Classic car values

[Cavcraft]

  On 07/04/2025 at 17:53, Fabergé Greggs said:

Anyone care to speculate on values of early VW T25 campers?  I wonder if the “camper dream” thing isolates them a little from the more volatile market of classics as investments? 

I may or may not be pulling the trigger on one and I’d prefer it not to plunge.. 

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Horrible to drive, but surely they will only increase in value now the old air cooled things have all but rusted away now? 

[chadders]

  On 07/04/2025 at 20:57, Cavcraft said:

Horrible to drive, but surely they will only increase in value now the old air cooled things have all but rusted away now? 

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In some people's opinion they rusted worse than the T2, certainly in the seams.

There's still lots of the air cooled T2s left, just go to the coast in the summer, and more and more body panels are being made for them.

[N Dentressangle]

  On 08/04/2025 at 09:36, chadders said:

In some people's opinion they rusted worse than the T2, certainly in the seams.

There's still lots of the air cooled T2s left, just go to the coast in the summer, and more and more body panels are being made for them.

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Yep, rust in the seams is terminal unless you chop it all out. There are plenty with it painted over with hope...

The wasserboxer engine is a real dog IMO, so if you can find one with a diesel fitted or something different then I'd see that as a plus point. The early ones are still aircooled, and the 30's design is not really up to pushing along such a heavy outfit.

I think they have their charm, but campers have moved on. Most VW people seem to want a T5 these days, and not something as maintenance-heavy as the old ones for actually using. I'd be surprised if T25 values rise - more likely they'll gently fall like the T2 seems to be doing as people perceive them as no longer fit for actually camping in.

[chadders]

  On 08/04/2025 at 09:44, N Dentressangle said:

Yep, rust in the seams is terminal unless you chop it all out. There are plenty with it painted over with hope...

The wasserboxer engine is a real dog IMO, so if you can find one with a diesel fitted or something different then I'd see that as a plus point. The early ones are still aircooled, and the 30's design is not really up to pushing along such a heavy outfit.

I think they have their charm, but campers have moved on. Most VW people seem to want a T5 these days, and not something as maintenance-heavy as the old ones for actually using. I'd be surprised if T25 values rise - more likely they'll gently fall like the T2 seems to be doing as people perceive them as no longer fit for actually camping in.

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Our T2 is for going out for the day and having picnics by the beach and so forth whilst easily taking the dogs.

[MrBig]

Having owned several T25s (aka T3) I am of the opinion that all the engine options are garbage.  The 2.0 aircooled 70bhp unit is probably the safest option! The diesels were woefully underpowered, especially the 50bhp (yes) 1.6D. The aircooled CT was flaky and again, underpowered and the wasserboxers like to corrode and lift their heads. 

If you can find a good one, and put a Golf GTi motor in, they're great, but rust and engine issues can make them a frightening prospect to run!

[mk2_craig]

One of my friends used to drive a later one which had the Audi 5-pot in the back, pretty nice. I think it was an import from South Africa. 

[sheffcortinacentre]

Was common to fit the ford Essex V6 in them in SA.

[The_Equalizer]

  On 07/04/2025 at 20:34, SiC said:

I can't imagine XKs holding their value that well in the coming decade. Again another old car where the demographic that loved them is dying off. I guess might have a renaissance if Jag comes back for a new generation and people look back at the old fondly. 

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I remember classic car jouro Martin Buckley making the same argument about such cars 20 years ago. Markets are notoriously hard to predict. The one benefit of the megabucks era being a lot of stuff had proper money spent on them.  That said, glad things are calming price wise and there's so much to choose from right now. Must get myself to an auction very soon and speak of such things, has anyone been to SWVA before? I see they have one in a couple of weeks and there's an i6 DB7 that does look rather nice (and an estimate of £8-£10K). 

[SiC]

  On 10/04/2025 at 08:33, The_Equalizer said:

I remember classic car jouro Martin Buckley making the same argument about such cars 20 years ago. Markets are notoriously hard to predict. The one benefit of the megabucks era being a lot of stuff had proper money spent on them.  That said, glad things are calming price wise and there's so much to choose from right now. Must get myself to an auction very soon and speak of such things, has anyone been to SWVA before? I see they have one in a couple of weeks and there's an i6 DB7 that does look rather nice (and an estimate of £8-£10K). 

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Certain stuff is dropping hard like pre war porridge. Whether the XK will also fall out of favour is hard to say. Still plenty of boomer generation who remember them as bonfide classics and have more than enough money to pay bigger bucks for them.

That said, there is still a lot of survivors. Good point that because stuff has been worth a bit, money likely has been spent on them.

Shiny stuff is holding its value better while scruffy or projects are developing a bit of a gap from what I've seen. 

I've never been to SWVA but I do keep an eye on their results. Definitely don't get the numbers that the bigger auction houses get - presumably because they're less well known and attended. 

