I am going to interject a few more observations based on my experience.
1) I would venture a guess that the majority of the folks here have never attended Barrett, -or any upscale classic car auction. If so, one quickly realizes that the TV portrayal is NOT the full depiction of what truly happens there, ...just like 'Pickers' doesn't just drive down the road and find stuff, nor do the car shops actually operate how it appears on the shows. My point is do not draw any conclusions or opinions based on the perception of what you see on TV.
2) Contrary to what some may think, a person that attends an upscale auction to make a purchase is not necessarily stupid/ignorant when they are there to buy a car. People who have money to spend did not get their money to spend by being stupid. Where there is a strong disagreement is the perceived value as it pertains to them, -vs. You.
3) The only thing I feel we all agree upon is an unlearned Seller oftentimes values their Model-A based on inaccurate data. "Grandpa said his Model-A was worth ...!" or "I saw on TV where a car just like mine brought... ". The market sets a more realistic value however the opposite can also take place (which I am seeing a lot right now!) A good example is I have several people calling wanting to purchase a nicely restored Coupe in the $10k range, and a restored Deluxe Roadster in the $15k range. The problem is most Sellers in the know won't let them go for that amount because they know there are folks out there that will pay more. I have tried to explain that to buyers and they tell me "That is all I am going to pay!". Ironically one person was looking for a Coupe and said he was only going to spend up to $10k. I told him I did not know of anything. I got a call over the weekend from him again saying everything he is finding in that price-range is junk. You don't know had badly I wanted to say " I tried to tell you!!" ...but instead I just bit my lip.
Maybe in a year or two we can bring this thread back up to the top to read whose prediction of Model-A values/prices increasing or decreasing is accurate. If history is any indicator, analyzing the past 4 or 5 decades shows their prices and/or value has increased.
I doubt history will be wrong this time either!!
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