Stupid question or not

[loose gravel]

Most of you know I have a blog about the restomod of my 109. Some of you know that a couple weeks ago the blog went over 100k pageviews. I am probably the only one who cares. That however is not what I am asking about.

Does my 109 have an increase in value due to my blog?

Sure it is not the Cambridge Expedition or Grizzly Torque. I get that.

If so how do you figure what it adds? Or detracts? Not that I plan on selling it. Curious minds want to know...........

[50 wulf]

Hard to say really. It would depend on the interested party I suppose. For me personally, my draw is somewhat limited to tastefully modified Dormobiles. I really liked that one that Series Guy got to drive around. Someone on here got it. The other one I really liked was Herb Zimmerman's? Zimkin? Something like that, anyway a heavily modified 109. I'd pay a premium for those, if I had it to spend...

Print articles and books add value for many. Adventure stories and the like.

Prices are going crazy now, even without provenance.

[S3ute]

Does my 109 have an increase in value due to my blog?

Gene,

The answer might be along the lines of “quite possibly but to what extent…..”.

Presumably, in an open marketplace the more people who know something about your truck then the likelihood probably increases that someone amongst that 100k followers may well like the the idea of owning it enough to pay some premium over the general asking price for a modified 109” truck - the engine mod might be the more influential factor in boosting the price than the blog per se.

Whether that would drive the potential value up to dizzying heights is an interesting question. I don’t personally know many people who have got rich modifying and selling old Land Rovers.

Cheers,

Neil

[badvibes]

Short answer, yes.

But here's one problem. Far greater numbers of people want a 4Runner or Tacoma or Jk/JL/JT with every accessory they can afford bolted onto it at their local 4 Wheel Parts store. They see your Rover and say, "Nice Jeep!" Right off we're part of a niche market, Land Rover. Within that group we're the smallest contingent. Series diehards. Among this sect your truck would measure up very well IMHO. So in this demographic all the features, history, modifications shown thru your site would add value.

I met Bill Burke at a park in Moab. I saw a green RRC parked there and thought it was a friend of mine. I pulled up and parked, jumped out and saw him and said, "Youre not Abel." He replied, "I know Abel." We had a nice chat. I saw his RRC and thought cool truck and pulled over. Most people would look at it and not give it a second thought. I think it would have more value than a similar condition RRC. Most people just see an old 4x4.

To the people that know you, your truck, your blog, they would see value. Most people just see an old truck.

[Xplitive]

Consider the value difference in views versus followers, ie influencer. Second is the influencer a person or an object.

[SafeAirOne]

I dunno…I think if it the Rover was owned by a celebrity…like “John” Voight’s 1983 Chrysler LeBaron convertible, for instance…there’d be a bump in value. Otherwise, I think the blog is really a neat log of the (passionate) work of a previous owner.

Hopefully you’re not considering moving your 109 on to a new owner, Gene.

[loose gravel]

No not moving it on, I'm still addicted! Just a ? that popped into my head one night whilst going to sleep.

[Yorker]

The only real value I can see is you've documented your maintenance and alteration history, which is only of value as long as the blog exists and is accessible.

[series guy]

I’ll preface this with the fact that I have over 50 years experience buying, selling, and repairing cars trucks and motorcycles. Through the years I have found that buyers seem to gravitate toward what I call “the illusion of virginity”. Most every buyer wants to think that whatever they are purchasing was gently used and well cared for. When I worked at dealers this was proven time and again by taking a vehicle that just wouldn’t sell and removing most or all modifications and accessories and then raising the price. It would usually sell quickly after that. Often times the new buyer would then buy accessories that we had just removed. That said about 30 years ago I purchased a relatively collectible BMW motorcycle without an engine. After a few years of not being able to find the correct engine I bought a very low mileage engine that I knew was better and smoother running. I put the completed bike up for sale about 15 years ago and was thoroughly trashed on quite a few forums for my bastardizing of a collectible model. This summer a friend posted my bike on a small local riding forum and received an inquiry almost immediately asking if it was my bike. When he replied in the affirmative the guy called me and bought it on the spot. He said he had seen the bike 20 years ago and always wanted it. This goes back to what we always said in the business; there’s an ass for every seat. When it comes to cars, guns, and motorcycles if I plan on being the end user I do as I please to maximize my enjoyment of them and let my kids worry about the value.

[loose gravel]

The only real value I can see is you've documented your maintenance and alteration history, which is only of value as long as the blog exists and is accessible.

Good point Matt, I also have a thick folder of receipts.

And to your point Mark I have done the best I can to make everything reversible. It has the original chassis albiet galvanized as an example. And yes, my kids will worry about how they will dispose of it many years from now! (after the mandatory electric conversion?)

[Halfton]

The value of your blog traffic might have an impact on the value of your truck if a business were to buy the truck and the blog as a package. Arguably, you have value as an influencer with that many page views. The trick is to figure out what business can utilize that loose gravel traction -- sorry, couldn't resist... Alternatively, you could write about / feature Land Rover products and services -- product placement kind of thing. Wherever you currently host your blog will have terms of service, which will dictate how you monetize your content.

[50 wulf]

Sage advice Mark.
I started out a purist and restored two Rovers pretty much to stock, but I realized that I’d rather drive them than look at them and that meant bringing certain things up to modern standards, as most of my commute anywhere around here requires some interstate travel.
The purist in me will always strive to keep the exterior stock looking. But under the skin, it’s going to be whatever I can dream up! Since I don’t plan on selling them, I’m not worried one bit about their value to someone else!

[loose gravel]

So does this mean when the cops pull me over I can't say "Do you know who I am?"

[SafeAirOne]

So does this mean when the cops pull me over I can't say "Do you know who I am?"

The police prefer it when you say you’re a “Sovereign Citizen” who is “traveling” not driving and that the laws don’t apply to you because you’re not engaged in “commercial activity”.

But I suppose “Do you know who I am?” will do; It’s a close second.

[RustCollector]

Gene, when pulled over, you need to ask "Do you know my truck's blog?"