Mint Vintage Snap-on Scope

[jack_squat]

Hi guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster. Love this site, lots of tool junkies here. I've been a Snap-on junkie since 1976 when I got it bad. I bought a MT665 Snap-on scope new in 1979 for $12,000 just for home use. It has the oscilloscope, advance timing light, magnetic timing probe, tach with cylinder deactivation (power balance), vacuum / pressure, volts / ohms etc.
It is in ABSOLUTELY MINT CONDITION. I have the manuals, binder, accessories, even the 18" X 24" tear off sheets that you fill out during a tune up. I also have a 4' X 6' vinyl banner that says "Snap-on Electronic Tune-Up" that has never seen sunlight. It is just like this one in this Ebay add, the lower right picture.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...witem=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_3372wt_879
It is in excellent working condition but I haven't used it in years. What do you think it is worth?
Thanks, maybe I can figure out how to upload pics of my 12 vintage Snap-on toolboxes, the newest is 1980.

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

Depending on the collector and the condition it may go anywhere from $500 to $1500.

It would help to have a pic.

I am assuming you are talking about this one:

There just isn't that much of a calling for these, so it would have to sell for nostalgic value. There are guys here who collect SUN machines, and those can be had for for little money. The person on the board to talk to about this would be goodfellow

You may want to check out some of his past threads.

-BWP

 

[volvo420coupe]

I wish I had one of those scopes right now, I need to find the miss in my safari van, but don't have enough to buy plugs, wires, cap and rotor just to simplify diag.

I just hope its not something bigger.

 

[chad s]

Depending on the collector and the condition it may go anywhere from $500 to $1500.

It would help to have a pic.

I am assuming you are talking about this one:

There just isn't that much of a calling for these, so it would have to sell for nostalgic value. There are guys here who collect SUN machines, and those can be had for for little money. The person on the board to talk to about this would be goodfellow

You may want to check out some of his past threads.

-BWP

Quite honestly, no snap on collector I know of would be interested in this era. It would sell to someone using it on older cars, and would probably bring less than $500, unless someone close by needed it badly.

 

[olds88]

I wish I had one of those scopes right now, I need to find the miss in my safari van, but don't have enough to buy plugs, wires, cap and rotor just to simplify diag.

I just hope its not something bigger.

If it's 96 or later and you had an MT2500 or better you could look at the misfire counter.

Most likely the cap. Replace the cap and rotor, ACDelco or Standard Motor Products ONLY. Theres a Chinese brand called OEM Original Engine Management, that cause more problems than they solve. Except for Saabs... it was actually made in France and looked like a repackaged OEM Bosch cap and rotor....

 

[jack_squat]

It's about 4 times the size of the one pictured. It was their biggest, top of the line scope when new. $500? The roll cab alone is worth twice that. The Snap-on advance timing light and all the meters are removable and portable. I guess I'll keep it for another 30 years. My new Snap-on dealer's eyes popped out of his head when he saw it and he offered me a $5000 credit on the spot for it. He said he had a customer /collector who'd buy it from him but he wouldn't give me his name. He was actually kind of a ***** when he realized he couldn't sell me anything because I already had everything I could use.
Salesmen

 

[chad s]

It's about 4 times the size of the one pictured. It was their biggest, top of the line scope when new. $500? The roll cab alone is worth twice that. The Snap-on advance timing light and all the meters are removable and portable. I guess I'll keep it for another 30 years. My new Snap-on dealer's eyes popped out of his head when he saw it and he offered me a $5000 credit on the spot for it. He said he had a customer /collector who'd buy it from him but he wouldn't give me his name. He was actually kind of a ***** when he realized he couldn't sell me anything because I already had everything I could use.
Salesmen

I monitor the market for vintage snap on very closely. I hear SO many stories of snap on dealers offering people big money for their old stuff. Where are these guys when something that is really rare and historically significant comes up?

Was their top of the line scope is the key word. A top of the line IBM computer in the 80's was as expensive as your scope (maybe more) and today is worth a few dollars maybe (on a good day).

The roll cab doesnt have a standard drawer layout, so its not going to be of much desirability to the end user market.

As impressive as this unit is/looks, the value all comes down to who has money to spend. The vintage snap on collector market is a small one. There are maybe 7-8 major players who will pull out decent amounts of money to buy rare and historically significant items, me being one of them. But this small group of collectors is looking for 20's-40's era tools and sets that built the foundation of the company and hold a special place in their developmental timeline.

