What is the worth of a restored DSM

[theSicKness]

I would gladley pay 6-7k for a mint 1g...granted it would half to be mint..


my .02

Jesse

 

[Quasimondo]

Then again, didn't that "Near Mint" 1g DSM go on Ebay for like $7500.00 recently?

Maybe he'll be better off making it into an eBay business. Might attract more money from buyers competing with their bids. A Barrett-Jackson effect, perhaps?

 

[Fayt]

I'd buy that if it was a 2g. I just love the body styling more. And yes, our DSMs will eventually make more money, but they are a dime a dozen now. Once they die off, it'll be just as rare

 

[femmeDSM]

Maybe he'll be better off making it into an eBay business. Might attract more money from buyers competing with their bids. A Barrett-Jackson effect, perhaps?

Yeah, exactly.

 

[greytalon26]

If you were going to do this, I would suggest only going to a Walbro 190, although you sound like you know what you're doing, I've heard that you need a AFPR to run a 255 lph pump. By the way, I bought my 1g over a year ago from my grampa for $1,800 with 42,000 and everything done at the dealer. It was a complete steal , but he's family, and a couple of Chicago DSMers followed him to his house one day and offered $5-6000 for it. So I'd say it would be worth about $5000 if you restored it. If you wait 5-10 years it could be worth close to $10,000 depending on how the market goes.

 

[AW4G63]

If you've owned as many as you claim 15-20 and you're not sure what people are willing to pay then no one would.

 

[Highbooost]

""If you've owned as many as you claim 15-20 and you're not sure what people are willing to pay then no one would""


Yes I have owned that many, but NONE of them had the work done to them that I am implying on doing above. Yes the ones I did restore were nice but they didn't have fresh enigines and trannys in them. I am fully aware of what a used DSM is worth, but I wanted to know how much people would be willing to pay for a fully restored DSM. Thanks for helping me clear that up.

Later Dr Turbo

 

[BenHenthorn]

I can see this both ways. Considering that you're selling the rebuilt DSM with MODs that most DSMers do after they get their DSM, I'd say it's not such a bad asking price. $5K for a clean and mostly stock 1G DSM is a reasonable price, selling one for $7K and doing the engine rebuild, tranny, clutch, turbo, fuel MODs, paint, interior, misc exterior, and labor more than make up for the extra $2K IMHO.

But at the same time finding people that are nostalgic about 1G's with cash in hand might be hard to find. Not to mention since everyone is buying either an EVO, WRX, or SRT-4 people are going to be looking for a car that has tons of power and looks great. Finding someone to buy a rebuilt 2G for $10K might be easier than finding that nostalgic 1G guy to buy a 1G for $7K.

Personally I'd buy a 1G for $7K-$8K, but I'd be more willing to pay $10K-$12K for a rebuilt 2G. Keeping in mind the engine rebuild, tranny, clutch, turbo, fuel MODs, paint, interior, misc exterior, and labor are included. After all, I paid $6500 for my 97 GSX with 100K+ miles and paid $10K in performance parts alone, not to mention the interior and exterior still need some work. I'd be willing to pay, but finding someone with an appreciation for these cars that doesn't already own one will be difficult.

 

[gsxtacy]

The turbo cars are dieing at an alarming rate. Being hammered on all their life, its just the cycle of life.

I swear, finding 1 owner cars will soon be a fond memory.

All the DSMers that get out of the lifestyle WILL be back, with cash in hand for the Clean AWD's.

I often think of my Dad. He bought a 69' Dart Swinger 340 in 1971, drove it for a few years, sold it to a buddy because "they were everywhere back then", figuring he would have another chance to get another on down the road. What does it cost to get into a 68/69/70 340 Swinger these days? About $16K.

5 times what the car cost new, and they were everywhere. Non-existant is what we call them today.

My dad said once....."I pulled up to the red light and there were 5 Darts' at the same intersection".

I see that with the DSM's, one problem though.......their ALL non turbos.


I personally think 5-7K is in the shallow end of a very nice 1G's potential.

