Has the value calculation changed on rehabbing a P80?

Post by **matthew1** » 13 Dec 2021, 17:14

It used to be you'd spend $2500 to rehab a P80. Then it'd be worth $1400.

Now that the weird Covid economy has pushed car prices sky high, that same rehabbed P80 is worth $2500 (or more). I see them all the time on Facebook Marketplace.

Flip it, drive it, whatever... the value of drivable P80 cars has gone way up. What do you think?

Post by **abscate** » 13 Dec 2021, 18:10

Crappy, needs work cars around here in upstate NY are selling for $2500-300

Post by **scot850** » 13 Dec 2021, 18:13

I have posted on the craiglist for sale section in the for sale section recently on some of the crazy priced being asked for P80's and other older Volvos up here in Canada.

NA 850 sedans for $8000 asking price (good luck with that!), and generally people asking stupid prices for what used to be $500 cars with issues and no history of repairs. Those cars are now in the $2000-2500 range and will still need the $2500 spent on them. Those cars will still not truly be worth the investment, and if regular new vehicles become more available in the next year I expect to see the prices plummet again on older cars.

The only other view I have is that as the stocks of cheap older P80's dry up (seldom any in junkyards up here anymore, mostly P2's now), then maybe you could argue only the better cars and maintained cars are left and may then be worth more to those who want them.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 13 Dec 2021, 18:20

Wait...I’m sitting on a fortune....

Post by **volvolugnut** » 13 Dec 2021, 18:46

Have 20+ year old Volvos become collector cars? I should move my parts car fleet indoors.
volvolugnuty

Post by **rguzz** » 13 Dec 2021, 19:05

Where is the Eurovan and how do you manage that with the neighbors. Back to the original question putting a P80 back in good shape. Having a parts car helps! Putting a clean specimen back to safe running condition might now cost, what 3-5k? Pretty close to that in parts alone, factor in inevitable valve job, complete suspension refresh, NLA parts, paucity of salvage yard parts, etc. But yeah they seem to be worth much more.

Post by **abscate** » 14 Dec 2021, 05:10

If the neighbors complain I park more cars in their driveways. Then I sit in the front lawn on a resin lawn chair with a boot on my head and yell at clouds

In the height of COVID I was fixing up cars for needy health care workers and had one stuck there for a while - one of the neighbors called me in so I borrowed a diplomatic plate from a friend. That worked well for keeping the the Town of my back

Post by **Chuck W** » 14 Dec 2021, 06:01

People keep track of how much they spend on their cars? :p

Post by **rguzz** » 14 Dec 2021, 07:10

Can't see selling mine for much less than 5k. I'd have to replace it with something. And it's a wagon. The trick is staying ahead by being on the right side of the repair curve. So far so good. But yeah, now I don't keep track anymore cuz I can afford to do that, not everyone can of course.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 14 Dec 2021, 08:04

I see a combination of shortage of cars and the cool, retro look of old Volvos. And throw in the counter culture statement against SUVs.
volvolugnut