The Value of your Tamiya's & Rc

[Bigwheels_inc]

Hi Guys,

just wondering,

To me there is a lot of personal Value in my cars

E.G. I've always wanted a Top Force Evolution but only just got hold of one in the worst condition I have ever seen

But just the fact that its a Top Force Evo means the world to me and the fact that its mine is amazing,

even if I never get to run the evo it makes me smile every time I look at it even though its a pile of parts waiting to be restored.

So how do you get people to understand the real value of your cars ? (Not the cash value)

Some guys on here like Shodog you can see love there collection and have a whole amazing respect for every small part that goes into every model they own,

But with only having a few cars now when people say to me "what do you want that for ?" I'm lost as to how to answer.

Pete

[Skottoman]

Most of my cars/trucks I could easily put a $ value on based on the kit, and electronics. Most people don't pay for "time invested", or "sentimental value"...

But there are a few I wouldn't know how to price due to the work I put into them. My custom VW Samba comes to mind...

I guess you sell them for what people will pay really.

Cheers,

Skottoman

[30YrsL8r]

I guess you sell them for what people will pay really.

So long as you market them properly, they'll sell for market value - bargains are to be had when people don't put enough effort into promoting what they're selling.

Slightly off at a tangent from the original post, I think that owning my Mk1 Sand Scorcher has actually DE-valued my childhood memories. I used to only have to think about a SS and the old memories would flood back but now I have to concentrate because recent familiarity means there are so many new memories in the way!

[Percymon]

I used to think most of my models meant something to me, partly because most were bought in a shoddy state and time and money in new parts invested in them. I look at some and think its worth X and I've invested Y in it (where Y is often twice X ) but at the end of the day I've had fun searching for parts and making something better in the process.

However, I can't honestly say I've missed any model that I've sold. I used to think I'd miss my original avante or egress, and whilst they might be the last to go if I ever sold up everything, I don't think I'd really miss them.

[Bigwheels_inc]

that's the one.

the one you just cant put a money value on because it just means so much to you,

If you want something for say 20 years then you finally get it could you ever put a $£ Value on it ?

the TFE is just that to me it means to much to me to put that £$ value on it

[wolfdogstinkus]

My Wr-02 VW wheelie bus was a gift for my first ever fathers day, can't put a price on that.

[biggamehunter]

i think in actual terms of money for say a twice used condition hotshot , you could be looking around the £100 mark , but take that same car, to a person whos wanted one for 25 years and never been able to get their hands on one , then eventualy gets it..... it becomes very valuable indeed , you wouldnt probably get him to re sell it for that same £100 he paid ................... then take the same twice used hotshot in a different scenario where the owner has had it from new back in the day , never hardly used it , ....... re discovered the tamiya bug , and opened up his original hotshot box that has long been forgotten in an attic somewhere that was bought for him by a parent as a christmas present back in the day ...... the value changes again ? then the same hotshot to a person who already owns three of the same who won it at auction last week for £100,and its turned up not as good as his other two ........ so the same car in three different circumstances has three totally different values ,

individual circumstance of obtainment and sentiment determin the value of every model to every owner .........

[Sayer]

But there are a few I wouldn't know how to price due to the work I put into them. My custom VW Samba comes to mind...

All of the money.

[markbt73]

A while back, a friend of mine saw my RC collection for the first time and asked, "which one is your favorite?" I pointed to a dusty, beat-up RC10 and said, "that one." He wanted to know why, and I had to think about it a while. It certainly isn't the most expensive car I have, nor does it have any personal history for me. But it's just... right. It's my "go-to" car. He understood this, as he has a collection of motorcycles. There's always one that's just totally yours, regardless of price, history, or sweat equity. And if you get that, then you get it. Price and value don't really have anything to do with each other.

[Grumpy pants]

I totally get this, it's a really important part of being a fan, a collector or hobbyist.

The value of the individual items in hard cash isn't what it's about for most of us would be my guess.

Yes it's nice that some models appreciate in value and have a hard cash value to them if you need some pocket money quickly.

It's all about the buying, owning and enjoying the cars individually.

They have their own quirks and driving styles, they are usually bringing back memories and generating new ones at the same time.

You spend a fair bit of time and money on some of the models, but they give so much pleasure to build, modify, run or just have on a shelf to admire.

For example I have a early scorcher that you would have to break my fingers to take from me, I will never run it or sell it.

I don't own for investments sake, I just like it and I am proud of it.

Other other end of the scale I have a beaten up Xtreme that's now goes on holiday with us...the kids love it, I use as test bed and mule and it gets the hardest use of all our models. It would be worth very little if I were to sell it, but I wouldn't anyway as it has really given us a lot of pleasure and it will continue to do so.

