Nice Model - Nice Price Too!

[impcon]

Just came across this auction - http://cgi.ebay.com/1965-Chevrolet-Impala-Station-Wagon-1-25-Built-/290491165606?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a29f6ba6 - and no - I am in NO way associated with it nor do I know the owner. It looks like a really nice build of the Modelhaus resin kit.. 4 bids and it's at $247.50! I mean, it's nice.. but holy cow! Some people have deep pockets I guess... I couldn't live with myself if I ever paid that much for one model... but that's just me, I guess.

Just one observation -one question - do the rear wheels on the model appear to be too far back in the wheel opening or do you suspect that it is just the angle of the photographs that make it appear so? Just wondering.. BTW, wouldn't that be a stunning build in Evening Orchid with a white or black interior?

Edited October 29, 2010 by impcon

[Jon Cole]

I would say you are correct on at least two counts... that is one nice model; almost has a "promo" look to it. Also that rear axle is a bit further back than it should be. As for price, the true value of the car is whatever someone is willing to pay. People pay as much if not more for old promos with warped plastic.

[george 53]

Nope, it ain't your eye's Gary, them wheels ARE too far back in those wells. For 250 bucks, that rascal would HAVE to be PERFECT for me to even THINK about payin that kinda money for it. There's one born EVERY minute. :unsure:

[Bobdude]

Even the front wheels look a little to far forward in the chassis pics.

[Foxer]

I'd expect a few engine plumbing details too ...

[Pete J.]

Mark -

I track the Gunze kits as there are a couple I would like to have and the GTO will typically go for around $90 to $100, which I really don't get, just because it is not that rare of a kit. It seems like there is always one or two at any given time. I don't know? Just a preference thing I guess.

Pete

PS - Gongrat's on picking up the Resin column. Can't think of a better person to do it.

Every time this comes up, I think of the same example. I bought a Gunze High Tech Ferrari GTO (with engine) for $25. I got it from Fred Sterns, who makes a living buying and selling old kits. He's mostly an AMT/MPC/Revell/JoHan guy though...and most of what I ever got from him were foreign kits because the annuals got snapped up before I ever saw the lists.

I got the kit...still cello-sealed and showing Marco Polo imports stickers (remember those?). I had one of these kits back in the 80s...the curbside...but couldn't help feeling that while I liked the kit, and wanted to build it, I would never get around to it.

So I put it on Ebay, where a storm of bidders put the thing over the moon. It brought about $255. I was astonished. Then the Fujimi GTO kit came out, the Gunze prices collapsed, and now that kit would bring...I dunno....$60????? You tell me.

Something is worth what someone will pay. No more, no less.

[Guest Johnny]

I'd love to find that Olsenite Eagle at a reasonable price Mark!

[Mike Kucaba]

Let's do a little math , ,

The wagon kit from Modelhaus is $51.00 ,, and a donor Monogram kit is about $15.00

There's 66 bucks before paint ,foil etc. so let's round that up to $70.

That leaves about $170 for labour.,, If he has 20 hours into it that's $8.50 an hour.

Don't know about any of you but I wouldn't go out the door for $8.50/hr.

BTW,, minimum wage in my province is $9.00/hr.

That's not that much for that model, I've seen builtups go for 3 times that but I'd think about twice the final bid would have been fair.

Steve, I couldn't have said it better myself!! Thanks for doing the math <G>