RUF-Tribute a Value Killer?

[dienstuhr]

Hey all,

My car is a 1985 Grand Prix White coupe with 126K miles, original paint (pics under my avatar). Only mods are a ducktail, M&K exhaust and SW chip.

I've always loved the Ruf Yellowbird and I've picked up a set of replica wheels with a view to building a cosmetic tribute car. This would be wheels and bumpers basically. I'll keep the original paint.

I'm planning to keep this car for a long time but you know how that can go. Of course I'll keep the stock pieces, but my question is whether a bumper conversion would kill the value in the car.

Thanks for your thoughts.

d.

[COLB]

Kill is a strong word.

But anything that makes your car's appeal more "selective" is going to negatively influence the value.

Carreras are now collector cars, and in that world "visually stock" is where it is at.

For cars that are not "concours", there is some value in performance upgrades that do not change the cars appearance in obvious ways -- upgraded clutch, better brakes, some suspension upgrades (that don't affect street drivability), maybe Euro pistons. But the return is probably pennies on the dollar...if anything...over a new OEM replacement of age/wear items like torsion bars, bushings, brake pads, clutch disks, etc.

A major rework of your car into a RUF-inspired DE/track car may make it worth more to a guy looking for such, but the end price will probably pale compared to what you will spend -- and those buyers want major performance upgrades, not visual ones. And that is a smaller, more selective community.

Just my $.02.

[RacerX1166]

Hard to tell if the bumper will be a killer. You probably understand that a 120+k mile car won't fall into the 'pristine' category to begin with, so the impact will likely be minor. I'd say keep the original parts, if you make the change.

I've been toying with putting a turbo front bumper on my 993. If that happens and I decide to sell, I'm going to list it for what a pristine car would go for. Buyer would have a choice. Take the car as it is, along with the original parts, or I'll have it put back to all stock. The cost to do so would be more than offset by the proceeds from selling the 'upgraded' parts.

Ultimately, it's your car. Do what you like to it and don't worry about resale. That does not include adding Cragars btw.

[dienstuhr]

Thanks guys. Of course I'll be keeping the original Fuchs wheels and engine lid as well so a future owner could presumably return the car entirely back to stock.

This car just looks so... right

[COLB]

Ultimately, it's your car. Do what you like to it and don't worry about resale.

The first part is true.

But it is entirely legitimate for an owner to be concerned about how modifications will affect resale -- and the OP said as much.

Keeping original parts is definitely good advice -- particularly if they can be bolted back on at resale time. I don't know if a RUF bumper is a drop in replacement, or requires body modification. If it is the former, there is no real harm. Bolt it on, and change the look in a way that you find appealing. Then return to original and sell the bumper to minimize your loss, and ease resale.

But if there is body surgery involved, I would assume a negative effect on value.

BTW -- there was an 83 SC on the sale board for many weeks -- a decent looking coupe in an interesting color, with a fiberglass RUF-like bumper. It has since sold, and the seller pulled the pics. My perception is that it sold slower and at a lower price than comparable cars. Could have been something else about the car, though. The one other thing is that a visual mod that says "track use" is going to have some buyers assuming the car has been ragged. Not a rational response, but visual appeal tends to be an emotional thing, not a rational one.

[metzger]

Originally Posted by RacerX1166

Hard to tell if the bumper will be a killer. You probably understand that a 120+k mile car won't fall into the 'pristine' category to begin with, so the impact will likely be minor. I'd say keep the original parts, if you make the change.

I've been toying with putting a turbo front bumper on my 993. If that happens and I decide to sell, I'm going to list it for what a pristine car would go for. Buyer would have a choice. Take the car as it is, along with the original parts, or I'll have it put back to all stock. The cost to do so would be more than offset by the proceeds from selling the 'upgraded' parts.

Ultimately, it's your car. Do what you like to it and don't worry about resale. That does not include adding Cragars btw.

I'm ok with Torque Thrusts though.

[Car-Crazed]

Hi Guys,

There Was A Thread Here On Pelican A Few Years Ago That Talks All About The

Ruf Conversions.

Might Answer A lot Of Questions About Modifications.....

Here's The Link:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/94997-ultimate-ruf-conversion-thread.html

[Matt Monson]

I think all the chatter about sprbxr's car gives a certain idea to the impact of the mods. But if you are willing to reverse them its no big deal.

[techweenie]

Heres the deal: figure 60% or so of the world is incapable of visualizing -- at all. For those people, the alterations in appearance will be perceived as permanent. That could be good or bad.

My suggestion is: take a lot of pictures of the car with all stock parts. If/when you sell, you'll have a bigger audience if they can "see" the car returned to stock.

And in the meantime, go for it.

[COLB]

Heres the deal: figure 60% or so of the world is incapable of visualizing -- at all. For those people, the alterations in appearance will be perceived as permanent. That could be good or bad.

This is a great point.

In the real estate world they have professional "stagers" that arrange houses & bring in furniture to maximize their visual appeal. It does ZERO for the value of the house, but it is a multi-billion dollar industry for a reason.

[vracer]

Originally Posted by COLB

This is a great point.

In the real estate world they have professional "stagers" that arrange houses & bring in furniture to maximize their visual appeal. It does ZERO for the value of the house, but it is a multi-billion dollar industry for a reason.

"Perception is reality". Everyone here knows that a clean car will sell for more than a dirty one. Has a car wash changed the value? It has changed the 'achievable' price. COLB's 'real estate stager' is a perfect analogy.

[Jonny042]

Where does one find replica Ruf wheels? The originals will certainly add to the value of the car, by a couple of grand..... but they will cost more than that!

[dienstuhr]

I found them on the FS forum here on PP. There is a long story behind them... you can search the Tech forum if you're interested.

d.

[Matt Monson]

There's a set of real Ruf Speedlines in the classifieds. It's a link to ebay. They were $3500 yesterday!

[dienstuhr]

The replicas cost significantly less than that :-)

It seemed like there might have been some commercial
interest at one time in reproducing them, but evidently this fizzled.

d.

There's a set of real <span class="highlight">Ruf</span> Speedlines in the classifieds. It's a link to ebay. They were $3500 yesterday!