Argosy 26 How much is it worth?

[fournicholas]

Hi,
We just recently bought a 1976 Argosy (26') and we have every intention of fixing it and using it as our retirement tiny house to travel. Circumstances have changed, and I need an opinion as to value because we may need to sell it. The Argosy is turquoise blue and gorgeous!! The outside as new paint, new windows, new sub floors, new tired, all the rust removed, etc. The inside is a shell. The person we bought it from spent about $30k getting it all good on the outside, getting rid of rust, etc., but never touched the inside after they stripped it all out. I am curious as to what this may be worth, and a good number to try to sell it.

Thanks!
Dan

[InsideOut]

If you "just recently bought it" it seems you could sell it for what you bought it for.

Otherwise, I would start here to help in coming up with a price.

Shari

[rideair]

Dan,

I'm with Shari on this one. Your first post was on 7/31 after just buying the trailer, if you can sell it for what you paid, no harm, no foul, be happy and walk away. Hard to say what something is worth with no picture, do you have title, conditon of tires, axles, etc.. If its just a shell, a couple grand at best. What did you pay for the trailer? Are you trying to make a quick buck or pass a good deal along to someone that will really do something with the trailer?

I'm seeing more and more of these "What's it worth?" postings from first time and low posting forum users.

Oh well,

[fournicholas]

Here are some pics. We didn’t buy it to make a quick buck. It was a dream of my wife’s and we probably “leaped too soon”. Due to circumstances beyond our control we may have to sell

Clean title; the man we bought it from spent 30k on new tires, paint, windows, rust removal, subfloor and can’t remember what else.

Hopefully we can figure something out cause it’s beautiful but just inquiring.

[brokeboater]

Originally Posted by fournicholas

the man we bought it from spent 30k on

That's about as irrelevant as retail list price. What did you pay for it?

[rideair]

Dan,

Looking at your pictures, there are some that will see a great trailer, others nothing more than a shell that needs a lot of work, repainting, possible axles, etc...

The color alone, will take many people off the table looking for a trailer. Appears to have the wheel-wells, door-lock, compartment doors, missing? Since you're in CA, lord only knows what someone will pay you. But, personally I'm looking at a $3,500 on a good day. I would rather give someone $5,000 for the same trailer that still has all the cabinets, bath etc.. With a rotted floor and needing paint than $3,500 for a shell.

May not be what you want to hear, but that's my opinion, and I could be very wrong. People are paying unreal money for about anything now days.

Let me give you another example: I just purchased a 1997 SL320 from a guy for $8,500. He gave me receipts for $32,788.00 that he had spent in repairs over the past four years, not including the additional $6,254.00 dollars spent on the car by the owner before him. Basically $39,000 over six years, a $30,500 loss in the car, not including what the PO even paid for the car.

Doesn't matter what the PO spent on the trailer, doesn't matter what you paid for the trailer, all that matters is what someone will pay you for it. My guess, 3,500-5,000 and that's all it will be and say "Thank You" when they do.


Enjoy,

[cinesilver]

I think it’s just beautiful and I agree it’s worth whatever someone will pay. I personally love the idea of a clean blank slate to work with. If I had the money, I’d make you an offer:-). Good luck!!!

[D. Novak]

Several years ago we bought a 1976 Overlander 27 ft. Without the interior to use as templates, I would not have been able to rebuild bulkheads and cabinetry. A blank slate is great but so much appears to be missing that the real work has barely started. As nice as it looks on the outside, l couldn’t justify paying much more than 2-3k.

[bibbs]

I am curious, as to what you do end up getting. Please keep in touch.

[drairstream]

Hope you didn’t get sucked in by the receipts. Finishing that project is 15K or more if you can DIY.
It really is a money pit. Super nice exterior if you like the color.
Personal opinion based on nothing is best offer of around 12-15K but you will likely sit on it a long time. 8-10 probably more realistic as a max to an anxious buyer.

[drairstream]

That is if the A/C works, which I doubt.

[cinesilver]

If the A/C works??? I’m confused... maybe because I’m in SoCal but a blank slate done with contemporary layout and high end finishes sell routinely for over $100k around here. I still think it’s super gorgeous surfer colors and someone with vision could rock that out of the park! I’m rooting for you:-))))

[smithcreek]

The paint job looks nice with some distance but seems to look considerably less nice in the closeups. Is that that case?

[Eric 26 Argo]

Looks like you have a good base to work off. $30k in receipts sounds like he paid to have everything done which gets expensive fast. Unfortunately you are only about a half way to having a finished camper work wise. Depending on how you plan to fit out the interior you are looking at a minimum of $8k in materials with the maximum, unlimited. Most people want to make the trailers their own with visions of Pinterest glory so you have that going for you. At the end of the day it is a question of how motivated you are to sell and how good of a sales man you are. I think it could easily fetch $8 -$12K if the paint job look as good in person as it looks in the photos.

[kscherzi]

Half way done? Having never built a camper, but a stick frame house, I'm thinking about 10% done. There's no plumbing, electrical, insulation, interior walls for starters. No cabinets/walls/doors, those will he hard to make to fit tight among the curved space. Then all the finish work (counters, appliances, etc). It will be a labor of love to finish, that's for sure.

[brokeboater]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

It will be a labor of love to finish, that's for sure.

If you love throwing money down a rat hole.

[Fair_Enough]

Even when making the interior what you want, having the interior pieces for templates is muy importante and would save hundreds of hours of unnecessary trial and error. Nothing in an Airstream, much like a boat is straight. What I saw at first glance was a very cool toy hauler. I like the colors, but I'm not normal. I wish you all the best in whatever you decide to do.
FE

[Ky76Argosy]

Nice but far from complete. Interior is pricy job. But what was your purchase price? The original exterior lights are gone. Nice wheels, but how is axle? Many issues to investigate. Does ac work? What is electric condition or water lines and heater or tanks? I have renovated an interior and know the costs, but this has nothing so suited for a food wagon. Maybe $5k and if completed interior looking at $25K. Price then competes with silver. I just rolled to AZ Grand Canyon and back. Fun and no issues. Be safe.

[fournicholas]

To answer your question, we probably paid too much at 10k.

[rideair]

If you can get back half your money, cheap lesson in life.

Everyone makes mistakes in life, but always better to learn from other peoples mistakes.

If you paid 10K for it, there's someone else that will do the same if you're willing to wait long enough to meet that person. If not, price it, sell it and move on.

Good luck,