Appraisal Value Advice Needed

[cwestra]

I am considering selling my AAR and getting a B-body to work on instead (Charger, Roadrunner).  Looking for advice on estimating the current value of my car, though.  Any recommendations (appraisers, past eBay sales, etc...)?

[JH27N0B]

The short answer is that it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
Beyond that, estimating a value is pretty tough.  Since there are so many variables, it is difficult to estimate your car's value based on recent ebay and national auction sales.  Looking at one of these recently sold cars, you must ask how did the condition and quality of the restoration of it compare to yours?  Was it numbers matching, is yours?
How about the color, value varies with the desirability of the color.  4 speed or auto?  Documentation?  The list goes on!
So a unrestored triple black one owner #'s matching 4 speed 15,000 mile AAR with all the original paperwork including window sticker and sales paperwork might easily bring over 100K.  A white with green interior non matching #'s column shift auto with a so-so restoration, no documentation, many incorrect parts under the hood, might have a hard time fetching 30K in today's market.
So using that for a gage, your car falls somewhere between 30K and 100K in value.
Appraisers aren't that accurate in my experience.  The last appraisal I had on my convertible in fall of 2006 was in the mid $90's.  I have no desire to sell the car, but believe me, if someone ever had offered me over 90K for it, I would have taken the money and ran before the buyer came to his senses!  At the time, I figured the car might bring 65K if I sold it, max.  That would make the professional appraisal around 30% high.  From what I've heard about other people's appraisals over the years, I think my experience is common. Think of all the ads you see over the years for vintage cars that say things like "appraised 25,000, first $17,500 takes it!".
And this market is a lot different than it was 4 or 5 years ago.  Back then, people were buying cars first, asking questions later.  Today it is much more a buyers market, a rare well documented original or well restored car still has a market, but it seems like anything that is not a prime example is very hard to find a buyer for.
Finding that buyer willing to pay top dollar is no easy chore, even when the market was hot.  I've known a lot of people who have listed cars for sale in various places, with no luck, and ended up contracting with a broker to sell the car in order to get a high sales price, doing that you end up paying the broker a sizable commission though.
Anyways, that's my 

[cwestra]

The short answer is that it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
Beyond that, estimating a value is pretty tough.  Since there are so many variables, it is difficult to estimate your car's value based on recent ebay and national auction sales.  Looking at one of these recently sold cars, you must ask how did the condition and quality of the restoration of it compare to yours?  Was it numbers matching, is yours?
How about the color, value varies with the desirability of the color.  4 speed or auto?  Documentation?  The list goes on!
So a unrestored triple black one owner #'s matching 4 speed 15,000 mile AAR with all the original paperwork including window sticker and sales paperwork might easily bring over 100K.  A white with green interior non matching #'s column shift auto with a so-so restoration, no documentation, many incorrect parts under the hood, might have a hard time fetching 30K in today's market.
So using that for a gage, your car falls somewhere between 30K and 100K in value.
Appraisers aren't that accurate in my experience.  The last appraisal I had on my convertible in fall of 2006 was in the mid $90's.  I have no desire to sell the car, but believe me, if someone ever had offered me over 90K for it, I would have taken the money and ran before the buyer came to his senses!  At the time, I figured the car might bring 65K if I sold it, max.  That would make the professional appraisal around 30% high.  From what I've heard about other people's appraisals over the years, I think my experience is common. Think of all the ads you see over the years for vintage cars that say things like "appraised 25,000, first $17,500 takes it!".
And this market is a lot different than it was 4 or 5 years ago.  Back then, people were buying cars first, asking questions later.  Today it is much more a buyers market, a rare well documented original or well restored car still has a market, but it seems like anything that is not a prime example is very hard to find a buyer for.
Finding that buyer willing to pay top dollar is no easy chore, even when the market was hot.  I've known a lot of people who have listed cars for sale in various places, with no luck, and ended up contracting with a broker to sell the car in order to get a high sales price, doing that you end up paying the broker a sizable commission though.
Anyways, that's my 

I very much appreciate the detailed response, JH27NOB.  I was hoping that at least and appraiser would be reasonably accurate (assuming a knowledgable one), but I admit I've seen situations similar to what you described regarding high appraisals.  Not sure where to go from here except to try and track sales of these vehicles, factoring in condition, options, orig. equiptment, etc...

Incidentally, mine's a numbers matching 4 speed car (all drivetrain orig.).  Deep burnt orange, rotisserie restoration (completed this year) to stock appearance.

[JH27N0B]

It seems like most brokerages give appraisal services.  You might contact a few and try asking them what they think they could get for your car if you contracted with them to sell your AAR for you.  That might give you a more accurate price estimate than if they thought you were looking for an appraisal for insurance purposes.  The estimate they gave you would probably still be on the high side, it's similar to the situation with real estate where a Realtor gives you a high estimate for what your house will sell for, to get the listing.  Soon you find that buyers aren't flocking to your door because the asking price is too high.  But it still might give you an "in the ballpark" idea of the price.
Beautiful car BTW!  I'd be contacting you if I had some extra cash available for a Mopar purchase right now.  I've grown sort of fond of FK5! 
 

