Actual Auction Sales for AAR Cuda's for the last 3 years at Mecum

[340challconvert]

I periodically like to run the numbers on actual auction sales for ebody Mopars
There was a sale of an AAR cuda on ebay that sold on July 22nd.
I am happy for the owner who received 36.6 k for a rare car that does need extensive restoration work.
It seems to me that this is a lot of money for a car that is no more or no less rare then the cars that went to the Mecum auction.
Many of the auction cars sold in the 60-80k range with the 6 figure cars having high options or low miles.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda | eBay
36k for that car plus the cost of restoration would probably exceed what the car would sell for at auction.

Just my opinion, and please glean your own opinion from the data.

Mecum 1970 AAR Cuda Sales December 2013 through 2017 current auctions

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, matching numbers K5 burnt orange PS, PB w broadcast sheet 2017 81K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, matching numbers Y1 yellow, w 4700 original miles, high docs 2017 110K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, w date code correct engine, PS, PB elasto bumpers 2017 76K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow PS, PB elasto bumpers, 25K original miles 2017 75K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, PS, PB elasto bumpers, was in Chandler/Welborn col.
Described as most highly optioned AAR Cuda in existance 2017 195K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, w correct date coded engine, PS, PB 2017 77K

- 70 AAR 340-5sp?, FE5 red, matching numbers, 2016 80K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, sassy grass green, matching numbers, not sold bid to: 2016 80K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, Y1 yellow, numbers matching, 68K miles, not sold, bid to: 2016 57K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, PB 2016 91K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, rotisserie resto 2008- claimed 300k resto? PB 2016 75K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, PB from Schmeeckle collection 2016 90K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, rotisserie resto, PB 2015 72.5K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, rotisserie resto, 96K miles 2015 65K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, 2015 60K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp FE 5 red, was in Wellborn collection, elasto bumpers 2015 140K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, FC7 plum crazy, bench seat, not sold bid to: 2015 40K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, black, rotisserie resto, PS, PB 2014 68K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, rotisserie resto 2008- claimed 300k resto? 2014 65K
*** This car was sold in 2014 and resold in 2016 for 10K more

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, 2013 resto, PB 2013 72.5K

 

[IRON MAN]

Your data on AAR Cuda sales indicates a steady increase in value over the past three years. I wonder if the same is true for T/A Challengers?

 

[michael]

If someone will pay that much for a car it is worth that much.

 

[KATSAAR]

I don't have barrette Jackson money.
there are plenty of aar's listed elsewhere for a lot less.

 

[Monsterzero]

I too was following this eBay auction and wasn't sure if it had exceeded it's price point to still make it worth restoring, from a financial stand point. In my case, I'd have to hire out the restoration, so I expect in the end it would cost me more to purchase and restore, as compared to buying one from an auction house already complete.
I think being able to purchase a project car and later paying for it's restoration effectively spreads out the cost over time vs. plopping down 80K to 100K for a complete AAR.

 

[340challconvert]

I too was following this eBay auction and wasn't sure if it had exceeded it's price point to still make it worth restoring, from a financial stand point. In my case, I'd have to hire out the restoration, so I expect in the end it would cost me more to purchase and restore, as compared to buying one from an auction house already complete.
I think being able to purchase a project car and later paying for it's restoration effectively spreads out the cost over time vs. plopping down 80K to 100K for a complete AAR.

I'm with you on this. Paying almost 40k plus the cost of a even a driver resto would put the cost over the 80 k mark easily. It does spread the cost over time w a project. Buying a car at auction that's done already could be cheaper. I don't have the cash either to just go out and buy an 80k car.

 

[seneca]

The auto tranny sure deflates the bidding.

 

[340challconvert]

The auto tranny sure deflates the bidding.

.
Good point!
It is amazing, most of the auctioned cars were four speeds!

 

[fk5aar]

Yea no build sheet, no 4 speed, no go.

