Automatic vs. Stick (value)

[Dave Rifkin]

How does the transmission affect a musclecar's value? For example; how much would an automatic equipped '70 Z28 differ in value from a manual transmission equipped Z?

[camarojoe]

Depends on the buyer... for everyone who says "i'd never buy anything without 3 pedals", there's someone else out there who wants an auto, be it for ease of use or so the wife can drive it too, or whatever... I'd say more people prefer manual transmissions in musclecars, (as do I) but then you have cars like the COPO 68 Novas with the CX TH400, etc.. Stick vs. auto is like debating which color is worth the most... it depends on the particular buyer and what they prefer. It also depends on the rarity of the car... for example, if you found a good deal on a 69 Yenko camaro, would you not buy it if it was an auto and you preferred a stick? What about if it was fathom green but you preferred hugger orange? When you factor the car's overall rarity in there, specific details like stick vs. auto don;t seem to be as big of a deal to most people...although there are still some that want what they want, and will pass up a car that doesn't fit their exact criteria. Lots of value questions on this board lately...

[Keith Tedford]

Most people that I talk to would prefer a stick in their muscle cars strictly for the fun factor. My wife prefers the 4 speed as well. If you drive in a lot of heavy traffic the automatic is definitely the wiser choice. At the strip the automatic is a lot more consistant and breaks fewer parts. There is definitely more skill involved in driving a stick shift car, especially at the strip. Anyone can look like a pro with an automatic. The rest of us get humbled by our 4 speeds regularly. Show off and you'll miss a shift every time. I'd pay more for a 4 speed car every time. Keeps me humble.

[Chevy454]

I'm sure I'll be the exception to the rule, but give me an auto car any day...while you stick-boys are tap dancing and huntin' for gears I'll be getting the win light!

[MosportGreen66]

I said the same thing as Joe until I bought my '70 Camaro. I have 3 M-21 cars and one TH 350 for cruising. Yeah a manual transmission is fun, but the auto is easier to drive. Value wise, I wouldn't pay more for a manual then an auto.

A lot of people in the hobby frown upon auto cars but lately I have seen some really nice Mopars, and BBC Chevys with autos getting equal attention. There is a local '70 Cuda with a 440 6-pack, black/black torque flight auto with steel wheels and dog dish caps that I would buy in a heart beat. Auto/Manual comes down to the originality of the car, paperwork, quality of restoration (if it applies) just like anything else. Good luck, what car is in question?

[Mr70]

As time marches on,a new generation of People are entering into this Hobby.
Most never growing up with a Manual trans. Vehicle at all in their History,and thus not very skilled or confident in piloting one.
For the prices they have to pay for some of these cars today,I am seeing more newcomers desire an Auto. trans Behind Anything,so they can drive/enjoy it more and not let it resemble a Paperweight.

[mr396]

I think the high perf car's with auto are a little rarer then the 4-speed car's.camaro L34 high perf 396, there were 2579 made 1015 M40 automatics.

[427TJ]

I think only 1,483 '67 396 Camaros were built with M40 auto trans (L35 only), 4,520 with manuals (both L35 and L78).

(Just going from memory, someone please corect me if I'm wrong.)

I wonder how many BY/black vinyl top/L35/M40/power drum brake/tilt wheel/tach-guages/power steering '67 Camaros were built? I wonder how many survive?

Yes, that was a shameless plug.

[njsteve]

[ QUOTE ]
As time marches on,a new generation of People are entering into this Hobby.
Most never growing up with a Manual trans. Vehicle at all in their History,and thus not very skilled or confident in piloting one.
For the prices they have to pay for some of these cars today,I am seeing more newcomers desire an Auto. trans Behind Anything,so they can drive/enjoy it more and not let it resemble a Paperweight.

[/ QUOTE ]

I remember my wife showing me an article that had a list of things that every parent should teach his or her child. Among the items on the list was teaching your child to drive a manual transmission car. Other items included teaching them how to fish, finding the North star to navigate by and starting a fire without matches. I dont know where that list went...maybe that was another item on the list...teaching your child to make a list and then being able to find it later.

[NCGuy68]

[ QUOTE ]
How does the transmission affect a musclecar's value? For example; how much would an automatic equipped '70 Z28 differ in value from a manual transmission equipped Z?

[/ QUOTE ]

The question here is value............................

Over the years it seems that the number of any given model built determines its value. The lower the build count of a particular option combo the higher the value. Don't matter if its stick or auto.

I enjoy "rowing" a 4-speed on the street, but for drag strip action I'll tske an auto any day. Much more consistent.