1932 model 54 value

The experts here would need more information about the car.

Does it run and drive well?

When were various mechanical services performed?

Has the engine ever been rebuilt and if so, by whom?

The more details and pictures you can provide, the more likely someone here would venture to put a value on the car without inspecting it in person.

Hi Ryan, a car in this great condition could very well be a candidate for the R. Vale Faro Trophy at our upcoming meet in Indiana.

We would all love to have you and your family visit the PAS national meet in just over a month.

John

I agree with David’s comments 100 percent. I will add that that auction is a poor venue for that car…….and will likely make it bring a lower price than some others. Best of luck with the car….

Let’s try this…

Please don’t hire an appraiser and use his “value” as an asking price.

I have very little respect for appraisers. They tend to inflate the value of a car in order to make the customer happy, to justify their fee.

Then the poor family advertises the car at the appraised value or higher, stating that this is what it was appraised for. And the car is on the market for years.

An appraisal is only good for maybe insurance purposes. If someone says what they think your car is worth, THAT is worthless unless he is willing to pay you that price. I can say your car is worth $85,000 but am I willing to give you that money? . . . . “Oh, if only I had the garage space, or if only my kid didn’t need college tuition or grandma need a new kidney. ” Excuses are worthless.

Two things I would do:

Get it to the Pierce meet in/near Angola, Indiana. Not far for you. Let people talk about it, and solicit opinions on its worth, keeping in mind these are opinions.

Put it through eBay. Maybe with an optimistic reserve, just in case. Nobody sells cars on eBay but at least you will get some idea of what people are willing to pay. Will cost a few bucks but you don’t need to transport it to a big auction and pay their exorbitant fees. And you will learn something.

But if the family just wants it to go to a good home, put a reasonable, very fair, almost bargain price on it and sell it to a PAS member who will give it what it needs and enjoy the car. I think that’s better than holding out to the last nickle and waiting six years to get some high price. Advertise it here. This is a very good bunch of people. Will be a good legacy to the owner.

Sorry to sound critical, but I’ve seen this scenario too many times.

Best of luck. Hope everyone is happy in the end.

Ryan,

Your home sale experiences are similar to this case. You found no good comparables because most Pierce-Arrows are bought and sold within our small P-A community. Only exceptional model in pristine condition will do well at auction. Most cars will not. Sedans hardly never do well!

Here’s a recent Auction experience example. A good friend passed away and his children decided to sell the nice open Pierce with a good history and nice older restoration. They advertised it in the club, a bunch of car trader magazines and Hemmings at over $170,000. I had told them their expectations were at least a third over the market value.

Two years later they called with a question about the car and told me they were sending it to a major auction because nobody had responded to their ads. I advised they wouldn’t get what the very prominent auction company was telling them and pushed them for their bottom line to save the auction expenses. I told them I’d likely get them an offer for that amount within 24 hours. The next day they accepted that $100K cash offer from a Society member. A few days later they got greedy, backed out and signed to send it to the auction. With the detailing, prep and the auction fees they cleared barely over $60K, losing out on almost $40K. And that was at a very high profile auction with lots of Full Classics.

I have two great Pierce-Arrows that were purchased from Society members and both sides got very fair values. When the time comes we will sell them through the Society…probably to the first member with a serious interest at a reasonable price.

Your cousin should pay attention to the probably disappointing value advice of several members and sell it to you to keep her Father’s memory alive in the family. And you should pay her a fair price for doing so! I hope to see you and the Pierce at the Annual Meet.

Dave Stevens