Did the price of steel go up? One month ago I drove 60 miles to KC to an auction that advertized a 70 & 76 Maverick to be sold. When I got there it turned out to be a 691/2 & a 72. Both were pretty rough 6cyl cars. Worth maybe 150 apiece. Starting bid 250 each. Well I'm out! Same guy bought both. So I ask him what he was going to do with them. He just told me he was going haul them to his lot. Ok I will get by and snag a couple pieces one of these days. Well You know the rest of the story. Also found a 72 REAL rough ( pile of scrap shaped like a maverick ) 1 mile from where I work so stopped to ask about it, $300, smile! Have a nice day! Now it is gone. Whats up with that?
Scrap prices are up. We hauled a 70's Nova, stripped interior, no engine/tranny to the crusher and it brought $150. I think most steel produced now is recycled scrap iron, don't know anywhere that makes steel in the U.S. anymore from iron ore.....
I heard that it was because of China. Major revamping and construction going on all over China. Building factories and high rises all over the country.
SO! Are we saying any mav is worth $250? Does anyone who can SHOULD!, I repeat SHOULD! Pay this much for, lets say a trashed out rusty 302 4dr just for a couple of parts. If we dont we will see a drop in supply of used parts. A small but increasing raise in popularity and demand for good metals conflicts with cheap parts, cheap cars. I am really still a newby (1+) years at watching values of these cars and parts. I have to, to justify spending any money that I dont have. Kudows to all of those who collect all the cars and parts they can. They deserve all the return they can get for their time and money spent. I say thank you! Now, how many members and guests actually seek out parts & cars to save. Remember these are not mustangs. To salvage yards they are scrap. I think we should spend more effort educating everyone including newbees,an effort to preserve all cars and parts. Most do, but why dont we all? I"ll do what I can.
You are correct, being a machinist, I see scrap metal all day long. We reciently took a load of scrap copper to the scrap yard. The owner of the scrap yard told us that a man from China, walked into his building and told the owner he had a blank check and to name his price for everyong on the site. :Handshake We placed an order for some stainless steel plates 80 pieces 1" thick, 20 in. round the total cost was for over $100,000 JUST for the material alone. So ya, scrap prices are up.
last month I got $40 ea. for 2 blown oldsmobile v8's, one without the heads or intake. china has a ton of coal reserves and there building about one coal burning power plant a week. few months ago i tryed to get a 83 cutlass out of the j-yard, offered $200 but the guy said he'll get $500 out of it just for the crushed steel.
