1960 Fuel Injection unit ...Question on value??

[dave00beer]

Hello I'm new here and I hope this is the right place to ask a question.....
I have a fuel injection unit from a 1960 vette. Part # 7017320...Serial #3198
Rochester. This was my fathers and has been sitting for years and years.....It appears to be complete Intake,fuel injection unit,air cleaner,etc. No distributor I sold that already on e-bay.
My question is the guy who bought the distributor is also interested in the fuel injection unit. He wants to know a price??? If anyone could give me an honest value of what this is worth..that would be great....I'm sure it needs to be gone through seen it has been sitting for years. Any info would be highly respected...Thanks

 

[60fuelie]

I would be interested in the air cleaner if you wish to separate.

E-mail me @ gregm@cashwa.com if interested in selling separately.

Thank You

 

[ChuckG]

I usually shy away from "what's it worth" questions, but I would guess that the unit would sell between 2K and 4K. The original air cleaners are also expensive....1.5K to 2K would be my guess. Why did you sell the distributor separate from the unit? The unit is non-functional without the gear pump drive on the distributor. Chuck

 

[dave00beer]

Hello..Thanks for the reply and info...The only reason I sold the distributor without the fuel injection set up was...well I didn't even know about the set-up or come across it untill it was to late....Now I wish I had everything together....oh well.... Also your saying in your opinion the fuel injection units value is 2K to 4K...so I could maybe expect more with the air cleaner?(Air cleaner 1.5K to 2K) (wow thats unreal) Is there a way to tell if the air cleaner is original? I assume it is but I'm not an expert on these...Thats why I turned here looking for some answers....Thanks alot for the info and your time.

 

[ChuckG]

There are a number of individuals who specialize in these old FI units. John DeGregory and Jack Podell are two that come to mind. They advertise in most/all of the magazines, i.e., Hemmings, etc. I'd give them a call, as I'm no expert on early FI units. I have a 63 FI car, and the 63-65 units are different. I can tell you with 1000% certainty that these items aren't worth a few hundred bucks. I go to a lot of events....Bloomington, Carlisle, etc., and I see what they sell for. Chuck

 

[c5vetter]

To add to what Chuck mentioned - I have seen "complete" fuel injection units for 1963/64 cars advertised for sale in Hemmings, etc. for $15,000!

 

[60fuelie]

Asking prices and what they truely get out of the parts are usually two different things! I agree that the fuel injection units and parts are worth good money, but most of the ads you see are wishes by the seller and seldom sell for their inflated prices.
I have bought two 1960 "320" units in the past few years and they were both were under $1500. I recently saw a complete 65 unit with distributor and air clearer that went home with the seller with an asking price of $3500. You can still shop around and get a fair deal from a private individual, the inflated prices are from those people who sell for a living, they have to make the extra money to put the food on the table. Call up one of the f.i. professionals (Podell etc.), see what they offer you for the unit, I can guarantee you it won't be anywhere near the prices you are seeing in the above posts. Good luck on you sale, I would still be interested in the air cleaner if it is original and you decide to separate.

 

[c5vetter]

Agree, that prices swing wildly between what someone thinks something is worth and what someone actually ends up paying for it. That is what is called supply and demand. What is really crazy is the difference between what is called "black book" prices (wholesale) and "blue book" prices (retail).

 

[60fuelie]

Did you have good luck selling the distributor on E-bay? Are you happy with the price you received for it?
Why not put the injection unit and air cleaner on E-bay ond see what the market will bring. I will definately bid if you list them separately. If the person who bought the distributor is interested, he will be bidding too! Make it a reserve auction and you have nothing to worry about and we will all get the chance to bid. I think E-bay exposes your pieces to the largest number of buyers and will bring what they are worth! Let me know if list them, I do not want to miss the listing!!!!

 

[dave00beer]

Thanks for the reply's ....I think I will list it on e-bay...I just don't know if I should seperate the air cleaner from the system or list it whole?? Anyhow I will post a notice on here when and if I do list it on e-bay....Thanks to everyone for the info and reply...what a great place for help and answers!!

 

[dave00beer]

Sorry guys...I forgot to add that yes I was happy with the amount for the distributor on e-bay I thought it was fair almost $720.00 ?? Thats in the ballpark of what I've seen...Do you think?? Thanks alot!!

 

[vettefinderjim]

Supply and demand

It is a matter of supply and demand. If you are restoring a 60 Corvette fuel injection car, then you need it.

Units that I have been involved with over the last year have realistically sold for $2500, distributor $750, air cleaner $1250 for a total of $4500. Both of these ( a 62 #360 and a 58-59 #4900) were in excellent physical shape with no cracked ears on the intake and 100% complete with parts.

Most experts are getting over $1500 to restore the units after you buy it, so an individual that 'needs' it will have over $6000 in the intake system on their Corvette vs. $500 on a restored WCFB single 230hp carb. Today, fuel injection cars are not selling for that much more than a restored 230hp car, so the large investment is really governed by the above resale value once on the car and running.

I have owned over 20 Rochester Fuel injection cars over the years and I think it was one Zora's best engineering marvels of the 20th century. Interesting that ALL our cars today are fuel injected. Zora and John Dolsa were way ahead of their time.