I can see some of your points about collecting but I think you way off base here - on these trucks. But we are all entitled to our opinions.
I am curious as to what kind of vehicles you collect and which are stock and which are modded.
Have no idea how long you have been around this site but will assume that based on your judging experience, you are not a total newb. In reference to Danimal's mods to a customers truck, or his own for that matter, it's what they wanted and that is all that matters. As Danimal mentioned, it was not a Hemi Cuda convert. These trucks have not reached collector status to the point where "true collectors" are seeking a 100% virgin and are willing to pay big money for one. It's simply not at that level and never will be. It's not a Yenko, a COPO, a Tri Power 67 Vette, a true ZL1 ect. Also it's not like he "deflowered" a 100% virgin truck either.
I collect cars and I judge as well. How many cars do you see that have been preserved 100% in all respects (not even a bolt touched). Most of the big dollar cars go through a full restoration. The muscle stuff is just old. For a 100% car, it most likely needs restoration to be like day 1. The resto doesn't kill the value. A Vette is an exception to the rule. Guys will pay pretty big money for an older untouched car. A 67 tripower car with all matching numbers, with miles, with wear and tear, not missing anything and never touched will be desireable within the Vette crowd. Guys will go into a frenzy for one of those. Let's say there are 10 guys in a frenzy for this aforementioned virgin Vette. Out of those 10, how many do you think would continue to drive the car as is vs. how many would buy it because it is a perfect candidate for a full restoration.
Do you watch auction results to the point that you obtain information on whether the car is a basic virgin or a resto. I'm not talking about late model stuff, but the earlier cars. More resto's vs untouched cars from my research. The cars reputation also plays a factor here. These trucks DO NOT have the reputation of a GNX, GN or TTA. Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. These trucks have a bad rep from those that know. They are traffic light terrors, I'll give them that and so will the general opinion but that is about it.
They detonate and blow up, They eat bearings from detonation, melt pistons, loose compression. The LB4 cylinder heads suck. They don't flow on top and the cam is small. Don't expect heavy breathing on top end in stock form. It's easy to get a GN to the mid 11's and it will do it for years. Comparing apples to apples, get a GN to the mid 11's and one of these to the same. Forget about the extreme cash outlay difference between the two, but test them and see which one lasts longer. Boost launch a SyTy multiple times in a row and trash the trans within the hour. Yes, the trans has a bad rep. for durability. A Sy is small for a tall person. Your front propshaft will break if you launch enough with traction. Stuff breaks all the time. The abs sucks. The motor mounts break. The fuel pump is weak even for a stocker. The intercooler system is overtaxed when your out for continueous "spirited" driving. The ignition is weak. The intercooler lines run over hot places ect...ect...ect... You can get this stuff from someone who knows these trucks whether they own one or not. The biggest reputation stuff is the detonation, weak trans and the difficutly to tune. This stuff is simply known and kills the market value to the true collector. They simply don't have enough of a bad ass reputation to pull big money or have a market where all the collectors have to have one. Due to the bad rep. I don't see "collector" guys out searching and paying big $$ for these trucks and don't think they ever will. The hayday has passed for these trucks. I know many will disagree and I hope I am wrong. I own one of each and would like the see the value rise to meet some of my others but I am not holding my breath.
As Danimal mentioned, the customers truck he is working on now is a repaint. The virginity was lost long ago. The rare color doesn't mean much in this case (imo) vs a extremely low mileage, untouched example. I bet the owner of this truck will get it out more often and enjoy it. It will be fast and reliable. It will get attention and make a Ty known to those that have never heard of one. Maybe that will actually help the market across the board. When more and more see the potential of these trucks, their popularity will increase and hopefully so will the market value.
Back to work for now.
