Determining the value of a unicorn

A while back I posted about searching for an '80s or '90's oddball/quirky car.  For those who didn't see it, happy reading... https://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/sub-8k-quirky-or-oddball-cars-from-the-80s-or-90s/188346/page1/  

As I continue to poke around and search, there are a few cars I keep coming back to.  Two of them are the Starquest twins and the XT6.  The Starquest twins pop up enough that I can get a decent sense of their value.  But the XT6 is a true unicorn.  How would you go about figuring out what a car is worth when extremely few...almost none...come up for sale?

IMO, seeing the value of almost any original 70's, 80's and 90's car/truck in their original form, I don't see how you can go wrong. I've seen Chevettes listed for $5000, Pintos and Vegas equally as crazy in value. Renault Alliance convertible for stupid money. There are collector niches for any and every vehicle if it's in stock/original condition. Try to find a first generation RX-7, unrusty and in good running condition. When we were racing them, I used to haul used carcasses to the junkyard all the time. Now they bring BIG money, who knew. 
 

If it were me and I had $X to spend on a quirky/oddball car, I would buy the best example I could find. Once I got it, I would go through it and replace anything that isn't original and make it as close to how it came off the assembly line as possible. Sounds like fun, good luck and keep everyone posted.

Honestly, there becomes a point when the value becomes what a single buyer is willing to pay for it whether that be perceived as greatly overvalued or greatly undervalued. A lot of it depends upon the initiative of the interested party and willingness of them to seek out replacement parts to service and keep the vehicle in optimum running condition, or to even replace imperfect worn OE pieces that don't affect performance, but keep it correct. 

If there is a unicorn that you are passionate about, and you find one and you drive it and experience it and it's what you hoped and wanted it to be, then nobody can tell you what too much is for it. If you pay $8,000 for a clean XT6 and you enjoy it for 10 years And then sell it for $1,000, You will have paid less than $1,000 a year for your enjoyment and having it as a hobby. Sure you will put more into it in that time but that's not the point we're looking at the opportunity cost. If somebody else would get enjoyment out of the new car that same enjoyment would cost them more and depreciation before they drive off the lot (though 2021 is an exception to that rule). 

If it won't get you in trouble with swmbo, then the price is in line. 

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

Honestly, there becomes a point when the value becomes what a single buyer is willing to pay for it whether that be perceived as greatly overvalued or greatly undervalued. 

This, so much.  It isn't seen quite as much in the car world, but it comes up all the time in other hobbies that deal with old things.  There are only so many XT6's, there are only so many '54 QD-15s in running condition with decent paint, etc

Captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:

If it won't get you in trouble with swmbo, then the price is in line. 

Well, that's part of the...uh...problem.  I got divorced a few years back and recently got remarried.  First wife supported my car hobby, to a point.  New wife is an enabler.  She's asking for trouble....