Sandman prices & inflation?

**playwme** · 15-03-2011, 04:29 PM

I'm not sure it's even enough to recover the initial cost. What's today's equivalent vehicle? SSV ute, Maloo? Looking closer to $50-$60k in todays money I reckon.

Same with collector vehicles bought in 1990. People think they're doing well cause they paid $10k then and have just sold it for $25k. I used to be able to buy a pie at the school canteen for a dollar in 1990. Pies at the same bakery that supplied school are now $3. SO really those people have only just gotten their money back but were always too afraid to drive it and depreciate it's value. Unless your making money short term then you're probably not really making money at all.

**wbute** · 15-03-2011, 04:43 PM

You should have bought a van in the early 90's or late 80's if you wanted to make money. $7-8000 would have picked up a good one. Pull it out of the shed now and get $25000 plus as a survivor.
You cant compare the value of a 78 sandman against a 2011 maloo. The amount of extra technology is worth a 1/4 of the price of the vehicle.

**HK1837** · 15-03-2011, 04:50 PM

If you had hindsight you would have bought an SS A9X for around $10k in 1977/8!

There is no real direct equivalent of a Sandman today. Closest I can think of would be an S ute when they were still made (VU, maybe early VY was the last).

**wbute** · 15-03-2011, 05:03 PM

You would have to compare it to a car with a carburettor, no ABS, rear wheel drums, live rear suspension. I reckon the closest thing to that today is a Toyota Hilux. About $30000 for one of them new. I reckon Robbo would have made a small amount on his investment.
The hilux probably has ABS and fuel injection so it is still going to be more expensive to build.

**jennie285** · 15-03-2011, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by playwme

I used to be able to buy a pie at the school canteen for a dollar in 1990. Pies at the same bakery that supplied school are now $3. .

I realize this is

but I remember when pies were 20c at the school canteen, and sauce was 1/2c does anyone remember 1/2c....I agree with everyone that vans sold for $8000 in 77-80 would be equivalent to $35K today, and I also agree with WBute saying if you sold a van mid 80's early 90's you would have lost big time, as we did, so anyone who did buy one and sit on it like the guy who sold us the Red Van, made good money about 10K....as he drove it for 5 years then put it in a shed.....until we bought it....

**HZSandman** · 15-03-2011, 05:22 PM

If you got the benifit of 30 years driving and therefore zero depreciation over the 30 odd years it would be a great investment. But it would have to be in new condition now to get $35000 which means you have to be a really careful driver that washed it every 2nd day and covered the seats in pastic before sitting on them etc etc for it to be in that condition. Or restore the sucker costing many $$$.

Still better of with the money invested elsewhere. Unless you picked the A9X, GT, Bathurst Monaros.

Cars - not an investment choice, but shit loads of fun.

**ambientgoat** · 15-03-2011, 05:39 PM

To quote what the boat people say "it's not the money, it's an investment in a lifestyle"

**wbute** · 15-03-2011, 07:51 PM

I reckon the real investment in a classic car is the love of the car and the money is irrelevant...... assuming you can afford the car you want. Hmmmm, makes sense to me anyway. i hate money and everything to do with it.

**jennie285** · 15-03-2011, 08:00 PM

I tend to agree with James, we did our van for the fun of it, and to enjoy it..when someone recently wanted to buy our van, I suggested a price which was what it had cost us to restore, and rather a lot, and he wasn't phased, and I really did not want to sell her, as we had finally got what we had worked so hard for for 12 months.....look what happened in Japan, and New Zealand, who knows how long we have, so we might as well enjoy everything we do...coz you can't take money with you.....

**Gaddy** · 15-03-2011, 10:16 PM

Well too true Jen!! And James, Money is certainly not everything, but it sure helps you along your journey!! Where ever it may take you!!
I remember in 1999, Gold was around $350 an ounce!!
So was a good ounce of Heads!!
Now gold is nudging $1500, but the heads are still around 350 t0 4 hunge!! (so im hearin)
So as for return on Investment?? A9X might pay your mortgage off today, but how much fun you had in your car/van/ute has to amount to something in my books!!

Go forth with what you have and enjoy is what I say!!

As we all see here in the Forums, ppl buy and some have to sell there Vans to facilitate there current needs and requiremrnts!! As long as they enjoyed them on their journey, then more power too them!!

2012 is coming ppl so dream like you will live forever and live like you will die tomorrow I say!!
Woo Hoo!!