Disproportionate amount of Packard cars recently for sale

[Buzzard]

As the title states, how many have noticed the recent abundance of Packard vehicles for sale? I think this is telling in that most are likely family members selling relatives' collector cars for an estate. I am hoping I am wrong, but this could be a precursor for our Studebaker hobby as we grow older.
Bill

[6hk71400]

Bill,

I have noticed over the years that the Packard cars listed varies higher then lower that Studebaker listed. I attribute this to a couple of things. First, as the economy changes, sales go up or down. To generalize, Packards are usually (but not in all cases) bought by some people as an investment. They will buy it and keep an eye on the market then sell them. Studebaker owners are unique and most people buy their cars not to make money. Ask me how I know. In all the times since 1968 (I was a baby then) I have made money on two cars. One was a 56 Golden Hawk that paid for my daughters wedding. The other was a 54 Commander Starliner that I was given. It had some speed equipment and tach in the dash. The rest I just enjoyed them, and did not concern myself with all the other stuff.

Second, depending on the location and time of year, I will see an increase in cars for sale. This usually coincides with which auction company is hosting sales. Barrett Jackson, Mecum, etc.

You are right though. I don't think it is a precursor..................yet.

[PackardV8]

You are right though. I don't think it is a precursor..................yet.

Beg to differ, at present, there are many nice Studebakers for sale, but the next ten years will be the best time ever to buy the nicest-ever at a overstock price.

jack vines, who can see it from where he's standing.

[64LarkLover]

Locally, there's a very nice 63 Cruiser and 64 Daytona sedan that have been listed for weeks with apparently no takers. As someone who watches the ads, I can't say the entire market is soft, just that cars like these would have sold in no time just a few years ago.

[8E45E]

As the title states, how many have noticed the recent abundance of Packard vehicles for sale? I think this is telling in that most are likely family members selling relatives' collector cars for an estate. I am hoping I am wrong, but this could be a precursor for our Studebaker hobby as we grow older.

How does this compare with Hudsons for sale currently? They also ceased production in the mid 1950s.

Craig

[6hk71400]

Only using the listings on Ebay, there are 18 listed for sale Hudson, 22 for sale Nash including Metro's, and 55 for sale AMC including Jeeps. There are 70 Studebaker's and 69 Packard's listed.

I don't know if that is significant or not. Packard and Studebaker cars have for several years had a strong sense of support and a great thought of community among car collectors, not to mention a deep affection for each marque.

[mbstude]

Beg to differ, at present, there are many nice Studebakers for sale, but the next ten years will be the best time ever to buy the nicest-ever at a overstock price.

jack vines, who can see it from where he's standing.

I’ve been hearing that for the last 20 years. Yet right now, prices are higher than they’ve ever been for nice Studebakers.

Jerry Kurtz once told me that when he first got into the antique car hobby in the 1970’s, the old guys were running around trying to figure out how to save the hobby, because the younger generation had no interest in old cars. That was 50 years ago.

[Gunslinger]

It simply shows we don’t own our cars in perpetuity…we’re just holding them for the next guy.

[64Avanti]

Beg to differ, at present, there are many nice Studebakers for sale, but the next ten years will be the best time ever to buy the nicest-ever at a overstock price.

jack vines, who can see it from where he's standing.

That is great! In ten years I will be able to buy some great cars at a great price. The only problem is I will, if lucky, only have a few years to enjoy them.

[6hk71400]

In 10 years, I may be gone for 5 years so it is good thing I am not in the market for a car

[Chris Pile]

Well, here in Wichita nearly all the members of the local Packard club have passed away, so it makes sense that the market would be glutted.

[J_Cole]

I think the hobby is changing and for good. 10,15,30 years ago they didn't have Hot Rod Power Tours, didn't have 800,000 cars and coffees or Concours shows, didn't have so many road rally's and events. Goodguys, ect ect ect.

Although the "Studebaker" clubs may be going away, the DC Mid-Atlantic meet isn't super active, the interest in cars is strong because it opens doors and tickets to new events and new places to meet people and experience new experiences. It's not always brand specific but era specific or just anyone with a car.

There is a guy in the DC area who built a 4 door bullet nose to his tastes. I don't think it's Stude powered and has racing seats front and rear and was built for him and his wife and kids. And it's freaking awesome. The purists here would puke but it's fantastic and he did the work himself and for himself. The amount he would have paid someone would have exceeded its value by ALOT. But he did it himself and to a high quality and kept another one from the crusher. The hobby isn't dying. It's stronger than ever EVEN if it's hard to find shops and machine shops.

