Antique Car Blue Book
From LoveToKnow Antiques
If you are thinking of buying or selling an antique car, blue book value is an important consideration when determining the price.
What is a Blue Book?
Over the years the term blue book has come to be synonymous with the term price guide. Since 1926, the Kelly Blue Book has been used by people interested in finding the values and pricing of new and used cars. Originally a trade publication, the first consumer editions of this popular used car price guide were published in 1993.
In addition to the hard copy blue books published by Kelly, the company has been on the Internet since 1995. Kelly now publishes an entire line of Kelly Blue Books covering vehicles of all types ranging from snowmobiles to mobile homes.
Antique Car Blue Book
The Kelly Blue Book that antique car collectors use is called the Kelly Blue Book: Early Model Guide 1946 to 1986. Unlike the blue book values for newer models, the values of cars listed in this book are not given online.
The Early Model Guide is published twice a year, in January and July. You can order a subscription by calling 800 - BLUE-BOOK. The subscription price is $60 per year.
Other Price Guides for Antique Cars
The Kelly Blue Book: Early Model Guide is not the only price guide for antique, classic or vintage cars. Other popular price guides and websites used to determine values of antique and collectible cars include:
- The Gold Book
- NADA Guides (National Automobile Dealers Association)
- Edmunds
- Hagerty’s Cars That Matter
- Kruse International Auctioneers
The Gold Book
Compiled by Manheim Auctions, the Gold Book, is considered by many automobile enthusiasts as the authority on pricing for classic and collectible cars. This free website is very easy to use and the information given is comprehensive. The inclusive database covers cars from 1886 to 2003.
To search a particular car, simply input the make, model and year. The results are given include:
- Year production began and make
- Model
- Body type
- Horsepower/engine displacement
- Engine type
- Designation of car
- M - as defined by the Milestone Car Society
- C - designated as Classic by the Classic Car Club of America
- H - a car that is certified as collectible or highly desirable and appealing
- S - a car that is not yet designated as highly desirable but is attracting special interest
- Loan value
- Condition and value - fair, good excellent or show
NADA Guides
On the Internet since 2000 NADA price guides are a popular resource for anyone that is interested in car values and information. Their traditional N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides have been a respected source of data and valuation information for decades.
There are separate NADA price guides for several groups of classic and antique cars.
- Collectible
- Special interest
- Muscle
- Sports
- Exotic
- Luxury
- Passenger
- Trucks, vans and SUVs
Edmunds
Edmunds does not publish values for antique or classic cars. Their online car pricing only extends back to 1990. They do offer appraisal services for cars from 1980 to 1989.
Hagerty’s Cars That Matter
Hagerty’s Cars That Matter is a price guide for those interested in collectible cars of the post-war years. Available by subscription there are several different ordering options:
- Three issue subscription
- Single book
- Mobile trial
- Mobile bundle
- Green option
Kruse International
Kruse International is the largest collector car auction company in the world. Their auction results are posted online and are an important tool in antique and collectible car valuation. Each year beginning in 1996 is listed along with the results of every auction that took place during that year. For example, in 2008 there were 27 Kruse collectible car auctions held throughout the United States. Each vehicle in the auction is listed with the final auction price.
Additional Resources
Whether your interest is in a vintage Model A Ford, a 1969 Chevy Camaro muscle car or a classic 1959 Edsel, knowing where to find antique car blue book values provides every car enthusiast with important information.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 8,300 times. This page was last modified 05:04, 2 April 2009.
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