Quote:How does one value the engine besides supply and demand?
There is no value other than supply and demand. Sellers will often say "I have to get X for this because I've put that much into it," but the value of something is not set by how much it cost to make, but rather only by how much someone is willing to pay. I walk away from sellers like that. Conversely, a painting by the masters probably didn't cost much in the way of materials (a board and some paint), but they go for millions now - again, supply and demand.
[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]To me, an original car is worth more than one which has been modified (or in this case significantly hacked), but that's just me. So a $15,000 car that cost someone an additional $20,000 to modify - or maintain properly - may still only be worth its base value. By the way, I use "hacked" in the positive sense of modifying something ingeniously, as opposed to the derogatory term for something which has been cut apart or done poorly.[/color][/size]
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[size="2"][color="#1C2837"]You make your money (or limit your loss) when you buy, not when you sell - so for something like this, consider that when you wish to sell it, the potential market will be scant and you'll be looking for that needle in the haystack person that will ascribe value to what's been done to the car.[/color][/size]