Classic 164E Auto 1972 Model For Sale

[John Boy1]

Hi Everyone, I have completed the restoration of my 1972 164E Volvo unfortunately having lost my job I am now forced to sell her. The car has lots of history, she has had a body re-spray, engine rebuid, re-chromed parts, new exhaust and lots of other parts fitted. The car is totally original and solid.
I drive the car most weekends and she is a pleasure to drive. Still has tax and MOT until Feb 2011. I am lookings for offers over 2500 pounds.
I can send photos of the car, please forward your email address. She needs to go to a good home so come and take a look and make me an offer.
P.S. Not sure if I can load photos on the forum hence I will send to your personal email address if interested.

[John Boy1]

The car is now on ebay. Lots of people looking.

[John Boy1]

Ebay finished, 55 watching, didnt sell. Lots of questions but nobody came forward with the cash.

[capt jack]

Hi John

Nice looking car - trouble is, there's a recession on, it's getting near Christmas, and you were asking £2,500 for a car that Practical Classics has valued at £1800 or so in Condition 1.

That's £1800 for a car perhaps not in concours condition, but roadworthy, MoT'd and needing no work.

From the photos you've posted of your 164 I reckon most folk would put it Condition 2 at best - valued at £800 by Practical Classics. In your the pictures it looks as though the interior is a bit tired - and after rotten bodywork, that is the most expensive bit to sort on a 164.

This isn't meant to sound mean, but 6 weeks ago a better-looking 164 with a full MoT went on E-bay for £1850 - sold by a dealer. That was metallic blue with a black leather interior that was still black - or at least looked black in the photos.!

The market for 164s is small, they are gorgeous cars to that select band of enthusiasts, but they are big, old thirsty brutes at best to everyone else.

I guess that you're aiming to recoup your expenditure on a car that I think I remember being offered for sale as a non-runner only a few months ago. Who can blame you?

I wish you well, but I think the hard facts are that the market is telling you that your asking price is too high.

If you need to move the car now I reckon you'll be lucky to get £800. If you're prepared to put some effort into the interior and wait 'till Spring - and the start of the classic car season, with a full Mot your car should do much better. Even then I reckon north of £2,000 is possibly ambitious.

Only my opinion of course, but I was one of those watchers and hence a potential buyer. And these are my reasons for not bidding.

Cheers

Jack

[John Boy1]

Hi Jack, thanks for your comments. You are correct I have put a lot of money into the car and unfortunately I am forced to sell her. Regarding the interior I was reluctant to spend 1000 pounds on new leather when as you say the car is only worth 2-2.5K pounds A1 condition. However, I am sure the new owner is out there. I have seen beaten-up old Mini's on ebay asking over 1900 pounds, sorry there is no comparison with the 164E. Unfortunately people want an original showroom condition cars for very little cash, if only life was that easy eh.

[capt jack]

Hi John

Yes you're right a 164 is a magnificent car - much more so than the Rovers and Triumphs of the same vintage.

Trouble is that in the classic car market, prices bear no relation to the quality or engineering of the original -it's all about demand and popularity. Take for example the silly prices for Ford Cortinas after 'Life On Mars'. Great show, but I owned a Mk3 Cortina years ago - and it wasn't that good!

For my first classic car I used to own a Volvo 1800ES. When new it cost as much as an E-Type, and in engineering terms, was better built. When I came to sell my ES - which was in beautiful order - the price was a fraction of the 'value' of even a shabby E-type.

I've seen absolutely perfect all-original low-mileage 164s being valued at under £3000, and generally, prices do seem to follow the Practical Classics guide values.

This is a bad time of year to sell a classic car - there's less money around, there's no club shows to go to, and looking after a classic is an outdoor past-time unless you're lucky enough to have a big garage. This tends to make it a buyers market.

If I might make a suggestion - try to do something with the interior of your car if possible. Also mention the bits that an enthusiast would want to know: Is there any RUST in the usual 164 / 144 places? Top quality pictures in a good light will help your cause enormously. Your E-bay pictures were a bit gloomy to be honest. Also, advertise the car on 'Car and Classic' and 'Classic Cars for sale' websites. Although these are UK sites, they have an international following. This can be good because there is a big Dutch interest in old Volvos. Prices are much higher, and Dutch buyers will travel for a good UK car. I believe that there's quite an industry there in LHD drive conversions.

Unless you're looking for a quick sale, E-bay will never get the best result - E-bay buyers are looking for a cheap deal on the whole.

If you can hold out until Spring then you'll do better, but in these uncertain times that isn't always possible.

Good luck with the sale. I hope you get what you want for the car, and I hope these random jottings are a bit helpful. A few months ago I would have been very interested in your car - I've always wanted a 164. But right now thanks to the general situation, my finances are under pressure, my job is not very secure, and my eldest wants to start at university next year!

All the best mate

Cheers

Jack

[guitarman]

Hi Gents,
It so happens I bought a certain arctic blue/black interior 164 on ebay recently, so your comments are most interesting....I can understand both points of view. I do think 164s are undervalued by P.C. magazine, £1750 is a bit of a laugh for a grade 1 car, one which appears to be gaining popularity in this country, as are it's 140 series brethren. Lets not forget how popular they are in Scandinavia and the Netherlands too. I'm considering eventually trading in my modern car for a 145.
However Captain Jack is spot on, quality and taste have little to do with classic car prices! Growing up on a diet of G.M, Ford and BL products I was amazed at the quality of my 164 and now realise why Volvo gained such a loyal following back in those days.
Another point i'd like to make about 164s is the interest they generate amongst people generally, people I know have been very impressed, odd to compare that with the very negative view of Volvos other petrol heads have. Still this just makes me appreciate 'The Beast' more!
J.J

[ombyggd]

Dear John
If your 164 is still for sale, could you email some pictures to me? My address is atonner.scrisp@virgin.net
Many thanks
Adrian Tonner