I remember being laughed at when I said that cars from the 1970s and 1980s would appreciate and become just like all of those muscle cars that people had been fawning over. I said it when I got my mid-Seventies Camaro as my first car. I said it when I got my 1979 Cutlass. I said it when I brought home a really clean late 1970s Buick LeSabre…and by the end of the night, that car had a Chevy Blazer parked on top of it. But with every passing year, I’m becoming convinced that I was right all along, and if I needed any validation, this Plymouth Scamp is proof.
Now, let’s be accurate: there is no way in Hell that this 1972 Scamp is worth fifteen large. Even if I didn’t see that wave underneath the vinyl top, even if it was well-optioned, even if there was documented proof that this Scamp really was one of the very very few 440 Six Pack cars from that model year that escaped out the back door, it’s not worth fifteen grand plus. But this is an extreme case. Look at a more realistic offering: 1974-77 Camaro. For years, the only reason you got one of these cars was because you were too broke to buy a better version or you were building a dirt track car. Now? For a decent driver, start at about $8,000-$10,000 and still expect to do some work. G-body Buick Regal two-door: $10K-$15K.
This doesn’t work for every car, of course, but vehicles that were approachable are now jumping up. 1973-87 GM trucks. GM B-bodies. Hotter late 1970s Mopars, even…seriously, they are still a niche market but clean Cordobas and Volaré Road Runners can trade in five-figure territory. You want cheap? Look to the 1990s. Look to Craigslist. Look to your local contacts. But be prepared for folks who “know what they have”. You’ll see something like a 1980s Thunderbird up for grabs with the line, “I can part this thing out for what I’m asking, so don’t ask my bottom line”.
Have you seen something like this?
That’s it! I’m selling my AMC Matador for 15K!
Prices are up all over right now it seems. It seems like cars that were listed for $700-$2500 a year ago are listed for $4500-$10k… Wonder what the cause of this insanity is
Supply and demand !! There are only so many old cars left. The gov buy back program screwed everything with Cash for Clunkers !!! Even major rust buckets are being restored…
” Hot late 70’s Mopar” ??? No such thing.
My sister bought a scamp a decade and a half ago that looks identical to the pictures one. Paid $1200 I think for the gutless 318 factory AC car. It is now rotting away in a field and she refused to sell it, thinks one day she will fix it up… yeah right. The vinyl is all peeled off and you can see through the floor everywhere. By this market though it could be listed for $6000.
I think one of the reasons for the over valued situation is because there are a lot of people new to the hobby that are gullible enough to pay these prices. I about spit my coffee out the other day when I saw what people were listing 80\’s GM G-bodies for on ebay. A quick check of the \”Sold\” listing showed most people pay a much more reasonable amount for these cars but there were several that waaaaaaaaaay over paid for their cars.
I hope you are speaking of asking prices in the write-up. If not I am going to buy every last G-body Buick and Olds I can come across because I haven’t seen anything like 10-15K. I’ll make One Meeeeellion Dollars.
My boss at my after school job in HS had the twin to that T bird in the bottom ohoto. Nice car back then.
That green Mopar thing in the post is an $ 800 car, at best. As for Buick Regals, Grand Nationals excepted, they go for the price of scrap steel around $ 40 a ton and a free tow.
That Ford thing in the post isn’t worth taking for free. That’s why its there.
These cars were junk and not worth having when they were new. Anyone buys one of these things deserves what they get – Good and Hard.
All those people who say that Scamp isn\’t worth anything would pay $12.000 for a clapped out x-body or bargebuilt Caprice . I bought my \’72 Scamp in 2000 for $1000 . After a rotisserie restoration , 383 , 727, 9\” and more goodies there\’s no way I\’m letting it go for less than $19,000 . It all comes down to the quality of the build regardless of whom made it . Manufacturer snobbery does nothing for the hobby but divide us . We just can\’t afford that .
All those people who say that Scamp isn’t worth anything would pay $12.000 for a clapped out x-body or bargebuilt Caprice . I bought my ’72 Scamp in 2000 for $1000 . After a rotisserie restoration , 383 , 727, 9″ and more goodies there’s no way I’m letting it go for less than $19,000 . It all comes down to the quality of the build regardless of whom made it . Manufacturer snobbery does nothing for the hobby but divide us . We just can’t afford that .