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Site Updated 7.11.2008

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American's Creed!

Est. 2002

Hornet Valuation Guide

I am not an expert and I do not claim to be a qualified speculator or appraiser. My goal to provide a practical place where owners, perspective buyers, collectors, or just plain old car nuts can go and get some guidance and valuation tips for the AMC Hornet. I welcome any feedback or opinion anyone may want to share with me.

Q: What is a AMC Hornet worth?
A: Whatever someone is willing to pay for it!
This may sound like a pretty vague answer but, the fact of the matter is that someone will pay whatever they want to pay for a car. Purchasing a vehicle is an emotional decision for most people. This is especially true for the passionate car nut. I've seen Hornets sell for:

• $200 dollars on eBay
• $5,500 for a very low mileage, little old lady new, 1973 4-Door sedan
• $12,000 for a 1971 Hornet SC360 in show condition

The key is to think practically and educate yourself about the vehicle you own or want to purchase. Taking the time to learn about the AMC Hornet will undoubtedly help you to properly evaluate a Hornet's worth.

Reality Check!
Please remember that as much as you may love your Hornet it's not a Javelin or an AMX. They are not highly collectable cars, and that's OK! Even the Hornet SC360 in mint condition will not fetch the price a Javelin , AMX, or even a Mustang in comparable shape will get. I love the Hornets, but I realize that they will probably never attain the same collectable status as an AMX.

Nonetheless, I do believe that they will become more valuable and interesting to collectors as time goes by. The fact the AMC is no longer around and the number cars they manufactured were small compared to the major car manufacturers, makes them unique. There are many Camaros, Mustangs, and other popular collector cars, but an AMC is not something you see everyday. And I love that!

Car enthusiasts please take note!
Car collecting, restoration, etc. is in large part a labor of love. I've seen folks pour more into a vehicle than they could ever get back! Some folks are happy with that! Unless you are taking a purely business approach to collecting treat it as a hobby. You may not get back what you invest into your car.

If your are serious about car collecting and appreciate the fact that every vehicle is like preserving a piece of history, you'll always get back what you put into it. The dividends you'll receive are not always measured in money! Have fun with your Hornet!

Q: I'm think about getting a Hornet. Should I get one?
A: By all means get one!
They are not that rare. Although finding one in mint condition is difficult it is certainly possible. Collectors trade up cars all the time. And let's not forget, the little old lady who bought one brand new and has been using it only to get groceries and can't drive it any more. It's never ceases to amaze me how many of these scenarios still exist out there no matter what you're looking for.

Q: What about the engine?
A: It depends on what you like!
Most people will agree that a Hornet with a V8 is worth more than a comparable model with a six cylinder. However, both engine types are very good. Some car enthusiasts will not buy a six cylinder, while some don't care! You have to decide for yourself. If you want to cruise and look good going down the road it really doesn't matter which engine you have, but if someone challenges you at stop light and you want to teach them a lesson, you need a V8!

I hope that helps!

A good place to visit and get a good idea what a car is worth is the Collector Car Market Review web site. The have a very useful "Market Pricing" guide section that gives you value based on the condition of the vehicle. Click here for more details..

Are the values of AMC vehicles on their way up? 08.06.2004 Update!
I am hearing a certain buzz out there among auto enthusiasts that leads me to think that it just may be a buyer's market for anyone looking to buy an AMC vehicle. As the commonly collected cars from the Big Three get increasingly expensive, more and more people are turning to AMCs.

Anyone who has looked at what people are getting for classic and antique cars know the prices are high and getting higher. I recently went to see a 1963 split back Corvette that was going for $40,000. The hobby is getting expensive!

Although, there are some bargains out there. More and more people are looking toward AMC as an alternative to the more expensive Big Three cars. This is bringing some long overdue attention to the AMC world, but how long will it remain at buyers market? I believe that the traditionally ignored AMC market will be driven up as the more common sought after vehicles continue to get priced out of most people's budget.

It just my humble observation folks but, it will be interesting to see where the AMC market will go in the next few years. Clearly as time marches on and good old cars become hard to find the supply and demand rule will undoubtedly kick in. Not to mention that there is also a growing interest in cars from the 1970's.

This is all good news for AMC owners who have known the value of what they have long before the current market demanded they take a good look at AMC!

Visitor Comments on AMC Values

	Sent By: A-V Nauha AMC Club Finland (AMCCF) Founder, Magazine Editor, Webmaster, Vice-President www.amccf.com, Posted 2.23.2005
	"...This is certainly the case in Europe as prices have gotten an additional zero added the the price, and yes, that's on the right side of the number. AMCs that cost 100 euros 5 years ago now cost 1000 euros to start with. Also most of the 'FOR SALE' ads on AMCs have disappeared from the papers. Nobody's selling for cheap anymore. Good and bad points to this. Good ones being that our cars are valued better, bad ones being that even the parts cars are getting expensive along with used parts as well."
	Sent By: Robert Thomas, bob49t@earthlink.net
	"I read your notes on pricing and think you might consider this. The collector pricing seems to reflect the 50 year old buyers. 10-15 years ago a 55-57 Chevy was much higher than it is today and a 68 Charger could be had for peanuts relative to today's prices."

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