Are 68-70 Dodge Charger Prices Coming Back Up?

[69RT3X9]

I was reading an article in the latest copy of Hagerty Insurance magazine that talked about how General Motors A-Body prices have climbed back up above their 2007 high prices.  It got me thinking, "Has the re-sale value of my 1969 Dodge Charger back up again too?"  Based on what I am seeing, it appears the value has increased from the market lows in 2009, but it doesn't seem to be as high as they were back in 2007.  What do you guys think?  Are 68-70 Chargers following the GM A-body trend?  Thanks!

[myk]

Did they ever go down? 

[Charger-Bodie]

Well done Chargers have never been down and will always demand big money.

[Dino]

Agreed.  The overinflated prices of 05-07 make it seem prices were down afterwards, but they were merely back to their norm.  The value of these goes up a bit every year really.  Remember you would find a few dozen 2nd gens on ebay at any given time?  Those days seem to be over.  We are also seeing more protouring cars that demand a much higher figure and many prospective buyers simply can't afford those, so they offer more for a basket case car because it's all they can find within their budget.

I'm actually curious to see what the prices will be like when the boomers start selling them off.  That could go either way.

[Mike DC]

    
IMHO Mopar values climbed up more than the popular GM & Ford stuff in the 2000s boom.

Inflation screws up the numbers when trying to compare prices more than a few years apart.   2014 prices aren't even fair comparisons next to 2006 prices anymore.
     

           
As for boomers selling, the oldest boomers probably won't bring prices down too much because there will be plenty of buyers waiting.  But when the younger half of the boomers are selling the prices should fall a lot more. 

It's not a question of whether many people in the younger generations will still think these cars are cool in the future - it's a question of how many of them will spend the price of a brand new truck to get one. 

[69charger2002]

I think charger projects spiked to a high in 2005-2007, and from 2009-early 2013 they were down some. Now they seem to be at 2007 levels or just above. Nice 68-70's on the other hand, have never really gone down. They may have leveled off some over the last few years, but a pretty nice driver could have been bought for $20k in 2007, where not 20k wont buy you much of a done car.

[Mike DC]

 
The prices for "decent drivers" have inevitably gone up as the cars keep aging.  The amount of work required to make a car "decent" goes up each decade. 

It's finally leveling off now that EVERYTHING on/in the car has to be overhauled at least once.  But that issue was worsening steadily from the 1970s to the 2000s. 

[twodko]

What Myk said.

[Baldwinvette77]

If they went down, i never noticed, have always been looking for one, Personally never found a car i could afford, Saw great deals, But still too much money 

[don duick]

maybe a few more  movies showing the charger may help keep it in the spotlight and influence value. Does anybody think the charger being a star car helped with its current value? 

[Cooter]

With AMD, I can see 2nd gen Chargers built off Coronet/satellite platforms.

[TUFCAT]

With AMD, I can see 2nd gen Chargers built off Coronet/satellite platforms.

I know a guy who's building a Barracuda from a B-body platform using AMD parts....and its a 4-door!  

[6spd68]

If they went down, i never noticed, have always been looking for one, Personally never found a car i could afford, Saw great deals, But still too much money 

Agreed, you got into the game early though!  I was in the same boat 10 years ago.  (I'm 29 now, damn I'm old  )  Only I went the affordable route, bought a Ford, and built it into something crazy.

I will say this though, since buying my Charger, I take great comfort in knowing that at any moment I could likely get everything I put into her back out.

[keith88]

When i was teenage i bought my 1st charger (70) for $3500 sold it for $2000 couple years later. Just bought a 69 a few mouths ago that looks nice need some work and paid $25,000  Kind of think i paid to much but expect it to be worth the money with in a couple years. Im 50 now!

[indreams84]

I paid $35,000 for my numbers matching 99% restored 69' Charger R/T last month....needs some very minor weatherstrip work but I feel like I definitely paid under current market value. I always wanted one so it was worth it to me at 29. Who needs a brand new Ram 2500 anyways.....

