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Hey guys, It's been awhile since I've been on here but I'm back. I just picked up a really clean VMC generic 81D machine. The machine is complete other than it's missing the coin return chrome slide on the bezel. Everything works and gets ice cold. This machine was in a house for the last 30 years and is really a clean. It was originally owned by the 7 up Bottling Co. of San Diego and painted white prior to be painted red and hand painted script applied. I've never had a generic 81 and was wondering the value of it. Trying to decide whether to keep it and restore as a fantasy machine or flip it as is. Thx much appreciated.

Loos nice as is.... although if you are going to restore it.... A Dr. Pepper would be sweet to bring it back to what it probably once was.  Although if you're saying it was owned by the 7up bottling company, it very well might have been a generic 7up.
Are you against keeping it as a coke machine as is? 
 :happydrinkers:

Hi ,Terry

It’s a great machine to keep as is if I owned it for sure. But would look got as a Dr Pepper as mentioned . Great job and find I had been looking for a Generic for awhile there never close and out of my price range

$3500 to $4000 as found has been the going rate for nearly a decade not much change imo .

Great find!  I would keep it as is but like the idea of Dr. Pepper although those DP signs are not cheap if they are in good condition.

 :drinking: Tim :drinking:

I would just keep it as is , I don’t believe changing it would help value putting more money into it .

Following to see what direction you decide to go - I think I would change it to something other than coke if you have enough margin to do so.

Like Jarod said, a Generic VMC is 4K, been steady that way for a few years. This one is tough because it displays well, however, the letters not being embossed I'd rather have a 81 B/D with embossed letters even though not as rare.

Personally, I'm over turning Generics into fantasy machines. I've seen enough in all different flavors to last me a lifetime. Now someone, the guy who sells on ebay, is turning Vendos into fantasies. Please make it stop.  :darn: 

If someone wants to tear down this machine, it should be a Dr. Pepper. If you decide to sell, it should move rather quickly at $4,000.

I passed on 3 last year all at 4K add shipping and 4K to restore they become nearly a 10k investment not including labor.  Not a large market of buyers at that cost !!


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