Evel Knievel EM
Bally, 1977I have a '77 Bally Evil Knievel EM Pinball machine (IPD No. 793) and am thinking of selling it. I have had it since the mid-80s and have always kept it in good working order. There are a few dings on the cabinet corners after many moves, but the playing fields, glass, art, etc all look good. I have seen several digital versions around for sale, but since there were only 155 of the EMs, I can't find comparable sales.
Any ideas on what the EM version is worth?
Quoted from RacingPin:With a EM Evil Knievel you can pretty much name your price. Quick sale 3500 or hold out for a die hard that can’t life without .. then 5000 plus
Mike V
maybe even $10K
It's a name your price game. Of course location matters and yours is "unknown". If you're in N America you'll get more since many collectors are here. Shipping from overseas now with C-19 complicates things.
Most of us here would tell you it’s worth only $500 and offer you $600 to be nice and take it off your hands.
Seriously though, can you upload a few pics? Would like to see that playfield.
Location will have A LOT to do with it when you have to consider oversea's shipping and sending money off to a place that you can't easily get it back if things go wrong.......
Me personally I've only seen my own and one other one in person in all the 24 years of collecting. It's almost a big of a unicorn as the EM. Charlies Angels.
John
Condition of machine is going to be important as it will determine what a reasonable price is.
Explore all options and offers. This machine sells for good money.
-Mike
https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/archive?s=1&ad_machine_key=2204
Quoted from Coindork:Evil < Evel
Yes. Oops. Typing too fast 
Quoted from tomdrum:It's a name your price game. Of course location matters and yours is "unknown". If you're in N America you'll get more since many collectors are here. Shipping from overseas now with C-19 complicates things.
I'm in the Pacific Northwest.
Quoted from Mikala:Most of us here would tell you it’s worth only $500 and offer you $600 to be nice and take it off your hands.
Seriously though, can you upload a few pics? Would like to see that playfield.
I will get some pictures posted.
In described condition..... $7000-$9000 IMO. Any serious collector here in the States will not care where it is at & if they can afford to buy that machine, will pay to have it shipped. Rarely come up for sale, grail machine for certain collectors.
Quoted from Gotemwill:What’s the story on why both versions exist?
I had heard in the past, that some operators wanted mechanical games, not the fancy new digital ones they didn’t understand. But looking at the flyer, it says Bally compared EM and digital games side by side to see what earned better...
https://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=4499&picno=4196&zoom=1
Quoted from RacingPin:With a EM Evil Knievel you can pretty much name your price. Quick sale 3500 or hold out for a die hard that can’t live without .. then 5000 plus
Mike V
Much more than that I’d guess
Rip inbox
Quoted from Gotemwill:What’s the story on why both versions exist?
It was a transition time. And they had parts to use up. Many operators in faraway lands were the last to make digital transition, and maybe rare Late ems ended up overseas.
As this was happening, it went from mostly even (like night rider) to dwindling EM.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:It was a transition time. And they had parts to use up. Many operators in faraway lands were the last to make digital transition, and maybe rare Late ems ended up overseas.
As this was happening, it went from mostly even (like night rider) to dwindling EM.
And then there was Gottlieb that was a serious holdout, making Hit the deck and Neptune with neon colored reels. Gottlieb had at least 1 cross over game, SpaceWalk EM, Count Down SS
Quoted from Gotemwill:What’s the story on why both versions exist?
Quoted from CrazyLevi:It was a transition time. And they had parts to use up. Many operators in faraway lands were the last to make digital transition, and maybe rare Late ems ended up overseas.
As this was happening, it went from mostly even (like night rider) to dwindling EM.
This is from the IPDB in regards to Close Encounters of the Third Kind which also came in EM and solid state.
The EM machine was also produced in really small numbers and the majority of them went overseas.