[Kern Dog]

With AMD, I can see 2nd gen Chargers built off Coronet/satellite platforms.

If I didn't already own one, I'd consider this. Pretty daunting task but what the heck.

[six-tee-nine]

It would'nt surprise me if they go up again.

I bought in 2006 when prices were trough the roof. They seemed to have dropped a bit since then, but dont forget that in another 2 years 2006 is already 10 years ago.
Compare the prices of 2006 with those of 1996, and then the ones of 1986.....

Maybe not as fast as you would imagine, but prices will only keep going up.

[Patronus]

I don't generally follow the price so much as the availability. The number of Chargers for sale has steadily declined. Look now and you'll find 10. I can remember seeing 20-30 for sale. Supply and demand baby... Less cars = more $

[toocheaptosmoke]

Add all those "flippers" into the buyer's pool, and the proportion of available cars to buyers gets even more sparse.   

[Ghoste]

 

[crj1968]

It's not just chargers it's all musclecars.

Whats a flipper?   

[Dino]

More of a shock to me than mopar prices is how high prices can go for a car that you didn't want to be caught dead in when they were new in the 60's.  WTH is up with that?  I watch the Mecum auctions from time to time and I just don't understand how some of these cars can fetch so much money.  Not all old cars are classics for crying out loud!

Rant over

[Cooter]

One man's junk is anothers dream car.

[Dino]

One man's junk is anothers dream car.

Absolutely true Cooter, but is the demand for these run of the mill cars really that high to justify 6 figures for an old Fairlane or something?  It just seems out of proportion to me.   

[Cooter]

 Whether it's a more popular car that everybody drove and rusted, wrecked, or simply crushed, or some mundane model that didn't sell very well, supply and demand is still in the same place.

With EBay now, there's simply NO REASON for anybody to have to use what we used to back in the day when stripping and shipping cars.
"Sh*t, ain't nobody gonna buy this turd. Better off crushing it"

[crj1968]

One man's junk is anothers dream car.

Absolutely true Cooter, but is the demand for these run of the mill cars really that high to justify 6 figures for an old Fairlane or something?  It just seems out of proportion to me.   

Fairlanes are cool. 64's bring some crazy money.

A lot of "run of the mill" cars are even harder to find, because they were just disposable like old Pintos, Mavericks, Vegas etc... but they were also a lot of peoples first car, so trying to get back that piece of your youth can cost more than you'd imagine.

[Ghoste]

Yes.  Some of us like old cars and some of us are trying to recapture the past and some a little of both.

[crj1968]

absolutely. This is my first car a 71 comet. An old HS friend just dug up some pics. I'd love to have that car back.  

[Cooter]

Lol. I gotta tubbed out 1970 Maverick. You wouldn't believe the prices for 1970-72 Comet/Maverick parts, let alone rust free cars.

[Mike DC]

 
The muscle era is a unique situation.  30+ years of car lovers are all competing with each other for the same 5-6 years of cars.

[Stevearino]

With AMD, I can see 2nd gen Chargers built off Coronet/satellite platforms.

I thought of this a while ago and just assumed that 69 Coronets would be everywhere for the easy picking. Not so much. I get more hits when searching for gen 2 Chargers than 68 69 Coronets. Forget 70 Coronets.

[Baldwinvette77]

With AMD, I can see 2nd gen Chargers built off Coronet/satellite platforms.

I thought of this a while ago and just assumed that 69 Coronets would be everywhere for the easy picking. Not so much. I get more hits when searching for gen 2 Chargers than 68 69 Coronets. Forget 70 Coronets.

