I won't say you're wrong, but in the Oklahoma City area G bodies in a salvage are a rarity anymore, apart from small yards in the sticks where the car has been sitting for a long time.
Are G-Bodies the "New" Classics?
- Thread starter CaliWagon83
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I won't say you're wrong, but in the Oklahoma City area G bodies in a salvage are a rarity anymore, apart from small yards in the sticks where the car has been sitting for a long time.
I see gbodys at the junk yards all the time in the state I live in Massachusetts. Last year i was at one in my state that had 85 cutlass salon with t tops with bucket seats. My son I molested that car and it was in good shape and I took the t tops. I can drive 50 miles to the next state to a junk yard that still has cars from the 50's to 80's its like walking back in time and she knows what she has and its by appointment only. I have been going to that one for years. New England had a lot of gbodys running around back in the 80's maybe thats why i see them at the junk yards.
Here in NJ, it is getting hard to find G bodies in the yards. You are lucky if a yard even has one. Heck some of the yards get offended if you ask if they have any 80s cars. There is one yard that has stuff from the 50s, but its a muddy death trap, with cars piled up to 3 high on each other.
IMHO they've now entered "Classic" status. Especially with more than 1 example changing hands for over 6 figures! http://gmauthority.com/blog/2017/01/1987-buick-gnx-with-only-1500-miles-brings-in-117700-at-auction/
20+ years ago when I was in high school they were just old used cars. Now people are asking big bucks for some of the G-bodies while others are still dirt cheap even for clean ones.
My guess is nobody on this forum is sitting on a 6 figure GnX; but when a few examples of a car sell for a high price it brings the lower stuff up with it (most of the time). I can remember the 1972+ Dodge Chargers being practically worthless (A lot like how many people currently view G-bodies) but once the values of the 1968-71 cars started going crazy it brought the value of those coke bottle B-body Mopars up. Chevelles were also a car that millions were produced and you can't touch a clean 2 door for under $20K these days (maybe a 307 Malibu; maybe...).
In another 10 years I wouldn't be surprised if you saw run of the mill clean G-bodies regularly changing hands for $20K+ (in today's money; not factoring in inflation). People will naturally gravitate towards these cars as the older 60s/70s era cars go higher and higher in value (if market trends continue).
Another factor is that guys that remember these cars as being cool are now starting to enter middle age. They've got savings accounts, 401Ks, Real Estate Equity and can afford a luxury item. I've been witnessing it happen with Fox Body Mustangs for the last few years. Their Dad's had/have the 72 Chevelle SS, but they want Grand National, or a Malibu with a Blown LSx under the hood. Not only that; the Gbodies appeal to a very diverse crowd of guys! I don't know of any other car that is loved by so many different cultures. Low Rider, Dub life, Modern Muscle car, Drag Racers etc.
20+ years ago when I was in high school they were just old used cars. Now people are asking big bucks for some of the G-bodies while others are still dirt cheap even for clean ones.
My guess is nobody on this forum is sitting on a 6 figure GnX; but when a few examples of a car sell for a high price it brings the lower stuff up with it (most of the time). I can remember the 1972+ Dodge Chargers being practically worthless (A lot like how many people currently view G-bodies) but once the values of the 1968-71 cars started going crazy it brought the value of those coke bottle B-body Mopars up. Chevelles were also a car that millions were produced and you can't touch a clean 2 door for under $20K these days (maybe a 307 Malibu; maybe...).
In another 10 years I wouldn't be surprised if you saw run of the mill clean G-bodies regularly changing hands for $20K+ (in today's money; not factoring in inflation). People will naturally gravitate towards these cars as the older 60s/70s era cars go higher and higher in value (if market trends continue).
Another factor is that guys that remember these cars as being cool are now starting to enter middle age. They've got savings accounts, 401Ks, Real Estate Equity and can afford a luxury item. I've been witnessing it happen with Fox Body Mustangs for the last few years. Their Dad's had/have the 72 Chevelle SS, but they want Grand National, or a Malibu with a Blown LSx under the hood. Not only that; the Gbodies appeal to a very diverse crowd of guys! I don't know of any other car that is loved by so many different cultures. Low Rider, Dub life, Modern Muscle car, Drag Racers etc.
I've been hitting the yards for forty years . The past six years I've pretty much hit 4 to 5 yards every Saturday .
5 years ago I pretty much count on seeing 3 or 4 new GBodys every weekend. Now I feel fortunate if I run across one. And if your late, the thing is chicken bones. This year I went 4 weeks in a row without seeing one. (Record)
I guess it's become the thrill of the hunt. I just know if I don't go, I'm missing out. But then about a month ago, I go to this one yard and they had just got 3 of them in. I'm also seeing cars coming in with grills and taillights broken .
To me it looks like someone pops them with a hammer. Wtf?
Anyhow I believe cars that used to be junked are now being sold to guys wanting to fix them up. With metal prices way down, the yards really aren't offering much for cars. 4 or 5 years ago the competition for cars was stiff and junkyards were bidding each other to get cars, now not so much. All the junkyards around here have massive stacks of crushed cars. They are all waiting for metal to rebound...timo22
5 years ago I pretty much count on seeing 3 or 4 new GBodys every weekend. Now I feel fortunate if I run across one. And if your late, the thing is chicken bones. This year I went 4 weeks in a row without seeing one. (Record)
I guess it's become the thrill of the hunt. I just know if I don't go, I'm missing out. But then about a month ago, I go to this one yard and they had just got 3 of them in. I'm also seeing cars coming in with grills and taillights broken .
To me it looks like someone pops them with a hammer. Wtf?
Anyhow I believe cars that used to be junked are now being sold to guys wanting to fix them up. With metal prices way down, the yards really aren't offering much for cars. 4 or 5 years ago the competition for cars was stiff and junkyards were bidding each other to get cars, now not so much. All the junkyards around here have massive stacks of crushed cars. They are all waiting for metal to rebound...timo22
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