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While Americans are concerned
about inflation in the U. S., and the rising prices
of Chinese, Japanese and European goods, overseas
buyers are noticing that American goods are becoming
less expensive. With the decline of the U. S.
Dollar, the rest of the world benefits from what
can best be described as bargain prices from McLellan's
Automotive History (MAH). And, with newly purchased
collections, the MAH inventory is growing, giving
collectors more selection than ever. Meanwhile,
we have watched gasoline and food prices more
than double in the last ten years.
So is auto literature a good investment? Prices
of literature, especially that of the 1950s through
1970s, is increasing rapidly due to demand. MAH
prices are kept in line with that demand but,
obviously, the demand for gasoline and food is
greater. MAH does not run sales or offer discounts
but, since MAH's prices are tied to the prices
of other auto literature in the U. S. and not
to the rest of the world, MAH prices seem to be
whetting the appetites of overseas buyers. Over
half of MAH's sales now come from an impressive
international base of collectors.
What are they buying? Some may make the assumption
that collectors buy literature on cars that they
are familiar with. But most collectors seem to
enjoy something different. It is an opportunity
to get a good deal on something that they are
curious about and may lead to new interests. One
Brit is fascinated with the "American excess
of the 1950s." Chrome laden monsters like
Buicks and Cadillacs contrast sharply with his
usual order of sports car literature.
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| BUICK |
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1951 |
1957 |
1960 |
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| CADILLAC |
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1951 |
1953 |
1959 |
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Then there is the Italian who gets excited over
American pickup trucks.
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| AMERICAN PICKUP TRUCKS |
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1970 Chevrolet |
1954 Dodge |
1962 Ford |
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And one Brazilian has discovered that American and
German Volkswagen brochures are very different than
those of the same cars in his native country.
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| VOLKSWAGEN |
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1961 |
1964 |
1967 |
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The list goes on and we enjoy providing new opportunities
to collectors the world over. |
