estimating value of engines ( .049 venom new in box vintage)

yep, i have to say as far as powering smaller planes go, to power one today with a internal combustion engine is a rarity or a novelty.
I bet my collection is worth less now than what it was 10 years ago...

thanks for the input i will have to do that

Mark Boesen wrote:yep, i have to say as far as powering smaller planes go, to power one today with a internal combustion engine is a rarity or a novelty.
I bet my collection is worth less now than what it was 10 years ago...

Yeah, maybe, probably. Unless you were (are) banking on funding your retirement with the sale of your collection, you should have gotten a "return on your investment" in fun, pride and intertainment value that you just can't get out of a bank statement. I know I have enjoyed tearing theses little engines apart and making them run again or in your case taking a basket case model and turning it into a proper display case model, for not only your enjoyment but for ours also.  I have to appreciate SLawrence for his effort to maximize the value of his fathers collection, or at least see that it gets passed on to others who will continue to receive enjoy and appreciate what he has collected over the years.  

   Yeah,  it really bugs me when someone pulls a plane outta his truck, sets it on the ground and takes off in almost silent flight. No noise, no fussing with trying to get it started, flys it around at rediculus speeds for  10 minutes or so, all the while I'm just flipping my propeller!! Hoping that no one will complain about the noise, when I do get it started!

I don't feel Ebay is a good source to determine value. Ebay gets your items out to those who have no exposure to them. It really attracts those that suffer from the I gotta have it disease. I don't in any way consider the Venom rare. Rare to me is items you just don't see. I've come across many  new in the box examples and used examples at swap meets. This engine really has little interest to me therefore I don't buy them. The owners though have witnessed Ebay prices and marked them accordingly. The bottom line is that the Venom was made in limited numbers therefore warranting merit to it's existence. The owners that I see go home with them every year because those that use these engines are not going to pay the asking price for them. Ebay though as mentioned would be your best source to sell that engine because no where else are you going to see the $$$ signs you will receive there. I've been selling on Ebay for quite a few years and I will say as Mark has mentioned that there's been a huge downturn of value to the items we tend to collect. Somewhere a collector is going to want to seek return as they say everything has a price. While I don't consider the Venom a powerful .049, I will say it has character. It seems to have a mystery to it in terms of it being the most powerful reed valve engine produced. I feel that part carries weight to it.

        While I'm not suggesting your engine has no value, what I have experienced lately and what I see at swap meets is rather disturbing. Were never going to see the likes of some of these engines ever again. Everything seems to have it's glory in the sun at some point. Is that time now?  Unfortunately, nitro engines are on a spiraling drop of value. For the collector though your engine pretty much determines what will they pay. The events that dictated the design of the Venom in the first place are virtually non existent. This pretty much sidelines the engine as a collector's item.

I too have noticed a decline in selling price of Cox stuff over the last few years, however a NIB Venom will still fetch a good price from a collector.
The box would need to be perfect or very good and have all original paperwork and wrenches. Good photos and good sellers feedback help too.
One reason they are harder to sell is because of repros, that is why box and paperwork is key. A NIB Venon will get 5 or 6 hundred$ easy on eBay not on CEF.
A Venom won't outperform a parts built Mouse engine, they are only of value to a collector.
NIB TD .010s have come back down after getting crazy a few years ago, Nib TD .049s are a dime a dozen and there is an endless supply.
Older engines NIB still sell high. I would be interested in the lot of engines but need photos and list of what you have to make offer.

We, on an ongoing basis, purchase large and small lots of Cox engines. At present we have a 25-engine lot on they from Sweden.

For us to make you an offer we would require at least a few group shots and a detailed list of which engines are being offered. We only buy new engines unless there is a rare piece.

You can email us at support@coxengines.com