Surprisingly Disappointing Values

[4oldsmobiles64]

Hey out there, not new to cars as I've owned, bought and sole a dozen AMC vehicles in the past 15 years. Within the last 4 years I've owned 2 79 Hurst Olds - 88 Cutlass Supreme Classic and now a 86 442 (which I'm actually going to keep for myself until I'm much older) instead of selling it. I've always liked how Cutlasses looked in the 80's as was the time I was in my 20's. What has always miffed me, this especially held true to AMC vehicles, is rarity doesn't mean values.
It's truly amazing that my 442 technically by catalog value, isn't valued as much as say a 1982 AMC Eagle Station Wagon. I know the production numbers for 85-86-87 and values really are dismal. Hopefully as years go by that will change. I know price is only what somebody is willing to pay as those selling 442's usually are asking more than catalog value, which I know is not set in stone as NADA and Hagerty usually aren't on the same planet in what they think a car is worth.
Interestingly this next story is what I'm rambling on about the value of a car and the decision to buy or spend the money. Is it really worth it? There is 1 mile away a 1980 442 - black and gold car. 886 were made. It has been sitting in the same spot for 25 years. This vehicle was taken in on trade for work done at a transmission shop at the time because the owner didn't pay his bill and the shop owner kept the car.
It's rough but hard to believe the floor pans, wheel wells, trunk, rockers under the chrome are really, really good. No rust through. The interior looks like a hand grenade was thrown in the car and doors were shut. Nothing is any good and would have to be fixed or replaced.
In long and short of it, values of this rare car doesn't even sniff what a 79 Hurst Olds is worth. You'd think it would be triple since I've read there are less than 200 left on the planet.
No matter what, I really like the style and quality of G Body compared to AMC's Its night and day.

 

[69hurstolds]

Welcome to the world as we know it. Prices are all over the map depending on where you go and where you sell. But generally lower than you think they would be. One of the reasons is you can get your typical 4 cyl. ricebox with base options for $20K or so, and run circles around a G-body. Where do you think the younger crowd is going to go for their performance? Not 35-40 years ago. There's something about a G-body that most of us here love, and that's why we're all here. We all know it isn't because they're worth a lot of money. Which is good and bad. If you're trying to find one, you can as they made 200 billion of them over 10 years. So they're not extinct just yet. It's just going to be a crapshoot because they tend to rust and FAST. But they still have the old-school frame and suspension so even the old codgers like us know how to work on them or mod them if we feel like it.

I've always said that rare does not equal desirability. And ironically, I point to the Pacer X. Although they're not hen's teeth rare, I don't see people complaining that they can't find a clean example to buy. And knowing how hard it is to scrounge G-body parts nowadays, I'd pass on a 1980 442 that needs total re-do.

The buyer pool is definitely dwindling. And the nice examples just aren't out there as much as they were. They only made a handful of H/O, 442, Monte SS, GN, and 2+2, etc., that many people feel is the pinnacle for whatever reason. But still, when you look at it, you can find a fantastic condition low mile car for less than the inflation-adjusted sticker price. This isn't your father's classic car. Little to no power, and the only ones that are really holding their value (relatively) is the GN's for whatever reason. Maybe it's the factory hair dryer, because Lord knows if it was a N/A V6, the GN would be just another "grandma car". They ride like poop but admittedly the fastest G-body without question. And they do look nice. But that doesn't take much to be the fastest from the 80's G-body lineup.

I love G-bodies. I even like the 4-doors. Because they were, in reality, the last gasp of the way cars were meant to be as I grew up with them, IMO. I never cared for FWD cars, and still not to this day. Not that they're terrible, I just don't think of them as something I, personally, would desire to own. A 66-69 Toro may flip my skirt, but not much else would. I did buy a 70 Toro one time, but that was to steal the 455 out of it. I drove it around a few days and it would do the smokiest burnouts up front and I made the mistake of having the windows down when I did it.

When I was 24, I ordered my 85 442 I still have to this day with 60K miles on it now. And it sits waiting for its eventual restoration with 99% GM parts. And I know it'll never ever be worth the time and trouble I'll be putting into it.

 

[ck80]

Welcome to the world as we know it. Prices are all over the map depending on where you go and where you sell. But generally lower than you think they would be. One of the reasons is you can get your typical 4 cyl. ricebox with base options for $20K or so, and run circles around a G-body. Where do you think the younger crowd is going to go for their performance? Not 35-40 years ago. There's something about a G-body that most of us here love, and that's why we're all here. We all know it isn't because they're worth a lot of money. Which is good and bad. If you're trying to find one, you can as they made 200 billion of them over 10 years. So they're not extinct just yet. It's just going to be a crapshoot because they tend to rust and FAST. But they still have the old-school frame and suspension so even the old codgers like us know how to work on them or mod them if we feel like it.

