Spitfire Prices

General topics related to John Deere Snowmobiles
User avatar
WinnipegStPaul9
Posts: 5577
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Don Amber
Location: Churubusco, IN

Spitfire Prices

Post by WinnipegStPaul9 »

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
Last edited by WinnipegStPaul9 on Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
ChickenRat
Posts: 1237
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Hudson, WI

Spitfire Prices

Post by ChickenRat »

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

Robb
User avatar
400brian
Posts: 5620
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: James T. Kirk
Location: South Central Wisconsin

Spitfire Prices

Post by 400brian »

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.

'09 Vintage Challenge Survivor, and I wasn't late for supper!
'10, '11, '12, '13,'14,'15,'16,'17, '18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Vintage Challenge Survivor !
72 400 restored, Father bought new in '71
73 X8 restored
'74 340 green machine
'74 X8 9 time VC finisher
'78 Spitfire in progress
2 '75 340S 1 running, one on deck
'78 LF 440 future CC clone
'73 Skiroule RTX 440, 500 mi.
User avatar
WinnipegStPaul9
Posts: 5577
Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Don Amber
Location: Churubusco, IN

Spitfire Prices

Post by WinnipegStPaul9 »

Robb, first of all, ALL OF YOUR STUFF IS SUPER NICE!! Seriously though what year was it and what made it so nice. DA
Feel free to check out our website www.buscobullet.com for restorations or parts.
ChickenRat
Posts: 1237
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Hudson, WI

Spitfire Prices

Post by ChickenRat »

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
Last edited by ChickenRat on Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
JDT
Posts: 5561
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Todd
Location: Milbank South Dakota

Spitfire Prices

Post by JDT »

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.
Todd Schrupp

Milbank SD
Matt
Posts: 4747
Joined: Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Matt
Location: Coopersburg, PA
Contact:

Spitfire Prices

Post by Matt »

Got Spitfires?
(Ed Kruel Photo)
Image
:usa: Matt - JDsleds.com Administrator
JDT
Posts: 5561
Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:00 am
Real Name: Todd
Location: Milbank South Dakota

Spitfire Prices

Post by JDT »

WOW!!!
Todd Schrupp

Milbank SD
Liquifire 4/6
Posts: 1035
Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 1:00 am
Location: Roblin, MB

Spitfire Prices

Post by Liquifire 4/6 »

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.
Peter from Roblin, Manitoba
79spitfire#100340
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:00 am
Location: Lakeview,MI

Spitfire Prices

Post by 79spitfire#100340 »

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
User avatar
69camaro
Posts: 1427
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Duane Gjerseth
Location: Augusta, Wisconsin (Eau Claire area)

Spitfire Prices

Post by 69camaro »

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.
75-340/s
76-340 Liquifire
77-440 Liquifire Custom
78-440 Liquifire
84-Liquifire
84-Sportfire
84-Sprintfire
84-Snowfire
78-Polaris TXL
82-Indy 500
91-XC 400
91-Indy 500 Special
94-Indy 440 Special
95-XCR 440 Special
96-XCR 440 Special
99-XC 600
04-XC 700
81-Kawasaki 440 Invader
ChickenRat
Posts: 1237
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Hudson, WI

Spitfire Prices

Post by ChickenRat »

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
User avatar
guitardude081
Posts: 989
Joined: Sun Sep 11, 2005 12:00 am
Real Name: Jack Durand
Location: Brainerd, MN

Spitfire Prices

Post by guitardude081 »

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
Last edited by guitardude081 on Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Owner, Durand Motorsports
1980 Trailfire 340 (Grandpa bought new)
1983 Trailfire LX
1982 Spitfire (Grandpa bought new)
(3)1974 295/S
1975 340/S
(2) 1978 Liquifire
2003 Ski Doo Renegade 600HO
1993 Polaris XLT Special with AAEN pipes
2020 Polaris Indy 600 XC 129 40th Anniversary Edition
1980 Liquifire (currently in pieces)
ChickenRat
Posts: 1237
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:00 am
Location: Hudson, WI

Spitfire Prices

Post by ChickenRat »

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
Posts: 95
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 1:00 am
Location: Lakeview,MI

Spitfire Prices

Post by 79spitfire#100340 »

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 :wall: , 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
Post Reply