What's the best way to sell a Cobra now?

[CHANMADD]

We consign cars at Cardiff Classics in Encinitas.We have been in business here for 20 years. We have sold Replica and real Cobras over the years and would gladly consign Cobra's Coupes and
GT40's for sale. Our job is marketing and selling cars'
www.Cardiffclassics.com
(760)632-5555

[jhv48]

It's the basic laws of supply and demand.

When times are tough, everyone sells their toys first.

Thus, glut on the market and prices drop.

Just like in the stock market and housing market, if you can ride it out till all the "gotta sell this damn car" people take the hit and dump their cars, you will see the supply drop and the demand will rise accordingly.

Cyclical, just like everything else.

Now is definitely the time to buy.

But not as an investment, as a toy!

[Danr55]

Funny. I'm looking for a car to replace mine. I don't see any drop in prices.. Where can I find these? (Please pardon the sarcasm. It's getting real discouraging out here in "I don't have a Cobra anymore" country)

[Ronbo]

I dunno, seen a lot of cars on Cobracountry with reduced prices...

The ones that sell, well you don't know what they sold for.

Granted summer months are here so there will be more interest now. I've seen Kieth C's latest build on ebay and CC plus his site and no interest in it yet. For some reason I see German and English buyers jumping on the aluminum cars.

BDP just sold a new, full optioned Kirkham w/ Shelby FE and IDA stacks for $100k... (someone got a great deal here)

[jhv48]

Dan, you're not looking very hard.

[Danr55]

JHV, I'm looking very hard, but I'm looking for a special car.. not just a cobra but a COBRA.. if you know what I mean. Not meaning to belittle any of the cars out there, there are some beautiful cars for sale, but the one I'm looking for just hasn't popped up yet.. I don't think.. There is a light in the tunnel, but I'm not sure if it's the other end or just a train coming.

[HIQ]

Dan - I am with you. When I go to Cobra Country I see:
#1. Contemporary Street Car with 289 small block - $44K
#2. Superformance w Rousch 402R $53,900
#3. Cobra Autoworks w/ 302 Automatic $37,500
#4. ERA w/ 427 Side Oilder $59,900
#5. Integrity Coachworks w/ 429 $55K
#6. Superformance w/ 514 $55,500
#7. Superformance w/ 393 $57,500
#8. ERA w/ 427 $59,900
#9. Clasisic Roadsters w/ 302 $39,500
#10. Unique w/ 351 $48,900

Lots of nice cars to choose from but none of them are cheap. The market for used replicas is suprisingly stable in my eyes. Don't believe me, have a dumb *(*&^% run into yours with an SUV and try to replace it.

[Got the Bug]

There are FAR more cars for sale now than when I was looking in January of 2007. I've got to believe that we're in a buyers market right now. Asking prices may appear to be stable, but it's hard to gauge how motivated a seller really is until you make an offer.

[Ronbo]

Again, yes those are the prices but except for the Superformance (which is priced rather low) they are all followed by "obo" as are most of the typically high asking prices you see on CC.

I've been watching the site for some time, about a year ago half the cars sold within a week. This is no longer the case, and lots of red "reduced" type is showing up lately.

[madmaxx]

The only one I would have any interest is #2 and depending on the mileage it may be a very good deal

[CHANMADD]

Over the years I have come to realize that a Cobra is worth what the new buyer is prepared to pay. So find the car you like and if the seller is really a seller they should be willing to negotiate.

[madmaxx]

I retract #2 as a good deal way to many miles.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by HIQ

Dan - I am with you. When I go to Cobra Country I see:
#1. Contemporary Street Car with 289 small block - $44K
#2. Superformance w Rousch 402R $53,900
#3. Cobra Autoworks w/ 302 Automatic $37,500
#4. ERA w/ 427 Side Oilder $59,900
#5. Integrity Coachworks w/ 429 $55K
#6. Superformance w/ 514 $55,500
#7. Superformance w/ 393 $57,500
#8. ERA w/ 427 $59,900
#9. Clasisic Roadsters w/ 302 $39,500
#10. Unique w/ 351 $48,900

Lots of nice cars to choose from but none of them are cheap. The market for used replicas is suprisingly stable in my eyes. Don't believe me, have a dumb *(*&^% run into yours with an SUV and try to replace it.

Hey, I noticed you left out any CSX's and Kirkhams. Not fair!

It appears xl8or's Kirkham is still available for $86,500. Nice car.

If you're not in a hurry, as the thread starter has indicated, then CobraCountry is the place. I subscribe to and read Hemmings each month, but I think that source is mainly for older non-specially-constructed (or kit)car crowd.