 

[D_Eclipse9916]

^^^^ A point he makes.

Think of all the "rare" cars we strive to find today, camaros, mustangs from the 60s. Everyone wants one because that is what they drove. Mustang chassis go for 4-10000 on a rusted one. They built half a million units in 2 years.

Now imagine 30 plus years from now, if youve sold your gsx or gst by then, youll probably look back at all the fond memories. Of course now you have more expendable income and want that old car you used to have. BOOM!!! You look and look. Its hard enough to find a 97-99 gsx, I mean jesus only 2000 a year were made. Every week a new thread comes up about someone totalling their gsx. Think how rare they are gonna be?

Our cars are cult cars, and cult cars are not the camaros and mustangs, those are mass public famous cars. They do get lots of money, but look at barret jackson and you see some odd cars that you would never think are that hot. Then they sell for a shitload more than those camaros or mustangs, and you realize, those owners are rich now and want the car of their childhood!


I predict in 30 years the 97-99 gsx will become a very expensive car. Lets see, 3 years, about 6000 made.....4,000 are probably left nowadays....30 years from now, maybe 1000 because these are cult cars, and not everyone is going to throw them away. 1000 cars may seem a lot, but finding an original condition, original engine without body kits, twisted chassis, non-heavily modified gsx is going to be rare.

Honestly, im going to keep my car forever unless I somehow completely destroy the chassis. I love this car, engine blows, rebuild it, tranny blows, rebuild it, accident happens, rebuild it. This car is not worth a tenth of the sentimental value I have in it. All the teenage years street racing, autocrossing, road racing, installing a turbo in the rain, drifting in snow and having cops come, not to arrest but to drift with you!!

Too many fond memories for me ever to give up this car. It will be over-restored A LOT!! But in a clean manner. Honestly, thats how I view my gsx, it was beat to hell by the previous owner and I am just over-restoring it.

For example- One of my tie rods goes bad, im doing new inner and outer and doing new sway bar endlinks. May seem like overkill, but eventually my car will slowly transform into a platform of new parts..AKA restored.


PS- To the guy wanting to restore them. Wait another 5 years. I predict that in about 5 years, our cars will start to gain value again, very slowly albeit. Already the 97-99 gsx prices are starting to stabilize and not continually go down.

 

[BenHenthorn]

Honestly, im going to keep my car forever unless I somehow completely destroy the chassis. I love this car, engine blows, rebuild it, tranny blows, rebuild it, accident happens, rebuild it. This car is not worth a tenth of the sentimental value I have in it. All the teenage years street racing, autocrossing, road racing.

Too many fond memories for me ever to give up this car.

I'm right there with ya.

 

[Raph]

I'd buy that if it was a 2g. I just love the body styling more. And yes, our DSMs will eventually make more money, but they are a dime a dozen now. Once they die off, it'll be just as rare

not here.. hell 1g targas go for 6000 euro for a crappy one

 

[xxrealmsxx]

Greetings, My name is Aaron Ruppert and I have been DSMing for about a decade now. I have always liked 1gs in particular and have personally owned at least 15-20 of them. Some of these cars I restored and did up real nice and sold them STOCK. I have always been payed well, and it was worth the time. Lately the cost of Mitsu parts, plus with the age and the neccesity to invest even more to make them nice has made it difficult to make a profit to do such a thing.

My question to you all is, (I am looking for both positive and negative feedback) provided you had the money would you be willing to spend close to $7-$8k on a mostly stock 1g? It would include a fresh built motor by myself (lots of ecperience) with fairly stock internals all OEM parts with a possible piston change. Since DSM motors are good for way more HP than 90% of make I figure stock is adequate. The car would be AWD for this argument sake, and include a fresh rebuilt stage 1 shep tranny, act 2100, and new clutch operating hardware as well. Everything would be operational and in good condition right down to a nice refineshed interior. The bodies would be good looking and if paint would be needed that could be done. The turbo would most like be a 16g with a new manifold complemented by a walbro 255. The goal of these cars is not to build race cars, but to allow people to have a car that is quick, but with reliabilty, something 90% of us don't have. I have succefully completed this reliabilty with several of the cars I have built both for the buying public as well as my own dsm(s), so I know it is possible.

