Original miles "really" matter on a restored car?

**Survivor 69/Z28** · #1 01-21-2008, 06:13 PM

Howdy!!

Watching the B.J. over the weekend I noticed more and more that folks are trying to get a premium price on lower mile cars "that have been restored." Or at least they have the miles in big bold #'s printed on the windshield.
I could be clueless. But if a car has been completely restored then does it really make a big difference of how many miles it has??? Sure its a bonus. But everything is now new or like new anyway....
So why would a person pay a lot more for a car like this?
To me, if you are going to focus on miles then it should be unrestored. Then it of course makes a difference IMO.
This is really something that I am not understanding in our hobby and maybe someone can clarify.

Thanks,

**427.060** · #2 01-21-2008, 06:16 PM

I agree 100%. A lot of the low mile cars were raced when new so the few miles that were put on the cars were rough on the cars.
James

**YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY** · #3 01-21-2008, 06:37 PM

Keep in mind that many guys will 'roll' the speedo after a full frame off - a similar thing that I don't understand. Like you said, everything is new/redone, but it still doesn't give you a license to start the speedo over again - just like it doesn't make sense to make claims about ultra low miles

BTW, it's a very, very small world out there! After completing my resto, I got my car appraised for the insurance process. I used Shaw appraisers for the task, never knowing that Cliff Ernst also uses him. So, when he came to look at my car he specifically wanted to see the speedo - and made a note that it was 'still' at 99k miles. Perplexed, I asked him why he was so concerned about the mileage on a fully restored car. His reply was that he had known of my car for the full time that Cliff had owned it, and knew the mileage should be 99k, and although it would be exceptionally easy to roll it over less a thou, he was pleased to see that it was not rolled over. He said it just speaks towards the approach taken on the resto, not hiding anything, keeping it 'real'. I thanked him for the compliment!

rsatz28 · #4 01-21-2008, 07:49 PM

I thought it was illegal to turn back odometers, isn't it?

**Mr70** · #5 01-21-2008, 07:56 PM

I actually respect a fully restored vehicle more if it's original mileage is still showing.To me it's like the past meeting the present.This way you know two things,how many miles it accumulated up to the restoration,and how many it's accumulating after.
I don't think one can or should ask for more money because of that though.
If you roll it back to 0,then your likely to never know or forget at what mileage it was restored at,once if it leaves the hands of the restorer/owner.
As Marlins guy described,"It just speaks towards the approach taken on the resto".

Canucklehead · #6 01-21-2008, 08:12 PM

What about buying from an original owner or a low owner count?. Or even a celebrity owner or known "good guy" collector. To me i would think it should'nt make a difference, the car should be the star not who or how many owned it. Case in point, Carroll Shelby's personal car, even when it was getting alot more money then it deserved Steve Davis seemed pissed it was going so cheap!!

rsatz28 · #7 01-21-2008, 08:18 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Case in point, Carroll Shelby's personal car, even when it was getting alot more money then it deserved Steve Davis seemed pissed it was going so cheap!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Then may be they should go back to a reserve auction?

How about the the "shame" that was Barret was tossing out about on the "$1.6M" Duesenburg that went for $1M.