[AT] Garden Tractor value

[carl gogol]

The Hotline guide puts the retail of a 1979 JD-317 between $915 to $ 686.  A 
1982's retail is $1447 to $1085.  Last lawn tractor auction I went to these 
wholesaled for $200 to $500, most on the lower end.  Lawntractors just don't 
get any respect at a big dealer's clearance auction, even with a big name 
auctioneer like Teitsworth.  There may have been 300 or so various units 
sold, drivers just continuously drove them over a ramp so the very large 
crowd could see them.  Only seconds were spent on each one.  If you were 
particularly interested in one, get on it and drive it over and wait your 
turn to go up the ramp and bid on it if you want.  The ones that wouldn't 
start and/or run were sold after these "good" ones sold.  I was surprised 
how little lawn tractors bring at auction.  There was a strong John Deere 
flavor to this auction and 200 series machines were seldom over $200 - this 
was probably 6 or so years ago in the Rochester NY area - its an annual well 
attended auction that many dealers use to clean up before the selling 
season.  I bought a 3112H simplicity that did not cross the ramp - the bevel 
gear transmission was stripped, but it had a hydraulic lift - which was 
relatively scarce for the period.

Richard- use this for what it is worth, free advice.

Carl Gogol
Manlius, NY
AC One Seventy diesel
(2) AC D-14, AC 914H
Simplicity 3112 & 7116
Kubota F-2400, B7300HST

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <rasmith4 at juno.com>
To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 7:50 AM
Subject: [AT] Garden Tractor value


> I'm wondering if there is a "Blue Book" for garden tractors.  I have a JD 
> 317 with mower deck and snow blower to sell.  Someone asked me what I was 
> asking and I have no idea.  So, what I was looking for is at least a 
> starting point.
>
> Thanks
> Richard
> In Central NY