 

[ctaarman]

I periodically like to run the numbers on actual auction sales for ebody Mopars
There was a sale of an AAR cuda on ebay that sold on July 22nd.
I am happy for the owner who received 36.6 k for a rare car that does need extensive restoration work.
It seems to me that this is a lot of money for a car that is no more or no less rare then the cars that went to the Mecum auction.
Many of the auction cars sold in the 60-80k range with the 6 figure cars having high options or low miles.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda | eBay
36k for that car plus the cost of restoration would probably exceed what the car would sell for at auction.

Just my opinion, and please glean your own opinion from the data.

Mecum 1970 AAR Cuda Sales December 2013 through 2017 current auctions

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, matching numbers K5 burnt orange PS, PB w broadcast sheet 2017 81K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, matching numbers Y1 yellow, w 4700 original miles, high docs 2017 110K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, w date code correct engine, PS, PB elasto bumpers 2017 76K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow PS, PB elasto bumpers, 25K original miles 2017 75K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, PS, PB elasto bumpers, was in Chandler/Welborn col.
Described as most highly optioned AAR Cuda in existance 2017 195K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, w correct date coded engine, PS, PB 2017 77K

- 70 AAR 340-5sp?, FE5 red, matching numbers, 2016 80K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, sassy grass green, matching numbers, not sold bid to: 2016 80K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, Y1 yellow, numbers matching, 68K miles, not sold, bid to: 2016 57K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, PB 2016 91K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, rotisserie resto 2008- claimed 300k resto? PB 2016 75K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, FE5 red, PB from Schmeeckle collection 2016 90K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, rotisserie resto, PB 2015 72.5K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, rotisserie resto, 96K miles 2015 65K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, 2015 60K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp FE 5 red, was in Wellborn collection, elasto bumpers 2015 140K

- 70 AAR 340-auto, FC7 plum crazy, bench seat, not sold bid to: 2015 40K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, black, rotisserie resto, PS, PB 2014 68K

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, green, rotisserie resto 2008- claimed 300k resto? 2014 65K
*** This car was sold in 2014 and resold in 2016 for 10K more

- 70 AAR 340-4sp, Y1 yellow, 2013 resto, PB 2013 72.5K

View attachment 42914[/QUOTE

 

[ctaarman]

Hi Paharamia,

Am I correct that the auction numbers you put together do not include the buyer's premium? If so, you need to add 10% to these numbers.

 

[IRON MAN]

Depends how you look at it. The seller did not receive the 10% buyer's premium the auction house got the 10% fee. Unlike selling at a car show or on Craig's List, the seller had to pay a fee to send the vehicle across the auction block. Maybe the fee to the auction house should be deducted from the sale price to indicate what the seller made off the sale. The cost of doing business.

 

[340challconvert]

Hi Paharamia,

Am I correct that the auction numbers you put together do not include the buyer's premium? If so, you need to add 10% to these numbers.

I think that there is a 10% sellers premium as well as a 10% buyers premium. The auction house profits from both ends.
I believe the prices listed reflect the auction hammer price with out the premiums yet added on.

 

[ctaarman]

Yes, we are in agreement.

If I may express a point to some of the others on this thread that think prices in these auctions are low, they should look at the cars that are restored on Hemmings and other reputable sites. $80K is the relative floor for matching #'s with original sheet metal and $100K is not outlandish at all for a really correct restoration. In fact, when I look at some of the "restored" cars, many still have incorrect items on them. For those not so familiar, Mopar is not simply matching motor and tranny. There are date codes on virtually everything. I've seen wrong distributors, voltage regulators, alternators, and those are the simple things. Many of the items on an AAR are unique or only on six pak and hemi cars. The price of a correct fast idle solenoid is now between $500 - 1000. Many E body items are also unique to one year 1970 only.

Hemmings says that the price differential for a AAR 4 speed vs. auto is 10%, and I believe that's the realistic price differential over time. (BTW, for folks in the know, the auto is historically faster off the line. )
...And, heresy, it is still possible to convert a #'s matching auto to a period correct 4 speed for under $10K and sell it with the #'s matching auto if you are so inclined (yes I know all the things that require modifying), without being underwater.

Also T/A Challengers historically always lag behind AAR's in price but follow the rule that a rising tide lifts all boats.