I have been looking to buy some Postwar Lionel Budd Cars. Anyone have any info on the #400, 404, 2550, and 2559 Budd cars?? I am going to a train show soon and would like to look for a budd car to buy. I have no idea how much they run for at train shows. If you have any info on these Budd cars that might help, please add any input. Thanks.
The 400 and 404 are common cars. However - in good or better condition $200 each. THe 2550 and 2559 are limited production and command a premium price 2X that of the 400 and 404.
A better option is this - The Lionel Service Station set, a total of 5 cars, set # 6-1766 (three cars)
6-8766, 8767 and 8768. 6-6764 and 6755 are the other two. These can be bought for about $100 in very good condition with original box. Lionel also made a Canadian National two car set.
MTH also makes Budd cars at reasonable price.
Good luck
bomber
RMT also makes some. They were Marx then K-line and now modified once again RMT has them. Smaller but less $$ and would be new.
I seen the # 6-8766, 8767 and 8768 for $299.99 online. Is that a good price for these 3 budd cars? But, i collect only postwar items, arent these MPC era? How much would the 400 or 404 go for on ebay? about $120 to $150? thanks.
Yes those are MPC, the 400 and 404 by my price book are from $185. to $215. each. The 404 as high as $375.
I was looking to buy a pair of Budd cars and hunted all over for something reasonably priced. The #400 series were over $300 each at the time. I finally got a good deal on E-Bay for two Amtrak #6-8868 & 6-8869, one powered and one dummy for just over $150 for the two. These have the original boxes, liners and one has the instruction sheet and service sheet. They are excellent runners and since I am going to do a repaint, Amtrak will do.
The finish and decals on both are still perfect as are the lights and windows. Look carefully and you find the right deal. If you are planning on repainting or just running them extensively, the MPC era cars are the right choice. If you want something to retain value and sit on a shelf to look at once in a while then the #400’s or #8700’s are the choice to have.
Don
Oshawa where we build the Silverado-the best pick-up in the world
The way I see it there is Post War, then everything else including MPC. If you are considering “anything else” then the MTH sets are the way to go. I have seen a NYC and CP pair at train shows for well under $150. These have detailed interiors and excellent paint jobs. Much nicer than my Williams powered unit and MPC repainted combine for a fraction of the cost. Pete
You should be able to get a postwar 400 powered Budd in nice condition for around $200. A near perfect spotless one will run around $400. The silver paint faded and scratched easily so you will pay a premium for a pristene budd. If you can settle for paint chips and grime, you can find them for $100. The unpowered units are a bit more because less were made.
I saw a 3 unit MPC Budd set on ebay the other day for $199 buy it now. That was a pretty good price and they sold. They may have been Amtrak. MPC used the same motor and truck frame as postwar. They lack magnetraction and use traction tires. They are excellent runners however.
Is $250 a good price for the #8764 & #8765 in original boxes? They are in excellent condition as I saw them today. Just wondering if i should pass up these and try looking for the 400 and 404 budd cars. Thanks.
$250 seems on the high side for MPC but I could be wrong. If you really like them, $250 is not an outrageous price.
Watch the closing on these:
I agree 250 is pretty high. I got my 8765 for 55 bucks in pretty good condition, I have seen powered 8764s in nice shape for under 100 bucks. No boxes though. Pete
I am leaning toward getting a #400 and #404 Budd car for christmas. I am looking to spend about $200 for the #400 and prolley $250 for the #404 Both in very good to excellent condition, maybe a c-6 or c-7. I found a few for that price, but wanna see what this train show on the 23rd has to offer. Thanks.
I think that we are all unanimus that $250 for those MPC cars is a bit steep. That deal on e-bay looks great, I don’t have room for more Budd cars or I would place a bid.
Be careful even at the shows and don’t rush to buy. See if they can put it (them) on and operating layout to try them at the show. Most club layouts and their people can be very accomodating and will run them for a short trip if asked.
Yeah, all the train shows i go to have a test track. I know the 400 and 404 are powered and have 3 operating lights and 2 operating couplers, and single motors. But, i just wanna keep my layout consistent and go with all postwar items, so the 400 and 404 are my choice. How about $200 for a 400 boxed in excellent condition c-7?? is that a good price? thanks.
$200 is a fair price for boxed excellent as long as the silver paint is sharp and isn’t soiled as it often is with lesser grade. If keeping everything postwar looks and feels right to you then go with that.
My statement about MPC budds using the same power truck as postwar isn’t correct. It uses a geep power truck which is the cheapened staked together version.
I have been looking at a #404 for $150.00 in C-5 condition, #400/OB for $210.00 shipped C-7, and a #400 For $225 C-7, all have nice paint and lettering and very bright. The 404 is a little dirty, but its the only 404 i can find. Need to find a nice set of 400 and 404. With matching paint so they look nice. cant wait to go to the train show on the 23rd. People are cutting xmas gifts by 50%, wonder if that counts trains too. Might even have to wait for the york train show to get the 400 and 404. One question, do you think postwar trains will be easy to get say 10 or 20 years from now? I am only 28 years old, and have a massive collection for my age, and would like to continue to get more as the years progress, just wanna make sure the trains will still be around. thanks.
I think there will be a glut of product available to you when you are in your peak earning years - 40’s & 50’s.
Rob
Glut, as in full, as much as i can handle. Thats what i wanna hear. Tell you one thing, the hobby is addicting, trying to get one of everything that is postwar. Its a challenge in life I plan to achieve as a goal. Thanks.
It’s likely there will be a glut of pre and postwar in less than full excellent/like new condition. For stuff made after 1970, there always has been and always will be a glut.
One thing you will learn about this hobby is everything is as common as dirt until you want it. I don’t know why that is but it’s the truth.
Yeah, you are right on that one. I have always wanted the 2356 southern AA units, but could never win any bids on them, I seen them at the train show for $800, and on ebay for around $400. Maybe 1 or 2 will show up online, maybe few times a month. But, train shows always seem to have them. As for the Budd cars I am looking for, I think I will have to wait til York train show in April. I plan on bringing like $500 and buying both the 400 and 404. Cant buy them right now, my car iinsurance is due and gotta get it state inspected and all that…wrong time to buy trains right now. But, i know its a perfect time to buy, low prices on ebay. Have to take a risk i guess. thanks.