Any ideas on market value for a 'restored' '80 Everest 500? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

80lectro · 11-28-2012, 12:36 PM

Ok, besides the obvious answer of: "What ever someone is willing to pay for it." I ask this: Any idea on what the market value would be for a completely professionally restored 1980 (1979 mfg date) Ski-doo Everest 500 would be?

I originally purchased a pair of them as non runners, and now have one that is my "beater" so to speak. It will certainly get me from point A to point B in a hurry when the white stuff falls (If it ever does here in Indiana). However, the other sled is a great candidate for a complete restoration (full tear down, repair, replace, repaint, etc...) restoring the sled to what it was like the day it was purchased. I started my shop years ago as a classic car restoration shop before we moved on to building road course race cars, so the little bit of body work the front tub needs is nothing, and repainting is not a problem. The cowling is near perfect, but would be re-sprayed and new stickers applied. Truely, the only things the sled needs are a seat and a fuel tank, both of which I have sourced less than an hour from here!

Anybody think this is a worthwhile model to fully restore, or should I just revive it to be another "rider"?

Keep in mind, I live in Indiana, where a sled hasn't been a "need" since the blizzards of the '70s. however, once and a while we get 1-2 good weeks of riding weather. Is it worth the roughly $600 to return it to completely proper original condition, or should I just spend $200 to make it another toy? At this point, the sled was free, so which direction do I go??

Ponder & tell me what you think?

**RJ Gleason** · 11-28-2012, 03:10 PM

In running condition, even if a bit rough looking, you should be able to get $400 - $500 for one.
In restored condition you would have to get at least $1000 and unless you find a collector you are not too likely to get that.

Unless you want a museum grade sled, just spend what you need to and leave it at that.

80lectro · 11-28-2012, 03:35 PM

RJ- Thanks! I will certainly take your thoughts into consideration!

I already started stitching up a new seat cover in black with yellow bead trim to replicate the original seat, and have the fuel tank on its way. I'm no stranger to "waiting for the right person" to come along, I have a showroom with restored, Porsche, Lotus, Triumphs, and even a '74 Indy car that I keep as a collection/ possible sales if "said person" comes along, and have sold several of my restored cars (Dodge Dart, 2 Fiat Spiders, Porsche 911) in the last 5 years, I cant find a reason to not add a sled! I actually just sold a '73 MG today that I restored, so I am willing to put money in other projects!

Unfortunately, I am all about "museum quality". The MG I just sold I put over 60 hours of lead work into the body to smooth the original body work (those cars weren't straight off the boat!!) I have seen several sleds on "vintagesleds.com) go for decent coin, though I'm just not sure if this is a desirable model fully restored?

At this point, I think I'm going to go ahead with a full tear down and restoration, but have yet to find anywhere that sells repro stickers for the cowling? If anyone knows of somewhere that would be great! If not, I'll have to see if my local graphics shop can reproduce them for me!

Thanks again!
-Nick

JD8345RT · 11-28-2012, 10:58 PM

A FULL restoration would cost a lot, if you're the type that replaces every bolt and rivet. If you just fixed the things you mentioned and gave it a new paint job and decals, you would come out ok. An Everest isn't really that special though, so it might be on your showroom floor awhile.

**smallengineguy** · 11-29-2012, 03:43 AM

Unfortunately, these older sled restorations are getting more and more scrutinized nowadays, and people see that word and want perfection. If you call it restored it had better be. There are older sleds going for $2000 now fully restored, but even the track was replaced.

80lectro · 11-29-2012, 10:00 AM

Unfortunately, I AM that picky

When it comes to car restorations, I either go with all new stainless hardware, or tumble the original bolts then re-zinc plate them! The more I look at the sled, I dont think it would be too tough to COMPLETELY re-do it. There are around 118 rivets, with a dozen or so being large aircraft rivets, I think the real pain would be trying to source the handle bar components (rubber safety pad, kill swx, etc) that are new as those take alot of abuse.

I'll probably put it on the back-burner... again, until I have some "free time" what ever that is!

Thanks for all the input!
-Nick