I wonder what the Kelley Blue Book says I'm worth?

[Bill Cady]

IF I WAS A USED CAR …

… I’d be parked at the rear of the lot, off to the side. The body still looks pretty decent, and they just don’t make that model any longer, but there’s a potential parts problem. Oh, and the repairs, if they ever get started, will cost an arm and a leg.

As we all know, that has an immediate impact on what’s known as the “resale value” of the jalopy in question. The sale price will be directly related to supply and demand. That very car, as an example, has now, had at one time, and will have later, varying resale values.

When it was brand-new, on the showroom floor or parked in a new car dealer’s inventory, it had a value. In almost every case, unless it’s a Corvette or an exotic car, it had a “sticker price” that was only paid by the truly naïve. Everyone else wanted a discount, which differs from sale to sale. When it’s “used” the values again have a price range. It’s based on model and availability. At two years, five years, ten years and so on it will have a range of varying worth. Again, it’s all due to supply and demand.

When it gets older, those differences are often based more on the condition of the item. Let’s say it’s like my hotrod when I was a kid, a 1966 Chevy Chevelle SS, (Super Sport). I bought mine used in 1968 for $1,595 plus tax in Lansing, Michigan. This one just sold for $13,885 in Orange, California.  This is the description in some detail. Heck, it isn’t half as nice as my “tricked up” hotrod. Mine had a big 396 engine, this is a little 283 V-8. Mine had a “rock crusher” 4-speed stick, this is a 2-speed PowerGlide. The list goes on.

Among the “differences”, this one still exists. Since I sold mine in 1973, (yup, 39 years ago), it may be totally restored or it may have been disseminated as parts for 37 other cars over all those years. This rascal was what’s known as “cherry“, as nice as they come. Yet, what happens when it looks great, but it’s falling apart mechanically?

If the “surface appearance” is well above par, but the inner workings are “in the dumper”, the customary treatment is to restore it. Do the needed repairs. Finish “sharping it up” because it gives you something to work with. It “has value” so it sits, but could be made a helluva lot better. Of course, if it looks all beat up, it’s off to the scrap yard and eventually a blast furnace to melt it down and reuse the materials.

Yet, until the money is available for all those repair jobs, it just sits around “looking good”. At the back of the lot. Too old to be financeable by a bank or credit union. Simply waiting for that one buyer, unique among the hordes flowing across the used car dealer’s lot each day, since he has both the desire AND the cash.

Until then, it sits there “looking good”. Waiting for someone to say, “Lemme hear what that one sounds like.” Hope like hell my battery’s charged up when I hear those words. Of course, if it’s our Father who wants to hear me run, that one’s a no-brainer.

I’m just sayin’.

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[Bill Cady]

Thanx for the kind words. I appreciate the thought.

[Gene Cartwright]

Very thought-provoking, as usual!