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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. |
