Interesting story on this one. It appears to have been bought by a man in Playa Del Rey (up by LAX) in 1973, and stored at Torrance (Zamperini Field, TOA) in a hangar, and work started on it. The man passed away in 2004 without really getting much done on it, and it went to his wife, who passed away in 2012.
The attorneys for the estate are now putting it on the auction block, and it's come to light as a 1970's era, unrestored warbird.
Read more about it here, and here, and here, and more here.
Aw, man...I'd have gladly given her twice whatever he'd paid for the thing originally.
ReplyDeleteSome of the forums are predicting $2 million because it's basicallyuntouched except for the paint.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the 1968 L88 Corvette "survivor" car I saw at auction. It was in extremely good condition, all original, with about 10k on the odo.
The owner was hoping for $225k because he said he wasn't greedy, but would be happy if it got near $200k.
It hammered at $750k!
Yeah, 2 mil THEN start repairs... Probably $4 mil when it's all done...
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of following this on the P51 forums.
ReplyDelete$4mil by itself might handle the restroration.
Even though this one comes with a "spare" Merlin, a Merlin overhaul is at least $250k.
A the TBO on Merlins is something like 500 hours.
So yeah, the buyer (who also has to pay a 15% premium to the auction house!) better have damn deep pockets.....