Same here,  only ever saw 2 possible victims, a 70 coronet, and 68 satellite, but after looking at them i didn't want to murder either of them to build a charger, they're cool in their own right 

[odcics2]

Agreed.  The overinflated prices of 05-07 make it seem prices were down afterwards, but they were merely back to their norm.  The value of these goes up a bit every year really.  Remember you would find a few dozen 2nd gens on ebay at any given time?  Those days seem to be over.  We are also seeing more protouring cars that demand a much higher figure and many prospective buyers simply can't afford those, so they offer more for a basket case car because it's all they can find within their budget.

I'm actually curious to see what the prices will be like when the boomers start selling them off.  That could go either way.

Even a sinking ship rises when the tide comes in...   

[Mike DC]

   
I can't see how the boomers selling their cars could possibly do anything but send prices down.  

Supply & demand.   More cars entering the market at the same time = lower prices.




IMO prices can probably never regain their peak in the mid-2000s.  That was a combination of factors.  The popularity of these cars was peaking (many generations of guys wanted them, including the super-wealthy boomers) + the artificially inflated economy was putting extra cash in everyone's pocket.    

I'm sure the dollar numbers will eventually match those days again.  But that will happen because of inflation rather than real values IMO.

[six-tee-nine]

people are greedy also these days.

20 years ago before the internet boom people came ringing at your door and told you "hey, my dad passed away and has an old car in his shed and I know you're into old cars, so maybe you're interested so we can get rid of it easily"

nowdays when dad passes away they google around and put his car online for as much as they can get for it.

Imo barn finds are getting harder to find every day now

[Charger-Bodie]

people are greedy also these days.

20 years ago before the internet boom people came ringing at your door and told you "hey, my dad passed away and has an old car in his shed and I know you're into old cars, so maybe you're interested so we can get rid of it easily"

nowdays when dad passes away they google around and put his car online for as much as they can get for it.

Imo barn finds are getting harder to find every day now

I agree. Too many people look at it as a way to keep their money together. It's a hobby and people need to do it for the the love of the car. I mean don't get me wrong it's nice to know that if yor family gets into trouble you can sell it and get good money back,but that should be a side bonus not the primary focus. Stinking Barrett Jackson has everyone focused on monetary value instead of the time machine value.

[Ghoste]

Agreed, everyone who would still be into this if you knew that upon selling you were nearly guaranteed to lose money on the car, raise your hand.    
This is a great hobby and if I factored in the real monetary expenses (house with garage, tools, fuel, maintaining the Charger etc.) I could never get the money back anyway.  No amount of money could buy all the great times I've had in old cars and how do you price the people you've met and freinds you've made?

[six-tee-nine]

It's a hobby and hobbys cost money, when they start to bring money its called a profession.

OK I made money in the past on an occasion from selling a part or garage cleanups but I have put waaaay more into my car hobby than I ever sold most of it for.

And by the time the Charger will be going on the road again It will bring a nice dime if I decide to sell it again but never as much as I have dumped in it by then....

[Cooter]

Funny, been saying this for years. Hand proudly raised.

I was Mopar before they could pay off your houses. I was Mopar when you got laughed out of the local cruise spot for driving that "Goat"(ram's head joke)...

I was Mopar when the old saying was true bout prices being higher solely because nobody was messing with the 'uncool' cars.

I was Mopar before, during, and will be long after the flippers have raped the hobby for everything they can get.

True Mopar guys are as rare as true 'barn finds'.

I said it way back in 1987, and I still say it today. Daytona/Superbirds are ugly and they are like reality shows.
the only reason huge, goofy, wings and stupid futuristic noses on Chargers and Roadrunners are so sought after is because of their fame and fortune.

[Charger-Bodie]

Funny, been saying this for years. Hand proudly raised.

I was Mopar before they could pay off your houses. I was Mopar when you got laughed out of the local cruise spot for driving that "Goat"(ram's head joke)...

I was Mopar when the old saying was true bout prices being higher solely because nobody was messing with the 'uncool' cars.

I was Mopar before, during, and will be long after the flippers have raped the hobby for everything they can get.

True Mopar guys are as rare as true 'barn finds'.

