chargers and gas prices....

[1974dodgecharger]

I do not remember since im so old, but I remember when gas prices hit over 4.00 dollars per gallon nearly 5 dollars I believe in some states. Cars who got the worst gas mileage the value went down drastically and cars with good gas mileage were costing 10x as much (old cars). I remember on ebay everyone was buying cars that were old and getting good gas mileage for like 20k or 10k value when these cars were usually only 2k cars.

So did the chargers go down in value during this time or increase? I do no remember because I was not looking and happy with my 67 charger with 440 getting 9mpg, granted I lived 1 miles from work so it didnt cost me much to drive to work and back. I sold it after the gas prices with a decent price.

So should I expect the value of 2nd gen chargers to go down briefly in the summer if gas hits 5.00 per gallon?

[nvrbdn]

nope. the hobby wont change. the economy affects price not gas. people wont take as many long run cruises, but they wont cut their prices down due to gas. the biggest problem is if the gas prices throw us into another recession.

[Ghoste]

When the first OPEC rape arrived in the 70's, these cars were used daily drivers so it was easy for people to dump them.  Today, it will just mean less driving for them and fewer sales for V8 powered new cars.  If anything it will cause value to go up as the cars get preserved and they become rolling sculpture.

[twodko]

I've always seen NADA classic car guide values far more accurate than either KBB or Edmonds. Yesterday's value for my 69 was $65k! These cars will always retain and increase in value. Some dispute NADA values but they have been on track here in Cali. 

[Ghoste]

I've never known any of them to be very accurate including NADA.  The cars will likely retain and probably go up in value that much I agree.

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I've never known any of them to be very accurate including NADA.  The cars will likely retain and probably go up in value that much I agree.

None of these guides are very realistic 

Take a 1969 R/T #s matching car in #2 condition (I say #2, as everyone who *thinks* they have a #1 car is usually mistaken. In fact, most overstate conditions of vehicles to the next higher level...). What is the #2 condition 69 R/T #s matching car really going to sell for?  It would be a struggle for a seller to fetch more than $40k for such a car  Probably a good buy in the mid-low 30s...

A non-R/T car, original driveline, upper 20s, max.


The guys who ask more than 40k have their cars for sale a LONG time... 

[twodko]

On the west coast, especially the arid states, command more for these cars than most other locales in the country. Hot, dry conditions help keep these old cars in great shape which means even greater demand for a "dry climate" car. Perhaps I've been fortunate but I've sold a couple classics based on NADA pricing guidelines as a starting price point and have made close to the suggested guide price. For our car, a 69 NM R/T 440 second owner unmolested fully documented but restored vehicle, these prices reflect what west coast cars are selling for. Just my experience but it makes sense that these cars sell for much less in wet cold salty and icy climates even ones nicely restored. Prices of these cars are geographically driven IMO. Car ratings i.e.: #5 thru #1 compared to "points" cars 1-100 are vastly different methods of gauging a cars true value/condition. NADA clearly states that a #1 car is NOT the same as a 100 point car.

[MoparMotel]

I do not remember since im so old, but I remember when gas prices hit over 4.00 dollars per gallon nearly 5 dollars I believe in some states. Cars who got the worst gas mileage the value went down drastically and cars with good gas mileage were costing 10x as much (old cars). I remember on ebay everyone was buying cars that were old and getting good gas mileage for like 20k or 10k value when these cars were usually only 2k cars.

So did the chargers go down in value during this time or increase? I do no remember because I was not looking and happy with my 67 charger with 440 getting 9mpg, granted I lived 1 miles from work so it didnt cost me much to drive to work and back. I sold it after the gas prices with a decent price.

So should I expect the value of 2nd gen chargers to go down briefly in the summer if gas hits 5.00 per gallon?

When gas was high in 2008 I believe I didn't see any price change in muscle cars, just people driving them less.

It sure does put a damper on my summer cruising though... Just filled up my truck yesterday with diesel at 4.29 a gallon and premium that I put in the Charger was the same price.

[charge69]

Using a #1 thru #5 condition scale, a #1 condition car never has been driven after restoration, I don't care what the "points" add up to. If you drive it, a car will always be a #2 car at best. That is the way it has always been and that is the way it is now.

By the way, my car WILL be driven and therefore, will only be a #1 car, at best, for just as long as it takes me to get it running down the road!!

[1974dodgecharger]

I've always seen NADA classic car guide values far more accurate than either KBB or Edmonds. Yesterday's value for my 69 was $65k! These cars will always retain and increase in value. Some dispute NADA values but they have been on track here in Cali. 

I dont look at value of these cars since to me they are meant to driven not kept in a museum of some sorts like some guys do.

