Carbitrage: November 2005

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Saw a Messerschmitt yesterday...

Looked a lot like this one, as it drove past us in Nuremberg IN THE SNOW! Europeans don't all seem to keep their cars in protective bubbles....

Wait, a Messerschmitt IS a protective bubble!

Finned 50s drop tops

1959 Caddy

1957 Chevy for $60k

Low miles '55 T-Bird only $30k

Resurrected Ferrari F355s

Salvage title Berlinetta- yup that'll knock the value down 25-30%

Same deal with this Spyder.

Never thought I would see the day...

An Alfa Romeo powered Model A hot rod!

2 Auburns and a Miller

'36 Auburn convertible coupe

'30 Auburn 685F

OK it's probably not really a '23 Miller Indycar, but it seems like nice sculpture for $7 grand.

Bugatti 57C on eBay.

I didn't expect it to sell, but it was probably worth a $45 shot to attract foreign bidders (to Missouri). Link is here.

Cool 240Z Rally car

Also fails to sell. ...but it does seem to have some odd neighbors. Is that a Rover 3500 rally car behind it? Link is here.

The Nackardbaker is back

But it still can't find a home. If those were UK license plates they woudl be worth a lot more then the car they are attached to.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Anybody with me?

Who else thinks $4k is too much for this turfed M3?

I've been to Keene, NH

I saw a Moose. I did not see an airport (fire truck.)

1970 Olds 442 rocks

six figures! A challenge to the tyranny of the Chevelle SS?

Continetal Breakfast

Bentley coupe color scheme is plain as toast.

Weak Photos

Do not lend to the credibility of this unsold Ferrari Daytona.

Murphy's Law applies to time travel

Why does a 1965 Mustang that survives 40 years with 19k orginal miles have to be A GOLD/GOLD COUPE? At least it wasn't a 6 cylinder, but outside of that, any other options would have added heaps to this purchase price.

Dats a shame

I can't believe nobody bought this 441bhp Datsun 1200 ROTARY TURBO Dragster. It's the perfect stocking stuffer, no? Take a look at how much of the cabin is consumed by the bellhousing....

$7200 seems cheap for

a primrose XKE series I, but it's probably the right number - given the work involved.

Practice sliding across the hood of this...

Sassy grass green 1968 Coronet w/440 is a deal $11,500. Doesn't matter that it isn't the original motor. The car looks very cool, and its provenance will at least make you feel cool (though it doesn't add value. Formerly owned by John Schneider (Dukes of Hazard, country singer, Smallville). GREAT high school reunion car.

Le Hot Notch?

Too bad Chuck Beck didn't do a 'shogun' treatment for these things. I'm sure they are pathetic cars, but I always thought they looked cool in an E30 M3 kinda way. 1987 Renault GTA. For $902, you could drive this until the wheels fall off. If that's 3 months from now you're at break-even. Every mile after that is upside. Bon chance.

Attack of the Clones?

70 Chevelle SS 454 convertible goes for $90 large.

How much of a woody is a woody if that woody got no wood?

Woodys are good investments in general, and they can be a lot of fun. Here are some cheap ones.

This 49 Woody got no wood.

1952 Chevy “tin” Woody.

1959 Ford woody that should have brought $3k more.

P.S. props to Adam Goldstein for enlightening me on how to better treat links to those long, ugly eBay URLs.

Another perfect storm...

600bhp Mercury Cyclone

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Ferrari with blue seats!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1985-FERRARI-308-4-VALVE_W0QQitemZ4572144776QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You know it's gettin' ugly when...

..the seller uses the keyword "ugly" in the auction title.

1973 Saab

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-Saab-V4-So-ugly-its-cute-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ4582921932QQcategoryZ6438QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Truth in advertising, I guess.

Weird English Wagons

1952 HUMBER SHOOTING BRAKE - what a strange basis for a street rod
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-52-Humber-Shooting-Brake-Woodie-Woody-Wagon_W0QQitemZ4573216117QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

relisted, and still unsold
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-52-Humber-Shooting-Brake-Woodie-Woody-Wagon_W0QQitemZ4583060426QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1960 English VAUXHALL VICTOR
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/English-Victor-Vauxhall-Wagon_W0QQitemZ4574225582QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1952 Hillman wagon – nothing special, just an oddity
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1952-Hillman_W0QQitemZ4588230167QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Morris Minor Traveller – these are just so cute
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Morris-Minor-Traveller-1000_W0QQitemZ4588242368QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

DINAN S2 M3

Check out that excellent looking shift knob
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DINAN-S2-6500-MILES-ONE-OWNER-20-000-WORTH-OF-UPGRADES_W0QQitemZ4587337322QQcategoryZ6131QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Interception!