I reckon its called 'Tamiyaness!'.

[MadInventor]

For me the value is in what I've personally put into a model. My most valuable models to me are my scratch built models (my 4x4x4 VLB, 6x6 truck, and the steel king tiger). I'd never get rid of them because of the amount of work put and the fact they are totally unique. They're also something my son can have when he's older and will know it is something that his father built and there's nothing else like it.

My 3rd rc was a hotshot and I always regretted selling it, and said to myself I'd never sell another. Not long ago I sold a supershot, hotshot, and NIB re-re boomerang in the space of 5 days. I just didn't value them that much any more, just being old models I haven't got the room to display, or the time ro run. I've still got my re-re hotshot for running, and a half decent super sabre, and I felt I didn't need the rest.

It's always difficult to explain to someone why something is personally very valueable to you, when it's 'real world' value is relatively speaking, so little to anyone else.

[AndyjcClod]

I know what you are saying but lately I have been getting more harsh with myself and selling models that I just do not use.

I figure the money is better in my bank account than sitting on a shelf.

Also selling the older models I have allows me to purchase new ones I am after and keeps the misses happy!

Some models to me though are beyond value such as I don't think I will ever sell my F350 or my CC01 Pajero.

The F350 because I wanted one for so long (I used to stand there drooling in the shop) I saved and saved so I could get one and it was a shelf queen for a long time but now I use it most weekends and I simply love the car.

The Pajero as again it was a model I wanted for ages and I love the CC-01 chassis and the scale looks.

I have noticed though I never make money on selling models even if they are hopped up to the MAX they still seems to sell at a average price.

I also love some of the Brushless models from other manufactures (HPI, Traxxas) etc.

I would say on the whole I use my Traxxas Slash far more than any of my Tamiya models and now I have a Savage Flux (Just waiting for my 2 x 3s 50c 5600 lipo battery packs!) and will see that thing fling itself into orbit. Again I doubt I woudl sell either of these because of the amount on money I have spent upgrading them and I know I would never get that back.

[MadInventor]

I know what you are saying but lately I have been getting more harsh with myself and selling models that I just do not use.

I figure the money is better in my bank account than sitting on a shelf.

I have noticed though I never make money on selling models even if they are hopped up to the MAX they still seems to sell at a average price.

I also love some of the Brushless models from other manufactures (HPI, Traxxas) etc.

I think the only time you 'might' make money on a car if it's still NIB or been sat on the shelf and never been run. Cars I bought before the 2008 crash I managed to sell for just about what I paid for them NIB after the pound crashed and NIB costs of them went up by 50%. I managed to sell a NIB re-re boomer for slightly more than I paid for it 2 years ago, and I think that's only because they are no longer available. People tend not to value hop ups when buying cars second hand for some reason, usually the only thing that will add value is roller bearings or a rare motor (like a technigold). You might find with some models your moeny is better sat on the shelf than in the bank. Look at savings interest rates at the moment compared with inflation..... Your RCs might be accumulating value faster than cash in the bank if they are rare.

[BangkokBulldog]

I think all my current cars have personal value.

1) Sand Scorcher re-re: I waited pretty much 30 years to get a Sand Scorcher and when the re-re came available I snapped one up as soon as they arrived in Thailand. To me this is my favourite RC car, even though I could have spent almost the same money on a first class touring car or similar. Ok its not an original but it makes me smile.

2) The Frog re-re: Again for purely nostalgic reasons this car is valuable to me. It was too expensive for my parents as a kid and now after years of hankering over one as a teenager Ive got one.

3) The Hornet re-re: Same as above really. A couple of friends had these and thought they looked so cool!

4) The Grasshopper re-re: Well, this I did get in about 1984. My mum saved hard for this car for Christmas and I remember the Beatties shop in Lewisham's price was 114GBP. I knew how hard mum worked in order to buy this for me and I have never forgotten. Since being back in RC for the last 3-4 years, Grasshoppers just didnt seem to be imported here to Thailand by Siam Tamiya so I waited and waited.....until I got a new re-re yesterday! I wanted to build and paint this car with care for the shelf in honor of my dear mum.

Some may say that they are just re-re's with no value, I disagree, I think the re-re's really help this hobby and I for one am thankful that Big T released them.

[MAD RACER]

Of all my cars there is 2 that really mean the most to me.

