Spitfire Prices

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:37 am

I know I have to be careful here but what happened all of sudden that makes the Spitfire prices so high? There are at least three on Ebay now wanting between $500 and $1500. Are they bringing that kind of money? A year ago we were buying them all day for $100-$150. Just curious DA

ChickenRat · Post by **ChickenRat** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:45 am

I sold one this year for $1250 but it was super nice.

Robb

400brian · Post by **400brian** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:46 pm

I've noted the same thing Don.

The one that sold over by Wanie earlier this winter went for what I thought was stupid money as well.

Post by **WinnipegStPaul9** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:07 pm

Robb, first of all, ALL OF YOUR STUFF IS SUPER NICE!! Seriously though what year was it and what made it so nice. DA

ChickenRat · Post by **ChickenRat** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:06 pm

Don,

It was an '81 and it only had like 384 miles on it. It didn't have one scratch on the aluminum chassis. Perfect hood, seat, decals, windshield, etc, etc. It was very, very nice. I was actually very sad to see it go and in hindsight probably should have kept it and sold some others but something had to go, just like my e-bay listings now. I have a huge space issue that needs to be remedied and I also need the $$ to start a very interesting John Deere project that is going to be expensive and very time consuming. Additionally, with the Spitfires, I have found that they are not that hard to find but the key is finding a straight one. I think that is what comes into play. They were kids sleds and we all know how kids run things..I know I pretty much trashed every sled I ever had. So I think finding ones in good shape are getting farther and fewer between. One last thing. I have friends that have young kids and there are no "in between" sleds out there. So people like them are willing to pay $500-800 for one of these. A used Mini-Z will bring between $1000-2000 and a new or newer used sled that has the full size chassis with a 340, 440, or 500cc fan cooled motor will bring $1000-3000. So, that makes a Spitfire in good shape for $600 one heck of a deal. Just what I've witnessed.

Robb

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:18 pm

Exactly Robb.
The Spits are just like the Enticers. Sled families look for these machine for their kids. Light weight, fuel sipping engines, not too fast, easy to work on ect.

At one time most brands made a mid size machine but not any more.

Post by **Matt** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:28 pm

Got Spitfires?
(Ed Kruel Photo)

JDT · Post by **JDT** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:34 pm

WOW!!!

Liquifire 4/6 · Post by **Liquifire 4/6** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 9:42 pm

I can understand why Spits are beginning to fetch good bucks. They were a simple straightfoward sled that were excellent for kids and small adults.....and they definately have considerable some "cute factor" going for them. But if people are actually paying big prices with the intention of riding them regularly, I believe they are making a big mistake.........and this is because, as we all know, the tracks are a problem area. And once the track is shot, what use is the sled? Yes, I've seen all sorts of "solutions" for replacing tracks on Spitfires......but I still haven't seen anything that I think would work properly. Having said this, I absolutely love the little Spitfires and would probably pay a fairly good amount for one if a really mint one was for sale in my neck of the woods. In any case, it's sure nice to see that John Deere sleds are beginning to get noticed and are starting to receive the respect which they always deserved, yet for some strange reason were denied until recently.

79spitfire#100340 · Post by **79spitfire#100340** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:04 pm

You are all right, The green spits are the reason I got into john deere sleds,The emerald green and that free air are very easy on the eye.They are 10 times the sled of any mini, Dad can't pull the kids on one those! Spitfires are simple, well engineered and very dependable.I have a had several offers on my sleds ,but I can't bring myself to part with one. I can say that a mint original 79 would be worth at least $2000.00 to me.I could refurbish every spitfire I could get my hands on and they would be spoken for before I had them completed. My friends ,family and other people, that have seen or heard about them all want to know were to find one. If you have a spitfire with a Straight chassis, a Nice hood or a good track you have something that will fetch at least $300. :suprised:

-----MIKE

69camaro · Post by **69camaro** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 9:52 am

I know what you mean. Those Spitfires are way better than any of these new mini sleds, especially for the money. They are way too fast for little ones although. You really just can't beat them to bridge that age before they get old enough to ride a full sized sled. I personally find them very enjoyable to ride around at home.

ChickenRat · Post by **ChickenRat** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:13 pm

At the MelGeorge's vintage ride last weekend we had the '78 Spit, '84 Sport, & '84 Liquifire. Had comments on all three sleds but the little green '78 Spit had more onlookers, picture takers, and comments than the other two sleds combined even though the other sleds were in much nicer shape and harder to find models to boot.

Robb

Post by **guitardude081** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:53 pm

In MY opinion, there are a few contributing factors. Many of us younger guys (I'm 24) grew up riding those little 340's up and down a shoreline or around the yard from sunup until sundown for years. I am lucky enough to have saved my first sled ('82 Spitty) from being scrapped by getting it in my Grandpa's will. I would have paid nearly anything to get another '82. I'm sure you guys that are my age, just fresh out of college that have a few bucks to burn and are in love with JD's would love to reclaim their elementary years by getting ahold of their first sled. The other thing is Evil-bay. People who have money and lots of it will naturally place a ridiculous bid if they really want the item. Chuck Moser (I500) made a good observation. Ebay and the internet in general has really dictated vintage sled prices. I remember when I was 12 or 13 when this board was in it's infant state; guys were picking up dators for $150 or less. Then info started to be collected on the internet and Ebay came along and poof, the Dator is one of the most highly sought after sleds out there. Obviously there's more to it than just that.....the Dator is just plain awsome and worth paying an arm and a leg and a left n^t for. Lastly there's the intermediate size factor. There is a small company making 3/4 sized sleds right now, but they're a small company and a Spitty is still cheaper and simpler. In my opinion the Spitfire is the best sled ever made.....mainly because it literally got me where I am. I brought the engine to the shop I currently own and had the primary pulled. I was offered a job and a year later, I was offered the business. When I tell people that I'm into JD sleds, they either recall the LiquiDfire (It's LiquIfire I always correct them), or the Spitfire. For some reason it's always only those two models. They may mention a silver one, but they can never remember the model.

Don, a chromed out spitfire would be cool wink wink.
~Jack

ChickenRat · Post by **ChickenRat** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 3:29 pm

Those 3/4 sized sleds are coming out of Michigan and are pretty neat little sleds.

http://www.snowmobile.com/news/enforcer-snowmobiles-coming-in-2009-819.html

Robb

79spitfire#100340 · Post by **79spitfire#100340** » Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:27 pm

I actually machined a throttle stop for my son's spitfire,it mounts on the intake stud and it has a stop bolt with jam nut so I can fine tune the top speed. I have found that with out it ,will go WOT until a object stops his forward motion

, I thought that it was cool until my own child was riding by himself. I guess we all end up being just like are own fathers in some way. ----MIKE