EBAY Troll? Is it one of us? I hope not...

[Desiato]

The guy whom e-mailed you may have issues, but...

Frankly, joe car buyer should not buy your car. The only people who should buy your car are those whom understand the type of work that has been done and know what they're getting into -- extraordinary car, extraordinary issues. Ford spends a lot of money testing their final designs, your car is essentially a one of a kind. Who really knows how your configuration will run as it ages.

Many here may agree that a person shouldn't significantly mod their car unless they are fully aware of the pros and cons -- to me, the same goes for buying a modded car.

Therefore you have a much smaller market than a stock car, reducing its value unless you find someone who is looking for your exact configuration and doesn't want to do the work.

And to the average car buyer, Ford > Buckshot. Very few people drool over a LSD HMS rebuild or can convey what types of unique mods went into installing your engine to a local mechanic who has never even seen a Contour.

 

[RogerB]

Very good points.

Mods can decrease or increase value depending on the car and the buyer. As alluded to above, if you find just the right buyer, the value of your car to that buyer will be greater than if it were stock, but the number of potential buyers has shrunk. Other buyers will devalue it based on the uncertainty.

Mods with brand names can add value. Names like Calloway, AMG, Dinan can make a car more rare and desireable, again to the right buyer.

I also have a theory just minutes old about the intrinsic value of the blank canvas. If the "stock" vehicle is highly sought after by collectors, you'd be a fool to add or change anything, since any change--even an improvement, will devalue the vehicle. If the "stock" vehicle is run-of-the-mill, then tasteful, well-thought out mods could actually increase the value. Even though the SVT Contour is a "limited edition," it's basically ROTM as far as most collectors go.

 

[KingpinSVT]

I think Roger is right on point. I was about to post the same thing until I read that response.

 

[plance1]

Frankly, joe car buyer should not buy your car. The only people who should buy your car are those whom understand the type of work that has been done and know what they're getting into -- extraordinary car, extraordinary issues. Ford spends a lot of money testing their final designs, your car is essentially a one of a kind. Who really knows how your configuration will run as it ages.

Many here may agree that a person shouldn't significantly mod their car unless they are fully aware of the pros and cons -- to me, the same goes for buying a modded car.

Therefore you have a much smaller market than a stock car, reducing its value unless you find someone who is looking for your exact configuration and doesn't want to do the work.

And to the average car buyer, Ford > Buckshot. Very few people drool over a LSD HMS rebuild or can convey what types of unique mods went into installing your engine to a local mechanic who has never even seen a Contour.

You are 100 percent right. I don't think this is a car that your average person can appreciate it. I think most of the people watching it are CEG's who are just kind of curious what the market will bring for their own rides. When I had the work done on the car, many local guys said, oh yeah I can do the work you want done on it but I took it halfway around the country to have one of the experts do it so your point about the local mechanic is accurate.

 

[Desiato]

If I was selling your car on Ebay, I'd probably try a $7-7.5k no reserve auction that markets the car unapologetically as a one of a kind performance sedan for enthusiasts or would-be enthusiasts.