Is Your Classic Car a “Money Pit”?

Watch Those Dollars!!

Classic Car Enthusiast are always wondering about the value of their cars and the value of those they would like to purchase. We are in a car market slow down just now so it a good idea to keep an eye on this. 

One entity that is always put itself out front concerning value of collector cars is Hagerty Insurance Company. They are car enthusiast and are big players in the Car Collectors Insurance business. 

Recently they posted on their website "5 Rides Posting Solid Gains in a Slow Market"  

You will never guess what cars Hagerty writes have the biggest increase of value? 

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by Larry FitzGibbon ....4/18/25

NOT A MONEY PIT!

Many times I am told that a Classic Car is a money pit. How do I respond? That can be true, you have to be very careful when purchasing a Classic. You need to do a lot of research. Your approach should be "I love the car but is it a good investment". 

Years ago my wonderful wife surprised and took me on vacation to the foot hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. wife. Surprised me further by renting for the week a 1978 Alpha Romeo Spider. That Classic Italian chariot packs a two liter, over-head cam engine with dual Weber carburetors. Sports car, roof down, Blue Ridge Mountains, and plenty of power. 

It was a great vacation but to the point, the car enthusiast that rented it to us had turn his investment into a money making business. He had his dream, 6 awesome classic cars, living in the Blue Ridge Mountain area. Not a money pit!

Years back a car enthusiast living in San Diego, CA owned a 1927 Star Durant 4 door. 

For $70 per hour, plus $200 for the first half-hour Haynes Chauffeuring would take you for a tour of  San Diego in Style. This rolling museum cost $70,000 to restore but at those prices the owner would recover his price in no time, and better yet he owed a piece of history. Not a money pit!

 
So why would anyone buy a Classic Car or Truck?

• They love Classics Cars and Trucks
• They did their research well and know that a return on investment is possible 
• They have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to see the a Classic doing what it does best...ride. 

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All About Detail Classic Car News is all about keeping your Classic Cars Shining. We recommend for you "Do It Yourselfers" the following detailing products:

*Mothers Clay Bars https://ebay.us/bmdpyS

*Cerakote Paint Sealant https://ebay.us/bmdpyS

*Cerakote Trim https://ebay.us/bmdpyS

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All of these products are sold through Ebay. If you use this website All About Detail will earn a bit of commission but at no extra cost to you. 

 

Car Trivia Question of the Week:

What did Al Capone and Franklin Roosevelt have in common? 

 

 Answer here https://all-about-detail.blogspot.com/p/al-capones-town-sedan-president.html

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1967 Corvette Stingray 427 390hp
Top Flight Award
$109,000

1964 Chevelle Malibu SS L74
Very Rare
$59,900

1948 Sunbeam S7 Deluxe
Just $18,700

1950 GMC Panel Truck
Only $14,900

1949 Cadilliac 62 Series
Gorgeous!
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1971 Bremmen Maxi Taxi
1 of 500
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2003 Ferrari 360
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2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4
WOW!
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1930 Ford Model A Roaster
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1963 Impala SS 409
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$59,900

1937 Auburn Cord
812 Westchester Coupe
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1951 Ford Business Coupe
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$49,500

1929 Ford Model A
Sports Coupe
$34,100

I hope you have enjoyed these cars. To see more details and photos of these cars please click here. If you have any questions regarding any of these cars or would like to review them please call me at 941-492-2094.


If you would like to be part of our news letter let me know at allaboutdetail.com@gmail.com.


If you have a beautiful car that needs to find a new home please call me.
Thank you
Larry FitzGibbon

Let's get you listed here!

V3 Report

For Immediate Release 1/26/2012  

V3 Report focuses on classic cars celebrating their birthday in 2012

Second issue of the most flexible compendium of UK classic car auction activities is out 

The January issue of the V3 Report is now available. The new compendium, comprising of values, statistics and charts/graphs as well as a commentary on the state of the classic car market, is a valuable tool for anybody who wishes to have a panoramic view of market trends, values and sales. It also focuses on specific popular marques and the most interesting trending phenomena of the month. 

  

The January edition covers: 

Section I: January sales, by model, price, and auction house; includes percentage of sale vs offer.

 

Section II: Popular marques (by market share), showing performance (2006-2010 by year, plus Jan figures). 

Section III: ‘Card/discard’ of the month: every month a model will be chosen for its particularly good or poor performance. This month, the Ford Capri. 

Section IV: Models and brands which celebrate a birthday in 2012 and their trends over the last five years. 

Section V: A commentary on the month, the state of the market in the UK and how it compares with other markets. 

