Archive for the ‘Market Place’ Category

A recent conversation about the Project Shelby car brought up an interesting question about the possible repercussions of all the new retro style cars and the possible effects on the classic car market. The retro styled market was brought forth by the the classic styling of the originals like the Dodge Charger and the Mustangs. Which in turn boosted the American manufacturers ability to sell cars, but if you have a vintage original will this add value to your cars worth or hurt it?

I am under the opinion that the classics will retain their value, especially when they are original numbers matching. The resto-rod market should not feel any decline in value either, they still should retain their “true worth”. Determined by what the car has and the level of detail put in to the car. The clone market may feel the pinch the most, why buy a clone we you can get a new original.

With all the modern conveniences and warranties that come with a new car, it may persuade one to buy new. Time has proven which cars have maintained or improved their value. This can not be said about the newer models. The demand for the newer models should help contribute to the demand for the older versions. You might be cool in your 2008, but more heads will turn in the 1968 version. This reason alone will keep the classic market alive and well, and if you can afford it, buy one of each.

Does your opinion differ, I am I just a crazy loud mouth who knows nothing or I am mad genius…well let me know.

Technorati Tags: retro style cars, Dodge Charger, Mustangs, vintage, numbers matching, resto-rod, clone

It seems these days that you can have your Mustang fried, boiled or scrambled. With so many options makes and models, which one do you choose? Let’s start with the base and work our way up.

2008 Mustang 4.0L is your base model starting around $19k. It comes with a gazzillon packages to choose from, like my favorite “Mustang Warriors in Pink“.

2008 Mustang GT 4.6L V8 with 300hp. This will run you a few more bucks than the base model.

2008 Bullitt Mustang Starting at $31k, 4.6l v6, HP 315, Torque 325, Tremec 5 speed, Sport tuned chassis, 3.73 limited slip solid rear axle, Limited production of 7,700. When you can not come up with something that has not already been done, revamp what you got with vintage styling and slap a name to that will sell. Nothing really stands out and makes this car a little bland, despite all the extra “Bullitt” Styling.

2008 Shelby GT500/ GT500KR Pricing has been all over the board, but expect to pay around $80k or higher. The 5.4l v8 producing 500hp is a great added bonus for the buck. The styling and every detail lives up to the Shelby name.

2008 Shelby GT/ GT-C $48k will get you 310+hp and cool Grabber Orange paint with lots of racing inspired upgrades. At just $10k more than the Ford GT it is well worth the money for the extras.

2008 Roush Mustang Roush offers 6 Mustangs to choose from. The base model at 210hp all the way to the 435hp 427R with price tags peaking at $60K. Nothing to cool on the bottom end other than a name and some minor changes.

2008 Saleen Mustang Saleen offers seven Mustangs to choose from, and horsepower from 390hp to 620hp one can not complain. By far the best styling one is the H302 which is also offered as a Dan Gurney signature edition.

I could mention Unique Performance and Chip Foose, but who would want that crap. My money would be on the Shelby KR and/or the Saleen H302. Both offer great styling in a racing package.

Technorati Tags: 2008 Mustang, Mustang Warriors in Pink, 2008 Mustang GT, 2008 Bullitt Mustang, 2008 Shelby GT500/ GT500KR, 2008 Shelby GT/ GT-C, 2008 Roush Mustang, 2008 Saleen Mustang, Unique Performance, Chip Foose

The 40^th anniversary GT500KR is due out in the spring of 2008, and the anticipation has already begun. The all new KR is estimated at 540hp from its supercharged 4.6 liter V6. The Shelby GT comes equipped supercharged, but due to some ford racing tweaks, the KR one will outshine them all.

Shared similarities include; front functioning brake vents, Carbon fiber hood, 14” Brembo brakes up front, lanyard style hood pins and an upgraded suspension package. These were the main ingredients of the original that made the car so great. A six speed transmission now backs the power plant, which is a great improvement over the 4-speed of 68’. The functioning hood scoop doubles as a cold air intake while capturing the true essence of the original’s aggressive style. The KR has been lowered with stiffened springs to improve body roll and handling. One of the coolest additions yet, is the 20” speed rated Goodyear tires that adorn the classic Shelby styled rims. The interior is wrapped in leather with Carroll Shelby Signature seats and a 40^th anniversary GT500KR dash plate. Four exterior color options are available and they all look sharp, especially the black on black, which can be seen on the new Knight Rider television show.

