Anybody have any suggestions?--A life's project!

[oldvolkshome2]

I am trying to figure out what I should do with my bugs. My Dad collected bugs for the greater part of his life and a little over three years ago he passed away. I am in college and am the only member of my family that really cares about the cars. I can't decide if I should sell the cars as a collection, piece by piece, or restore them myself. No matter what happens, I want the cars to go to a good home--a place where they will be (in most cases) restored to original condition. Anyway, my question is, would it be worth the time and money to restore the cars myself, or should I say goodbye to the collection?

The collection... old grocery store full of parts where the bugs are housed --the cars go from '53 on up and include pretty much all years.

Any input will help, no big rush.

Thanks,

Lucas

[Eric&Barb]

[mr. warehouse]

Pick the few cars *you* want. Ones that mean something to *you*
Once you've done that sale the remaing cars and or parts that you don't want / need to finance the restoration of the ones you're keeping

[oldoval]

Sorry to here about your dad. Having a ton of cool old vws at my disposal sounds like a problem i would like to have , Im with the previous post, keep a few that you want and sell the rest. Like the 53 to me, also need a W lid and some early pop outs. Good luck on your decision. Oldoval

[emersonbiggins]

Hi Lucas. Are you from Pueblo?

[obus]

I'm sorry for you and your Family. Saying prayers for you all
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July 1959 Mango Standard Bus aka Obus https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=256592&highlight=
June 1973 Pumpkin Orange Thing aka Othing
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711775&highlight=
1960 Paprika Red Karmann Ghia Convertible aka Schatze built 5/20/60
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...highlight=
March 1956 Beetle convertible https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10419731&highlight=#10419731

[Mark Evans]

It's quite a collection, love the vert! You also have TONS of parts to move as well. I'm sorry to hear of your health issues along with the loss of your dad.
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'63 Ragtop

[ZENVWDRIVER]

... I also have a buncha' old cars, including VWs and parts - have discussed with our son and have put everything we own in-trust for him, upon our demise... recently sold a couple of cars, he said, he has no interest in...

... I agree, take your time and think things out - was great that your Dad, left you all his material love - I know, leaving our son - our human extension - everything, simplifies life for me.

I envision him , leaving the 1960 single cab, to his kid, when he departs this life - wouldn't that be the best.
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5/50, pastel green 11G - SOLD
8/50, gray 11A Beetle
6/52, pastel green 11C - SOLD
11/4/52, black Zwitter - SOLD to my little bro.
1954 Porsche, pre A, with VW 36 horse- SOLD
1/54, black 11C Beetle - TRADED
2/55 Iceland green Beetle, on a 1965 pan
3/55 113 Beetle, stratos silver
1955 Messerschmitt KR175 - SOLD, sadly
1960 single cab
1962 SO33, with SO 42 interior
9/63 Pacific blue, Ghia
'87 Toyota MR2
'02 WestFORDia E-150, GAVE TO OUR SON

All super-heroes, wear a MASK

[TDCTDI]

You will most certainly lose money trying to restore them yourself. As said above, keep the ones that mean the most to you (this is not necessarily the ones that have the most value.), and then sell the rest as they are, starting with the most accessible first.

I would suggest selling them individually & take photos of them staged away from the other cars to avoid "are you selling that other one?" & then let the buyer pick it up without showing the rest UNTIL the deal is done, to avoid the same "are you selling the other ones?" & the "lets make a package deal".

If the location where the cars are isn't where it can be watched 24/7, I wouldn't let people view the collection for the reason that there some thieving a-holes that will come back for an after hours shopping spree.
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Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Eric&Barb]

Feel this thread should be updated. Hope this is OK for the OP.

From his ad from earlier today:

[kidvintage]

OK...... let me be the first to throw out the question in public: How much is this collection worth as a lot?

Obviously, the collection would bring more $$$$ if pieced out. But that would take MUCH more time and effort versus a "package deal".

That 1953 vert is obviously the jewel of the collection.....he would be VERY smart to not take that one out of the "package deal" under any circumstance. That vert alone could probably fetch 30K (or more) to the right buyer. If that car was taken out of the equation.....the "package deal" would be worth DRASTICALLY less (whatever that number may be).

