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Monterey Madness…

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

When Bad Data is Good News and $118.7 million is Pretty Good! Five auctions in three days sold 558 classic cars. The average price was $212,711.00 per unit. 67% of the cars crossing the block went home with new owners. However, when compared to 2008, the numbers look a bit scarier, ie: nearly $139 million in sales in ‘08, 70% sold, average price was $367,000.00 (+). All told there was a 17% decrease in sales from this year to last. The numbers don’t reflect the real story though. Experts, garage mechanics, and weekend warriors have all been reading the tea leaves for twelve months and they knew what would happen. There were no surprises and some real highlights like the $7.25 million paid for the Shelby Cobra. There was no speculating or nay-sayers just real bids for real cars and this is the real news out of Monterey for the collector car market and the enthusiasts who inhabit the hobby. Email: terry@proteamcorvette.com

What Happened To All The Real Car Guys…

Monday, July 13th, 2009

that enjoyed the chase? You know the guys who would never buy a Corvette without looking, inspecting, touching, and test driving a car prior to the purchase. Here’s my personal challenge. Get out from behind the computer screen and personally inspect that Corvette of your dreams with your own eyes and participate physically in “the chase”. It might even be fun and you won’t be disappointed!!!

Would you like to discuss the rise, fall, and rise again of “real car guys”, email me directly at terry@proteamcorvette.com

Personal Reserve Collection Show Results…

Monday, June 29th, 2009

are in for the following NCRS and Bloomington sanctioned shows where ProTeam’s Personal Reserve Collection cars were judged:
June 5/6 NCRS Detroit:
- 1953 Corvette, VIN #39 = Top Flight
- 1953 Corvette, VIN #268 = Top Flight
- 1967 Corvette Convertible Red 435 = Top Flight
- 1968 Corvette Convertible Red/Red L88 = Top Flight
- 1969 Corvette T-Top Black 435 = Second Flight
June 11/13 NCRS Wisconsin Regional:
- 1967 Triple Black 400 hp w/factory air = Top Flight
- 1968 Red/Red L88 = Top Flight
June 25/27 Bloomington Gold Certification:
- 1953 Corvette, VIN #39 = Bloomington Silver certification
- 1953 Corvette, VIN #93 = Bloomington Gold certification
- 1953 Corvette, VIN #268 = Bloomington Silver certification
- 1967 Convertible 435 hp Red/Red = Bloomington Silver certification
- 1968 Convertible L88 Red/Red = Special Collection
- 1969 Convertible L88 Yellow = Special Collection
- 1969 T-Top L88 Green = Bloomington Survivor certified, Bloomington Gold certified, Bloomington Benchmark certified
- 1970 Convertible LT1 Laguna Grey = Bloomington Survivor certified, Bloomington Silver certification
- 1971 convertible LS6 Export = Special Collection
- 1972 Convertible 3,000 miles White = Bloomington Survivor certified, Bloomington Gold certified, Bloomington Benchmark certified
- 1981 T-Top 3,000 miles Beige = Bloomington Survivor certified, Bloomington Gold certified, Bloomington Benchmark certified
These results speak loudly as to the quality of our special  Corvettes and our shop employees who painstakingly prepared them for judging and now we’re off to the NCRS National convention which takes place in San Jose, California on July 12-17, 2009 with three very special Corvettes. See you there!!! Comments and/or questions should be directed to terry@proteamcorvette.com


tMichaelis at work on the judging field Bloomington ‘09

Two Mid-Year Corvettes, ie: Bookends

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

The search and purchase of the most desirable mid-year Corvettes ever produced…

Number one would be a 1963 Corvette split window coupe equipped with factory fuel injection (327-360 hp) and a 4 speed transmission.

color: Preferred color would be tuxedo black with a red interior, although I would settle for a black interior. I would make absolutely sure that the trim tag and VIN tag were the original and have not been off the car. I might settle for riverside red but prefer black.

condition: I would want to buy a body-off restored car with few excuses or a low mile survivor that is unrestored, unmolested, in at least number two condition.

awards: I would like a car that has been judged by the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) or Bloomington Gold within the last five years as it adds credibility and helps me sleep better.

price range: I would love to buy the above described tuxedo black examples for $125,000..00 but I am a realist and know that a “real deal” car would more than likely push me to $150,000.00 to $175,000.00.

Number Two would be a 1967 Corvette convertible equipped with a 427-435 hp engine or a 427-400 hp with factory air. I would want a 4 speed transmission with as many options possible. I prefer factory side exhaust but know I can always add (bolt-on) this owner preferred option later.

color: Preferred color would be tuxedo black with a red interior, although I would settle for a black interior. I would absolutely be sure that the trim tag and VIN tag were the original and have not been off the car. I might settle for rally red but prefer black as only 815 Corvettes were painted this color in 1967.

condition: I would want to buy a body-off restored car with few excuses or a low mile survivor that is unrestored, unmolested, in at least number two condition.

awards: I would like a car that has been judged by the NCRS (National Corvette Restorers Society) or Bloomington Gold within the last five years as it adds credibility and helps me sleep better.

documentation: I would want an original motor car or an original unmolested unrestored car where in documentation would not be necessary. If the car was restored with a restoration motor, I would want as much factory/delivery dealer paperwork (documentation) as possible, at least a tank sticker, window sticker, warranty book/protecto-plate, car shipper, or dealer invoice. At least one of these items would be necessary and the document would be subject to scrutiny by Al Grenning’s CCAS for an affirmation of its legitimacy thus reducing the stress of subjectivity and guru options.

price range: I would love to purchase the above described tuxedo black examples for $275,000.00 to $300,000.00 but I am a realist and know that a “real deal” car would move my checkbook closer to $350,000.00 which is still a hard find even in our current lackluster economy. A rally red example would be much less since Chevrolet produced almost three times as many.

