We need to find a base price on earlies

well - nope!! I believe the lower costs vans =ARE out there still!   yet- harder to find too! Example= see my pix of my van in the Gallery section. 4 years back on july 3rd=I answered a craigs list add -local in spokane , wa. like 10 miles from my home!! The 1967 chev van i bought was sold for $550.00- complete with origional factory camper conversion. Van had absolutely NO RUST! was a 283 V-8 & powerglide & posi rear =from factory! Van was basically completely disassembled & every part I can determine is with it! The 283 was worn out & actually had a rebuilt set of origional heads on it & was mounted on a new engine stand inside the vans rear area. I now have personally built a 383 cube chev with scat forged internals- found a set of early 2.02 fulie heads and alls installed. I will fire all up in spring & after build a 700R4 tranny. My plans are still 2 years out for total finishing. My plans are to drive the completed van from wa state to Texas ( home) and go to my 50th High School Reunion!! That same time coming= my daughter (only child) will also graduate High School- 50 years after i did. Yes =History does =repeat itself!! Therefore- ill testify the super buys are still out there - just not every day= so what we find is what we all must make mental adjustments for & like real estate -its all priced to condition & location!! Happy Vannin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

General rules apply.


Bodywork is time intensive and costly, plus body panels are difficult to get. So- a clean body = top dollar.

Drivetrain is relatively simple to work on, and parts are easier to obtain, so unless the van has exactly the engine/trans/rear combo you are looking for, it adds little or no value.

Mostly, it depends on what you can do yourself vs what you have to pay to get done.


In the end however- like in any other automotive hobby, it's the condition of the sheetmetal that affects the value the most.

I don't think you can arrive at a base price. There are so many variables, not just on the vans but on the buyers wants and on the locations and proximity to populous. In terms of "supply and demand" you add in all the variables and there is just no consistent base to put a price on.

I am after a solid body, I just found what I want after 2 years of searching. The engine is in pieces, Hasn't run in three years, no rust to speak of (one spot on passenger floor surface rust) Some dents, no seats.
It was 1500 and will be another 3200 to get it to my home .So that's what I am willing to pay for a solid body rust free 90" 2nd gen sport van that doesn't run. $4700 By the time the dents are straightened out and its all rotisserie painted up I will have over 10 grand into just the body. But that will be a vergin metal show class body and paint. no bondo, no repaired rust spots. I will probably put another 10 G's into the drive train and another 2 to 4 G into the interior and details.

Am I deluding myself with the false notion that it will be worth 20 or 25G when its done?? Absolutly not!. I will insure it for that but if I had to sell maybe I would get 15, 16 or 17 tops because there just isn't line ups of people with 15 grand in their pocket looking to buy a van done up the way somebody else did up their van. But there is a few people out there with 15G looking a great starter for their project van plan.

In all my hot rod vehicle experience I would say any van can be sold closer to its true worth when it is in its original and unmolested, unfixed up state. When you pour money into fixing it up you will never get that money back out of it, It will always sell for much less then you put into it.

That just the way it goes with hobby vehicles.

M1D

It's kind of like the Jeep world, look up the KBB value and subtract what you spent on modifications....

I just bought my 65 Falcon van for 1000.00 Had to drive 6hrs round trip with a trailer thru rush hour Atl and driving rainstorm. Van not running , Very little rust . I was amazed at it's condition. Better than the one I had in 1972. I believe I got a deal . It also makes me smile when I look at in my yard as it is almost a twin to my old friend from the 70's . Again lots of factors and I love trading haggling etc. Head, heart and $ all come into play. I have lots of time and little money and am a pretty good mechanic. I would never consider a finished fancy van . It's the chase and the work I find rewarding .
Van On   
Bob

Instread of a base price we should talk about AVG price range, yes still deals out there, but only see them about once a month, before they were every day

I think if someone shows us pictures all we can do is give him our best guess on a price and he will have to make the call on how much experience he has and knowledge and money to shell out on one getting it the way he wants,

G-Man wrote:Instread of a base price we should talk about AVG price range, yes still deals out there, but only see them about once a month, before they were every day

Someting like:

$0-$500 - Lots of rust, dents, not running, basically a parts van or a project for the very determined.

$500 - $1000 - Rust and/or dents, basically complete, runs but not 'road worthy'

$1000 - $2000 - Nicer body, mechanical issues or daily driver with body issues

$2000 - $3000 - Runs ans drives, decent body, some minor repairs, OK paint or 'patina'

$3000 - $4000 - A reliable '20 footer'

$4000 - $5000 - Straight, needs minor work and paint.

$5000 - $6000 - Mint, rust free, body and so-so drivetrain.

$6000 - $10,000 - Lower end of range would be a clean driver, upper range would be near 'show quality'

$10,000 - up. Show van.