1976 Jensen Convertible - big price considering the color
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-JENSEN-ORIG-25K-MILES-CALIF-CAR-OWNED-SINCE-1980_W0QQitemZ4584265819QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Crusty but Cool

1960 Chevy Kingswood Station Wagon - > Stretch Limo
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1960-60-Chevy-Kingswood-Stretch-Limo-Armbruster-Rare_W0QQitemZ4588197455QQcategoryZ6169QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

McSweet

McLaren M1C
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4587673493&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Really worth $260?

Home-made, Opel-powered Jeep.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Homemade-Jeep-Mini-moke-Opel-relist_W0QQitemZ4586545810QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

At least it will be easy to find spare parts (in Berlin).

...by the tail.

I think it's Keith's fault that everybody's calling their Tigers "Shelby"s now (not that there's anything wrong with that)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Sunbeam-Tiger-Shelby-Car-Low-Reserve_W0QQitemZ4585083596QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1966 Sunbeam Tiger Vintage Race car - looks like fun
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1966-Sunbeam-Tiger-Road-Racing-Ground-Pounder-Race-Car_W0QQitemZ4585363046QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks Like a great deal

on a Manx-style Dune Buggy
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-VW-dunebuggy_W0QQitemZ4587847968QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Fury Wagon: Like a Big Block of Velvetta

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-Plymouth-Fury-Station-wagon-440-motor-YELLOW-70_W0QQitemZ4572804816QQcategoryZ6411QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Friday, November 18, 2005

And all the king's horses, and all the king's men...

crashed red 2002 z8 nov 2
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2002-BMW-Z8-12K-RED-HARD-TO-FIND-SALVAGE_W0QQitemZ4586800000QQcategoryZ36470QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

crashed 1967 mustang GTA Nov 1
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-FORD-CUSTOM-RACING-MUSTANG-GTA-CONVERTIBLE-100K_W0QQitemZ4585286987QQcategoryZ6236QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

wrecked 2001 Bentley red label Nov 10
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-Bentley-Arnage-RED-6-75L-ALPINE-EZ-Salvage-DRIVES_W0QQitemZ4587366350QQcategoryZ6118QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Wrecked 2003 Modena cpe $47k sep 3
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CLEAN-TITLE-CLEAR-CAR-FAX-REPAIRABLE-FERRARI-MODENA-360_W0QQitemZ4571824314QQcategoryZ84156QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

wrecked 911 cab oct 21
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Porsche-87-911-Carrera-Cab-Shell-Clean-Title-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ4582743808QQcategoryZ10156QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Toasted 308

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Burned-308-Parts-car-or-possible-rebuilder_W0QQitemZ4572612169QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Check the Dubs on this '75

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/A-Vintage-75-Vert-With-A-Twist_W0QQitemZ4573636517QQcategoryZ6162QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

Maserati Mistral Project

Great lines on these cars. See the "affordable classic" feature in Dec 2005 SCM.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1968-Maserati-Mistral-4-0-for-restoration-all-there_W0QQitemZ4573439370QQcategoryZ6313QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cool Looking 63 Phoenix Special

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4586289238&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

'48 Studebaker Commander

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-Studebaker-Commander-Convertible-vintage-classic_W0QQitemZ4587660170QQcategoryZ6466QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

One Hot Little Starlet

Yes this link is anti-climactic
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=4585033416&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

Better than buying a Ferrari 400i?

Bitter SC - should be lower maintenance, more exclusive, and better looking, no?
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Bitter-S-C-1984-Ferrari-400i-inspired-2Dr-Sedan-3Ltr_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6472QQitemZ4587587892QQrdZ1

"Elle Va" means "She goes"

But that doesn't mean that she sells on eBay.

1963 Elva Courier
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Trojan-Elva-Courier-not-Lotus-TVR-MG-or-Triumph_W0QQitemZ4587200525QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Get Your Red Hot Rat Rods!

1936 CHEVY rat rod
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1936-CHEVY-COUPE-RACE-CAR-440-CHRYSLER-ENGINE_W0QQitemZ4574730791QQcategoryZ6173QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1948 Hudson RatRod
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948-Hudson-Custom-Sled-Rat-Rod-Hot-Rod_W0QQitemZ4587768327QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1927 Essex Rat Rod
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cool-1927-Essex-coupe-rat-rod-ratrod-buick-nailhead_W0QQitemZ4587567858QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thursday, November 17, 2005

That's $11k per window

Big bucks for a very plain looking 5 window (Model A) coupe hot rod. It's not a very hot rod, but it's not original either. This price is almost double what I woud have predicted. Note the humorous opening bid of $5150 (maybe Sammy Haggar bought it). In California '5150' is the police code for cuckoos. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1932-ford-coupe-original-steel_W0QQitemZ4586879407QQcategoryZ6057QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Talking about affordable Ferraris

This $16k Mondial doesn't seem worth it. It's broken, and more to the point: they just aren't pretty. I know in their heydey they were in all the rock videos (Madonna, Lionel Richie, etc.), so technicaly they must be aspirational for somebody. IMO the prior car, the (Dino) 308Gt4, was a lot better looking (and a perfect one can be had for under $20k). The rounded boxiness of the AC ME 3000 of the same vintage blew them all away (in the same way that a Bitter SC looks better than a Ferrari 400i). Anyway, somebody just signed up to sort this beat Mondial out. We all know they would have been better off with an MR2 spider, a red leather Scuderia jacket and some serenghetti drivers. Heck, by the time they're finished fixing this they probably could've had a nice, early NSX.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ferrari-Mondial-QV-Convertible-silver-project-NO-RESVE_W0QQitemZ4588277211QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Any METZ fans out there?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1914-metz_W0QQitemZ4587711480QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A 34 year old Virgin?

