1964 Comet Wagon - High price for a 1/25 scale model?

[Erik Smith]

HERE

Why? This seems crazy to me. A nice model, yes. Would I like to have one to build? Yes. But $618? Really?

I really don't want to start another eBay bashing thread as I don't see this as a problem with eBay (I don't blame eBay for any of the things a seller does on that site really).

What I would like some insight into...does it seem logical to spend over $600 on a 1/25 scale model? What do you do with it after you buy it?

Edited November 2, 2011 by Coyotehybrids

[Maindrian Pace]

Wow, that's nice. There is a market for "pro built" models on ebay, the ones that fetch the big money are built very well, foiled, and always bone stock. Often cars that were never offered in kit form, lots of resin ike that Comet. That guy added the Villager wood trim, the 6cyl engine (too bad no engine pics) and other details that the resin 404 wagon body doesn't have. As for the value, it's all relative. If the buyer/collector of such cars makes lots of money, then it really doesn't affect them much.

-MS

[Modelmartin]

The start price was $7.99. The high price is the bidders fault!

I have had stuff on Ebay that went for stupid big prices just because there were two people who had to have it.

[george 53]

Doesn't MCW make a 64 comet wagon? I think it goes for around 45/50 bucks. THAT's quite a price he's managed to get up to!

[Maindrian Pace]

If you look at his feedback, he got $1,470 for a '69 Imperial, a Juha Airio master if I'm not mistaken.

-MJS

[kelson]

There are a couple sellers on Ebay who get huge money for their builds,which i have no problem with,the only thing i noticed now is that alot of other sellers now list their kits for sale as 'Pro built' and don't get the bucks.I think quality pics and good attention to the details makes all the difference.

[peekay]

If I were the just-fired CEO of a huge bank and I'd been given $40 million to go away, I would have considered it.

[Harry P.]

There's only one answer to this: Anything is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it. Someone obviously was willing to spend $600 on that model; it was "worth" that much to the buyer. If a person wants the item enough, and has the money to buy it, that's all the "logic" the buyer needs.

[charlie8575]

It is nice....but $676 nice?

I will say, that hand-painted wood-grain came out beautifully. That's one thing I really need to learn how to do, and do well.

Charlie Larkin

[Cato]

Did Comets have Buick portholes??

[fredgsanford]

it seems high untill you think about it a while, then its not so bad .

If you had no tools paint or parts to start with and wanted to build something like this you would probably spend near $200 (am i far off on this ive been out of the loop for a while?) and it might not wind up looking anywhere near as nice as this one

[Darin Bastedo]

I know a modeler who often sells his built models for $1,000 or more. There is a market for well built models, especially if the client can get one that exactly replicates his own. I'm no where near a pro, but I used to do commissioned work for about $300 dollars for an South Carolina restoration shop, and they wanted more than I could supply.

[Foxer]

I was a nice looking build, And it had 23 bids ... I didn't think there were 23 people that ever bought 1:1 Comets!

[Maindrian Pace]

Mercury sold 195,227 Comets in 1964.

-MJS

[Mike Kucaba]

While there were 23 bids,there was only 10 bidders.

[RancheroSteve]

Did Comets have Buick portholes??

Apparently they did, although smaller and more squared off than the modeler has depicted them. My wife's '65 Comet Caliente also had them.

[khier]

.does it seem logical to spend over $600 on a 1/25 scale model?

Exactly the same reason that makes someone pays more than 400 $US for a '63 corvette promo, while a kit with the same (or similar) mould and more details is available at every toilette for 15.

Do not try to understand, it is Ebay.....

Edited November 3, 2011 by khier

[Cato]

Apparently they did, although smaller and more squared off than the modeler has depicted them. My wife's '65 Comet Caliente also had them.

Thank YOU Steve.

[John Goschke]

For a top-quality build that doesn't seem unreasonable. Probably works out to about $10. per hour for labor.

[Andrew]

There's only one answer to this: Anything is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it. Someone obviously was willing to spend $600 on that model; it was "worth" that much to the buyer. If a person wants the item enough, and has the money to buy it, that's all the "logic" the buyer needs.

Spot on! No-one posts these threads if they are the ones who are selling for such high prices. The thing with ebay is the amount of people who see the items for sale. It means much more chance that a quality item will fetch a good price and if someone wants to pay that kind of money then both parties win surely?

[Junkman]

What I would like some insight into...does it seem logical to spend over $600 on a 1/25 scale model? What do you do with it after you buy it?

Drop it, chop it, hop it

Edited November 3, 2011 by Junkman

[Junkman]

What I find remarkable is that the factory stock replicas seem to fetch the highest prices. Could I be on to something?

[RancheroSteve]

Here's the only decent photo I've been able to find of those curious Comet portholes. Like I said, a little less pronounced than the model shows them.

Not that I'd ever see myself in the market to pay that kind of money for a model, but the thing that would make me hesitate as a potential buyer would be that none of the photos show the chassis or engine, even though there's reference to an "open hood" and a six cylinder engine.

Other than that - and the porthole issue, it appears to be a well executed and nicely photographed build.

[Ron Hamilton]

The model in question is beautifully done in a tasteful color combination. It may not be absolutely perfect, but there are some folks out there who can afford to purchase such a model at the price. The market dictated the price of the model. Period. The modeler offers some cleanly built and modified unique subjects that are not normally seen on the shelf. Personally, If I wanted something built to that level, I will do it myself, as I cannot afford to spend that much on a model.

If he can get that kind of loot for them, I take my hat off to him, and wish him well, and no, the price was not too high in my opinion.

[RancheroSteve]

Yes, I agree - it wasn't my intention to start nit-picking the model. More power to him - I think most of us would be happy to get that kind of a price for anything we'd built. But as it's been pointed out, unless you're a very fast and efficient builder, it probably doesn't amount to much of an hourly wage, and you also need to factor in materials. Don't quit your day job just yet!