The V3 has been conceived as a tool for the classic car enthusiast and/or owner, as well as the dealer and specialist. It is a comprehensive manual to help decide which models may make the soundest investment, and keep an eye on best cars’ index of desirability. Unlike other generic reports, the V3 can fulfil individual queries on an ad-hoc basis as an additional service. Prices start at £10 (plus VAT)* for a full report. 

*the offer is intended for business/personal use only: the report is not to be reproduced, printed for/forwarded, sold or sent to third parties.

 

For more information contact:

Angie Voluti PR                                                                      

The Studio                                                                              

15a Forest Road, Hartwell                                                     

NN7 2HE                                                                               

Tel: 01604 863 044 Mob: 07415 095 543                              

E-mail: best@angievoluti.co.uk                                             

www.angievoluti.co.uk

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Final V-12 Beauty: Restoring the Last of a Legendary 1940s Lincoln Zephyr Collection

A Labor of Love: Restoring the Last of a 1940s V-12 Lincoln Zephyr Collection

Overseeing the restoration of a 1947 Lincoln Zephyr convertible has been a heartfelt journey for classic car enthusiast Ed Avedisian—one that honors a friendship spanning over 60 years.

This particular Zephyr is the final piece in a series of 11 1940s V-12 Lincolns once owned by Avedisian’s late friend, Craig Watjen, who passed away in August. Craig had inherited the collection from his brother Peter Watjen, who died in 1996.

“He never got to see it fully restored,” said Avedisian during a visit to Nick’s Upholstery in Narragansett. “He always said it was Peter’s favorite convertible.”

The vehicle has just completed a meticulous three-year restoration by artisan Daniel Falco, formerly of Narragansett Reproductions, who previously worked on six of the Lincolns in the Watjen collection.

“I did most of the work on this one,” Falco shared. “Mechanical systems, wiring, window mechanisms—everything that makes the car function.”

While Falco handled the core mechanical restoration, he subcontracted the paint and upholstery. The car was painted in Pace Car Yellow, the iconic color used on the 1946 Lincoln Continental that served as the official Indianapolis 500 Pace Car. Falco explained that when the car arrived from Bellevue, Washington, it was in a mismatched copper red with a white vinyl roof—“wrong color, wrong top,” he said.

Nick Petcu of Nick’s Upholstery reworked the interior with beige upholstery and replaced the vinyl top with authentic beige canvas, completing the car’s vintage look.

A Friendship Forged in Fords

Avedisian and Watjen’s shared passion for vintage vehicles dates back to their youth in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where they spent countless nights restoring Model A Fords.

“I remember walking into the garage in the morning and finding them still working after an all-nighter,” recalled Avedisian’s brother, Paul.

Both friends pursued music in college—Avedisian at Boston University, and Watjen at Harvard. Each played the clarinet, and Avedisian went on to perform with orchestras like the Boston Pops, while Watjen earned degrees from the Juilliard School of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music.

But Watjen’s path took a surprising turn. After years in the orchestra world, he shifted gears, earning an MBA from Stanford University, eventually becoming one of the earliest employees at Microsoft, hired by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1981. By the time he left in 1996, he was assistant head of the company’s treasury team.

“He was a multi-talented guy,” Avedisian reflected.

A Life of Collecting Classics

Watjen’s love for cars began early—his first vehicle was a 1929 Model A Ford Sport Coupe with a rumble seat, which he got at just 12 years old. Over the decades, he amassed a 30-car collection that included multiple Model A Fords and the 11 V-12 Lincolns inherited from his brother.

His collection, housed in a private museum he named “Lincolnshire” in Bellevue, Washington, became a tribute to his family’s passion for cars. Avedisian himself received a 1941 Lincoln Zephyr convertible from Peter and a 1941 Ford Model A Deluxe Roadster from Craig.

Falco noted that the recently restored 1947 Lincoln was in rough shape upon arrival: “It was a runner, but barely. I took it apart, every bolt and nut.”

The Final Chapter of a Classic Collection

With Craig Watjen’s passing, the future of the “Lincolnshire” collection remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: this final restoration stands as a lasting tribute to a lifelong friendship and shared love of classic American automobiles.

“He restored it in his brother’s memory,” Avedisian said of the 1947 Zephyr. “It’s the last one.”

For the Love of Vintage Cars

This story is more than just the restoration of a rare classic Lincoln—it’s about friendship, craftsmanship, and a devotion to preserving automotive history. For classic car enthusiasts, it’s a poignant reminder of why we restore, collect, and celebrate these rolling pieces of Americana.

 

1947 Lincoln Zephyr 

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