Saw this article in the Detroit Free Press...thought it was interesting. I'm sure the cars weren't perfect, but I still don't understand. Why would you trade in ANY of these???!?!?!?

http://www.freep.com/article/2009092...apped-for-cash

 

Agreed - Why in the world would anyone trade in something with that much value is a good question. One thing I was happy about with the program is that it disallowed any car built before 1984, which saved lots of 50s and 60s cars from the scrap heap. Even if those 50s cars were shot, they are always good as donor cars for parts.

 

There is probably more to the stories (like possibly cars with serious engine problems, etc) the TV spot I saw had a Maserati Bi-Turbo which you would think might be valuable, but in reality it had serious reliability issues and the owner had been unable to sell it for $4000. While it might sound crazy to get $4500 for Ford SVT F150 Lightning, a good one locally I saw went unsold for $16,000, serious mechanical problems and some minor body work needed could add to $12,000 easily, so there you go...The GN (if it was real), and the AMG are a mystery though. Suspect some were flood damaged. If a dealer could get more wholesale, they would surely talk the buyer into splitting the difference and doing a trade-in wouldn't they?

 

I can only imagine that the "classic" cars that went as clunkers were probably clunkers and the owners couldn't sell them for anything greater than the $4500 that was in the C4C deal. The rare Buick may have needed many thousands to get into the pristine shape and no one wanted to spend that much. The car market is in the toilet now and there are only so many cars that Chip Foose can take through OVERHAULIN'.

Lots of good deals out there, but who has the $$.

 

I found this one on another site about a Dodge Dakota Pickup Convertible, which were pretty rare. The narrator clearly is distressed about this vehicle going to the crusher.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldgmQ8gfKUY

 

Bid $3150, Buy it now for $4950 = pretty close to clunker value.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...=p4506.c0.m245