[EyesWeldedShut]

  On 10/04/2025 at 09:11, SiC said:

I've never been to SWVA

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Oh no! Another work prevarication https://www.swva.co.uk/auction/5

Interesting mix of vehicles in there XK8 on an estimate of £2750 - £3750 (I guess that translates as provisional to sold prices?)

[SiC]

  On 10/04/2025 at 09:16, EyesWeldedShut said:

Oh no! Another work prevarication https://www.swva.co.uk/auction/5

Interesting mix of vehicles in there

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Certainly the place to go if you want an MGB! I suspect many of them will go super cheap.

These are what take my fancy:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/68shxiqqqbxonngnblxdrsydp#auction-gallery

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/neojvg41nevygdxai8dsvpeql

That Austin 12/7 non runner I suspect will go for peanuts. 

[The_Equalizer]

  On 10/04/2025 at 09:16, EyesWeldedShut said:

Oh no! Another work prevarication https://www.swva.co.uk/auction/5

Interesting mix of vehicles in there XK8 on an estimate of £2750 - £3750 (I guess that translates as provisional to sold prices?)

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There does seem to be an eclectic mix. How much longer can XK8s sit at that kind of money? Surely this is a cheeky 'come get me' estimate of £4-5K for an XKR:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/yjapjrp6vw7p0yncdlsuxmmqj

Does look very much like they'll be some cheap metal provided you're flexible and not impacted by ULEZ. There's at least 10 cars that tickle my fancy. Lol. Perhaps a visit might be in order!

[Mally]

  On 07/04/2025 at 20:57, Cavcraft said:

Horrible to drive, but surely they will only increase in value now the old air cooled things have all but rusted away now? 

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I enjoyed driving the T25 with 2.0 petrol.

Not so much when the cylinder head studs rotted through.

Nor when the replacement Heritage engine developed a sprayed on chocolate cam just outside guarantee.

 

[chadders]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:03, The_Equalizer said:

There does seem to be an eclectic mix. How much longer can XK8s sit at that kind of money? Surely this is a cheeky 'come get me' estimate of £4-5K for an XKR:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/yjapjrp6vw7p0yncdlsuxmmqj

Does look very much like they'll be some cheap metal provided you're flexible and not impacted by ULEZ. There's at least 10 cars that tickle my fancy. Lol. Perhaps a visit might be in order!

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I nearly pulled the trigger on a XK5.0 convertible just before Xmas at about 18k having decided that I needed to start moving on my bucket list.

I'll have to have a proper look around, the missus won't complain, too much, as she got a new 500C last October.

[BorniteIdentity]

That Toyota Tercel at SWVA SURELY is worth more than £1-1500?  Is this just them baiting people in with low estimates?

Mind you - 10% buyers premium is enough to keep me WELL and truly in the shallow end.  

[chadders]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:17, BorniteIdentity said:

That Toyota Tercel at SWVA SURELY is worth more than £1-1500?  Is this just them baiting people in with low estimates?

Mind you - 10% buyers premium is enough to keep me WELL and truly in the shallow end.  

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+VAT as well isn't it so 12%?

[SiC]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:17, BorniteIdentity said:

That Toyota Tercel at SWVA SURELY is worth more than £1-1500?  Is this just them baiting people in with low estimates?

Mind you - 10% buyers premium is enough to keep me WELL and truly in the shallow end.  

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+VAT and £1k refundable deposit. High fees helps push down prices though.

I've got a prior appointment on the 24th so I'm out. Shame as that MG1300 looks quite tasty. (But I'd likely end up with a cheap MGB)

[The_Equalizer]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:14, chadders said:

I nearly pulled the trigger on a XK5.0 convertible just before Xmas at about 18k having decided that I needed to start moving on my bucket list.

I'll have to have a proper look around, the missus won't complain, too much, as she got a new 500C last October.

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I've had a similar realisation. Time does not stand still. My Dad, 81, was keen to go halves with me on an early Conti GT. There's just so much available at 'reasonable' money. Do need to get what I have fixed too.

SWVA does look like more of an 'auction' auction in that, judging by the MoT history of a lot of those cars, you'd have work to do.  Other places seem to focus on the better end of the market. Last one I went to was Manor Park and the cars, on the whole, were decent enough. I believe they've bought Baron's which used to be a favourite, partly due to geography, when I was buying stuff from auction. That's a while back now mind you.

[Cavcraft]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:04, Mally said:

I enjoyed driving the T25 with 2.0 petrol.

Not so much when the cylinder head studs rotted through.

Nor when the replacement Heritage engine developed a sprayed on chocolate cam just outside guarantee.

 

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Hated the gearbox on the one I briefly had. Despite my feelings on Poxwagens, I really wanted to like it,  but couldn't gel with it at all.

[The_Equalizer]

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:51, SiC said:

+VAT and £1k refundable deposit. High fees helps push down prices though.

