TheMirror

Now understand, I consider myself to be a somewhat savvy car guy. Yet, if I saw this heap on the side of the road, I wouldn't give it a second glance. Apparently one of the underbidders in the auction was Jay Leno.

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/10/e...s-for-226-521/

teranfon

Cool.

Looks like she had spent a great deal of time on the track. Did you see the rear suspension and the Ford nine inch differential?

I LOVE old drag cars.


Terry

v6cord2k5

iTrader: (1)

I wouldnt blame you.


That thing is going NOWHERE fast!

Costco

That person has more money than sense

I see potential, but I'm the kind of person that's annoyed that there's '67 Camaros that are barely running, half finished, etc. but cost more than my car does! Still, I want to restore a '69 or an early 70's split-bumper car one day

Danil ACE

Hmm not for me. Not worth the money for the shell, nor the $$$ needed for restoration.

S14 n Tsx

I pass.

Crazy Bimmer

Great find! Whoever restores that will be able to sell that for a pretty penny!

TheMirror

Similarly rare (fully restored) Pontiac drag cars from that era can bring over $500K.

Yumcha

Ken1997TL

These people need their heads examined

I appreciate a rare car too but this is just nuts.

Alperovich

awesome. plain and simple.

TheMirror

The rear locating arms on that thing are CRAZY.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

I can understand if it had an engine and trans.

chill_dog

I appreciate the rareness and history of the car, but I woundn't pay that for it, even if I was flush enough that it was pocket change.

SG81

iTrader: (1)

i like it and if i had the $$$ (jay leno type $$$), i'd buy something like that and restore it

Alperovich

if you were a collector of rare cars like this you would. money wouldn't be a problem. i sure he would have gladly paid more for it too

juniorbean

iTrader: (5)

Oh and sweet find

Crazy Bimmer

I think the article said that the guy who won actually knows where the matching engine is for this car.

Talk about fate!

phipark

wow. Only six ever made.

ThermonMermon

its so crazy that the car is worth a quarter million dollars that you could probably make more $$ placing bets on the matter.

TS_eXpeed

seriously.....
a quarter million???

subinf

If you are passionate about cars and have the means to buy - I think it's great.

TheMirror

To shed more light on the matter, Mecum auctions recently had one of the other six 1963 Super Duty Tempests packaged with one of the 6 Lemans Drag wagons from the same year. Both cars were restored, and the package failed to sell at just over $900,000. This was in October 2007.

So....$226K for one of the other originals plus say, $150,000 for a perfect restoration still leaves an upside for the buyer. Wow.

Full story on the 1963 Pontiac Drag cars below. Scroll to the bottom of the article to see the fate of them all:

http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/..._feature9.html

1slo23

Those old-school drag cars are so sweet! I'm sure it'll be a beauty when restored!

knight rider

iTrader: (1)

... like an ugly and rare painting that I know nothing about and would never pay for or hang in my living room this car obviously is something more to someone else than I can imagine.

I'd only do it if I can sell it for a profit after restoring it, but that's just me.

Scottman111

Cool, my Dad had a drove a LeMans in the 70's.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Makes more sense. Without the original engine and trans, it's not the same thing.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

Cool article.

Moog-Type-S

Malayalee King

iTrader: (1)

i want to know how it disappeared...db cooper style ?!?!

eccjak

You guys ever watch Chasing Classic Cars on Discovery Channel? I remember one episode there was and old 1938 Bugatti Type 57c that was found and auctioned for 600,000 to 800,000.

teranfon

Not to take the thread off track, but in the interest of automotive archeology here are some photos by Herbert Hessellmann. The only photographer allowed to photograph the following cars. I first saw these photos in the early eighties.

Yes, those are Bugattis, both type 57 and type 5, Cord 812s, Lancias, Alfa Romeo Type 6C2500s, Jowetts, Panhards, supercharged Grahams, and even a Tatra. Bugatti short blocks are casually thrown about the area. All were photographed at one farm in a secret location in Europe, the gentleman owner in some cases been given the cars many years ago.

I notice there are three new photographs. Perhaps these cars, sworn to never be restored by the owner, are now off to different homes to be preserved.

http://www.hesselmann-foto.de/sleeping_beauties_01.htm


Terry