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Transaction prices for Early Diablos?


ArytonS
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Can anyone inform me what actual transaction prices are for early Diablos? I see cars listed for strange prices and then see auction results are quite different. From Bring-A-Trailer, RM, Coys, and other auction houses the transaction prices seem lower than almost any active listing by a good margin. Even the white 91' on BaT sold almost $45k below its online asking price.

It seems:

91-93's 2WD cars are selling for $115-145k ish depending on history, miles, and condition.

93-95 VT's seem to be more like $125 - 160k ish depending on history, miles, condition.

Anyone have any recent experience to suggest otherwise?  

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Nice 91 's sell as high as 200k... 

The white car on Bat had  some issues, including the aftermarket wing.  It sold for $150k including the Bat fees. 

 

I know a very clean 95 VT sold for $170k.. 

 

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I think if you get a good car for $150 range you are doing great. The early cars are great cars, but they are getting old. 
In its history my 91 had a full repaint and engine rebuild (Cam tensioners weren’t updated under recall and caused cam issue). The interior was redone..  so by all accounts it was a great car. However once I got the car I noticed the steering seemed loose. Needed a steering rack. The front brakes had been upgraded to the bigger brembo’s. However the rear calipers were original. They were in horrible shape and one of them was seizing. They needed love. So i decided to upgrade them and do the big brake kit as well on the rear to match the front. The bushings are known to possibly go bad. I inspected all of mine and they are actually in good shape, but there seem to be a couple the might not be a bad idea to replace. Probably going to do that shortly.. 

My point is, any of these diablo cars are most likely going to need love in places.  A top tier car would be one that has been completely restored and all items are refreshed.. I’m not sure anyone is out there doing Diablo’s like they have been doing countach’s. So a top car that hasn’t been refreshed would be a hard find and you’ll pay up for it.  Luckily the 91-92 cars are actually pretty affordable and parts are actually available and affordable. The early diablo’s are fast.. and light... but they are a mans car. It takes quite a lot of effort to drive them. Don’t be afraid of one, but understand it. It’s a good reason why miles are lower on most of the earlier cars. 

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Also, I would personally stay away from 94-95 vt cars.. they are the least desirable and the slowest cars of the diablo lineage. 
 

 

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Was the 95 VT the RHD example in the UK? I was watching that auction carefully, very well documented car I was thinking of importing but it went on the high side of my expectations. I know the 94/95 VT's are not as fast as later models, but I actually care less about this. I think the upgrades the cars had (power steering, no double decker gauge cluster) offset some of the performance negatives so I'm indifferent between models. I care more about condition.

A 96 2WD Blue car sold close to 170k recently with 30k miles. Very rare spec, and appeared to be in good shape. Then you also have examples like Bobby Rahals '91 Black car selling for $115k.

So strange to me to figure out what a "true price" is on these classics. Anyone buying claims they're 100k and anyone selling says 200k. 

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17 minutes ago, ArytonS said:

Was the 95 VT the RHD example in the UK? I was watching that auction carefully, very well documented car I was thinking of importing but it went on the high side of my expectations. I know the 94/95 VT's are not as fast as later models, but I actually care less about this. I think the upgrades the cars had (power steering, no double decker gauge cluster) offset some of the performance negatives so I'm indifferent between models. I care more about condition.

A 96 2WD Blue car sold close to 170k recently with 30k miles. Very rare spec, and appeared to be in good shape. Then you also have examples like Bobby Rahals '91 Black car selling for $115k.

So strange to me to figure out what a "true price" is on these classics. Anyone buying claims they're 100k and anyone selling says 200k. 

If you find any nice early Diablos for 100k, let me know Ill buy them. 

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When Diablo's starting coming back into flavor, the early cars didn't get much love.  So you've got these ex-rental/strip club owner/daytrader cars that were bandaged fast and cheap.  Those should only be undertaken out of love, because there isn't a payoff.

Don't get me wrong - I think that ALL Diablo's are very cool.  But the words nice and early Diablo definitely should not be in a listing for a the low 100's car.

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  • 1 month later...

I ended up buying an EU Spec 1998 Diablo SV. Need to wait some time (2022) before it can be imported, but getting it all sorted out in the UK, and paid far less than USA prices ($158k USD) for what appears to be a very nice car (good driver, not a concourse car).

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On 7/26/2020 at 9:11 AM, ArytonS said:

I ended up buying an EU Spec 1998 Diablo SV. Need to wait some time (2022) before it can be imported, but getting it all sorted out in the UK, and paid far less than USA prices ($158k USD) for what appears to be a very nice car (good driver, not a concourse car).

Congrats! Pics?

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If anyone else on here has a Diablo SV - can they provide the production date? It seems the factory didn't stamp this onto EU cars and determines when the car is eligible for transport. Looking for VINs just before and just after VIN #900

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Thanks! A dream come true. I lost out at auction on a 512TR with 10k miles earlier this year that went for $226k, and then felt gunshy about bidding on a US based '91 with 45k miles that sold for $130k. Happy to spend a little more and get a great spec. I'm sure it needs some work from the low mileage its done (3k km in 9 years), but UK labor rates seem to be far more reasonable than some USA specialists.

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Congrats and welcome to the Diablo SV club!  Your car looks great!

 

D-SV, Monterey Edition here.

Production Date: 06-1998

 

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8 hours ago, VCR said:

S

 

8 hours ago, VCR said:

Congrats and welcome to the Diablo SV club!  Your car looks great!

 

D-SV, Monterey Edition here.

Production Date: 06-1998

 

Mind sharing the last 4 digits of the VIN? I would imagine all Monterey editions are late '98's (this is a very very late production it looks!)

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3 hours ago, ArytonS said:

 

Mind sharing the last 4 digits of the VIN? I would imagine all Monterey editions are late '98's (this is a very very late production it looks!)

You have a PM.

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Yes all 20 were USA only! Look like my car was made summer of 1997 and had its original owner living in an Italian village near Naples. Car made it to its long term storage/workshop and is supposedly in great shape.

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  • 1 month later...

A few updates on my SV. Car got serviced in the UK at Universal Classic Cars (where its being stored). Total bill came out to a little over $5k USD with VAT and that includes:

- Respray on bumper underside

- All new tires

- Major service (all new fluids, plugs, etc.)

- Fixing sticking handbrake cable

- Checking valve clearance (in spec)

- Fixing passenger side window and getting a new pass switch 

The shop was servicing a Diablo GT at the same time and captured some cool photos. Very reasonable rates and the guys were very helpful. They seem to treat the exotics in their possession like a day-care more than a car storage hahahaa.

118121742_3028593327267826_7962785153042098046_n.jpg

118129118_3028593427267816_8633128967414367298_n.jpg

118137136_3028593797267779_4107683843895547715_n.jpg

118157277_3028593477267811_4222226081946568811_n.jpg

118146563_3028593703934455_8882919394676612681_n.jpg

118203654_3028593807267778_1923946921344920199_n.jpg

118204834_3028593580601134_7144485031458978164_n.jpg

118207202_3028594180601074_1720958868643361083_n.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

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