Cars you owned once and since sold them and know there worth Big Bucks.

[mondeomatureguy]

Hi guys,
if we each had a crystal ball all those years ago!
For the guys in my age group or older will remember in 1971 you could buy a RT Valiant E38 charger for $3975.00.

That was a lot of money back then because our dads who worked then got no Superannuation and the wage in 1971 was $6,497.08 a year.

I have a Wheels Magazine dated January 1979.

A Ferrari 308GT4 was $46,418.
A Fairmont GXL was $9030.
A Holden Monaro GTS Hz Model was $9192.
Even in 1979 still lots of money then. If i did have a Crystal ball back then i would have asked my parents for a loan and brought a Ford Cobra.

[73 4V XB]

I was told convinced to sell a 73 bigport XB GT project to pay for my wedding. It was a rolling shell with a half continental roof. Wifey promised me we’ll get another down the track she came through with flying colours with not only the same colour but the same car basically, it also had her birthdate and was from a town I share my surname with
Still in the shed and have made contact with a few previous owners. I later found out some history on the car. It won second best original restored at the 99 GT nationals in Adelaide, it had been restored and sold by GTR in Melbourne. I now have the original sales option paperwork with the original owners details and still looks as good as it did after leaving GTR.
It’s now my super plan

[Pis-ton broke]

my favorite was the vg hardtop valiant , sold for peanuts
mark 1, 2 door escort, blew up and scrapped
1976 rally pack 2 door , escort , scrapped
series 1 rx7, scrapped.

[prktkljokr]

When I was 18, my father had a panel shop, I was LJ Torana mad, I used to buy LJ and LC GTR Torana's so I could make 1 good 1 ( which I did then sold it ), I used to buy un-licenced rough ones, the most I ever paid was $1500 ( LC GTR XU1 with a 253 tri-matic in it ), my old man used to get on me about the cars sitting around the workshop and them taking up his valuable space, so I cut them up with the oxy and threw the shells away 7 cars in total, 6 genuine GTR's and 1 XU1, gone forever, I also cut up 5 other LJ, LC Torana's 2 x 4cylinder ones and 3 standard 2 doors.

My wife ribs me about it all the time, but back then you didnt know, they were just old cars then.

[Mulva]

Chrysler by Chrysler with 5.9 360 when I was 17...cost $1800 in late 1988, sold roughly a year or so later for $1800 and slab of West End Super.

Not sure if I can count orange XC 302 ute as I never actually owned it...bro-in-law had been using it as a shooting-bus for 2 years but was replacing it with FJ45 tray-back cruiser. XC was rough but mechanically very sound, we agreed on $400 and I'd pay him when I could as was student. I got a 60-day rego permit and took it back to Adelaide, drove it for about 5 weeks on permit without plates, gave it back to him as got sick of getting a wet **** as it had bad leak from where he'd put a spot-light on swivel-handle out the roof.

But what really hurts now is so so so many rotaries through the 90s. Mild port 4-door RX2, 1 Bridge Port 2-door RX3, 1 Bridge Port 2-door RX4, 1 Monster Port 4-door RX4, plus a 4-door RX4 donor car with very minor panel damage that could and should really have been fixed but just wasn't financially viable back then. Most expensive was the 4-door RX4 that was already mental when I got it with not a thing to do - motor, exhaust, suspension, brakes, stereo, paint, interior, semi-slicks - am being literal when I say previous owner had spent "drug-money" on it...cost me $4950, sold for $5k 19 months later.

After rotary phase got back into V8...blue over silver VN 5.0. Calais. These days they don't fetch stupid money like a VN SS (particularly in Atlas Grey), but they are still going for dumb money now. Sold 2003 for $7800 (purchased for $16k about 5 years earlier).

Then came many many B and F series Falcon company cars, throughout which I couldn't afford to also have a 'my' car due to mortgage then marriage then kids, and as company hacks none are really desirable models these days.

[MITCHAY]

These cars are only worth anything because they were flogged to death and no one was thinking about what they might be worth in the future. My father had plenty including an XY.