The hardtop 1960's projects are nice......but pretty pedestrian and uninspiring. Maybe $1000-$2500 each?????

The parts collection is very nice.....but it would have to be sold at a huge discount from retail to do a "take all" buy. Washer fluid reservoirs and shopping carts full of used CV joints are not very fast movers.....

What a tragic scenario......I really feel bad for the guy and I hope he can monetize the sale to the MAXIMUM to help care for his wife and son when he is gone.

So......... what value would you put on this "collection"?

[Mos6502]

Sell the cars individually. Selling as a collection automatically reduces the number of potential buyers to practically nil. Nobody has the space and money to acquire that many cars at once, and the people who do - well they're going to be cheap about it. Basically you will be super screwed if you try to sell them as one big lot.

At least split them up into lots of two or three cars so normal people can buy and store them instead of just hoarder hermits who'll park them in a field and let them rot.

You'll probably sell them faster and easier individually too, instead of being held hostage by some nut while they hem and haw and wheedle you down because they know how unlikely it is somebody else will jump in and buy the whole lot. Unless of course you don't care and just want them gone, then selling them in one big lot may be advantageous. But I wouldn't expect to get even a third to half as much as selling them individually.

[Sharp64]

Wow. Stumbled across this thread. What a heartbreaking story. If I had the room and disposable cash I’d make an offer today. I do understand the sentiment of wanting a “one and done” but have I agree somewhat that you’ll ultimately be better off selling the cars individually and then maybe giving someone a glimpse of the parts. Maybe after the purchase let them, look through and purchase any additional parts they feel they need for their restoration. Once all the cars are gone, sell the remainder of the parts as a lot. As mentioned, that early vert is the “crown jewel” so to to speak. I hope it goes to a good home.

God bless you and your family Luke. Our families prayers are with you.
_________________
1960 Indigo Blue Ragtop (Blue Barry)
1967 Ghia
1985 Westy Money Pit
“...some men aren't looking for anything logical, like money. They can't be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” - Michael Caine

[[email protected]]

Sorry your loss that has created this situation, but selling the collection as a lot is a HORRIBLE IDEA. Expecting one individual to buy everything at once, that took your Dad possibly decades to collect, is extremely foolish. You will be limiting your audience of perspective buyers to maybe people in the U.S. that you can count on one hand. Being personally involved in having to liquidate estates from passing family members, it is overwhelming. Hire an auction house, and let THEM do the work. If you have to get rid of stuff, and are stuck on selling the collection as a lot, expect to get 15%-20% of the value of what is easily six figures worth of cars/parts. A local collector by the name of Ron Hackenberger, owning some 700 vehicles, hired an auction house that used a local drag strip for the auction that hosts one of the NHRA’s Top Fuel Events. Some vehicles only sold individually for a few hundred dollars, while others sold for $30k+. Hiring an auction house to catalog/inventory everything shows you exactly what you have. Then it’s their job to put the word out for the auction since they make more money, if you make more money. I can think of a half a dozen personal friends right off the top of my head, including myself, that would travel from Pennsylvania to attend an auction to purchase parts/individual vehicles. None of us have the means/desire to purchase the collection as a whole. If you are genuinely serious about wanting items in the collection to “go to a good home”, have an auction. Otherwise, lots of items will simply be scrapped if/when you ever find a single buyer from it being overwhelming for them.

[iowegian]

[hazetguy]

Sorry to hear about your situation Luke.

[Manfred58sc]

If any serious buyers want a qualified 3rd party observation on this unique sale I would be happy to help. This is right next door to me. I do not know the family and was not aware of the collection but would be more than happy to help all parties involved.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Bob Loblaw]

Y'all realize this post was from 2004, right?
His one and only post.
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sent from a phone using poor grammar and spelling

[Eric&Barb]

[EverettB]

Moderator note:
I don't know if he is reading this thread for updates since it started so long ago but I sent him an email through the ad with a link and a message to check it out.
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