How much should I pay for a Nintendo cab project?

Muffindude

Active member
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
345
Reaction score
114
Location
Richmond, BC
I was looking to get a new project to work on, and I thought that a Nintendo game would be nice to have in my arcade.
I have seen Nintendo games go for quite alot, and I was wondering, how much should I be paying for a project cab?
Thanks in advance.
Steven
 
Like most project cabs buying one that doesn't have water damage is a plus. Unless you want to do the cut and biscuit repairs. I seen them go as cheap as 50 to 100 dollars but you spend a lot to put them back together. In the Los angeles maybe around 200 to 300 depending on type and condition.
 
This is going to really depend on what game, condition of the cab, what's included (just the wood or a working game that needs a cap kit and new sticks n buttons?). Otherwise, 5 bucks. Maybe 500.
 
Thanks for all the replies.
I would like a game with at least a Sanyo EZ, how much do you think I would have to pay a cab with one? And how much would it cost if I had to get it seperately?
Thanks
 
I paid $150 for a very nice complete Popeye cab with a board issue. Came with a nice Sanyo. I paid $50 for a complete SMB in a DKjr Cab, Sanyo included. I paid $350 for a complete Vs Dr. Mario in a DK Cab with a nice Sanyo but a rotting base and peeling paint. I paid $20 for a nearly perfect DK cab converted to a Vs. game sans monitor. It's all relative.
 
Thanks for all the replies.
I would like a game with at least a Sanyo EZ, how much do you think I would have to pay a cab with one? And how much would it cost if I had to get it seperately?
Thanks

I think you're approaching it backwards. Project machines can be difficult to give away for free, or worth close to what a working machine is worth -- it all depends on the condition, and that's going to vary widely depending on a whole ton of factors. So the first step is to find a machine for sale that you want. Visit searchtempest periodically, put some saved searches on eBay, watch and wait. When you find a machine you're actually interested in, THEN you make the judgement call.
 
$0. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Not a peso. Gratis. El Freebo. 100% discount. No dinero. Duckets = 0. A null amount of money. None.

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=194667

Finding one on CL or locally is your best bet, because the owners want it gone and won't strip the parts off it like a collector would before they give it away. You usually get everything but the boardset and monitor, and sometimes you even get the monitor.

And FWIW, projects are fun, but you can usually find one in good shape and working for less than you will spend on a resto. The exception may be a full blown 100% resto, since you pay max dollars for those either way, it seems.
 
Last edited:
I paid $150 for a particle board DK Jr cab in great shape (with Monitor, power supply, marqee fixture, and coin door and mechs). I think that's a fair price.

If I could find a ply cabinet in near mint shap I would consider paying more.

Moderate cabinet damage is the biggest thing that would make me reduce the price because of the amount of work needed to bring it back.
 
Thanks for the replies,
I guess I should go find one first, then ask for a price.

Oh, and by the way...
Finding one on CL or locally is your best bet, because the owners want it gone and won't strip the parts off it like a collector would before they give it away. You usually get everything but the boardset and monitor, and sometimes you even get the monitor.

CL in Vancouver has almost nothing. :D
 
I drove 3 hours and paid $20 for a stripped but solid cab, painted black with Bionic Commando art, and was happy to do so. It's a vs. SMB now, but still black...
 
Thanks for the replies,
I guess I should go find one first, then ask for a price.

Oh, and by the way...


CL in Vancouver has almost nothing. :D

I feel for you. I have never gotten anything off CL either. Do you have good contacts near you? Do you know any ops, local collectors, etc? It seems that once you break through and know a few ops that will talk to you (takes years sometimes) then projects cabs are much easier to find.
 
I feel for you. I have never gotten anything off CL either. Do you have good contacts near you? Do you know any ops, local collectors, etc? It seems that once you break through and know a few ops that will talk to you (takes years sometimes) then projects cabs are much easier to find.

Nope, I dont know any ops around here sadly...
And if there are people that collect around here, I dont know them.
I got lucky on CL and found a converted Pacman and a converted Sinistar.
 
When you're not looking for one, it will show up. And like mentioned above, it depends on how much you want to do with it. $50-$150, I think you're still doing good depending on what's included and working.

I still blame my buddy, because of him I followed up on a Craigslist ad :D
Figured at the price listed, it would've been gone. A day after it was posted, I contacted the guy and he still had it, figured it wouldn't hurt to go look......and like a stray pet, it followed me home. Cost me the equivilent of two cartons of smokes. Working, no screen burn, and in pretty decent shape:

CIMG2089.jpg


CIMG2088.jpg


CIMG2087.jpg


CIMG2085.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom