healeys
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RE: Healey Values

To: "'Reid Trummel'" <editor_reid@hotmail.com>, <healeys@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: RE: Healey Values
From: "Jim LeBlanc" <jleblanc@midsouth.rr.com>
Date: Sat, 18 Dec 2004 10:02:52 -0600
All: 

I notice and comment on "Those high-dollar restorations ARE realizing their
investment and more." 

Our late friend and member, Jim Albeck, noted that a full restoration
requires 1000 hours. This multiplied by the cost of labor, materials, car
purchase and parts are all the line items adding up to the cost of a
"high-dollar" restoration. 

Having been this course and reviewing my receipts dated 1993 to 1994, one
still needs to enter into a full restoration more out of love than out of
financial wisdom. 

Openly acknowledging my desperate lack of financial wisdom, I am now coming
close to 40 years of love for the Healey marque colored with an incurable
addiction to the distinctive exhaust note. 

Best Regards, 

Jim LeBlanc
1956 100-M 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-healeys@Autox.Team.Net [mailto:owner-healeys@Autox.Team.Net] On
Behalf Of Reid Trummel
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 6:07 PM
To: healeys@Autox.Team.Net
Subject: Re: Healey Values

Can't resist a comment on two on a subject that I have followed for a long 
time.

-- I think that the high prices achieved by a few Healeys in auctions in 
recent years have given a somewhat misleading impression that the prices for

all Healeys are rising significantly.  Of course, some of this notion 
becomes a self-fulfilling truth, and in fact prices do seem to be rising.

-- However, my observation has been a limited upward trend; not a big jump, 
and not a tide that has raised all "boats" (the prices of all Healeys).

-- The proliferation of auctions that include Austin-Healeys has (a) 
attracted an affluent group that was not previously "into Healeys" and (b) 
it has attracted media attention that has raised interest and expectations, 
if not actual values.

-- There has recently been an increasingly sharp differentiation in the 
prices achieved for the really, really good cars and the so-so cars.  Those 
high-dollar restorations ARE realizing their investment and more.  This is 
relatively new as a widespread phenomenon in Austin-Healeys.

-- I would caution against generalizing a few spectacular auction results to

the entire market.

But I may be wrong and I always appreciate learning of others' experiences 
and market observations.  Please have a look at the prices listed in the 
Austin-Healey Buyer's Price Guide (I'm the author/editor) and let me know 
what you think:
http://www.healey.org/buyers-price-guide.shtml

Reid Trummel
Portland, Oregon
100, 100M, Ski-Master




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