Smokey Robinson was right....

Blues singer Smokey Robinson had a huge hit in the early '60s with the song "Shop Around".  He was talking about finding love, but the rule applies to cars as well.  Here's a few examples of huge differences on Apples to Apples cars. On a dealer's website that specializes in Pontiac Trans Am's there was a huge difference in prices, and not much difference in condition- all these cars were well-restored, or at least "Good driver" quality-there was no "projects" here.  What surprised me was someone was asking $33,000 for a 1975 455 / 4-speed T/A.  Granted, it was pristine, and one of 857, but we all know 1975 was the WORST year for performance, they still had the ugly 74-75 bumpers ( The cool urethane ones debuted in '76 ) and the "455HO" was a 7.6:1 compression station wagon engine that wheezed out barely 200 hp and required sub-4,500 rpm shifts to get decent performance.  On the same website was a 1979 10th Anniversary W72, WS6, 4-wheel disc-braked, T-topped, 400 , 4-speed model with only 66,000 original miles and it was priced at $14,900!!!  Huh?  The most sought after T/A model there is- ( After RAIV's and 455HO and SD models ) in great condition for less than HALF the price of the LEAST popular model?  On the same website, they were asking for $24,900 for a Nocturne Blue 1979 model with a 403 Olds / TH350 powertrain, and right next to it was a 400 , 4-speed Mayan Red '78 with T-tops for $17,900.   They also had a white 1973 455 / TH400 ( Not a Super Duty ) model for $39995.  Below that was Bucaneer Red 455 / 4-speed, ( also an L75 ) 1973 T/A  for $21,000!!. They also had two other '73 models-a Brewster green 455 4-speed priced at $59,999  ( Yikes! ) and a Brewster green 455 / TH400 model for $43,000.  Like I said, all of these cars were low-mileage, in great condition, numbers-matching, and I honestly don't think any of them was worth 10 or 15-20K more than any of the others. It's just how greedy the owner was that consigned the car there. I did some more web-surfing and got on a Mustang Site-they listed a pristine 1969 GT350 Shelby Mustang for $59,995. On the same site was another 1969 GT350 that looked just as good to me that was priced at $44,500-15 grand less.  They also listed two 1971 Boss 351 models-one for $42,500 and the other for $58,000.  I looked at 3 GTO' Judges the other day-two Carousel Red '69 models that were clones, and a For-real  Pepper Green '70.  The Pepper Green '70 was an RAIII / 4-speed model and it was utterly immacualte, having just had a frame-off resto done. It was worth every penny of it's $39,999 asking price.  It totally outclassed any GTO I've seen in a long time. However-the two '69's- They were both GTO's-not cobbled-up LeMans's-but they weren't original Judges. They both had the 350 hp base model 400, and the spoiler,decals and paint. The 4-speed was priced at $27,000 and the automatic was priced at $16,500!!!  I actually looked at these cars in person, not on a computer-and believe me I couldn't find a noticeable difference in their condition much less $10,000 worth.. Now you could argue that the 4-speed model is worth a little more-and I would agree- but not 10 grand more. The bottom line is look hard before you lay out your hard-earned cash for whatever classic you may desire. Mastermind