I had a bloke come around to fix my evap cooler and he was telling me how his missus traded in a mint VP or VN SS for $5k recently without him knowing and how filthy he was about

[Tassie f100]

Had an XW GT Windsor with FMX auto.Bought it for $2500 in about 1976 flogged it around for about 50,000 miles then sold it for $3000 in 1980.was fairly rough when I sold it,but I guess probably $50-60k now.Knew a bloke who had an XR GT which he finished up burying it in a quarry because no one wanted it.

[mick taylor]

Originally Posted by mondeomatureguy

Hi guys,
if we each had a crystal ball all those years ago!
For the guys in my age group or older will remember in 1971 you could buy a RT Valiant E38 charger for $3975.00.

That was a lot of money back then because our dads who worked then got no Superannuation and the wage in 1971 was $6,497.08 a year.

I have a Wheels Magazine dated January 1979.

A Ferrari 308GT4 was $46,418.
A Fairmont GXL was $9030.
A Holden Monaro GTS Hz Model was $9192.
Even in 1979 still lots of money then. If i did have a Crystal ball back then i would have asked my parents for a loan and brought a Ford Cobra.

Yes but say $9000 back in 1979 is worth in value to what in 2021 ? that's the thing, 1 million Dollars back in 1979 was could by a lot and such a one was a wealthy person, but in 2021 one million dollars is nothing much at all in value to what a million was in 1979.
A person who has one million dollars nowadays is a nobody.

So if one was to keep say a new HZ GTS as an $9000 investment, such would be a lot better off looking to invest otherwise, the value may go up in $ but not in actual true worth. a mate has a VC Brock Commodore yes it's gaining in value but when adding insurance each year and all is it really the investment one may think, his Super is gaining about 10% now.

There are some XY GT-HO fetching X stupid amounts but not all are not getting top dollars like such. but you hear many claiming that say there GTS Monaro is worth top $ like the max that one sold for, but they will never get half that.

[BENT_8]

I had so many cars from the 60's, 70's and 80's back in the 90's which would all pull well more than i sold them for so its a depressing subject, but if i could pick one it would have to be the HX GTS 253 4sp in green with blackouts in 94. Bought for 3k from a dealer, swapped it for an XD to have air conditioning.
At the time i lived in the country and hung around with a bunch of local car nuts, we'd often spend the weekends at the local beach and the carpark would contain my GTS, Brother inlaws HQ SS, 2x HQ Premier 308's, HJ Premier 253, HK Premier 186s, HZ Premier 253, ZG Fairlane 302.
All gone now except one of the HQ Premiers which has been in a shed since 95.

A few years later i knocked back a black XA Fairmont 351 Coupe with shaker, XY GT boot spoiler and Landau dash for 4k, it was an immaculate ground up resto by an old skool panel beater who went through a messy divorce, only thing it needed was 2 new mufflers.

[LUV DE COUPE]

XY GS Fairmont V8 4 speed paid 3K sold for $850 bucks (dumb ****)
XW GS Fairmont V8 4 speed paid 3K sold $1800 bucks
XAGT big tag 4 speed sun roof power windows and steer 15K

[RANGEREST]

XP Futura coupe 289 powered.
HX Sandman panel van.
HQ Monaro 308.

[Dave R]

I sold a VF2 SS Commodore a year ago just before the pandemic, market value was mid 30s at that point. A year on, same car is back on the market asking $55k. If old mate gets close to what he's asking, he's done well in 12 months!

[bb_zetec]

On a similar note...Last June i bought i a Manual VE SSV V8 Wagon for 15K

The same cars now are selling for 22-25K.

Who knows what will happen with this Pandemic going forward and used car prices.

I did think of selling my FGII Ute (GASP!...i'll never do that again), and people were trying to low ball me at 13K prior to the pandemic. these now are hovering around the same 22 Mark.

Things are becoming crazy!

[MercuryT]

Mazda Rx7

[MercuryT]

I bought a Ford Probe over a Supra after.

Great choice at time as far better car. Safety, features etc.

History suggests a shocking decision financially.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

I find these threads painful, nobody else in my family has interest in collectibles, or mechanical items other than viewing the cost balance vs immediate gratification.