But why spend 12 months waiting on a machine shop when you can get an LS3 and retrofit your car and get it worked on at any shop in America? Matt and Corey Lime and Garvin Piper are all younger than me by 5-10 years and are basing their career and retirements on the hobby sticking around. They see the numbers and opportunities and aren't going anywhere. I'm not at all concerned

[6hk71400]

Justin,

I agree with you to a point. There are certain models that if I saw someone modify, I would probably cringe. If someone took a 58 Golden Hawk and yanked out a perfectly good drivetrain and put in (fill in the blank) to suit his taste, I know people have done that and I would hope they save the original drivetrain so if someone later would go back to original.

On the other hand, if a car is down sitting for years and the time and money to bring Rip Van Winkle back, it may be better to upgrade and use the car for the purpose of fun. We have in our chapter cars from a 1923 running Light Six touring car to a 1989 Avanti Convertible. There are a couple of nice modified 51 and 53 with great workmanship. We do have some younger folks join us. Seems like the main thing we do ( just us) is meet once a month beside the board meeting is to eat and greet. We are also should be known as SDC......Studebaker Diners Club.

[mbstude]

Justin - An insightful perspective, and I don’t disagree with you.

One thing that seems prevalent is that a lot of guys look at a dwindling club membership and assume that there’s also a dwindling interest in the hobby as a whole, and that’s just not true.

The old car hobby is thriving, though it’s also evolving. It’s the “club” concept that’s struggling to stay relevant. The younger guys just don’t care about joining clubs.

[J_Cole]

Yup, you're spot on. It looks like i didn't complete my thought above but you finished it. That Bullet Nose owner probably would get so much criticism here he'd regret joining. In the last month, we've had one guy go crazy about the "wrong" color, another one complained the price of Avanti's is going up, one didn't like a book they didn't write because it wasn't what they wanted, one actively bragged about arguing and being rude to spectators about his Avanti, and someone was nasty about the angle of picture of S2D that appeared in Car and Driver. Why join a one make club when this is the reception you'd get, even when your car is 100% factory correct? The hobby isn't dying. Our generation just doesn't want to deal with the clubs... and for good reason.

[Buzzard]

Matthew,
Quote: "The younger guys just don’t care about joining clubs."
Hey, I'm an old fart and... I have given up on my local chapter which the prez has evolved into his own personal advertising venue and relocated most of the gatherings far away for most of us. What do I get from the club meetings? Naada. No one is even slightly interested in my endeavor to produce a 21st century Studebaker V8 motor utilizing the technology, lubrication knowledge, metallurgy etc. and most of all, the knowledge from contributors such as Jack V and Jeff R. which has helped to advanced us 70+ years.
Can you go park your car at a better angle?
Cheers,
Bill

[J_Cole]

That engine actually sounds really interesting!! I'm working on a custom 53 project and we are targeting 300+ HP naturally aspirated out of a 289. Should be fun when it's done! I heard Nemish Solanki was working on an aluminum block for a while which would have been amazing!

[StudeNewby]

Originally posted by J_Cole

In the last month, we've had one guy go crazy about the "wrong" color, another one complained the price of Avanti's is going up, one didn't like a book they didn't write because it wasn't what they wanted, one actively bragged about arguing and being rude to spectators about his Avanti, and someone was nasty about the angle of picture of S2D that appeared in Car and Driver.

Justin,

And we wonder why membership and forum activity is dwindling.

Yeah, I copied and pasted your quote to put it in a font size where everyone could read it.

THANK YOU.

[J_Cole]

You're welcome. And this is just a sample :-( I don't see any passion in the marque or hobby, I just see a bunch of guys complaining. I swear the admins are asleep at the wheel letting these guys stick around. Not everyone, there are a lot of fantastic people here. But holy cow...

PS, I just saw a post you posted of a custom Hawk prototype that was on the cover of Turning Wheels in October of 2001. I'm building a custom '54 and adding fender vents like a 50's Ferrari or Gullwing. I'd never seen it done before on a Studebaker, until today. And wow, just wow. I think I'm in love! That hawk is brilliant!!

[StudeNewby]

Yeah, that prototype the story surrounding it are pretty cool. Woulda shoulda coulda!

[bensherb]

I think the hobby is changing and for good. 10,15,30 years ago they didn't have Hot Rod Power Tours, didn't have 800,000 cars and coffees or Concours shows, didn't have so many road rally's and events. Goodguys, ect ect ect.

Maybe not in MD, but here in CA I've been going to Goodguys events for 36 years and NHRA , various Concours, "coffees" and other events ten years before Gary started Goodguys. Even the first Hot Rod Power Tour was 28 years ago. From where I stand, the number of events has dropped considerably in the last 30 years, and attendance at events has dropped quite a lot in the last 20. My attendance at such events has definitely dropped. Primarily due to the massive increase in cost of attending anything but small local events. Of which there are very few anymore.

Also from what I've seen here, acceptance of modifications and modified cars is FAR, FAR better now than eight years ago when I first logged in, and FAR,FAR,FAR better than even 5 years ago when I started modifying mine.