That's my opinion, just to get the idea across, feel free to comment or edit. I am not egotistical enough to say I am the final authority.

lost me above 3k hehe

Greg you have a clear view on what we are talking about, sometime the deal van isn't a deal van. If it takes 4 years of work to get it done it's really not a deal (who has that kind of time anymore)

I have un-flushed enough turds to have a grasp of the issue, yes.

No matter what the vans cond. there are always hidden issues with them, so anyone in the market should also know there will be some surprises also.

What G-man said! I also think the deals are out there but getting less and less. And generally the values are going up over the years I have been looking.

Vanner68 provides a list of price ranges I would agree with. Good job! that kind of sets a base for a product having little to no consistency.


M1D

G-Man wrote:Greg you have a clear view on what we are talking about, sometime the deal van isn't a deal van. If it takes 4 years of work to get it done it's really not a deal (who has that kind of time anymore)

True indeed.  My target price was $8,000 for a REALLY nice van.  I got a good van that still needed and needs a lot.  It was too much in retrospect, but then again, it has a converted V-8 and auto tranny, work I would never attempt myself.

As many disappointments as it is/was, it's still a lot further along then many vans that someone would easily invest additional $1,000's and tons of hours getting it to this point.

I always felt that when I was looking, $10,000 would get you a rock and roll ready, immaculate van.  That was two years ago,  not so sure now.

Now, unless one can get a great van that is ready to go from someone taking a loss on their work, I think one needs $15-000 $20,000 to really make a van tip top all the way around if they are starting from scratch. And, quite honestly, if one is going to pay $15,000 for a ready to go van with far more invested, is it EXACTLY what they want? Do you like the flames or the crazy interior? As nice as Vanishing Breed is, that van was not to my tastes, no matter the cost.

It is clear to me, that vans on the radar, far more so than even two years ago.  Perhaps they are a cheaper entry point then the ever increasing in price muscle cars and a movement towards something different.

Great discussion. Thanks to Dix for the start.  I think vanner68 set out a good guideline. I would only add that in the $10K range you might have either an immaculate body or a like new upgraded chassis and driveline but to have both might push the value to $15K+ .  I suggest that any guideline should be based on a stock van with only minor modifications. Changes and mods should not be used as a baseline since they could either add to or subtract from the value depending on the perception of the buyer.  The buyer has to decide whether the mods add or detract from the value.  The buyer also needs to carefully consider how his van matches the standards and how much time and labor it will take to get a van up to the level they desire.  We all tend to greatly under estimate the real cost of creating our dream.  Perhaps we need a two part guideline. One part listing the van type with variations and a second section with average repair costs. Base the repairs on taking it to a shop for work since that's the most it might cost. The buyer can determine how much he can save after that.  We all need to remember this is just a guide and NO TWO VANS ARE ALIKE.  Keep those great suggestions coming.  Thanks Jerry

How much you put into it doesnt mean thats what you will get. This van is for sale 43,000 If you go this far why would you sell it. And if you deside to sell lets see you find someone with the cash these days. It could take years to sell this one. But I could be wrong about this just me thinking again

I agree with you 65-g10-guy you will not get a cleaned $ painted undercarrage and a new drivetrain ,and still have room for every thing else for $10 k,
and some minor mods will not hurt you , and others will,
like a smooth tail gate really looks good,,
As far as what van crazy posted Yea it looks nice but the price is not realistic,, most likley it was built to win a show like the van nationals and the 4 x 4 frame may have came later he will have a hard time getting 20 k
J.M.O.

YEA I hate to be on the selling end of that Early also....Unless he is a Paint and Body man and has some Mechanil Skill's he probely has 60k into it but I agree with Dix he would be lucky to get 20-25k..You never get back what you invested in this hobby.......So far I like vanner68's break down the best..It gives us Something to go by...

All my 'values' are based on stock, or at the most 'common mods' like v8 swaps, auto trans, wheels, etc.

And my previous comment about deducting $1000 for each hole cut into the body is based on an estimate I got to fill in a sunroof.

Here is a great example of a $4000 van:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/4341241178.html

I just paid $500 for this all compete and original barn kept 71K miles A108 with a 318 v8 Auto and rooftop A/c. I was going to use as a parts van for my A100 but it is just too clean. I am getting it running get the front glass installed and will sell it. Ill let y'all know what it goes for since this is a recent purchase.

Nice looking Van.!!!. Solid & Straight.... Yea I would think twice on that also I say fix it up and use it as a daily driver so you can work on the other Van....Find another one for parts....(MAN where are all the $500,00 Early's in Florida).... I wish I had one I could drive everyday instead of my 03 GMC Pick UP......I Envy you guys that drive them everyday... 

vanner68 wrote:Here is a great example of a $4000 van:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/mld/cto/4341241178.html

                I Agree 100%...  .....YES.....Now we are Moving Forward....

Yea photos do a lot. and get the point across