All:
I notice and comment on "Those high-dollar restorations ARE realizing their
investment and more."
Our late friend and member, Jim Albeck, noted that a full restoration
requires 1000 hours. This multiplied by the cost of labor, materials, car
purchase and parts are all the line items adding up to the cost of a
"high-dollar" restoration.
Having been this course and reviewing my receipts dated 1993 to 1994, one
still needs to enter into a full restoration more out of love than out of
financial wisdom.
Openly acknowledging my desperate lack of financial wisdom, I am now coming
close to 40 years of love for the Healey marque colored with an incurable
addiction to the distinctive exhaust note.
Best Regards,
Jim LeBlanc
1956 100-M
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@Autox.Team.Net [mailto:owner-healeys@Autox.Team.Net] On
Behalf Of Reid Trummel
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 6:07 PM
To: healeys@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: Healey Values
Can't resist a comment on two on a subject that I have followed for a long
time.
-- I think that the high prices achieved by a few Healeys in auctions in
recent years have given a somewhat misleading impression that the prices for
all Healeys are rising significantly. Of course, some of this notion
becomes a self-fulfilling truth, and in fact prices do seem to be rising.
-- However, my observation has been a limited upward trend; not a big jump,
and not a tide that has raised all "boats" (the prices of all Healeys).
-- The proliferation of auctions that include Austin-Healeys has (a)
attracted an affluent group that was not previously "into Healeys" and (b)
it has attracted media attention that has raised interest and expectations,
if not actual values.
-- There has recently been an increasingly sharp differentiation in the
prices achieved for the really, really good cars and the so-so cars. Those
high-dollar restorations ARE realizing their investment and more. This is
relatively new as a widespread phenomenon in Austin-Healeys.
-- I would caution against generalizing a few spectacular auction results to
the entire market.
But I may be wrong and I always appreciate learning of others' experiences
and market observations. Please have a look at the prices listed in the
Austin-Healey Buyer's Price Guide (I'm the author/editor) and let me know
what you think:
http://www.healey.org/buyers-price-guide.shtml
Reid Trummel
Portland, Oregon
100, 100M, Ski-Master
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