Quote:
Originally Posted by Dick Steinkamp
A beautiful car, but the best way to find out how the market values the car, is to start with a low opening bid but put the reserve wherever you want it. It will bid to the amount the market values the car.
A one paragraph description and 10 pictures is not going to sell a $50,000 car...any car, let alone a Model A Coupe.
The "appraisal" means little to nothing. Appraisers know who their customer is  .
The description says that it is Chicle Drab/Copra Drab. You could have fooled me. |
Dick, much of what you are saying above is not 'real world' from my experiences, and I have brokered more than a couple of nice Model-As for more money than this auction price.
To begin with, Jay has passed away and they are trying to liquidate some of his assets. In this scenario, the ONLY thing the eBay format is doing is letting the world know this vehicle is available and for sale. Prospective buyers would not let eBay pictures influence their purchase decision for a vehicle at ½ that price, so it really is mute how nice the pictures are in this eBay listing because any serious buyer is going to jump onto a plane and fly to San Antonio for a first-hand evaluation.
Second, you must realize that many/most discriminating buyers never purchase a vehicle directly thru eBay. That price and money exchange is typically done directly with the Buyer & Seller negotiating face-to-face Therefore, the price would never be "bid up" to market value as you are suggesting. Again, please understand this vehicle is NOT an average Model-A Coupe that you see in the typical marketplace. Therefore value of a vehicle of this caliber is typically determined in/by other methods.
If someone asked me how to determine the value of this particular vehicle, I would begin by asking why they are seeking this particular vehicle. To most discriminating buyers, it is not about it being a rare vehicle or bodystyle, but more about some personal sentiment or attachment with the Buyer. Maybe a family member had a Coupe exactly like this one (-including the color) sometime in the past and they want to relive that memory by owning such an example.
The next thing I have noticed is there are some collectors who have very nice upscale (i.e.: expensive) car collections who also have some type of attachment to a Model-A, ...however these collectors are not interested in owning a 'run of the mill' amateur restoration on a vehicle loaded with reproduction parts just because it would be cheaper to purchase. They want the best, ...no matter if it is art in their home, their clothes, their daily driver automobiles, or other assets. The buyer of this vehicle will be such a person.
The next thing that establishes a value to the buyer is, -does this vehicle meet his desires or does he need to have one restored to his level of expectation to meet his goals? In many cases, it will cost more and will take 2-3 years to have a vehicle restored professionally, so for someone who wants a car of this caliber, this is likely the one for them. Also factoring in, is when was the last time you saw a Model-A Coupe of this restoration caliber for sale on the open market?? Better yet, show me one available today that is equal in quality to this Coupe. Realistically, I doubt you can give an example of one, so 'supply & demand' factor in to establishing a value too.
Finally, as far as fooling you with Copra & Chicle, this vehicle is accurate & authentic regarding the colors. The only detriment that I have with this particular vehicle is the paint is in BC/CC and not single-stage however MARC/MAFCA judges have used this vehicle's paint formula as the benchmark for others to compare to. Even I recently obtained the formula that was used on this Coupe from Jay's painter, and then obtained the formula from MARC Judge and paint guru Jim Brand, --and both paints were dead-on in color and hue comparing to each other. Additionally, I think this formula was the research results from the Ehrenhofer boys in their quest to replicate Copra & Chicle, so I can unequivocally say that it is correct.
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