Kit Cars - Value Over Time

[Harrison-91xcg]

Hello

Has anyone got any figures or experience on how a Caterhams, Robin Hoods, Westfields, MK Indy,Ariel Atoms etc depreciates or appreciates over time?

I'm thinking these types of cars make solid investments, and given the nature of these cars (i.e. they aren't garage queens!) I think it makes a fantastic propersition.

[Wacky Racer]

You can't really generalise, every "kit car" is different.

Overall though, I would say they depreciate less than the typical mainstream small car, Focus, Astra etc.

Of course most are fairly low mileage.

My Tiger and Westfield had less than 4,000 miles on the clock when I sold them.

[huwp]

Caterham 7 SV bought 10 years ago for £24,000 and still worth £19,000.

Only done 14,000 miles though...

Caterham tend to depreciate less than Westfields. No experience of others.

[Equus]

huwp said:

Caterham tend to depreciate less than Westfields.

This is standard Caterham owner Man Maths.

They depreciate less as a percentage of their original value, but since they're substantially more expensive in the first place, they actually depreciate more in terms of actual £££.

Most kit cars do small mileages and are owner maintained - often to a high standard - so their value tends to be more related to condition (and how well respected the marque is) than to age or mileage.

They are never (well - very seldom; there are exceptions like the Westfield XI) worth anything like what they cost to build, but after initial depreciation their value tends to hold at a very stable level, almost indefinitely, so long as they are maintained to a high standard.

[S47]

I'd agree with most of what is said - but IMO engines need to keep pace with mainstream tintops so the old boat anchor engines like 1960's Ford X flow, pinto, and Lotus TC which originally camr with Dizzy&carbs really need upgrading either by binning the carbs and mechanical ignition system and fitting modern Fuel injection and 3D ignition via an ECU. Or by binning the whole engine and replacing with a more modern one. Good example of this are Caterhams having the inneficient X flow swopped for a ford Zetec. this swop will make the car easier to sell to any knowledgeable buyer. Of course there are some old gits who swear by the old X flow, However if you use the car for more than a few hundred miles/year you'll soon realise the benefits of a moremodern powerplant - Probably +50% more MPG, and 40-50% more power - to me this swop is a no brainer.
Hope this helps

[Justin S]

I bought my first Westfield for £6k over 20 years ago. Sold it 5 years later for £6.5k . Second Westfield I bought for £9k and 4 years later sold for £9k. I think you can see a depreciation trend here. First I sold to my best man , who when I said about selling houses and me and the mrs getting married asked what I wanted and gave me the cash the next day. Second, I thought I would put it up a week before Xmas and expected nothing to move , but sold that same week. So, they didnt hang around and so priced sensibly.
What it doesnt show is the money put into them, but in my eyes , thats the joy of having a kitcar and the fact it wasnt money going into a depreciating car is a big bonus.
Third one, I have just built and its not for sale...........according to the wife, ever ..........

[andygtt]

My Ultima is still changing hands for similar money to what i sold it for 15 years ago.

[GinG15]

with kitcars it depends...on spec and brand name.

even i own several kitcars i would say:

kitcars have no real value...and they will not have any "historical" value

ok..some "old" lotus seven or ginettas are valuable....but the nowadays kits dont share the same ideas, roots or success in motorsports

they are cars to have fun...and when they get tired...throw them away...you better (& cheaper ) buy a newer one 2nd hand instead of renovating an older one. this applies for the majority of kits out there..