Hi Stevan, Few quick comments:
1) I understand about the engine and mechanical sequence. But I'd also say you can't claim $20k invested if $5,000 of that is an engine and the subsequent $2800 valve job. Sure, you invested $7800, but to the guy that's buying the car it's just an engine with a cylinder head that's been done twice. And again, 30% of that has been amortized. If I add up an Ingram pump ($1000), a Merritt Carden gearbox ($1500), a rebuilt engine (lets say $6,000) a rebushed suspension ($1500), I'm at $10,000. And I'm not going to write anybody a check for that $10,000 when it's all been installed in a car and driven for 30,000 miles. And who knows how it's been driven? Babied, or thrashed? A prospective buyer doesn't know, and *has* to assume the worst. You might want to provide compression test results, and maybe some indication of oil consumption. 2) The bodywork and presentation still matters. Grip on the wheel aside, the tape looks cheap and like it's hiding something. A clean wood wheel is desirable. Clean the interior, put the drivers side door panel on, and find a few spray cans of paint that's real close in color to the rest of the car and paint the primed areas. It will still need the same amount of $$$ to make it pristine, but it won't scare away the prospective buyer, and really you want somebody to show up and at least drive the car, right? I'm going to guess Alfa owners come in 3 basic flavors. Those who drive them and pay others to maintain them, those that are comfortable working with the mechanicals but don't have the patience or talent for body and paint work, and those who can deal with the cosmetics but are not mechanically inclined. Of the DIY'ers, in my experience the vast majority are comfortable with the mechanicals but not good with the body and paint stuff. All of which means that the target market for your car is probably in the minority of the Alfa community. Which is unfortunate. The other problem is, for a car to command top dollar, it's really got to be somewhat complete, with no issues. Anything that requires work, whether it's mechanical or cosmetic, is a risk to most people, and will really attract bargain hunters. You are priced well above bargain range. $2,000 would buy a bare minimum paint job. $4k is probably more reasonable. Figure another $1,000 for the rust repair and windshield, that stuff isn't cheap. $500 for a headliner install, it's good that you have one. $1500 for upholstering seats. So the new owner is looking at $7,000 to turn this into a $12,000 car. I love Berlinas. I've owned many, and have two at the moment. I hope you can find a good home for yours. bs ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2012 10:34 AM Subject: Fwd: [alfa] Berlina For Sale question I sent this to Brian a couple of days ago and didn't realize it didn't go to the list. In defense of the car, it looks much better in person. Not everything was done at the same time as the engine. The transmission was installed later, the Wes Ingram pump just recently. I have a ball park estimate of $2 to $4k to do the windshield repair and paint the car, that does not include the glass and gasket from Jon Norman. This is a solid straight car that was worth putting all this mechanical work into as I was planning on keeping. There is also a substantial pile of spares. The engine rebuild was done by Roger's Auto Works, the head by Norman Racing, the transmission and differential by Merrit Carden. The work was done right. I'd still say anyone who is really looking for a "good car" should come and take a look at it or ask specific questions. There are 2 kinds of buyers, most people buy shiny, those who can look beyond that to quality are another sort. I haven't seen the other cars at $10 to $15, but it wouldn't surprise me if over a period of time, they required expensive mechanical work. All too many sellers polish and shine and hide your future problems, so they can maximize their profit. I'm not that way and I'm certainly not profiting. Stevan Thomas 1973 Berlina ____________________________________ From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: 10/31/2012 5:28:43 P.M. Pacific Standard Time Subj: Re: [alfa] Berlina For Sale question Hi Brian, The 1:4 exhaust manifold broke and burned one exhaust valve, hence the recent valve job. The original head work was done by Norman Racing. I started a thread awhile back about wrapping the headers with heat insulating tape vs. JetCoat. The tape is a bad idea, not because of potential rust, but the retained heat cooks the cast iron. I think the hot ticket is to JetCoat the inside of the manifolds. This was my second 1:4 manifold. The motor work was done right, someone didn't hang the exhaust system correctly, or I had a defective manifold. I really do appreciate the feedback, just let me say the tape on the wooden steering wheel is VERY practical for grip, particularly in hot weather. Stevan In a message dated 10/31/2012 6:11:11 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: You asked, so here's my opinion. There are two problems with your car. Three, if you consider that literally the day it first showed up on Craigslist there was another Berlina posted that looked pretty damn good, nice paint, for $2,000 less. That one is no longer up there, I'm guessing its been sold. So, the two problems with yours: 1) the engine was rebuilt 30,000 miles ago. Presumably, that's when the other mechanical work was done? As a buyer, I don't look at this as a fresh car with mechanicals that have just been rebuilt, I look at it as a car that was gone over 2-3 years ago, and driven since then. Mechanically, everything you've invested in it has been amortized by 1/3, at least. As an aside, you mention just doing a $2800 valve job, on an engine that was completely rebuilt 30,000 miles ago? Why? That alone would cause me to suspect the quality of the rebuild. 2) the car is not presented well at all. It looks like a run down, neglected car. Body panels are in primer, door panel not installed, wheels are dirty, interior run down, tape on the wooden steering wheel. Sorry, it doesn't look that nice. Rust around the windshield, not cheap to fix. You can find a fairly decent Berlina for $10k. A real nice one for $15k. Yours has 30,000 miles on the mechanicals and a body that's going to need $5k to make nice, not to mention the interior. To me this is a $5k car, tops. Sorry if this comes across as harsh, but you asked. As an aside, the ad is long and rambling, and reads like you're trying to convince or justify people as to the merits of the car. I think you would be better served listing all the good stuff as simple bullet points, and the shortcomings as simple bullet points, then let it speak for itself. hth, bs Sent from my iPad On Oct 31, 2012, at 2:15 PM, [email protected] wrote: > I'm sure many of you have seen my ad on Craig's List and eBay, so here's a > question: What do you ask for a car that has had all the mechanical work > done, with many upgrades, but needs a gasket windshield conversion with the > attendant body work around the windshield area? I just did a $2,800 valve > job, it's got the $500 rare earth magnet starter, Merrit Carden lightened > gears, Euro cams, rebuilt engine with Motronic pistons, Ingram pump, extra > wheels, many spares, ReOriginals headliner in a box, extra rear glass, rebuilt > taller diff, rebuilt suspension, Bilstein shocks and lots of etc. I'm > probably in the car $20k, I'm asking $10k obo, not that I expect to get that, > but it keeps the bottom feeders away and it's really a good car. My > experience is anything you don't make "as new" will leave you by the side of the > road, waiting for a tow to your mechanic. It's all been done, it's a > completely reliable car. What's a realistic price? > Stevan Thomas > 1973 Berlina > -- > to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi > or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected] -- to be removed from alfa, see http://www.digest.net/bin/digest-subs.cgi or email "unsubscribe alfa" to [email protected]