My Kyosho Mid I bought back in 87 & raced in our state titles . I had a lot of success with it & was runner up at the State Titles in mod that yr as well. Fast forward over 20 yrs and it won it's first heat at the vintage festival .( Pic from that vintage festival) It almost made me cry how that very same car still kicked butt. It's amazing that I still had it after all those yrs and countless moves. It sports a Brimod LWB chassis conversion that I did in 87. Same body & wing. Just different wheels & electrics of course.

This is another Mid that was the last present I got of my dad before he passed away when I was 21. It sits proudly on display in my hobby room with a correct painted body set and the Custom plastic shocks which I found after this pic.

[Tamiya1/10]

I like Tamiya and RC but not to the point where I can put a "personal" instead of a dollar value to it. I keep track on how much I've spend on each model and what I've done to it and is all for sell if the price is right. I don't have any model that I have won any race or compittion nor any was given to me. Given ebay is just a few key strokes away and re re. I can replace any of my models as long as I have plenty money and make the right offer. Is just a hobby.

[njmlondon]

There's always one that's just totally yours, regardless of price, history, or sweat equity. And if you get that, then you get it. Price and value don't really have anything to do with each other.

That is a fantastic summary and I love the phrase "sweat equity"! Will use that myself.

For me the following apply to my collection...

New built 959 was expensive in 2002 but would be much more so today. It was the Tamiya I always wanted and never got. I have run it quite a lot and it is due a complete overhaul (may even need a ***** shell) but to me it has a value far higher than the price I could command for it now, so it will never get sold.

My new built King Tiger was not only expensive but also incredibly intensive on the sweat equity front. I have no idea how many hours went into it. But once it was complete, I felt I had got all I could from it and sold it for about £500 which was a good price for a new-built tank but in reality did not reflect the price paid for all the parts nor the many hours put in. But at that time, £500 cash had a higher value for me than the value of keeping the tank. I wanted a Hilux project more than the built model so the £500 was "re-invested" in a new money-pit (**** vintage 3-speeds!). I won't decide until I have finished the restoration as to whether the value of the model to me is worth more or less than the price I can command.

[MonoxideChild]

I only have a single car, My TL01 ive owned for over a decade. Ive easily spent 2X the amount of the original purchase price of the kit, On just upgrades. And the value of it is still probably about what a stock tl01 kit would be. So the hobby is defenitly not for profit. But i do it because i enjoy it, and the car is a bunch of fun to take out and abuse. Plus i can upgrade this for alot cheaper then my real car. lol

[Sayer]

My Jugg2

[IBIFTKH]

'Sweat equity' - is a great way of describing the value cars can have to us.

It's certainly something I can relate to. I currently have 23 vehicles in my collection and none of them are stock. Mods range from bolt-on hop-ups to scratch built bodies on much-modded chassis.

But there's more to it than that. The Scorcher I built with my kids, the Slash, Revo and TXT that they usually run, the Wild Willy camper that my 4 year old has claimed as her own (her nickname is 'Boo' and she calls it the 'Boo truck'!!). I couldn't contemplate selling any of these.

Some have sentimental value, others just have so many hours in them - how do you put a cash value on something you've put 20/50/100+ hours into?

It's relevant to me in another way too. I'm sort of thinking about selling my scratch built 1/10 MAN KAT 4x4. Parts, hop-ups and electrics would probably be £250 -£300, but how do I set a price on something that took me maybe 100 hours to build?

cheers,

Rob

[Singleseven]

People don't ask me about my hobby because I don't share it with them. If I did they might have an opinion that I don't like. I suppose it comes down to the fear of comments like "oh your a 40 something man playing with toy cars?" I Am a closet TC member.

So I don't have to explain the value of my cars to others, but how do I explain it?

When I joined TC I just wanted to be part of the club, so I'd buy anything I could afford and put it in my showroom. This gave me quite a buzz, except that it was short lived. After the comments dried up what then?

What I,ve found much more enjoyable and long lasting is to work on a project car, one at a time, and be as creative as I can. creating a build thread keeps me motivated, and the pinnacle is posting pictures in my showroom.

TC and my cars provide me with a creative outlet that's really important to me and something I can share with my kids. I can't put a financial value on that although that's not to say I wouldn't sell the cars.

[Wooders28]

There are some cars i Wish i hadnt sold,my optima mid,much like mad racer,had it from the late 80's and had some good success at the track,then gave up,passed my driving test and sold it to buy pistons for my 1275GT!

I am in 2 minds if i should sell my schumacher fusion,had it a few years,its been bashed about,still runs fine but you need a big open,flat and paved area to use it and they dont seem to be around anymore as all the car parks etc have speed bumps now! Looking on fleebay a mint one is going for around the £100 mark,making mine worth £60ish! Its sat on shelf in the garage at the moment,so it least its serving as shelf art?