356's What are they worth ?

[Dakota]

Hi all
Its a bit of a how long is a bit string type question as there are many variations on a theme and a huge range of condition / originality or lack of it , take the LHD A that is for sale as a project in the listings on this site , its not cheap but not totally unreasonable if its as described , given the exchange rate and demand it would not be significantly cheaper in the states , but the T6 B that appeared recently looked fairly grim what with having no floors and all and was up for all it was worth (my opinion) although most 356's will either need the floors doing or would have had the floors replaced allready so was it that bad after all even if the B model is considered by many to be at the lower end of the 356 food chain . What I am getting to in my pedantic way is whats my friends , and customers, RHD A coup'e worth , its been for sale a while and the other day he received a less than insulting offer but he would like more , its a perfectly serviceable car , largely original though not matching number and drives well though it has weak synchro on second gear, as for a price I suggested thirty four thousand, he thought it should be more than that and working on the theory you can come down in price if need be but not up the owner initially advertised it at forty two thou , he has since reduced it but its still not sold , so with a LHD project up for seventeen and I think PRS have a RHD project (Ex Betty Haig?) for twenty two and Paragon selling two apparantly very nice A's fairly recently for over fifty how much should this one be??

[Hendrik Moulds]

It's the usual: It's worth as much as someone is willing to pay.
It all depends on how desperate he is to sell, the price comes down accordingly. I got plenty of "insulting" offers for my B when I sold it earlier this year, i.e. offers that were barely half of what I had spent on the body!

[Rustbucket]

oops

[Rustbucket]

Had a browse through Ebay last night for a carpet set.
'When I were a lad' starting my resto, there was only about 9 pages of 356 stuff. Now there are loads- Id say the market is far stronger in parts than it is in the cars.
I think its just the magazines that print silly prices- but like the man says, its worth what the person will pay.
Sounds a reasonable price, top of the market price- but its probably just the general timing of the sale that's the problem, rather than the amount.

[decapman]

Steve and I looked at the Paragon cars
They were about £40K and £60K from memory.
The £40K car was an older restoration, still nice but showing its age. The £60K car was mint through and through, well known car etc

What they sold for is between Paragon and the buyer

There looks like a nice A for sale at the Revival auction estimated at £27 to £30K which after buyers premium would come out at around £34K

I think you are on the money at £34K

IMHO

[roy mawbey]

Looks a nice "A" from the photo's. and not many RHD "A"'s left on the roads now. Prices leave me baffled. As others mention, it depends on how much somone wants it.

As somone who paid £440- for his "A" then I can't say I am not pleased, to see the way prices have risen to heights in the last 40 years that I didn't really expect.

The "A" is a nice car that still performs well on the roads of today, even better if it has a "super" engine installed. Its a car that still attracts many people to look at it and most items can still be obtained to keep it running.

To have a similar car in poor condition fully restored would probably cost 35K so this one looks like with some gearbox work done, it would be ready to roll. ( Presuming the underneath looks as good as the top. )

To have a running car different to most on the road, these days, I guess you have to pay. Ideally, the person buying one wants it for also many other reasons.

Anyone spending that sort of money should have it inspected by a person who knows 356 cars inside out ( like for example PRS). In fact the car might sell more quickly if it was mentioned by the seller he would be confident in having that inspection taking place.

With a 50 year old car, you need an independant person who can advise both parties exactly what they think of the true condition ( as far as they can see at the time )of the car. Then after sale there should be no really awkward situations for either person.

I am sure that's why so many cars are put into specialised auctions where the buyer really has to make his mind up. ( has your friend thought about auction of the car with a good reserve?)

Roy

[left4dead]

Bill,

PM sent.

[mjh356@hotmail.com]

Bill,

For what its worth, I think that you are about spot on at £35K for the car in question. More can always be asked, however, not always achieved.

For it to move much above this, it would need to be exceptional in some areas such as provenance, originality or rarity. Being RHD does not automatically thus endow it as our continental neighbours would view it.

As we all have experience, there are always buyers & tyre kickers who make low-ball offers. It is part of the deal.

Unless super rare, sought after the final selling price is dependant on the desire or need to sell.

[58A - 71E]

Well there's nowt like a bear trap of a question is there?

Your question asks how much are they (all?) worth, but lets assume we are just talking about the example you've given

Biggest determining factor is how much work does it need / how far away from perfect is it - then work backwards from there.
You will probably know a lot more about the condition of this car than the rest of us Bill (and therefore what, if indeed any further bodywork is needed), its difficult to determine a value from the advert and the info you've given.

If it needs any body/paintwork then that will detract from the value
If it needs a gearbox rebuild that will knock a few quid off
Its non-matching numbers (that doesnt bother me) which will put some purists off
The colour combination might not be everyone's cup of tea, (like it or not some colours like silver do have a larger audience)

However, it is an A
It is RHD
Its a runner
Personally I think it is a pretty car

One mans meat is another mans poison so the proverb says, so it really is down to what someone wants to pay for it.

personally I think you're in the right area of between 34-39K

[vwretrosteve]

hi bill -

the project car i listed for a friend has sold at a shade under the asking price - personal thoughts aside, the car attracted a lot of interest - some genuine, a big player or two in the 356 resto scene and one moron who turned out to be a slippery customer-as well as a liar of biblical proportions

it sold at close to the asking price to a european collector who has seen a fair amount of 356 cars. as hinted, i wasnt sure it was 17k - but this was based on my experience/history/stubborn attitude etc etc . I would suggest the demand and interest proved i was out of touch, even if the market for a fixer upper seems to be more bouyant than going the extra mile for a car such as the one you have mentioned.

I would rather jump into a road ready car than restore or work on a project- but like many people do not have the luxury or financial ability - i am sure there is a buyer for that car at the price asked ,although like many 356 owners i have passed the point of being able to afford a road ready car myself-and now rely on tinkering with the tub in the hope that it sees some street action before the winter sets in!

[356boy]

steve, have you fitted those yellow headlamp lenses on the 356 yet

[vwretrosteve]

no - not fitted them yet .. they are in my trinket corner (sounds impressive , but isnt really)

i mocked the silver A up with the hood straps and decals - the images are on here in porsche picture of the day section somewhere .... the problem is i have sort of sold the silver car and just have another A -but it is yellow!

fitting the lenses may result in yellow overload (i have some speedster cast grilles on standby )

[356boy]

thats a lovely mobilgas sign, where d'you get that

yellow is the new white