Transferred the posts below originally on the thread "MA 200 - AC 428 Prototype" top of the second page, to this new specific thread as obviously it would be interesting to hear some owner's and other's thoughts on what they feel ought to be the true market value and possible future of the 428 as well.
Anyone......? [
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Peterw11
USA
7 Posts Posted - 11 December 2007 : 05:37:33
quote:
As to the value of 428's on the classic car market, it doesn't appear to me that they seem to suffer that much relative to their direct competition, aside from Ferrari. Maserati, Bizzarini, Iso, Jensen, Lamborghini, Aston Martin all seem to hover around the same price range. Only Ferrari is worth more, model for model.
Why? Because nothing else in the world is Ferrari, with the competition history, glittering clientele, reputation, etc. Plus Ferrari has that V12 engine.
The 428 may be a better car in many ways, and a lot rarer as well, but if you put a Ferrari emblem on it, it's value would triple overnight.
Posted - 13 December 2007 : 20:44:57
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Hi Peter
Obviously every classic car fan has their particular favourite make and model be it Cobra, Ferrari, Lambos across to Minis etc. and market values obviously try to reflect this. However with regard to the existing market values of the AC 428 which currently vary between roughly £40k - £70k, there are perhaps two lesser known additional facts and subsequent problems that I believe ought to be clearly highlighted beforehand when seen in tandem with their rarity. Firstly that the 428 has the same chassis as the Cobra although 6" longer, and secondly in the past perhaps because the body was too far gone a few were converted into Cobra etc. replicas.
Reference the topic "How many Frua left ?" - bottom of main Forum Page 2 - sheet 1. And the posting quoted below on the 29th January 2007 -
http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=217&whichpage=1 quote:
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"....in the current issue of C&SC, page 178, there is a remarkable comment from a dealer (Hurst Park) who has a 428 for sale. He has had five calls from people wanting to convert it into a Cobra....!"
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Referring to the Register this in all likelihood would have been either Query no. 5).(at the bottom) - Reg. No. NUJ 14, or chassis number CF 57, yet when you look at their pictures both appear to be in excellent condition.
Unfortunately and in what is appearing to be a relatively new development, it would seem that now there are others out there who all of a sudden are very keen indeed to buy 428s and convert them into Cobra replicas as well. Most astonishingly almost regardless of condition, probably because they are well aware there are a lot of buyers out there interested in having one. Perhaps they think a brand new Cobra replica with an original AC chassis is somehow important, though what exactly is so special or what advantage or difference a 35 year old plus chassis has over a new one, especially in conjunction with today's road safety rules I cannot even begin to imagine; though obviously I accept having always been hopeless in all things mechanical doesn't exactly help.
As to the costs of building such strange conversions I've no idea either.
However when one next considers the example of Query no. 21). near the bottom of the Register....
http://www.racecar.co.uk/acoc/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=548&whichpage=1 ....where a former 428 chassis with a Cobra replica body is or was (?) recently advertised for sale in Germany at the astonishing figure of nearly 200,000 Euros or almost £140k it would appear, short of any other logical explanations, that yet again it is the 428 chassis that is worth such money whilst the rest of the body is presumably….what ? Worthless ? Taken all round the whole subject does start to raise some very worrying thoughts indeed, especially as such work could have been carried out by anyone.
Whatever the real reasons they're obviously unimportant and irrelevant, but what it does mean I believe is that in order to prevent all remaining 428s suffering a similarly ignominious fate, an immediate and thorough re-appraisal and re-evaluation of the market value of both AC 428 Frua models is now extremely urgent and vital and not left until it is too late. Ideally always seeking to maintain their value, regardless of condition, some 15% - 20% above the highest prices that all existing 428/ Cobra conversion replicas are fetching at any given time. In other words to employ whatever means are deemed necessary that will make it hopelessly uneconomical to ever consider the wanton destruction of any AC 428 Frua again. In addition, and above all, to ensure that such means help to permanently protect, maintain and cherish the few, now extremely rare, important and genuinely exclusive examples remaining of a brilliant 1960's concept and design from the house of a highly respected and long established British manufacturer.
Or perhaps I should put it all a little more bluntly. Depending on condition and if I owned one I would not think of insuring or dream of selling it as of today for anything less than around £150k - £175k. Minimum. Why should I ? So that some total stranger without a shred of personal interest in the car, its history or its rarity should make an outrageous profit not only from its unnecessary and callous destruction but to add insult to injury all at my expense as well ? I'm afraid not. [
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Cass
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Peterw11
USA
7 Posts Posted - 14 December 2007 : 00:33:41
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Same thing was/is happening to the less valuable V12 Ferrari models, particularly the 250 and 330 2+2's. They take the engine and drive train and build a GTO or Testa Rossa around it. Even a replica can sell for 10 times what a 2+2 is worth on it's best day