Interest in history, collectibles and maybe autism has seen me hedge the cars I sold:

ED Classic GLi sedan - I liked the family bus so much and regretted trading it in, so I bought an ED XR8 Sprint. Still have.

XW Fairmont wagon - beaut, white, saddle trim that had gone greenish. I rued selling it in 1999 and vowed to replace it with better. Working around Oz I found & bought an XW GS Fairmont sedan in the early 2000s, all original, all numbers and books. I always wanted the GS options which the wagon didn't have, and liked the GS as it was a bit more nondescript when compared to the GT. Nowadays, both send people into raptures when they see them and this is a bit of a pain as I like to fly under the radar. Until very recently, the Sprint brought no attention, but now the kids are clueing up to it.

And the ones I haven't been able to replace (can't keep 'em all...)

FJ73 auto Landcruiser. Sold to upgrade to HJ60 diesel - which was a blessing really as it launched my career, working remote. But I do miss that one. I've all but given up trying to find one, and that's ok. The FJ73 was a beast on sand and I liked the auto.

VG Valiant hardtop - not really sold, read on. I bought the unlicenced wreck that 3 blokes had driven down from Darwin in about 1994, $800. I cleaned it up, tuned it up, and drove it to the farm where it became my farm adventure rocket. On a big farm, too. It was rough, green, rust roof where vinyl had worn away, front bench was wobbly, white contrast bonnet that I angle grinded and zinc covered, full of bullets and Darwin stubbies. Still faster than girlfriend of the time's WB 253! Stolen some years later - not really sold. It was a lot of fun and I don't miss it tbh, my hands are full keeping the other cars. Worth big bucks but the Mad Max experience of the coupe on the farm was priceless.

[Hulsty]

Alot of guys here have had Valiants!, I'm lucky I've get my VG Hardtop, had it since 2004. I dont regret selling it, but only one I've sold now worth more, was a FJ73 Landcruiser, sold it for $2800 to a mate, it was well used then, now the same car probably worth double to tripple. I sold it to buy a BJ74 Landcruiser, so no loss to me.

[Electrolyte Burns]

ZL Fairlane. Was only a six but I loved it, super smooth ride and after I replaced the torque converter it had respectable fuel consumption. I suspect this was why the previous owner traded it.

[blueoval]

1983 XE Fairmont
1977 XC GS Fairmont
1981 ZJ Fairlane
1991 EB XR8

These cars are 3-4 times what I paid and sold them for now.

I dont regret selling them at the time. But had I known what I know now, I would have kept one of them for sentimental reasons.

[jstanovic]

Not necessarily big bucks but my 1993 Ed 4.0 manual was a rare beast. It was the dark red colour, only a GLi but was immaculate and went hard. Haven’t seen a manual since, would be a desirable car now (but not expensive haha)

[DOC]

HJ Monaro
HZ Monaro

[.:4:.]

For my brothers 18th, back in 1999, my uncle sold him his 83 hdt cheap. $3500 from memory. My uncle bought it new in 83. My brother promply wrote it off. Not really his fault, he got hit by a landcruiser. Insurance only paid out 3k for the car. These days it would be worth quite a bit more and Insurance probably would have fixed it.

[rare ss]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

For my brothers 18th, back in 1999, my uncle sold him his 83 hdt cheap. $3500 from memory. My uncle bought it new in 83. My brother promply wrote it off. Not really his fault, he got hit by a landcruiser. Insurance only paid out 3k for the car. These days it would be worth quite a bit more and Insurance probably would have fixed it.

