Rare Vehicles - Maybe Not?

[tony1963]

I get a laugh out of those who claim to have a "rare" vehicle where only 76,468 were built in that year and only 42,502 were equipped with white exterior, blue interior, an AM radio with rear speaker, RH review mirror and a 2-barrel V8.  

Yeah, rare indeed.

[roccotacodad54]

   Yes some sellers overuse the word "rare". Unless it's something I really want and no one else has one or I've never seen one like it before, I move on.

  Often their asking price is what I consider to be inflated so even if it's the only one I've ever seen, I pass. Sooner or later another usually comes along.

  Them using that word just gives me a little insight into their mindset. Sometimes the item is rare but in my experience usually not..........Pass................

[soh.maryl]

Ah, let's just let them have their little dream.  

[redlinear]

LOL, back in the day I used to restore Muscle Cars and send them through Barrett Jackson, Kruse, Mecum.
(that dollar an hour didn't cut it, so I found a $2/hr job selling parts on eBay).
Anyway, saw a guy that was sending his 70 Chevelle SS 396 Convertible through auction.
Solid blue, no SS stripes.
Talking up how rare it was with no SS stripes on the hood or decklid.
     That did make it pretty darn rare.
Problem was, nobody wanted an SS without the stripes. 
Which became apparent when it sold.

[tony1963]

Yes, we've all heard the incredible tales of how someone has something special.  Like the story on another lies board where this guy claims to have an original 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS with a "bucket seat delete".  What he actually has is a regular Impala that someone hob-gobbed up to LOOK LIKE an Impala SS.

He keeps the delusion alive by believing the lies.

[wri-8727]

Yeah but does it have a 409?

The deuce bubble top is rare

kinda

[gator08041971]

You have to think, regardless how many were manufactured, how many actually still exist may also contribute to its rarity.  I have no idea on this specific car, but it came up when my son was expressing a desire to acquire a 1984 Dodge Rampage.   They wanted 15k Canadian for it.   Thing looked pristine, appearing to be in excellent collector condition, but yeah.  My 16yr old is not getting that for a first car.  lol

Most of this is subjective.  I see far too many listings using the word vintage or classic, or whatever, or its incorrectly used according to the age of the item.  eBay even has that option sometimes in the sub listing info where you pick your manufacturer, color, etc., where you can set the item as vintage or antique, or whatever.

[hotwheelsbum]

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@gator08041971 wrote:

You have to think, regardless how many were manufactured, how many actually still exist may also contribute to its rarity.  I have no idea on this specific car, but it came up when my son was expressing a desire to acquire a 1984 Dodge Rampage.   They wanted 15k Canadian for it.   Thing looked pristine, appearing to be in excellent collector condition, but yeah.  My 16yr old is not getting that for a first car.  lol

Most of this is subjective.  I see far too many listings using the word vintage or classic, or whatever, or its incorrectly used according to the age of the item.  eBay even has that option sometimes in the sub listing info where you pick your manufacturer, color, etc., where you can set the item as vintage or antique, or whatever.

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As a Car Guy, this was first thought that came to my mind also. Depends on what the car was that OP didn't mention. Yes, 76,000 of the vehicles made, 42,000 with this color combo may have have been made back in the day, but how many are still in existence today? It wasn't "Rare" then, it was a common car seen on the street. Today, let's say 64 years later (we don't know since OP never said what it was) there may be only 16 of these cars left out there, which in case does make it RARE. 

Example. There were 22,246 El Camino's built in 1959. Can you find an all original 1959 El Camino today? Original, there are very very very very few to be found. They are RARE. Custom, there's a few hundred out there. But original. Yeah, Good Luck finding one. 

Maybe OP should fill us in on what it is they are mentioning here. Let US make our own decision as to whether we think it is "Rare" or not. 

[tony1963]

I'm referring to those riding, as we used to call it here, "The Dream Weaver Train".  

And no, that 62 Impala SS (or so they say) was not a 409, it was a 283.  However, the cowl tag didn't match up to the story either.  Yeah, rare bench seat model.  

Just like the story of the "factory ordered" 1977 Chevrolet Caprice Classic with a 454 engine.  LIES

[redlinear]

@tony1963 
   Was a listing on FB (probably still there).
 Guy has a 65 Impala SS 409 car.
 I'd call that rare.   
Then again, he would have to be able to prove it a few different ways.
Sure looks legit though.

[varebelrose]

And actually being rare does not mean they are super valuable. I owned an all original 1983 Hurst/Olds, of which only 3000 were made. I was glad to get 5k for mine a couple years ago, the demand just wasn't there.

[mooncat_watches]

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@roccotacodad54 wrote:

   Yes some sellers overuse the word "rare".

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My favorite is "vintage"...when the item (car or otherwise) is 10 years old.

[tony1963]

I recently saw a YouTube video where a rather clean late 80s era Chevrolet square-body is being advertised as having "the Silverado package".  It is a Custom Deluxe model with a 4-speed and air conditioning.  There is what appears to be the bright trim and the seller creates the argument that the truck is "rare".

Since Chevrolet built 10 million of these between 1973 and 1987, there is NO SUCH THING as rare or unique unless it is cobbled together.  My theory is that someone grabbed the chrome grill and trimmings and added them to the otherwise yawn yawn Custom Deluxe.  

Sorry, but a 350 and a 4-speed in a truck are about as common in those days as sand along Florida's shoreline.  

[56nomad]

20 years ago, i owned a very rare car, a '54 DeSoto Powermaster 2 dr Club Coupe.  Only 3,499 were made.  Problem is, rarity does not translate to value.  Supply and demand are what determine value.  

[out2seafishing]

It's only rare if you can't find it.