I said it way back in 1987, and I still say it today. Daytona/Superbirds are ugly and they are like reality shows.
the only reason huge, goofy, wings and stupid futuristic noses on Chargers and Roadrunners are so sought after is because of their fame and fortune.

I know the feeling. I got my first Charger in 1986 when I was a freshman in HS , and everyone else was driving thunderbirds and cutlasses........ Got a lot of crap for being the odd one out. I kinda wish it was still the same way.
Main downside would be the availablity of repop parts. They  came when money could be made on them,and would not have otherwise.

[6spd68]

I said it way back in 1987, and I still say it today. Daytona/Superbirds are ugly and they are like reality shows.
the only reason huge, goofy, wings and stupid futuristic noses on Chargers and Roadrunners are so sought after is because of their fame and fortune.

I've said it to many people before, even if my Charger was worth nothing, I'd still want it...

[PrisonHack]

 I didn't know they ever dropped LOL, I have been  over them for years and each time I think I'm close they seem to climb outside my range  . I do remember back in '05 when the DOH movie came out there was a ton of them on Ebay all of the time.

[Baldwinvette77]

I said it way back in 1987, and I still say it today. Daytona/Superbirds are ugly and they are like reality shows.
the only reason huge, goofy, wings and stupid futuristic noses on Chargers and Roadrunners are so sought after is because of their fame and fortune.

I've said it to many people before, even if my Charger was worth nothing, I'd still want it...

My charger IS worth nothing, And i want the hell outta it  

[Challenger340]

IMO, like it or not... Chargers are just assets in the marketplace like everything else these days, and ANY asset as such, will attract speculators in that same marketplace.... you guessed it... to make a BUCK !
Assets go UP... and assets can go DOWN
It is up to the individual to assess "wants vrs needs" in life, and therein financially compete for, and prioritize assets according to their own situation.

Not specifically to Chargers.... but it seems ANYTHING of VALUE in the marketplace these days is rising !
two reasons;
1.) Pressure of Money at "0" interest rates chasing assets.... ANY asset, if for no other reason than to stay relative in real terms to Inflation, that inevitably will come.
2.) Government printing presses running overtime de-basing the current currency, the "future" assets will be SOLD in.

Look at the stock market ? DOW index at 16,700
Who in the fawk here believes THAT is relative in a current economic fundamental ... just "asset" chasing, ANY asset... pure & simple !

[Daytona R/T SE]

Are the '69-'70 Charger prices going back up again ?


I certainly hope so.

I could cash them all in and finally move to that tar paper shack in Montana that I've been dreaming of.

And...

I ain't tellin the Ol' Lady where I'm goin'.

[six-tee-nine]

maybe its a different thing in the US but over here in Europe we see a newer thing also lately.

Money in a bank account brings nothing extra these days, stock markets aren't what they used to be anymore.
Alot of rich guys "invest" in old cars instead of shares.

Anything that keeps its value like real AC cobras, old Ferraris, Mercedes' SL, you name it is going for huge money these days.

You get it, to hold the value they all spend there time in a nice climate coltrolled glass house....

[Ghoste]

Yes, like garage art.  If that 500 that just sold at Mecum is an indicator, prices are coming way up.

[indreams84]

maybe its a different thing in the US but over here in Europe we see a newer thing also lately.

Money in a bank account brings nothing extra these days, stock markets aren't what they used to be anymore.
Alot of rich guys "invest" in old cars instead of shares.

Anything that keeps its value like real AC cobras, old Ferraris, Mercedes' SL, you name it is going for huge money these days.

You get it, to hold the value they all spend there time in a nice climate coltrolled glass house....

I agree with the sentiment regarding speculators placing their money into musclecars as assets, I was looking at (http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/).....portion of text in an ad for a 70' Cuda 440 6: "they continue to be some of the best 4-wheeled investments on the market. Equity aside"....guys look at these things like they are freaking blue chips.