Like the Blue Point monkey wrench thread that got deleted a few weeks ago we come to rarity, and value. They are two different things. This is a rare piece, no doubt. But its only as valuable as the market is willing to bare.


If you can find someone to pay you big money for it, that would be great, it would only make/prove the market stronger. But the reality is, if that buyer existed, my fellow snap on collectors, or myself would probably know of such a person, and we dont.

So there you have it. You asked for the possible value, and I have given my educated opinion. There are no records of sales for any of these, so I can only go by knowing how the market works, and who the players are, and by that, I think I have a pretty honest evaluation presented.

 

[krusty the clown]

i have a buddy that has the same scope. i'll ask him what he would sell it for........

 

[Zrexxer]

My new Snap-on dealer's eyes popped out of his head when he saw it and he offered me a $5000 credit on the spot for it.

And you didn't ****** that and run?

 

[Rory Bellows]

Wow, you really should take advantage of your new dealer and get 5k worth of tools or even a new box and resell it. That's the only way you'll get the kind cash you hint at. New tools or boxes are much more desirable in today's market. I go to alot of auctions and routinely see items sell for pennies on the dollar. Today I saw a 1927 Buick model 50 Touring sedan in running condition sell for $3,000. Granted it needed a full restoration but it was complete rust free with all wood top and floors and ran!

 

[Bull]

Wow...Chad writes well, and I think he nailed it.

If your dealer offered you a $5k credit for an obsolete computerized scope from 1979, I'd say you should take the offer and run.

 

[jack_squat]

And you didn't ****** that and run?

Well, I paid $12,000 for it new.

 

[Bull]

Well, I paid $12,000 for it new.

How much did a new Cadillac cost in 1979? How much would someone offer you for a mint version today? What percentage of the original value do you suppose remains after all these years that have made the piece technically obsolete?

 

[jack_squat]

I monitor the market for vintage snap on very closely. I hear SO many stories of snap on dealers offering people big money for their old stuff. Where are these guys when something that is really rare and historically significant comes up?

Was their top of the line scope is the key word. A top of the line IBM computer in the 80's was as expensive as your scope (maybe more) and today is worth a few dollars maybe (on a good day).

The roll cab doesnt have a standard drawer layout, so its not going to be of much desirability to the end user market.

As impressive as this unit is/looks, the value all comes down to who has money to spend. The vintage snap on collector market is a small one. There are maybe 7-8 major players who will pull out decent amounts of money to buy rare and historically significant items, me being one of them. But this small group of collectors is looking for 20's-40's era tools and sets that built the foundation of the company and hold a special place in their developmental timeline.

Like the Blue Point monkey wrench thread that got deleted a few weeks ago we come to rarity, and value. They are two different things. This is a rare piece, no doubt. But its only as valuable as the market is willing to bare.


If you can find someone to pay you big money for it, that would be great, it would only make/prove the market stronger. But the reality is, if that buyer existed, my fellow snap on collectors, or myself would probably know of such a person, and we dont.

So there you have it. You asked for the possible value, and I have given my educated opinion. There are no records of sales for any of these, so I can only go by knowing how the market works, and who the players are, and by that, I think I have a pretty honest evaluation presented.

Thanks for your input. I don't really want to sell it because it is the centerpiece of my collection. I've put it on display at car shows with some of my old cars set up like they're being worked on and it always gets a lot of interest.
BTW I'm looking for 2 chrome Snap-on scripts from the 60s-70s to replace the black plastic ones I have on a couple rollcabs. I've tried ebay forever with no luck, any advice?

 

[chad s]

Thanks for your input. I don't really want to sell it because it is the centerpiece of my collection. I've put it on display at car shows with some of my old cars set up like they're being worked on and it always gets a lot of interest.
BTW I'm looking for 2 chrome Snap-on scripts from the 60s-70s to replace the black plastic ones I have on a couple rollcabs. I've tried ebay forever with no luck, any advice?

The scripts are no longer made, and the only way to get one is to find one on ebay. They do come up now and then, and generally dont sell for a lot of money. You should be able to get them under $20-30 when they come up.

 

[Danglerb]

Google search shows maybe half a dozen in current auctions.

I looked into buying an old Snapon scope and was told they are not practical to keep running.