I've always said that rare does not equal desirability. And ironically, I point to the Pacer X. Although they're not hen's teeth rare, I don't see people complaining that they can't find a clean example to buy. And knowing how hard it is to scrounge G-body parts nowadays, I'd pass on a 1980 442 that needs total re-do.

The buyer pool is definitely dwindling. And the nice examples just aren't out there as much as they were. They only made a handful of H/O, 442, Monte SS, GN, and 2+2, etc., that many people feel is the pinnacle for whatever reason. But still, when you look at it, you can find a fantastic condition low mile car for less than the inflation-adjusted sticker price. This isn't your father's classic car. Little to no power, and the only ones that are really holding their value (relatively) is the GN's for whatever reason. Maybe it's the factory hair dryer, because Lord knows if it was a N/A V6, the GN would be just another "grandma car". They ride like poop but admittedly the fastest G-body without question. And they do look nice. But that doesn't take much to be the fastest from the 80's G-body lineup.

I love G-bodies. I even like the 4-doors. Because they were, in reality, the last gasp of the way cars were meant to be as I grew up with them, IMO. I never cared for FWD cars, and still not to this day. Not that they're terrible, I just don't think of them as something I, personally, would desire to own. A 66-69 Toro may flip my skirt, but not much else would. I did buy a 70 Toro one time, but that was to steal the 455 out of it. I drove it around a few days and it would do the smokiest burnouts up front and I made the mistake of having the windows down when I did it.

When I was 24, I ordered my 85 442 I still have to this day with 60K miles on it now. And it sits waiting for its eventual restoration with 99% GM parts. And I know it'll never ever be worth the time and trouble I'll be putting into it.

View attachment 134551

I was with you until you included the monte ss with the 442, GP aero, gn/ttype, etc.

Made 180,000+ Monte SS. Their aero coupes are rare, but, it is (and I'd imagine it'll remain) fairly easy to find a low mile nice shape monte ss for some time yet. Actually may get easier as time goes by and they start selling out of estates of original owners who squirreled em up.

 

[jadigen]

Rare And desiresble are two different things. Pretty much as simple as that in my opinion.

 

[lilbowtie]

Rare And desiresble are two different things. Pretty much as simple as that in my opinion.

Agree - would add supply & demand to that.

 

[69hurstolds]

I was with you until you included the monte ss with the 442, GP aero, gn/ttype, etc.

Made 180,000+ Monte SS. Their aero coupes are rare, but, it is (and I'd imagine it'll remain) fairly easy to find a low mile nice shape monte ss for some time yet. Actually may get easier as time goes by and they start selling out of estates of original owners who squirreled em up.

Those Monte SSs are harder to find unmolested or with reversible mods. At least what I’ve seen as of late. To me, every mod reduces the potential value in what I look for in a G-body. But that’s me. Finding a 442 or Hurst isn’t hard but nice clean examples are. The Monte SS still brings more asking price than a comparable grandma Monte. Any day of the week. And that was the point of my post. You stand no chance of getting premium $$ unless it’s got some upscale to it. Again, rarity or non rarity has no bearing on desirability. And Montes are more desirable with an SS on the car.

 

[ck80]

Those Monte SSs are harder to find unmolested or with reversible mods. At least what I’ve seen as of late. To me, every mod reduces the potential value in what I look for in a G-body. But that’s me. Finding a 442 or Hurst isn’t hard but nice clean examples are. The Monte SS still brings more asking price than a comparable grandma Monte. Any day of the week. And that was the point of my post. You stand no chance of getting premium $$ unless it’s got some upscale to it. Again, rarity or non rarity has no bearing on desirability. And Montes are more desirable with an SS on the car.

Agreed there. I think the SS is the easiest to find unmolested due to the earnhardt-liking collector types, and again, volume. The others were too low volume, and, like you said, harder to find.

Too many 442s were the poor man's hotrod once they hit 10-15 years old - not very powerful stock, and best bang for the buck with the best rear/trans of any gbody to modify. Production #s not great either.

Heck, I chopped up 8 1987 442s back in the late 1990s through mid 2000s when they were cheap (1200 or less), rusted out, and not worth restoring. Sold the rear end and the rest of the car was free. Posi brought that with driveshaft. Peg leg was less, but, swapped iRon drums on and sold the aluminums to gn guys to make up the difference.

I'd like to get a dark blue on blue astro roof 87 442, stock, unmolested, #s match, original paint one day. Not likely though.

 

[motorheadmike]

Hmmm... I could buy an investment grade G-Body or a low mileage LS1 Corvette for the same money. I am not buying a G-Body if I don't have sentimental cause to. These cars are junk and lack the performance pedigree of classic muscle or a newer sports car.

 

[PBGBodyFan]

I'd like to get a dark blue on blue astro roof 87 442, stock, unmolested, #s match, original paint one day. Not likely though.

That’s the exact 442 I’d get, if/when I would ever be in the market for one. Hopefully there are enough out there for both of us.

 

[DRIVEN]

99.8% of Gbodys are the exact opposite of an investment.

There, I said it.