Is it just me, or is this wagon overpriced?

I'm a newbie to this site and would like your thoughts on something. I'm looking for an early 1970s Country Squire, but the few that I've found in nice shape seem to be way overpriced. For example, this is a nice example of a heavily optioned 1973 CS, but the current bid seems a little outrageous to me. Obviously a car is worth what someone will pay for it, but is it reasonable for me to expect to be able to buy a car in this condition (a 1971, 1972 or 1973 CS) for $5k-$6k (maybe without the 429 4v?)?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ford...iewItem&pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27b2fb77b7

P.S. I found an auction listing indicating that the same car sold for $4,000 in the last month or two.

 

Well, that is clearly one fine example of a preseved wagon. As for price, can't help. Since I've joined I've seen wagons sell and be bout for big $ and it comes down to location, etc.

I'm in wonder about the engine, maybe some of the Ford guys could answer this. K, I know the 351 Cleveland was still avalible in 73 in Cougars, don't know or have heard of it in any other 73 ford.

My question is, the air cleaner says 429, the valve cover says 460, bla, bla, 429/460 engine family. Witch is it? I thought the 429 was no longer avalible in 73?

 

I've seen this wagon in ads before - fairly recently.
I'm a bit suspicious about the $7,200 bid on a 'No Reserve' auction. I'm calling 'shenanigans' on this one......

The previous sale for $4k sounds about right for value, maybe a bit more. It is a desirable color.

 

Nice car but it's bare bones. Over priced and a phony bid.

 

I'd love to have a Squire like this, great condition, and color. But I am also calling shenanigans.

 

I don't know. The bidding started at $200 and has risen in many steps to $7,200 over the course of a 10-day auction. It is a bit unusual for a car in this condition to put up for auction with no reserve, but it's not unheard of. It IS a nice example. Maybe the seller, who is apparently a dealer, just wants it gone and figures it will get a decent price because it actually is a nice car. He's apparently been proven right.

To answer the original poster's question, in my opinion, this is not overpriced, although at $7,200, it may now be at the high end of the reasonable range. It will be interesting to see where the bidding tops out.

 

Two things....first, there is no such thing as a no reserve bid on eBay. ANY seller can pull their car out of the sale as long as there are 2 days left. Second,....SOME long time eBayers that sell a lot of cars (maybe dealers) during the year have friends (shills) all over the country that will up the bid until the desired price is reached.
Not saying that's the case here and I'm not saying it isn't.

 

Perhaps so, but it's too late now for this seller as there's only 12 hours left as I write this.

The Old Cars Price Guide lists the value of one of these in showroom condition at $5,600, so, yes, I would go along with the idea that this is likely overpriced, but by exactly how much is hard to say as those values are very average.

It is a nice example, and if the buyer really wants it, he may feel the price is worth it. After all, everyone on here argues that a car is worth only what someone will pay for it. Apparently this one is worth $7,200.

Be interesting to see if it comes back up for sale a few days from now with the seller claiming an "unpaid bidder." Then we'll know for sure those were shill bids.

 

Well....the OP's original question was....is this car over priced. The answer is yes.

 

You have to be a little careful. The seller didn't set the price of this at $7,200. He started the bidding at $200, and the MARKET took the price to $7,200. We can argue that the high bidder is paying too much, but, on the other hand, as I've said, everyone argues that the best measure of a car's value is what someone is willing to pay for it. Well, hell, if someone is willing to pay $7,200 for this, and it appears that someone is, then that's its value. Assuming the bidding is legit, this car WILL sell for at least $7,200. Can't argue with that.

I think the OP is just hoping that this isn't the norm and that he can get one like this for $5K somewhere else. That may not be possible, at least for one in the condition this one is in, especially if word gets out that these have sold for $7,000+. It looks like it needs absolutely nothing.

 

Thanks for the insight on this wagon. Jaunty is spot on about this being the norm; it's the extra one or two thousand dollars premium for a wagon in this condition that sets my teeth on edge a bit. I realize that it's unusual find wagons in this condition, but when I look at the relatively huge production numbers for Country Squires in this era, I just can't seem to justify the cost.

On a side note, I checked the bid history on this wagon and it appears to be highly suspicious. There seems to be an inordinate amount of bids from low-feedback bidders, plus 39 bids as of this posting seems like a lot of bids to me. It irks me that eBay has become so secretive about bidder's feedback and showing their user names. I've been on eBay for over 12 years and it seems like they've gone to the opposite extreme concerning bidder information. This is a case where it would be beneficial to see more information about who is bidding.

 

You are correct. A car is worth what someone will pay. It is also true that the car went over showroom value. There is nothing "average" about showroom. Showroom means NEW. They make books for a reason...anything that happens after the book price is money and emotion. Again....while the seller didn't set the price (maybe) the car went for more money than showroom book. Providing the figures you quoted are correct.

 

Right on, tig. Ebay sucks for many reasons. One of which you just mentioned. Another reason hooks to something I said in in my previous post. Car people...people in the business, like I was, sell cars every day and the books are their guide. Along comes eBay and all the amateurs jump in and run up the price on a car because they are emotionally piqued and they happen to have a bunch of money. Not to mention shills. But it doesn't change the real value of the car. You are right to be disappointed that the car went well over value....but that's eBay.

 

They're not. I made them up.

 

But this makes NO sense!!! Who's to say what the REAL value of a car is???

EVERYONE argues that the value of a car is "only what someone is willing to pay for it." Your argument is that this is NOT true and that there is some underlying, intrinsic value.

Well, you can't have it both ways. Either a car IS worth what someone is willing to pay, or it's not. It appears in this case that someone is willing to pay $7,200 (we'll find out for sure eventually). Why is this not legitimate? He's willing to pay it. Therefore that's it's value.

I find hilarious your comment that "emotionally piqued amateurs are jumping on ebay and driving up the prices" or words to that effect. Why is their money less green than yours or mine or anyone else's? These dealers should be THRILLED that people are willing to pay this much. I'm sure the seller of this wagon, assuming the bid is legitimate, is salivating over the prospect of selling for more than he though it would fetch. We all live for that day when we sell a car, our house, or anything else!