[cwestra]

It seems like most brokerages give appraisal services.  You might contact a few and try asking them what they think they could get for your car if you contracted with them to sell your AAR for you.  That might give you a more accurate price estimate than if they thought you were looking for an appraisal for insurance purposes.  The estimate they gave you would probably still be on the high side, it's similar to the situation with real estate where a Realtor gives you a high estimate for what your house will sell for, to get the listing.  Soon you find that buyers aren't flocking to your door because the asking price is too high.  But it still might give you an "in the ballpark" idea of the price.
Beautiful car BTW!  I'd be contacting you if I had some extra cash available for a Mopar purchase right now.  I've grown sort of fond of FK5! 

Good advice.  I'll check into that first.  I can try and verify with any similar sales of vehicles like this when I come accross them.  Thanks, again.

[Rare_T_A]

I watched most of the BJ auction last week. I was shocked at what cars were selling for. (as in cheep) Z28's went for $35k. If that auction is any guage of the market it's a very poor time to try to sell. I'm just glad I sold my Road Runner 2 years ago when the market was still somewhat OK.

Best of luck in your sale. Remember it only take 1 person that really wants it and your done.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I'm with Brad on the fact that appraisers arnt that accurate. I've seen Brads car IT IS VERY NICE!! Nicer than mine in certain respects. My last appraisal was all that and then sum. Point being.... no one would ever pay me what the appraisal was..NO ONE! On the flip side she IS isnsured at appraised value...just in case......

[DAYTONA]

...I used to appraise classic cars and I have been an avid fan of the hobby/market for decades...my appraisals were usually for bank financing or insurance companys...I used advertising information from Hemmings, EBay or anywhere I could find info about a particular car...then I would weigh all the advertised prices against personal knowledge of sales of that particular car and do my best to accurately assign a value...keep in mind, an appraisal is based on info available THAT DAY, it could change the next day, week or month

...recent Trans Am sales have lagged far behind their high point a few years ago and most sales I have seen recently have been in the $50-75K range for REALLY NICE cars...as noted by JS27, there are many many considerations...your car has quite a few plus points (4-spd, matching numbers) and the biggest downside I see is the color...while it may be your favorite color or my favorite color, it has never been a high $$$ color and will never sell for the really big $$$ a black or pink AAR or other High Impact color would bring regardless how nicely it is done...the color will probably drag the car to the lower end of any price scale of like conditioned/equiped/doccumented restored cars of it's type...

ps...I hope you don't think I am picking on you or your car, just stating what I have seen/learned in 35 years of the classic car hobby...the best value I could give without seeing the car in person and having more information about the car/resto/doccumentation etc, I would "GUESTIMATE" a current value in the $55-65K range...I have been quietly searching for an AAR my self for a long time, but I am looking for one of the "High Impact" colors or I would be traveling cross state to see you...again, I am only trying to inform, not critisize

 ...good luck in your sale, hope you the best

[cwestra]

...I used to appraise classic cars and I have been an avid fan of the hobby/market for decades...my appraisals were usually for bank financing or insurance companys...I used advertising information from Hemmings, EBay or anywhere I could find info about a particular car...then I would weigh all the advertised prices against personal knowledge of sales of that particular car and do my best to accurately assign a value...keep in mind, an appraisal is based on info available THAT DAY, it could change the next day, week or month

...recent Trans Am sales have lagged far behind their high point a few years ago and most sales I have seen recently have been in the $50-75K range for REALLY NICE cars...as noted by JS27, there are many many considerations...your car has quite a few plus points (4-spd, matching numbers) and the biggest downside I see is the color...while it may be your favorite color or my favorite color, it has never been a high $$$ color and will never sell for the really big $$$ a black or pink AAR or other High Impact color would bring regardless how nicely it is done...the color will probably drag the car to the lower end of any price scale of like conditioned/equiped/doccumented restored cars of it's type...

ps...I hope you don't think I am picking on you or your car, just stating what I have seen/learned in 35 years of the classic car hobby...the best value I could give without seeing the car in person and having more information about the car/resto/doccumentation etc, I would "GUESTIMATE" a current value in the $55-65K range...I have been quietly searching for an AAR my self for a long time, but I am looking for one of the "High Impact" colors or I would be traveling cross state to see you...again, I am only trying to inform, not critisize

 ...good luck in your sale, hope you the best

Thank you for the insight, DAYTONA.  I appreciate it, and your candor.  I agree with you on the color.  High impact colors would bring the bigger bucks.  Not quite sure how to place a $ value on though. That's the tricky part.  Too bad there isn't a list of adjustment to, say, a variable base value in percentage terms for various options like 4-speed add 15%, or FK5 subtract 8%, etc...  I know the Old Cars Price Guide does it like that but not in great detail.  Thanks again.

[DAYTONA]

...in theory, all the variables could be mapped out, but the real intangible is "the buyer"...no way to figure that one...your car might be EXACTLY what the buyer is looking for and worth more to him than anyone else...just gotta find the right buyer

...pick a price you feel comfortable with and adjust it upwards about 10% for wiggle room...it may take a long while to sell, a short while or it may not sell at all...but remember, unless you are the original owner, it has already had several owners(including you) that wanted it badly enough to pay a price, and it will no doubt have more owners in the years ahead...price it, advertise it and be patient...it will sell in its own time