NOt trying to argue with you, but I just hate guys who buy these cars and then then restore them to sell them at a higher value thinking they double the value of some sorts. For example a typical person who does not care about the car, but the value does this in steps....

1. finds a charger for 10k
2. complete rotisseurie restore from ground up spends 30k to 50k to do it.
3. adds in more mods another 10k.
4. Tries to sell it for 120k

The reason behind all this they always say too even in ebay ads, "THESE ARE DODGE CHARGERS THEY MORE YOU PUT IN THEM THE MORE THEY INCREASE IN VALUE'

[PocketThunder]

When gas goes up the price for gas hog suburbans and trucks go down, but classic Chargers stay the same.   

[chargermike]

when gas goes up. it just cost me more to drive it. not ever for sale. so what its worth dont matter. i get 6 mpg. it cost around 50 bucks to take her out for the day....my car is worth around 30 grand. but wont sell. its family

[billschroeder5842]

Yep, It does matter to me. I fill the tank every other week and drive errands around town. The Charger is a rolling car show.

[ITSA426]

I guess if gas gets too expensive, I'll drive it less and wax it more.  It's still a hobby.

[aussiemuscle]

if gas prices to  up significantly, you might see the price of 99-2003 cars drop in value. 2nd gen chargers are beyond that are are more in the collector market rather than daily drivers.

[Fred]

. it cost around 50 bucks to take her out for the day....

Same here.................but what a pleasure!   

[resq302]

. it cost around 50 bucks to take her out for the day....

Same here.................but what a pleasure!   

Plus its still cheaper than going to a strip club and she (the car) comes home with you every time!  Although in the long run with all the resto/repairs for the car, the stripper might be the cheaper choice.   

[Cooter]

Trying to sell ANYTHING today is a gamble at best. People are using the economy to dictate the price of things like collector cars. Gas is just one of the things linked to prices. It is fair to say that the "Majority" of people will use that old addage of "Well, you want XXX for this car/truck, but it only gets 14 MPG"...SO?? WTF? Yet, they will go right out and buy a New Dodge Challenger that gets at BEST 20 MPG with that Cylinder select crap...

As long as people think they can get your sh*t for nothing and resell high, you will always have people trying to do just that using the ecomomy to do it.

[nelson_audet]

Here in Québec 6.16 per gallon

[UH60L]

"On the west coast, especially the arid states"


So California then.......

[twodko]

Using a #1 thru #5 condition scale, a #1 condition car never has been driven after restoration, I don't care what the "points" add up to. If you drive it, a car will always be a #2 car at best. That is the way it has always been and that is the way it is now.

By the way, my car WILL be driven and therefore, will only be a #1 car, at best, for just as long as it takes me to get it running down the road!!

The 2 "condition" guides i.e. #'s 1 through 5 and 1 to 100 points are two different methods of judging a car. The later applying to concourse type shows in my experience.
I disagree that a #1 car is never driven after it's resto. I know a couple cars that have had nicely done rotis restorations and these guys drive these car to many of the shows I go to and drive the local cruises as well. These are no trailer queens by any means. These guys aren't driving them in the rain etc but they are driven and considered #1 cars. These guide are subjective to be sure but to suggest a#1 car is never driven is not always the case IMO.

[twodko]

"On the west coast, especially the arid states"


So California then.......

Is a broke arid state.  

On another note.....how you been rotor head? Hope you and yours are good.

[charge69]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree on whether a #1 condition car is ever driven. I have seen some really beautiful restorations that get driven and mine will also. No rain, at least on purpose will ever touch my Charger after it is restored but I will never refer to it as a #1 condition car after it has been driven. A #2 car can be immaculate too, but it is driven to an event. A #1 car is trailered there and trailered home. I just would never own a #1 car that cannot be driven. That is just my opinion I guess but this link seems to agree as ther is NO mention of driving a #1 car.

Your car, by the way , is a beautiful example of a driven car.



http://collectorcarmarket.com/adv/prcpgs/condguide.htm

[Paul G]

On the way to cruise night last Friday I stopped for some gas. Chevron 91 octane was $4.07, so I put in two gallons thinking I can find it cheaper some where else. Should have just filled it then. I am getting gas "sticker shock" now as $4.07 is the going price  for premium around Phoenix.

As for value, these are not cars as you would define the word today, they are collectors items and value varies with the market and economic conditions. In very recent past we have seen what high gas prices can do to a recovering economy. If gas prices stay high, the economy will slow, and demand for anything collectible will drop.   

[BigBlockSam]

i put $30 of gas in the charger today . at $4.01 .it gave me a half tank .