According to the auction title, This 71 Challenger has never gotten laid
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Virgin-1971-Dodge-Challenger-Convertible-Sweet_W0QQitemZ4589108296QQcategoryZ6198QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Does it come with a memory erasing pen?

MIB crown Vicky
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Movie-Car-from-Men-In-Black-85-Ford-Crown-Victoria_W0QQitemZ4584493739QQcategoryZ6227QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

high Rollers

stretch 88 Rolls $55k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-000-Rolls-Royce-Stretch-Limousine-Bentley-NR_W0QQitemZ4587670849QQcategoryZ6384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Rolls corniche
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/34-200-orginal-miles-Non-smoker_W0QQitemZ4586988535QQcategoryZ6384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

356 with Fig Leaf photo: Is this sexy?

1962 Porsche 356 cheap
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1962-Porsche-356-Matching-Numbers-Mechanically-Solid_W0QQitemZ4587096060QQcategoryZ6428QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

We need a better acronym for this: How about SLUT?

H2 200" stretch
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-HUMMER-SUT-200-Stretch-Limousine-ON-20s_W0QQitemZ4587808793QQcategoryZ43913QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Probing for opinions on Ferrari 456s

I remember Grant Hill bought one of these when he was drafted to the Pistons. Are they cool? Or do the look like high-maintenance Ford Probes?

1995 456gt ex nick cage, weird green color
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NICHOLAS-CAGE-FERRARI-95-456GT-GORGEOUS_W0QQitemZ4585814269QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1995 ferrari 456gt nov 9 $60k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-456-GT-6spd-SELL-OR-TRADE-HAVE-SERVICE-RECORDS_W0QQitemZ4588904600QQcategoryZ6212QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Paid da co$t to be da BOSS

....Like Snoop says: BOSS 302 clone $69k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Boss-302_W0QQitemZ4586860946QQcategoryZ6236QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Finally some 1904 Thomas Flyer spares on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1904-Thomas-Flyer-Project-Antique-Rare-1st-Sports-Car_W0QQitemZ4588649142QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Stocking Stuffer (micro) cars

“no doubt just a handful of these Atomic Bootycruisers remain”

1959 Chrysler Imperial: I just love this salesmanSHIP
“no doubt just a handful of these Atomic Bootycruisers remain”
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1959-IMPERIAL-ATOMIC-STAINLESS-H-T-EXNER-ON-STEROIDS_W0QQitemZ4587494370QQcategoryZ6472QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Fourvettes

67 vette conv 454 $58k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-Corvette-Convertible-Big-Block_W0QQitemZ4588547850QQcategoryZ6168QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

01 Corvette Rolling Chassishttp://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8009040352&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

65 vette convertible $55k
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1965-Convertible-Factory-Air-77-000-Miles_W0QQitemZ4588072941QQcategoryZ6168QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

1979 Corvete limo
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-MYSTERY-MEN-Limousine-Movie-Car-Ben-Stiller-COA_W0QQitemZ4587899499QQcategoryZ6168QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

What verb rhymes with "truck?"

Chump Change

I've really outdone myself

For those of you who don't know me, I write a monthly column on eBay Motors (weird or notable cars and their prices) for www.sportscarmarket.com. VIN #s were not standardized before 1980, so eBay can't require them. Thing is, it can't go into the magazine if it has no serial number (because it goes in the official SCM database thereafter) or if if did not sell with a winner. There are so many awesomely awful cars out there that do not sell (with good reason), but they certainly deserve to be talked about.

So I started sending these auction postings to my friends..about 60 car guys (and one car girl). I started to add people on there as the months went on, and now I have over 75 people on my mailing list.

I sent so many absurd eBay Motors auctions that I actually had someone unsubscribe! How funny is that? I mean you could obviously delete the emails...or read them later when you are bored? And this Dave Aronica person thinks he's a car guy!

Whatever. Dave was the first person to unsubscribe to my unsolicited missives in the 6+ months that I have been pumping them out. Well, OK there was one other guy, a famous car designer and race team manager who a) didn't want bozos (like Dave Flogaus) "replying all", and b) hated all cars designed by George Barris. So I took him off the list too.

If I am only offending like 2% of my readers I am probably not offensive enough?

I thought I would try out this blog thing to see if I could get a) a bigger audience, and b) some two-way conversation about these ghstly machines I dig up.

Geoff