C0125F6D-C8EB-429B-BEEC-F9BD58873AA2 (resized).jpeg3FCEA40B-FB10-44B5-A544-98F31A4FA713 (resized).jpegQuoted from ethnkr:I have a '77 Bally Evil Knievel EM Pinball machine (IPD No. 793) and am thinking of selling it. I have had it since the mid-80s and have always kept it in good working order. There are a few dings on the cabinet corners after many moves, but the playing fields, glass, art, etc all look good. I have seen several digital versions around for sale, but since there were only 155 of the EMs, I can't find comparable sales.
Any ideas on what the EM version is worth?
Here are some photos...
One note about the vertical spinners. I got this machine from a Harley Davidson dealership in the early 80s when they had a bankruptcy, closed dealerships and sold everything in them. That dealership put Harley Davidson stickers onto those spinners. I have never tried to remove them.
Also, I have the original electrical diagrams.
IMG_4657 (resized).jpgIMG_4660 (resized).jpgIMG_4661 (resized).jpgIMG_4658 (resized).jpgIMG_4663 (resized).jpgIMG_4664 (resized).jpgIMG_4659 (resized).jpgI’ll guess $9k but I could be off.
Either way congrats. That’s a holy grail for EM guys. I love it, which I stumbled upon one.
What’d you pay for back it in the day? 500 bucks?
Quoted from CrazyLevi:I’ll guess $9k but I could be off.
Either way congrats. That’s a holy grail for EM guys. I love it, which I stumbled upon one.
What’d you pay for back it in the day? 500 bucks?
Yep. Exactly. $500. Seemed like a lot to me at the time!
If you are "serious" about selling it I would tell people to make you a "serious offer" and best offer by ??/??/2020 will own it. I would also include "if you are the highest offer you have 14 days to get it picked up or I'll move on to the next highest offer". To me that is being fair to everyone - fair to you because you have a chance to see where market actually is on the machine and fair to buyers because they can offer what they think it is worth (or what it is worth to them).
I don't know what to think as far as actual value but my best guess would be in the $7500 to $9000 range depending on how bad someone wants one at that point in time.
Quoted from too-many-pins:If you are "serious" about selling it I would tell people to make you a "serious offer" and best offer by ??/??/2020 will own it. I would also include "if you are the highest offer you have 14 days to get it picked up or I'll move on to the next highest offer". To me that is being fair to everyone - fair to you because you have a chance to see where market actually is on the machine and fair to buyers because they can offer what they think it is worth (or what it is worth to them).
I don't know what to think as far as actual value but my best guess would be in the $7500 to $9000 range depending on how bad someone wants one at that point in time.
Thanks for the advice.
I’d buy it and send it straight to HEP.
I wouldn’t go full blown restoration, because I’d like to keep some of the patina.
Wow what a cool game and great story to go with it. Thanks for coming here to post about it!
Remember...the pathways to $10k are many! The pathways to an EM EK are few!
Quoted from too-many-pins:I don't know what to think as far as actual value but my best guess would be in the $7500 to $9000 range depending on how bad someone wants one at that point in time.
This machine is a unicorn and I think you nailed the price range for it. Now it's just a matter or who is gonna come up with the money to call it theirs.
-Mike
The last one I saw on Mr. Pinball 1 to 2 years ago was listed for $5,500 i believe. It was from Texas. I've seen a lot of people say 10K+, but I'm curious if anyone them would actually pay 10k+.
Personally, i wouldn't pay that much. I've played the SS version and other than the theme I wasn't a fan. It's a great looking game, but just not for me and what I like.
I would enjoy seeing it up for auction on eBay. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it.
About two months ago I went through and evaluated all my games as to what I think they would go for in todays market in a REAL world setting and not some sorta fantasy Ebay asking pricing land. Based on the rarity, condition and the type of collectors out there today I put a value of $12K on mine.
John
Quoted from Dayhuff:About two months ago I went through and evaluated all my games as to what I think they would go for in todays market in a REAL world setting and not some sorta fantasy Ebay asking pricing land. Based on the rarity, condition and the type of collectors out there today I put a value of $12K on mine.
John
What is the condition of your ek?
Slightly off topic...If it was Bally Mata Hari EM or Bally Evel Knievel EM . Which would have the higher price.
