1956 23-Window at Barrett-Jackson - Whose Bus is this?

[EmpiGT]

[icemanhd]

Lots of factors driving the lower prices at Barrett Jackson, I'm convinced one of the biggest ones is the US dollar has strengthened against the Euro, UK Pound, Australian Dollar, etc... Pull up a chart of the dollar to euro exchange rate over the last 5 yrs, a decent average over the last 5 or so yrs is $1.35 or $1.40 (if you ignore the last 12 months). The current exchange rate is $1.08 so the euro has fallen more than 20% making everything in the US at least 20% more expensive. Look at the 10 yr chart on the link below, back when 21/23 window prices were going through roof in 2008 and late 2009 is when it was $1.45 to almost $1.60 for a euro..

http://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=EUR&to=USD&view=10Y
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71 Drag Ghia
67 Bug, Hot VWs feature car
68 912
76 912E
87 911 Carrera

[hgandmc]

I think that splits became hip and popular in advertising about 10 years ago. Starting a surge of big pocket collectors to have to put vw's in their collections. When in the past they would have never put a vw next to their euro sports cars, now that they all jumped into the market, their purchases have been made. For the past 45 years of my life, the vw was a working mans and teenagers hobby. Now the big boys are satisfied, who of us has 95k?

[cdennisg]

[hgandmc]

Sure, all media attention to anything drives that market. I know I listen to more Eagles songs the last two weeks than in the previous year. I just wonder how many more people are going 95k any more, but it did lift the bottom floor of the vws up some, buses more. I just think that the high numbers might pull back some, maybe half as the trend cools. Leaving it back to vw folk.

[Malokin Martin]

[pyrOman]

I second that emotion. While our daily drivers and even "occasional" campers will not sell for $100k +, they will definitely NOT be the $1000 and under deals they once were. Though the "this is the market price" statement isn't quite right, it surely does affect the value of what we all got to some degree.
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Some people are so busy being clever they don't have time enough to be wise.

[TinCanFab]

"Resale red" used to be a safe bet with an auction car. I'm just as surprised as anyone else that the later model busses did so well in comparison. We are talking about the holy grail of our hobby (early Samba) being slapped in the face by ignorant people with a big checkbook. We all keep hoping that a more accurate restoration will make our personal busses worth more..... I don't think that's the case when looking for a quick sale. It needs to look like something that will help a buyers mid life crisis, with bright or vibrant colors.
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Check out my truck brought back from the dead... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=420762&highlight=sprayed+blood

They're never really ever finished 58 rag build...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=658092

[Braukuche]

It's more likely that it is a matter of supply finally catching up with demand. for years there were very few restored buses out there and the auction houses had no sense of real value. Now resto shops and individuals with no VW prior knowledge are seeing a quick buck thanks to high profile sales and TV shows and are doing quickly restorations to meet the demand. Auction houses are more wiling to take them on and the net result is too many half assed buses on the market to meet demand from uneducated buyers.
The same has happened in the early Porsche world.
Basically exceptional buses will still sell for big money while shiny turds will get less And the rusty beaters most of us drive will continue to hold value but not shoot up to the stars because likely the guys buying them to do these quick flips will discover that not all that is split bus is gold.
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Go Reds! Smash state!

Retirement is here!
1956 Ghia
1959 SO-23 Westfalia
1960 double cab
1960 Baja Bug
1963 stretched double cab
1962 Golde sunroof Ghia
1963 356 B coupe
1963 Notchback
1967 21 window less rusty now

[rebapuck]

I like shiny and colorful. If I had the money, I would have bought every one of 'em, correct or not.
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Judy
1966 Camper "Hannah"
1967 SingleCab "Khady"

[mandraks]

i think one aspect that plays into later buses getting higher prices is overall driveability.

Many people can NOT deal with a 36 horse motor, skinny bias plies, 6 volt electrical systems etc. Bench seats, you name it.

you put them into a 67, with 12 volt, walkthrough, or at least split front seats, wipers that can keep up with rain, a somewhat "normal" top speed, working radios, ability to charge a phone, bigger brakes, etc

don't forget that a 32 ford will run circles around our buses, and there is a TON of those available.

compare a 56 belair to a 56 samba, both price and performance, mod cons, etc.

if you had a 56 and 67 deluxe, which one would let a friend borrow?
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel

[crofty]

You don't drive a 100k Bus.
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

[Erik G]

Agree on the drivability of a late bus vs an early bus, but I doubt these auction buses are getting driven much. I just assume they stay in the corner of someone's big collection
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Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[cdennisg]

[Clara]

[thom]

[cdennisg]

[npbusguy]

[j.pickens]

[Busstom]