Quattroruote Zagato

[67alloy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cintos@mac.com Greetings: For a few brief moments I was high bidder at 28K, but that changed within moments when someone blew it away with a bid above the $50k reserve! Kinda makes a statement... - Mike

[Cintos@mac.com]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67alloy Yes, but a statement of what kind? Unless your bid was $49,000., who would outbid you by $22,000 on a single bid?

[arco27]

Personally I think US$50 to 60K is a fair price for a car in this condition, I had serious offers around that mark for mine, but I hang on to it as long as I have fun.

[twoliterlover]

Seems very worthy and a good investment. Like the idea of only 22,000 miles (maybe even kilometers?) and never actually licensed in the US. I suggested $50,000 as the reserve (now reached, even if actually a bit less), so the car is going to trade owners. But I predict the price will go higher. This is one of those once every twenty years opportunities. Do you think I will be able to wait until I am ninety years old for my next opportunity. But, since I don't have any way to collect and sell enough pop bottles fast enough I guess I will just claim to have regained my sanity for a moment and sorrowfully let someone else join in holy matrimony with this sweet almost virginal and unspoiled babe. I hope he treats her with the love I would have. Good thing "Polyvehiculgamy" (my newly coined word for loving many too many cars at the same time) is not condemned totally in our US. It is unreal to have just one. We are always looking for another (thus A.L.F.A, as the joke goes). We could never rely upon just one , and have to have more just to keep us in wheels as we repair. And we can love them all. But some things, they say, can only be done in the privacy of ones own garage. May all your Alfas (and/or at least your dearest Alfa) run forever.

[67alloy]

Hmmm, no one seems to have connected the dots on what I'm saying....

and I will not insinuate anything directly against this seller or this auction..

but on Ebay when someone "blows you out of the water" with a single bid like that which coincidentally meets reserve, one is led to believe it's the work of a shill. The purpose of such a bid is to illustrate the reserve and get someone to think that this is their last chance to get this particular type of car. Too early in the auction for an astute buyer to raise to this level; it can only work against him by rallying other bidders to raise him.

I'll caveat myself by saying that there is a lot of silly money flying around the hobby, and anything is possible.

The tough part about Ebaymotors is that no one can determine if the sale is consummated. Some predict that up to 75% do not go through. Everyone of course has read about the recent lawsuit for the idiot who bid up the Dukes Of Hazzard Charger into the millions without intending to pay. The same article had many more examples of such high end and prominent bidder fraud.

Fantasy Junction or any other dealer would not want it at that price. There is no money left on the table for them.

While I like these cars at a certain price there are many more important Zagato examples available for this money.

Despite the smoke and mirrors of Ebay (which BTW makes great sport to watch) the car seems like a good one and will probably find a home the old fashioned way- two guys face to face hammering out a number.

[Cintos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by twoliterlover Seems very worthy and a good investment. .... This is one of those once every twenty years opportunities. .

[Jr. Z]

I talked with the seller last night who I know through the local club, AROO, he used to have a Jr Z & I've bought a few Jr. Z parts from him as well over the years.

As an interesting aside, he was the one who took the photo of the gaggle of Jr Zs at the Oregon convention back in (I think) 1986. This photo is discussed in another thread in this sub forum. He gave me a framed copy of the photo that he used to keep in his office & it's on the wall to the side of me as I type.

Seller said the current high bidder is an individual, is totally legit, has wanted one of these cars for years and realizes what a nice opportunity this car is. The bidder simply called the seller, they talked live, seller said reserve is $50K, bidder bid that much, that simple.

William, did you even bother to take the time to read my previous post about the seller and the car before you started jumping to conclusions about possible "shills" and shifty bidding? If you had, you would have seen that this seller is a straight up guy who's just another Alfa nut like us. He'll still have his spider after he sells the 4R, and he's an active member of our club.

Whoever wins this auction will end up with one of the best and most original Zagato 4Rs in the world, and will enjoy the car immensely, I'm sure.

Bruce

[iicarJohn]

[Picture your favorite actor or actress playing the part of a news reporter]

"In this suburban town of Perdido, Nevada, there is a coachbuilder that seeks to make a name with a new limited edition sports car that is based on the classic lines of the 1966 Alfa Romeo Quattroruote Zagato."

"In this segment, I will introduce you to Pete and Ella Zombrowksy and you will see them putting the final touches on their prototype that, using the original coachbuilder's techniques, has taken them the astonishingly brief period of only two weeks to assemble."

"Pete and Ella say that this 1966 version of the Quattroruote Zagato was chosen as being the most pure and evocative example that was available to them as a model on which to base their creation. Reading between the lines, this reporter thinks it might have something to do with the fact that they already had it sitting here after the former owner, an "Arabian Prince", found the ash tray was full and got into the limousine that was following him and simply left it."

"In order for the car to meet the stringent environmental standards of the future, Pete and Ella chose an accident-damaged Autech (Nissan) Zagato as the mechanical parts donor in this prototype but when undisclosed damages were found inside the engine after dyno testing, it was gutted and the top half of the engine was used to cover a Honda Impulse unit for this prototype only."

[to be continued?]

[tubut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iicarJohn [to be continued?]

[67alloy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jr. Z William, did you even bother to take the time to read my previous post about the seller and the car before you started jumping to conclusions about possible "shills" and shifty bidding? If you had, you would have seen that this seller is a straight up guy who's just another Alfa nut like us. He'll still have his spider after he sells the 4R, and he's an active member of our club.

[iicarJohn]

My inside sources say that's a secret and I've loaned out the book that would tell me all that I'd like to be able to tell you. But, in my opinion I think Leo and Tina have the shop across the street from Pete and Ella. Their project is not the same at all, but (in my opinion) they did use many of the parts that Pete and Ella were about to take to the scrap yard when they went missing one night. Rumors are that Leo and Tina also used part of the trailer in the construction of the Leo 'n' Tina. Just my opinion, though. Can't say it is fact. But wait till I get my book back. Then I'll be able to tell you.

[iicarJohn]

I am pleased to report that "Rugger" and "arco67" have shared details of their cars' identities and will shortly be the recipients of updated and more comprehensive listings on the Quattroruote cars. It is never too late (or early) to share any specific information you might have, whether or not you (still) own the car(s) you used to know.

In this case, we don't need to regenerate the production record as that information is already known, but errors have been found before in such records so confirmation or correction is always nice. And, the information will undoubtedly still be useful and interesting to current and future owners.

Also, the more Zagato body numbers we collect, the more that we might be able to infer about Zagato body production of that time. At least the bureaucratic part of it.

Many thanks to arco67 for sharing the Zagato production line photo earlier in the thread. If you missed it, you should have a look... Also, I placed a bare-bones listing as an attachment to posting #67.

Best regards.

John de Boer
The Italian Car Registry
iicar@earthlinkNET

[arco27]

well it seems that the car has been sold for $ 61600.00 which to me is a fair price for a car in such good condition. For me it is even more pleasing because 4 years ago I paid approximately $5000 less for mine in a similar condition. I always had a feeling that I might have paid top $, but now it seems that we have an established value base. As for the 4R knockers, go and buy yourself a Hyundai.

[iicarJohn]

The 4R has knockers?

No wonder I like it!

[pvanvliet]