of Canada? (Conservative Party of Canada is not really human. They're aliens that have taken human form in an effort to wipe out french speaking people by making their votes illegitimate. But you didn't hear it from me. ;))