In the past two days I've made two attempts to see two different Escorts just advertised for sale, only to find that they are sold already sight unseen.  My guess is that they are being sent overseas, where condition doesn't matter.  How disappointing for my son, who is keen to get into the Classic Ford scene himself, only to find that, like home ownership, he seems to have no chance from the outset.  If anyone in WA has a van for sale, either now or into the future, do PM me.

Hope they are being sold and the owners not scammed?

Pretty similar story anywhere with 2dr RS2000s, except I think most are atleast staying in AU. Its quite competitive if the cars fairly priced.
 
Depends on the seller too, some would not think twice about selling from beneath you even after a deposit if they get a better phone offer. To me it doesn't make sense why you would not give a local first preference rather than go through the hassle of a sight unseen sale.
 
 

Unfortunately people do get greedy especially when there is a market for these desirable old cars. eg a car that was worth about $2000 40 years ago can get advertised and sold for up to $30000. A neat 1500% net gain.  We are victims of our own greed. I bought my first MK1 Escort 1300 XL in 1978 for $1000. Pristine nick with Vermillion Fire paint and white trim. Id hate to think what someone would try and sell something like that today.Another example is a MK2 Rs2000 Escort steering wheel you could have bought for $50 from a wrecker in the '70's but now on Fleabay $650 WTF Rant over

The value in the Escorts has increased because of the demand from Europe and the UK.
Their cars are rotted.
Aussie cars are seen as good reliable starting points.
It is the law of supply and demand.
The dollar value is not only reflected in the rarity and demand of a particular model, but also on the amount of time and dollars to restore it.
The reality is anyone doing a high end "cheque book" resto these days is looking at over $40,000 plus the initial purchase cost of the car.
The price includes labour, materials and parts which cannot be driven down.
 
Re: the price of the RS2000 steering wheels.
In the '70's there were heaps of them in good condition, so $50 was a reasonable value.
Today most have perished, or damaged, or been destroyed.
Today I buy in rotten RS2000 steering wheels for $90 each plus freight, completely restore them to "as new" and make them available for much higher.
Why?
Because that is the manufacturing and production costs to make the steering wheels "as new" and commercially available.
Bare in mind the gentleman advertising the genuine steering wheel advertised on eBay for $650 does not mean it is of that value.
It is his asking price.
It may not be a realistic selling price.
He has been advertising it for a long time with no buyer, and he has a long track record of very high selling prices for any of the goods he is selling.
 
(my rant is longer than yours.. )

Good rant Peter. It still doesn't stop scrupulous persons from jacking up prices to unreasonable levels. Its like the current housing market in Sydney. The market is driven by demand so much that the price of the product is driven way beyond the means of the average person therefore catering to the fat wallets of overseas or local fat cat purchasers.

The Sydney house and commercial property price rises are due to increasing demand.
But the government is limiting supply of new development areas, which inturn forces up prices.
 
Also the government is in a win/win situation because by forcing up the land value price directly forces up the amount of taxes owners and renters are forced to pay (extortion) the fictitiously created high amount of taxes.
 
The problem will get worse as the owners and renters are paying more and more taxes on limited incomes and soon many will not be able to cope and will default.
 
Unfortunately our country is run on lies, and smoke, and mirrors. 
 
Interesting to learn that the original Australian Constitution (before the goons got to it and unlawfully changed it)stipulates no government is permitted to charge any type of tax on privately owned land. Hence the term "Free Hold" land.
 
 

Thankfully I have a lovely house in the burbs with no mortgage and a MK1 Escort in the garage

Some good deals to be had on Jet Skis and HSV's in WA at the moment as the mining jobs get axed

Its not just WA but everywhere there is strong interest in escorts. I just sold a 2 door with rust in under a week with huge interest here in Brisbane. The fact that people will buy a rusty shell means there is a serious shortage of good shells.
Its also good to see that young blokes are into it as well ( mid thirties).