VY 2 SS Ute with HBD canopy - what's she worth?

[Dr Terry]

asking price and selling price are not often too far away i've found. I wouldnt mind betting that the greater majority of cars sell within 10% of the list price. many people can do adequate homework prior to listing so it's not so much a suck it and see anymore. I bet in Sydney you get lots of private sales where they add $1,000 on top of the trade-in price they were given. Everyone one wins except for the used car dealers in that scenario

You've hit the nail on the head with that comment. Also it's often more like a 20%+ difference.

It goes like this. I guy has got a 1998 brand X & he wants to trade up to something newer, maybe even brand new.

He is offered a trade-in valuation of say $5,000 for his old girl, but has 2nd thoughts when he sees them on carsales & ebay for $$7,000 to $8,000, because that's the sticker price on Parramatta Rd. Never mind that the Parramatta Rd dealer, has to bring it up to scratch, warranty it, accept a trade-in loss & actually make a profit to pay his wages & overheads.

He then thinks "wait a minute, this dealer is ripping me off, it's worth more than $5,000". So he forgoes the trade-in & pays the dealer the full amount for the newer car, so for a short time he now owns 2 cars, while he attempts to sell his old one, for more than $5,000.

So, he advertises the old girl for $7,500 (ONO) & finds he gets virtually no response. He might actually ring one of the others advertised & ask them, "are you getting any response to your advert". Short answer is no ! Oh well, I'll reduce the price a bit & see how that goes, $7,000 = no response, 6,500 = no response, finally at $6,000 & he gets a few phone calls & after a few weeks of trying, a real person actually comes to look at the car. He walks around it, knocks the sh!t out of it & offers $5,000. He then says, "no way, too low, but I'll accept $5,500". so the looker walks away. After & few months & a few more knock-backs, the rego is running out & he's now got to get rid of it, regardless. The next looker offers $4,500, which he grabs with glee.

Moral of the story. Just because a car is advertised for $7,500, doesn't mean squat as to its real value.

Dr Terry

[Innuendo]

All I am quoting is things as they are ATM in the used car market in Sydney. I still say that $15K-$17K is very very high for a 205,000 km VY SS ute, in this condition, HBD canopy or not.

I 100% agree with the over 15K price but around 15K in WA is about right (how many of the 224 can be available in WA?). But like I said I would hang out and pay more for a better lower Klms version personally.

Red Book is at best a quide, but I use it as a starting point. They have been wrong before & yes, I may be slightly out of touch with these 'vans'.

They are out of touch and are NOT factoring in or even considering the rarity of the vehicle. But this is true of most people who aren't interested in them or are too naive to see just how collectible they will become. Obviously if you are going to speculate you want to most upmarket version you can lay your hands on. The value for people will be in the SS, SSZ and HSV variants and NOW is the time to get them. You can still get them with low Klms, currently you can buy most (not all) replacement items direct new from Holden and buy one for a reasonable price. For what you get it is a very good ride. You also can obtain real information without the "myths" creeping in. (Although every ad I read already has "myth" build numbers made up). Think of it like being about the go back to the '70's and pick a ride you like with the options you want with the knowledge you have now about what prices have become. I'll have a L31, M21 HQ Sandman Van thanks and I'll visit your spares parts department before I leave to get all the parts people will be wanting and needing next century!

They compile their figures from actual sales, from car yards & auction house sales across the country. The $2K-$3K figure for the HBD canopy would be the average figure gleaned by comparing VY/VZ utes (without canopy) with the equivalent model with canopy that actual sold.

Those figures might be based on a very small statistical sample, but they a real sales, not what somebody is asking.

Yeah maybe, but I'm not convinced on what "canopies" are being included because Holden offered the "Sandman" via HBD and the Carry Boy bolts on as factory also. I know of five "Sandman" versions that have sold in the last year that all reached over $20K (Two are members of this very forum) and all have been private sales. The same would be true of a '70's Sandman with 700,000Klms on the clock by Red Books standards. They are all about depreciating consumables (not collectibles!). The auctions and the car dealers wouldn't have the foggiest about these HBD Sandman canopy optioned Ute's. The general public doesn't and even most car enthusiasts don't, gee most of the owners of them don't! But that doesn't mean it will always be that way. Lets face it, something from each model becomes collectible. SS, GTS, GTR, HSV etc. These VY/VZ's are odd ball enough with the right amount of features and the HBD tag to back them up.

