A 2nd try at '55 Clipper Panama Super Auction Results

Posted by ScottG On 2017/9/8 17:42:39

The computer gods seem to have scrambled my original post so let me try again...

A classic car dealer has been advertising a 1955 Clipper Super Panama on eBay with a Buy It Now price of $34,500. The car seems to be in really nice shape and the seller claims to know its provenance back to the 1980's. This week the dealer also listed the same car in a traditional auction format with an undisclosed reserve. After 23 bids, the auction closed as a no-sale at $9100.

As a 1950's era hardtop with a V8, the car seems to have a lot going for it. Period correct and attractive two-toning add to its luster. A final bid under $10K seems really low all things considered unless I'm missing some fatal flaw with the car itself.

So what happened? The market came in nearly $25K below asking price. Is the market that soft for non-classic Packards? Or is the seller simply out of his mind with his asking price? Or is it something else I'm missing here.

I look forward to hearing thoughts from the experts here. [Sadly] I'm not in the market often enough to make sense of this one. (Although if 50's hardtops can be had for less than 10 grand I may be in the market soon!)

--Scott

To 64Avanti: I saw you replied to my post before the computer scrambled things. Would you mind adding your thoughts to this post as well? Thanks.