[alfa] Alfas as Investments -- Here We Go Again

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dan, yeah, I hear what you are saying but there is another side of the 
coin regarding increasing values.

Let me first run down some of the bad things about increasing values. 
New parts costs might go up. Undoubtedly used parts costs will go up for 
those cars which are appreciating in value. Okay, the next one I 
especially hate - it brings out the shylocks who know shit about the 
particular car but know it is increasing in value. Often they have the 
means to buy up or lock in these cars and then begin asking ridiculous 
prices. I'm sorry, but if there is a desirable car which has been 
properly restored, it deserves to be sold for a Very Fair price. However 
the shylocks (I mean the term to represent a very generic group of those 
"dealers" who are either oblivious or knowingly misrepresent a car's 
true value) often get the upper hand as they did in the mid to late 
eighties.

Now some of the good things about appreciating values. Many cars which 
had sat around for years got restored during those times. True, some 
much better than others which goes right back to those who are in it 
only for the buck or do it because they love what they're doing. Perhaps 
many of us have grumbled about some of the prices at Re-Originals. Would 
you go to great lengths to stock parts for cars which no one is willing 
to spend a dime on? Actually the logical thing to do would be to find or 
instigate hard-to-find parts being remanufactured so you could fill a 
need - providing the need is actually a legitimate one.

Back to a bad thing about increasing prices: Regular guys won't be able 
to buy a fixer upper and then spend several or more years getting it 
back in shape.

So? Go back through your early Road & Tracks and look what Bugatti's, 
Ferrari's, Dusenbergs, and other very rare "used" cars were going for. 
True, $5k was closer to being worth $5k then, still it was not a ton of 
money in the long run, though certainly out of the reach of "regular guys".

Yeah, I have a vested interested to see prices go up, but still feel 
most Alfas are considerably undervalued - especially compared to British 
and German cars of the same eras.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA

*********        
Dan Nicholes wrote:


> Those of you who read the Weekend section of today's Wall Street Journal
> saws the reference to the 1965 Giulia Sprint GT listed as a "buy" automotive
> investment opportunity. Here we go again.
>
> I like the idea (myth? dream?) that my Alfas are growing in value in the
> marketplace, but I remember the '80's when collectible cars' values went
> through the roof. The prewar cars that the WSJ now does not consider a good
> investment have lost a lot of their cache because they are not affordable.
>
> I admit my bias. I love my Alfas because I love to drive them. In fact, I
> prefer to use them as daily drivers. I sincerely hope that this article is
> not a harbinger of speculative Alfa buying.
>
> Dan Nicholes
> '67 Duetto
> '91 164L
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