Red book, insurance companies and others are lumping these 224 into being just old VY's into the same category every mans daily transport (and that is the job of Red Book) just an old SS Ute. But what I'm saying is it has little to no relevance to those who see them as a future collectible and know with the loss of Holden in Australia with the V8 to follow these will rocket in value for the person who wants rarity and slightly out of the norm.

If people are thinking it's just a Ute with a canopy, you're right. Just like saying a '70's Sandman is just a Holden/Belmont/Kingswood with some stickers!

[Dr Terry]

The auctions and the car dealers wouldn't have the foggiest about these HBD Sandman canopy optioned Ute's. The general public doesn't and even most car enthusiasts don't, gee most of the owners of them don't!

Yes, the general public wouldn't have a clue, but the auction houses & many astute dealers certainly would.

Red Book specifically lists it an "HBD canopy option" which it is & plated as such. As you well know, it's not a bolt-on accessory & they know that.

The other point of course is that Red Book only records licensed dealer transactions (auctions & car yards) so private retail sales are not factored in. This probably leads to the low figures recorded.

Dr Terry

[Vombil]

much appreciate your data and views on this one inners. VY SS utes are very common over here at the moment and have taken a hiding in value. You'll still need $12-13K in your pocket to get a good one with under 150kays... oh and the VE SS... piled 10 high at the tip! They are everywhere!!!!

[Innuendo]

much appreciate your data and views on this one inners. VY SS utes are very common over here at the moment and have taken a hiding in value. You'll still need $12-13K in your pocket to get a good one with under 150kays... oh and the VE SS... piled 10 high at the tip! They are everywhere!!!!

Yeah, same here you will need $12 to 18K for a really good low Klms VY SS. But factory Sandman canopy "tagged" versions are always thin on the ground and you will pay around 5K more for something is the same condition. At $15K I reckon it could be worth it and if you can get for less then that would be a bonus. Keeping in mind what cash needs to be thrown at it after purchase.

For me the value is in the rarity of the factory Sandman canopy option otherwise is "just" another SS Ute. So base the value of this car as if it was a normal SS Ute and whatever that would be worth then add the 5K for the canopy conversion, HBD tag and all that implies. You know your buying 1 of 224 made (over two models) and a lot were poverty V6 versions.

Believe me you don't pass one very often, they turn heads and people want to talk about it whenever you stop.

[wbute]

When you get the cheque in the bank we will all know what it's worth.

[davegmh]

Turismo Blue VZ Storm / Sandman? HBD ute I thought some on this thread might be interested in seeing. Sorry I don't yet know how to post a link or photos, but have asked with no reply.
If interested you will find it easily on WWW.hughscarsales.com. (Also has a nice 66 mustang for sale)

[Vombil]

Turismo Blue VZ Storm / Sandman? HBD ute I thought some on this thread might be interested in seeing. Sorry I don't yet know how to post a link or photos, but have asked with no reply.
If interested you will find it easily on WWW.hughscarsales.com. (Also has a nice 66 mustang for sale)

these bloke don't always get it right...that blue one looks dear!
i remember coming close to buying a VZ SVZ ute in 07 prior to VE release. There was a yard selling one second hand with 9,000kms on the clock for $1,000 less than new drive away cost!

[Vombil]

love it! it's human nature. You need to understand the beast you're dealing with dependent on which side of the table you're sitting on

[wbute]

The issue with the VZ/Y Utes with the optioned HBD canopy may be the fact that they were never vigorously marketed by Holden for anyone to know about them. They may be low in numbers but lack of knowledge to but a few people even now will always hamper them. The reason that older series Sandmans are popular now is only due to the fact they were popular 30 years ago. The people paying for them now are the same people who bought them new or wished they had.
I think maybe Maloo utes will be the future collectable commercial vehicle. Maybe to all the people who also had them new.
Possibly the VZ/Y ones may be more of an unusual orphan.