With retro styling features similar to the 68’ Version and backed by all those ponies, this car will be sure to fly off the lot. The limited production numbers set to be around a thousand will drive the price even higher than the estimated $50-60k dealer price for the base model. The upgraded package will push the price tag to around $80k and I would not be surprised to see the first production one to match or surpass the $600k mark set by the 2007 Shelby GT at Barrett Jackson’s auto auction.

At the 1967 Auto show the Shelby Cobra GT500 “King of the Road” was introduced and it had heads turning everywhere. It is alleged that General Motors had plans to use the KR name in future production, but either way Carroll Shelby beat them to the punch and the KR was on its way. The car was not available until mid-production 1968, and was the first time the convertibles had been used in the Shelby line up along with the Cobra name.

The introduction of the Cobra name was based on the new 428 Cobra Jet engine and had the CJ logo proudly displayed on the rocker covers. The CJ produced a modestly claimed 335 hp which was about ten more horse than the 428 police interceptor engine from previous year. A beefier suspension was added to the front with sub frame connectors to eliminate chassis flex. The rear end included disc brakes and staggered shocks to eliminate axle wind and wheel hop. The upgrades made for a stiffer ride, but the handling was much improved. The standard option was for the manual 4speed transmission, but 251 were produced with the powerful automatic C6.

While all of the power and handling upgrades did improve performance over past models, the new aggressive styling really set this Shelby apart from the others. Truly fit for a king the new styling options included a restyled louvered fiberglass hood, functioning side vents and sequential turn signals out back. The gauges were updated, a roll bar behind the seats was added and wood grain trim rounded out the otherwise stock interior.

With all the kingly options and upgrades the KR was on its way to reign as one of the best muscle cars of its era.

stats:

1,571 Shelby GT500KR were produced in 1968, 528 were convertibles and 1 prototype coupe was built.

The 428CJ produced: 335 horsepower @ 5200 rpm and 440ft lbs torque @ 3400rpm.

0-60 mph in, 6.0 seconds
1/4 mile: 14.3sec @ 100mph

While researchingthe value of 67-68’ Mustangs, I stumbled across many cars that were a little misleading in their ads. Many descriptions were clear on exactly what they were offering, some needed a little further explanation, but I found most of the cars had the word “clone” attached to them. For those who are not aware of the term, Clone cars are a recreation of a rare or limited number production model.

The 66’ Shelby GT350 R is a prime example of a desirable car that has extremely low production numbers and would fetch over $900,000 in prime condition. Between the high price tag and the low odds of finding the car available for sale, the automotive market has turned to the “clone” to meet the demand. While clone cars range in price, on average you can find one for 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of an original. However, the buyer must beware: the term clone is used loosely, and offers only a vague description of what the car might actually be. There are some clues to help determine the level of authenticity, which I will share with you in the hopes that you will utilize this vital information before making a grand purchase.

The most important factor in determining what you are getting is research, and vast amounts of it, on the specific vehicle you desire. Books, magazines, restoration suppliers, web rings and fellow enthusiasts are all great sources of information. The more knowledgeable you are as a consumer, the more value you will receive for your dollar. You need to know what separates a high priced clone from a lesser-priced one.

In my own research, I came across an ad for a 66 Fastback that used the term “Shelby clone”. The asking price was $35,000. This may seem like a steal at this price, but on further inspection of the small black and white photo, it was easy to see the car was not even close to a Shelby. In fact, the only Shelby detail of the car was the paint job and stripes. Upon closer inspection I determined that the car was not even a GT model (Shelby’s were converted from the GT model). When compared to other base model fastbacks in the same condition that are priced around $20-25k, the car begins to stand out as being ridiculously over priced.

It is the small details that make or break the clone. Granted, the price may help on giving some clue to the extent of the restoration, but only knowledge can help determine exactly what you are getting. A true clone needs to match the original car it is modeled after. It is true that some clones may never match 100% due to the availability of parts and original documentation, but they can still come closer than a mere paint and stripe job. The higher percentage of completion could and, more importantly, should bring a premium price when compared to a less complete version. The asking price sometimes reflects the level of completion, but once again, us buyers need to beware and be knowledgeable.

Through research you can determine the amount of car you can get that will fit your budget. Ask lots of questions to determine what steps and parts were used in the recreation, be patient and be sure you are getting exactly what you pay for.

Technorati Tags: researching, descriptions, clone, Clone cars, Shelby GT350 R, automotive market, buyer, beware, authenticity