So what do you all think, I really like these cars, have tons of experience with them. Some of my credentials are an associated degree in Automotives, and Bus/Adminstration as well, worked as Mitsubishi Tech for 2 years and have a great following where I reside locally. I would like to possibly make this a reality for people across the country.

Thanks Aaron Ruppert aka Dr Turbo

I would do it. If you could find a good financer to finance the cars for your buyers you would be in good busines with the import crowd I think.

 

[WatchItExplode]

I would DEFINATELY buy a 1ga in perfect shape for $7k. I spent almost that much buying my car and then fixing everything from engine/tranny to all the little things...and theres still some stuff that is kind of messed up.

So yes, I'd definately pay that for a completely restored 1g especially now that I have a lot less time to do repairs myself. But I would want it completely stock for auto-x sake. A bigger turbo automatically puts you in street modified. I'll keep my ratty 1g for balls out power

 

[Synapses]

I would pay 7K for a mint 1g eaisly. And would love you forever.

 

[Baron4406]

I can bring another perspective to this argument. I'm what you would call an "older" car guy. I'm 38 and my first 5 cars were a '69 Camaro, 70 Mustang, '69 Charger, 83 Mustang GT, '72 Challenger. My family figured I'd grow out of this fast car stage, but when I got older and started making decent money I wanted to play with cars again. My old loves (Mopars) were so expensive I could not even get a shell. So I got into 5.0 Mustangs, then turbo Dodges, then DSMs, then LT1 F-Bodies, and now I'm back into DSM's. Guys I deal with in this community are totally tripped out that a 38 year old guy is into "their" cars. Well its because I've been thru alot of cars and even back in 1987 when I started the cars guys loved were cars you could get cheap, were easy to modify, and were good looking. Really the DSM is the modern hot rod in the vein of the small block chevy. Now you might argue that the modern F-Bodies are a better choice because they ARE small block Chevy's. However they tend to be alot more expensive than DSM's, cost alot more to go faster, plus they are a nightmare to work on (main reason I got out of them). Also GM build quality is awful. I've gotten to the point that you could throw a DSM shell into my garage with all the parts to the car in boxes and in no time I could assemble it- in fact this was exactly how I did my last DSM. So would I pay $7k for a pristine DSM?? I certainly think it would be worth it, however I prefer to work on my own cars. Now you may think I contradicted myself with my last purchase, I broke a cardinal rule and bought a modified car. Why?? Because I know how expensive "go fast" parts are, for my goals this time (low 12's) it was better to buy a pile of parts that were in a clean car. I didn't care about the condition of the motor (since I could build another) I just wanted the hardware. I think alot of DSM guys are like this. They want to build the car their way. Still I honestly believe if you wanted to sell one car a month it would be doable, you'd just have to use a forum like EBAY and be willing to ship all over the US and Canada. I'd be willing to bet that you'd be able to sell at least one car like that a month......if you were willing to market them to the largest audience you could.

 

[chuckdog_5]

its not really a bad idea, but i think if your rebuilding the engine, you might want to consider doing hks 264 cams, that would really help the car out, i would say 272s but too many ppl think those are "race" cams and arent great for daily drivers. i think you should also go witha 190fuel pump instead of the 255, just because the need of a regulator for the 255. its a really good idea, it just doesnt seem the profits would be worth it, maybe in a couple of years, but i wouldnt think right now because you can still get your good deals on them. i paid 4500 for a 90 awd black cherry talon, with 80k miles, body was pefect, interior was perfect. i think the price is right, but i think you should really considering upgrading some of the stuff that you are replacing, then the money might be there, even bigger turbos. you might be better off acting like your own dsm dealership, basically taking orders on cars, ppl tell you what they want, you build them and get your money before you do the hole build so that way you can insure you get paid.