Quoted from chad:Slightly off topic...If it was Bally Mata Hari EM or Bally Evel Knievel EM . Which would have the higher price.
Bally Mata Hari EM are for sale now and again, and quite a few people here own them. 2-4k depending on condition
Bally Evel Knievel EM almost never for sale, and maybe 2 own them here. 5-10k depending on condition
just my observations over the last 25 years
It’s worth what someone will pay him. It is a very sought after machine. At the end of the day it’s just a pinball machine that’s fun to play but not a super great player in my estimation. I made him an offer and haven’t heard back. I have a NOS playfield for this game if anyone is interested and I don’t get this one.
Quoted from zydeco-bluesmobi:I have a NOS playfield for this game if anyone is interested and I don’t get this one.
NOS for an EM E.K. I'll shoot you a PM..
Since you guys are evaluating rare em's could I derail the thread for a second and ask what you think the current value of an EM Joker Poker would be. Playfield has arch wear and a couple of inserts are just starting to wear at the top of the keylines. Previous owner painted white latex paint over the front frame of the head. I was able to remove it to reveal the original color with the grey speckles on the top and 2 side pieces but the bottom piece never had its marquee painted underneath the latex?20200707_161732 (resized).jpg20200706_134539 (resized).jpg20200706_134521 (resized).jpg20200706_134524 (resized).jpg20200706_134529 (resized).jpg20200723_103401 (resized).jpg
Quoted from nascarrey:Is the playfield for an EM EK different from a SS EK?
Under the top tray, mine indicates that it's an EM
Quoted from Crispin:Since you guys are evaluating rare em's could I derail the thread for a second and ask what you think the current value of an EM Joker Poker would be. Playfield has arch wear and a couple of inserts are just starting to wear at the top of the keylines. Previous owner painted white latex paint over the front frame of the head. I was able to remove it to reveal the original color with the grey speckles on the top and 2 side pieces but the bottom piece never had its marquee painted underneath the latex?[quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image][quoted image]
Why not just start your own thread? People will not see your post unless they are looking at the EK EM post by asking here.
Quoted from Mopar:mine indicates that it's an EM
Yeah, if it’s dimpled underneath for all the relay banks and other differences, the dimples would be way different, and a lot more. Top side is identical afaik.
Quoted from too-many-pins:Why not just start your own thread? People will not see your post unless they are looking at the EK EM post by asking here.
Yeah you're right Skip that would have been the smart thing to do. I'll take your advice, thanks.
Quoted from DNO:Yeah, if it’s dimpled underneath for all the relay banks and other differences, the dimples would be way different, and a lot more. Top side is identical afaik.
Yup. The EM playfield isn't great at all, so I think I'll have to adapt the components to the digital
playfiled I have, but another EM playfield of course would be ideal..
Quoted from Mike_J:What is the condition of your ek?
It's better then the one above, nothing against the OP but I'm just saying since this guy asked and my "appraisal" was from two months ago which was long before this topic was posted so the $12K amount that I felt mine was worth had absolutely nothing to do with the OP's but I feel were both in the correct ball park based on each of our games condition.
John
Quoted from chad:Slightly off topic...If it was Bally Mata Hari EM or Bally Evel Knievel EM . Which would have the higher price.
EK for sure. I've seen probably 12-15 MH em's for every one EK em. I have a MH em as well, that I valued at $3000 two months ago.
John
Quoted from nascarrey:Is the playfield for an EM EK different from a SS EK?
On a Bally game it doesn't matter, Bally was smart and used the same playfield layout/art for either version. Other then a few extra dimples on the underside for stepper units it's exactly the same. Now Gottlieb on the other hand, they were not smart in there thinking. The Charlies Angels for instance has a huge difference in the artwork, one of the biggest is the bonus multiplier that only goes to 3x on the em version and up to 5x on the ss version. So the playfields are not interchangeable between ss and em. I have a NOS playfield installed in my em CA, which was another unicorn in itself.
John
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