The ultimate mid-year bookends! A high performance small block and a big block. One coupe and one convertible… and both black. email your comments to terry@proteamcorvette.com

I May Be Preaching To The Choir…

Monday, May 4th, 2009

But… Corvette’ing is a Great Stress Reliever… and people are still buying Corvettes and will be Corvette’ing this spring, summer, and fall as owning a Corvette goes way beyond the investment/R.O.I. factor… it actually gives one “bragging rights”

It is easy to get caught up in the “bad” news of the day and forget there is life out there and that it is always better in a Corvette.

Buy American…

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Buy American… and save the domestic auto industry, millions of jobs, and our economy… yeah!!! How about a bail out plan that gives ALL auto manufacturers 5 years to install or bring back 90% North American auto content of parts used in the production of their cars and trucks and tax or sanction those who fail the 90% rule. Sure!!! It would be tough for the domestics but more so for the cheap imports that have been stealing our jobs and raping our economy. The imports would have to build more plants in the US and buy US produced components from the sub-contract manufacturing base thus the rebuild of our industrial/manufacturing industries which equals employment! Sell it here. Make it here!!! Call it protectionism. Call it whatever you want. It’s beyond time that we take care of we!!! Just my two cents!!! email your comments to terry@proteamcorvette.com

Obama… Well, here we go again… It’s March 2009 and we have a new President that is poised to fix the economy, fix the health care system, fix our banking system, fix GM, Ford, and Chrysler, fix our crumbling roads and infrastructure, stop wars, catch Osama, fix and normalize relations with Cuba (foremost), Hugo, Iran, North Korea, and anyone else that we pissed-off over the last fifty years. Can he do it? Absolutely! Will we pay? Absolutely! Are we having fun yet? Yep! Did you get your share of the TARP bailout funds? Nope!? Me neither! There will be an opportunity for many people in the right place at the right time as the Billions/Trillions of dollars are allocated and spent on the many reforms that are coming our way… and hopefully these new rich people won’t forget about our little ProTeam Corvette Sales operation in Napoleon, Ohio (pop. 9,182). email your comments to terry@proteamcorvette.com

Corvette Prices Over The Last 3 Decades…

Friday, December 26th, 2008

Corvette prices over the last 3 decades have a proven analytical track record that can be illustrated. I’ve put it in a graph that has come from actual sales and can be tracked by decades of data. There were many highs and lows during this 30 year span, ie: recessions, wars, high interest, low interest, many elections, October ‘87 stock market melt down, ‘89/’91 classic & sports car boom/bust, end of the cold war, tech market boom/bust,  9/11, mortgage boom/bust, an impending global financial zero hour, and now the September ‘08 Wall Street/Big Three meltdown, and the Washington bailout. Time will only tell what the next decade has in mind for classic car and in particular Corvette prices, as the masses continue to pursue their needs over their desires and with any reward there is a degree of risk. The classic Corvette is a proven investment for both pocketbook and garage, take advantage of the current lull in the Corvette price storm and don’t get left behind this time around. Check out an example of Corvette Prices over the last 3 decades below:

used-corvettes-1967.jpg

*source: figures are based on personal/internal sales data collected by Terry Michaelis & ProTeam Corvette Sales and are specifically based on a 1967 Corvette Convertible 427-435, #1 condition, Red/Black convertible. NCRS or Bloomington Gold with factory documentation.

** Data is from actual sales made by author and author has knowledge of other extremes but chose to eliminate the extreme highs from certain high profile auctions and the many 1967’s that were sold in 2008 for much more, ie: $245,000.00 to over $300,000.00. Using $200,000.00 as the baseline number will leave much room for good appreciation over the next decade.

*** Prior to 1978 the older Corvette was not considered a collectible but was a desirable sports car that, in many times, was used year round in all climates.

**** Why 1978? A) The rage and over editorialization of the Indy Pace car creating awareness and desirability of all Corvettes, B)  Formation of the (NCRS) National Corvette Restorers Society in 1974, C) The beginning of the Bloomington Gold show, D) The many (NCCC) National Council of Corvette Clubs, E) The growth of the Corvette after market parts business that made discontinued parts available.

***** The above example is of one particular Corvette that exemplifies the over all appreciation of most all classic Corvettes, especially the legitimate solid lifter cars, ie: L88’s, 365’s, 425’s, fuelies, LT1’s, and split window coupes. The appreciation curves are very similar to the chart above with the exception of the L88 which simply blows these numbers away. The author will attempt to graph other examples from actual sales records in the near future. For now… enjoy!

author: Terry Michaelis

email comment to terry@proteamcorvette.com