[meat]

Originally Posted by jhv48

It's the basic laws of supply and demand.

Supply and demand is a model - like the imaginary global warming nonsense - not a law.

And that model doesn't really apply to Cobras. Never has, never will. Cobras are generally pretty immune to market and economy issues. Cobras are worth a certain amount, and someone will pay that certain amount - bull market or bear market.

Your pal,
Meat.

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by meat

Cobras are worth a certain amount, and someone will pay that certain amount - bull market or bear market.

Your pal,
Meat.

And that would be supply and demand.

[jhv48]

Don't know about you, but I'm seeing a larger number of cars for sale and it is taking them longer to sell than in the past few years.

The asking prices have remained stable, but that is only the starting point in the negotiation. I haven't heard of many people getting their asking prices unless they had something unique about their car that made it worth the extra money.

We may want to think our cars are worth more, but once again, they are worth only what someone is willing to pay us for it.

So who gives a s--t what they are worth. We built/bought them because we love them. They are worth the price to US. And that's all that matters.

And by the way, supply and demand does effect the price/value of an item. And with more and more Cobras being built every year, the market is getting more and more saturated with product. We may be approaching the saturation point. Once again, supply and demand!

If you HAVE to sell it for any reason in this market, you will be fair game for bargain hunters. Only you can decide at what point the value of "cash in hand" exceeds "car in hand".

[xlr8or]

Rodney you are correct.

[double ugly]

Danr55 if you can wait for a year you can buy the carbon car. I might let you drive it now and then though.
John

[jwd]

Originally Posted by meat

Supply and demand is a model - like the imaginary global warming nonsense - not a law.

And that model doesn't really apply to Cobras. Never has, never will. Cobras are generally pretty immune to market and economy issues. Cobras are worth a certain amount, and someone will pay that certain amount - bull market or bear market.

Your pal,
Meat.

Take a course in basic economics. Supply and demand is what runs the economy. More Cobras are being built everyday. That my friend, causes the prices to drop. People having less disposable income causes prices to drop as well. Fortunately, true collector cars (including original Cobras) are only subject to the latter unlike the other Cobras that are subject to both.
As far as prices being stable, those are asking prices and the cars are not selling. Actual selling prices are ALOT lower.

Jim

[meat]

Originally Posted by jwd

Take a course in basic economics.

No thank you. I took economics a long time ago. I doubt very much that what is taught has changed.

Originally Posted by jwd

Supply and demand is what runs the economy.

Cobras are immune to economic change.

Originally Posted by jwd

More Cobras are being built everyday.

And more are being removed from the roads every day as well.

Originally Posted by jwd

That my friend, causes the prices to drop.

Ah. I see. Okay, well, then let's take the two most mass-produced Cobras out for an economic spin then.

Superformance. A beautiful turnkey-minus vehicle. They've been building these cars steadily for a decade. Prices continue to rise.

Factory Five. Introduced as a sub-$10K kit, they've produced thousands of kits. Prices continue to rise.

Less-produced Cobras all follow those same trends. That, my friend, is fact, not half-baked internet-post "economic theory."

Originally Posted by jwd

People having less disposable income causes prices to drop as well.

Which - of course - explains why recreational vehicles, aircraft, and boat prices all continue to dro ... wait a minute, prices on all of those items continue to increase! It's almost as if people with disposable income continue to purchase these items.

Your theory continues to deteriorate. Let's continue...

Originally Posted by jwd

Fortunately, true collector cars (including original Cobras) are only subject to the latter unlike the other Cobras that are subject to both.

Patently untrue. Again. "true" collector cars include Cobras. ALL Cobras. Even that odd little Goben Cobra.

Originally Posted by jwd

As far as prices being stable, those are asking prices and the cars are not selling. Actual selling prices are ALOT lower.

You don't know that. You're making that up.

Furthermore, "asking price" and "selling price" are numbers that exist regardless of economy.

...aaaaand your theory completely unravels. Glad I was there to help you see the error of your ways.

I've been around Cobras for over three decades. I've watched the ebb and flow of the manufacturers. I've got terabytes of documentation on Cobras - original and replica - selling prices, asking prices, kit prices, auction prices, manufacturer prices, etc. - I know that of which I speak.

I've got just about every assembly manual, original owners manual, brochure, pricing list, parts list, book, magazine, article that is out there. I know that of which I speak.

I appreciate your attempts to change the Cobra marketplace, but it ain't gonna happen. But you did accomplish something today; you made it more important to me that I restart my website so that people can know the historical information about Cobras rather than read conjecture from someone who doesn't know.

Your pal,
Meat.