I've got a prior appointment on the 24th so I'm out. Shame as that MG1300 looks quite tasty. (But I'd likely end up with a cheap MGB)

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Yes, to the MGBs. Rather liked the late 60s roadster:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/v9b1dcqhhtsutrqc4wchlxc8e#auction-gallery

And this GT:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/6ofto9rx6ya6nltsvpnltigms

Anyone know if this is a factory Rover colour for the P5:



https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/4d4mpkwcuuoapdoo2yr7av2yt#auction-gallery
 

[EyesWeldedShut]

  On 10/04/2025 at 09:40, SiC said:

Certainly the place to go if you want an MGB!

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I'd kind of assumed it would be down Brizzle way but now I see it's much further than that (200 miles away with that wiggly bit down through Frome) my ardour is dampened - still worth a bit of online timewasting though.

 

  On 10/04/2025 at 10:14, chadders said:

the missus won't complain, too much, as she got a new 500C last October.

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Mine is a bloodhound - she can scent a roffle or a bit of sly auction house browsing from two rooms away (on a bad day). She's had vaccinations against Man Maths and now knows the exact mpg returned on anything like P38s, XK8s, SL500s etc etc. Ditto the date of all changes in VED rules.

[SiC]

  On 10/04/2025 at 12:56, The_Equalizer said:

Yes, to the MGBs. Rather liked the late 60s roadster:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/v9b1dcqhhtsutrqc4wchlxc8e#auction-gallery

And this GT:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/6ofto9rx6ya6nltsvpnltigms

Anyone know if this is a factory Rover colour for the P5:



https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/4d4mpkwcuuoapdoo2yr7av2yt#auction-gallery
 

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"Good morning,

I will register your interest today. I will call you back week commencing the 19th of April to take the £1000 holding fee.

Kind regards"

 

🙉🙈

[SiC]

That MG1300 is £1k to £2k estimate. Seems a bit low to me!

I probably need to go down and have a gander first. 

[The_Equalizer]

  On 10/04/2025 at 13:01, SiC said:

 

"Good morning,

I will register your interest today. I will call you back week commencing the 19th of April to take the £1000 holding fee.

Kind regards"

 

🙉🙈

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Good man!

[SiC]

  On 07/04/2025 at 17:53, Fabergé Greggs said:

Anyone care to speculate on values of early VW T25 campers?  I wonder if the “camper dream” thing isolates them a little from the more volatile market of classics as investments? 

I may or may not be pulling the trigger on one and I’d prefer it not to plunge.. 

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This is clearly what you actually want/need:

https://www.swva.co.uk/vehicle/gabalzqhzfz7pgeoa65vvbyeu

😄

[chadders]

  On 10/04/2025 at 13:01, EyesWeldedShut said:

I'd kind of assumed it would be down Brizzle way but now I see it's much further than that (200 miles away with that wiggly bit down through Frome) my ardour is dampened - still worth a bit of online timewasting though.

 

Mine is a bloodhound - she can scent a roffle or a bit of sly auction house browsing from two rooms away (on a bad day). She's had vaccinations against Man Maths and now knows the exact mpg returned on anything like P38s, XK8s, SL500s etc etc. Ditto the date of all changes in VED rules.

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Fortunately mine isn't bothered at all otherwise I'd be dead, especially as the T2 restoration cost about 6x the original estimate; I should have scrapped it but the bad bits took quite a while to reveal themselves like the engine had too much end float even though it seemed OK. There was also a lot of scope creep as I decided to add some, unplanned, things whilst it was in bits.The MGB wasn't quite as bad as it was only a bit over 2.5× as much.

It helps tremendously that she leaves all the money stuff to me and never looks at the bank statements.

[comfortablynumb]

  On 10/04/2025 at 13:02, SiC said:

That MG1300 is £1k to £2k estimate. Seems a bit low to me!

I probably need to go down and have a gander first. 

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Is that a 'come on' estimate though?

Probably wisest to have a shufti, like you say 

[MiniMinorMk3]

  On 10/04/2025 at 13:02, SiC said:

That MG1300 is £1k to £2k estimate. Seems a bit low to me!

I probably need to go down and have a gander first. 

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Seems very low to me too. I would expect £3-4,000 estimate. Obviously it depends on how my Isopon can be detected in the arches and sills.

[SiC]

  On 10/04/2025 at 13:56, MiniMinorMk3 said:

Seems very low to me too. I would expect £3-4,000 estimate. Obviously it depends on how my Isopon can be detected in the arches and sills.

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Could also be, as others have said, lowballed to invigorate interest in their auctions. 

[BorniteIdentity]

  On 10/04/2025 at 14:28, SiC said:

Could also be, as others have said, lowballed to invigorate interest in their auctions. 

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If you’re going down and that Tercel is lurking, I’d be grateful.

I reckon it’s a £3k car and they’re playing games but who knows in the current climate!