Any photos, asking for a mate

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by rare ss

Any photos, asking for a mate

Maybe theres a kodak my brother has. Thats doubtful. Camera phones or digital cameras were new not really existent back then. The car itself was bastardised from day dot. Now, when cars are new people dont care about originality. So it had a vc brock spoiler on it, dealer fit, my uncle didnt like the vh spoiler. The interior was swapped out near new. Steering wheel was, and we still have it, a momo from a vk director. And in 87 my uncle put on VL calais 15s because he liked them more. The rest of the car was correct. Build plate, all that stuff. So if it existed today, it wouldnt be a $100k car, not even a 30k car. Maybe 25k on a good day. But the one that got away none the less.
My brothers project car is an 82 vh. Hes had that one for 20 odd years. Its no hdt, its a sl/x. Factory 253. Genuine second owner, my first girlfriends mum owned it from new. Its 90% done, but the last 10% takes 90% of the time. Paint and a freshen up mechanically. So time and effort, it should be pretty booring but cool. Itd fetch more then 3500 i reckon.

[rare ss]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Maybe theres a kodak my brother has. Thats doubtful. Camera phones or digital cameras were new not really existent back then. The car itself was bastardised from day dot. Now, when cars are new people dont care about originality. So it had a vc brock spoiler on it, dealer fit, my uncle didnt like the vh spoiler. The interior was swapped out near new. Steering wheel was, and we still have it, a momo from a vk director. And in 87 my uncle put on VL calais 15s because he liked them more. The rest of the car was correct. Build plate, all that stuff. So if it existed today, it wouldnt be a $100k car, not even a 30k car. Maybe 25k on a good day. But the one that got away none the less.
My brothers project car is an 82 vh. Hes had that one for 20 odd years. Its no hdt, its a sl/x. Factory 253. Genuine second owner, my first girlfriends mum owned it from new. Its 90% done, but the last 10% takes 90% of the time. Paint and a freshen up mechanically. So time and effort, it should be pretty booring but cool. Itd fetch more then 3500 i reckon.

You'd be surprised at the commo values these days, they have gone a little crazy like everything else, shame to hear it was written off though, the HDT guys always like to know where they all are and ended up

I sold my old VK Group A replica for 10k back in 2003 or so, was an ex pursuit originally but the prices people are paying these days it would be pulling 30-40k without too much trouble, the VH SL/X is still pretty desirable these days, good luck finding one for under 30k nowadays

[MDS69]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

Maybe theres a kodak my brother has. Thats doubtful. Camera phones or digital cameras were new not really existent back then. The car itself was bastardised from day dot. Now, when cars are new people dont care about originality. So it had a vc brock spoiler on it, dealer fit, my uncle didnt like the vh spoiler. The interior was swapped out near new. Steering wheel was, and we still have it, a momo from a vk director. And in 87 my uncle put on VL calais 15s because he liked them more. The rest of the car was correct. Build plate, all that stuff. So if it existed today, it wouldnt be a $100k car, not even a 30k car. Maybe 25k on a good day. But the one that got away none the less.
My brothers project car is an 82 vh. Hes had that one for 20 odd years. Its no hdt, its a sl/x. Factory 253. Genuine second owner, my first girlfriends mum owned it from new. Its 90% done, but the last 10% takes 90% of the time. Paint and a freshen up mechanically. So time and effort, it should be pretty booring but cool. Itd fetch more then 3500 i reckon.

Any idea on the Build #

[FERG_51]

XY GS
XB GS
XW GT
XD S Pack 351
ED XR8 Sprint
XC Rally Pack 302 p van
To name a few, enjoyed every one of them.

[HIPO]

A mint 74 Landau... 1 owner
Very nice XC Fairmont coupe, only 302 though.
A mint VH Charger.... 1 owner, only a 245 though & baby poo light brown in colour.
A solid straight ZC fairlane. 302 windsor.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by MDS69

Any idea on the Build #

No clue sorry. It was a ****bag but less crappy old commodore at the time. Back then they werent considered collectable. The sl/x is original matching numbers, exept the original motor is shagged, still have it,but yeah, its all bark no bite being a 253. Its sunday cruiser cool. Its got a different 253 in it at the moment. The whole car needs a freshon up and needs to be buttoned up. Its all there, just time and effort are lacking.

[Stubbie]

1970 Ford Fairmont station wagon with the rear electric window, paid $600 in 1981 sold in 83 for $300 after the fuel pump or cam wore out. I too hacked up a beautiful $50 Triumph Vitesse with an electric hacksaw because I wanted the chassis for a fiberglass kit car.