Re: Have a look - NEVER USED 1973 Evinrude 6!
Yabbut look at the prices the 50s stuff is getting. It's just not that much. When I sold my old RDS20 for $900, I was shocked. Since then, I've seen half a dozen of them in similar condition in my area for $400 and under.
Again, how many thousands of those 6hps were sold between the 1960s and the 1990s? They're all nice-looking, and the look didn't change a lot over the years, until 1992, when they slapped a box on as a cowling.
I just don't see a big upwards price trend for such common engines. Now, if it was the first of the 6hps, new in box, it might have possibilities, but the 1973 model doesn't have all that much to distinguish it from all the others.
I'd pay a small premium over a used one to get a new one in a box, but not that much.
Folding 3hps are much more attractive, and there are some of those that turn up that have just a few hours on them. They don't bring that much, either, although the collectors seem to like 'em.
Old outboard collectors are tight with their bucks, in my experience. The big money stuff is in the racing versions and very early models that are scarce.
For me, the Evinrude Zephyr is highly desirable. I'd love to have one. And I can, if I can come up with $250 or so, and that would get me one in restored, running condition. And that's the smallest production 4-cylinder thing on the planet. Lots of coolness. Not much for price.
