broncochevy said:
Unfortunately for those that can't, an absolute CRAP-TON of people the world over can afford those prices. That's why 30k is not an uncommon price, and many go for double that and more.
Same people that pay $70 grand for a pickup truck now (lots of normal people in fact) would think $30 grand for a cool collectible ready to go might be a good deal in fact. And that 10k for one that "needs some work" is also a workable deal.
Every time you see someone driving a modern Suburban, full-size Pickup, or a motorhome (or heck, just about any 2010 and up vehicle!), you're looking at someone that can potentially also afford a Bronco if they really want one.
And that's a LOT of people.
The original performance of the Broncos compared to any other vehicle of that era probably has very little to do with their current value to collectors. It's all about the nostalgia, disposable income, and the fact that they look cool, added to that there really aren't that many out there. Compared to other vehicles anyway.
Unlike what we used to say in the '80's about "not making them like they used to" now we really mean that, but not in a good way.
Any modern SUV sells more than the EB's ever did (for the most part) and will out-perform an EB in every possible way except for hard-core off-roading. But nobody is buying them for that. However, the thought that they could do that if needed, is part of the allure.
That, and being waved at for being too cool for school because you drive a Bronco of course.
We could not use the term "rare and hard to find" with a straight face originally because they were always for sale somewhere in various conditions. In truth though, there really were not that many out there compared to other vehicles. But just the rare few (us) were actively searching them out.
Now, even though they're seemingly everywhere still, they truly are "rare" in that there are more people looking for that nice one than nice ones exist.
As said then, supply and demand finally hits the Bronco world.
It's got to be the low numbers as much as anything else. They're selling for more than legit Boss 302 Mustangs in some cases now. And as prices for '69 Camaros has dropped, the Bronco has gone up. Some Broncos sell for more than some Z28's and Chevelle SS's.
As already mentioned, they were always cool looking. Ford nailed that aspect, and people that thought so when they were young can now afford them. And even those people who got in early several years ago could buy a nice runner for $4000-$7000 or so. But as more and more of them started looking, and fewer and fewer nice ones were around, and as more and more professional restorations took place, and more and more money was available, the prices are as you now see.
But still you're not seeing the whole, falling all over each other to pay more for original paint or even original paint color, or options. Except on certain special models, what sells is that they look good. All about the stance and attitude. Sometimes that's an uncut original looking one, sometimes that's a highly modified one. Just depends on who's looking.
Was it just last week that one nice one went for $30k, but one that looked even cooler went for $70k in the same auction? Same kind of thing in just about every televised auction in fact. But look at the Craigslist ads and similar, and nice ones sit for months without a buyer.
Could be hidden things we don't see on TV of course. Problems with one and perfection with the other. Or just that the right two bidders were in the room and the one they really liked the look of came across the stage.
Hard to pin down any market value consistency yet. Other than upwardly mobile!
I remember giving a guy a hard time (kind of) right here because he joined the forum and started off by asking what he could get for $30k or something like that. Apparently he was already aware of their rise to fame, and I was clueless that it had already happened.
I gave him a hard time because I thought his was the attitude that would drive prices up when they had been somewhat normally stable for 40 years. I seem to remember literally blaming people like him for causing the prices of anything to skyrocket beyond reasonableness. Or what I personally defined as reasonable.%)
Was just jealous that pretty soon normal people would not be able to afford them, and that nobody would take them on the trail any more because they were paying someone $100,000 to build a nice one, $15,000 to $20,000 for a nice paint job, and park them in a heated garage and wait for the right price to sell it.
Oh, and that obviously I was never going to get that Baja I'd always planned on.
As soon as someone who does not turn their own wrenches starts to build hot-rods and have collector cars restored, it's only a matter of time before you can't find any low prices anymore. Restoration companies will buy scrap and put together big-buck builds for customers at that point.
And just like those hot-rods, it still costs more to have one built than you can sell it for. Usually anyway...
And of course, the TV shows that show sloppy three-week rush builds going for mega bucks at big public auctions just serves to put the fever up another notch when people get afraid they won't be able to find the last one they can afford if they wait any longer than another minute.
I now personally know of at least five recent purchases (in the last three years or so) where they jumped on a seemingly good deal sight unseen and no time to have anyone preview it for them. And regretted it the first time they tried to drive it.
Big mistake in the new-Bronco world unfortunately. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don't.
So yeah, lots of reasons they're still going up.
Uh, wait. Was that what you were asking?%)
I tend to digress...;D
Paul
