(quote)
"Wow! I have seen Hyman on TV on "What's My Car Worth" on the Velocity Channel (not sure if you get that show in Europe) and he seems to be quite the wheeler dealer. That is a huge price jump and looking to be a bit optimistic on his part!"
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A little history about the dealer-seller of this car:
This is not the first AC 428 Frua to pass through Mark Hyman's hands.
Remember CF62? It was the subject of an earlier thread. He sold that one, so I'm sure his eyes are wide open in pricing this one.
Emmanuel has been offered (speaking of eyes) an eye-watering all cash price for his car - FROM A DEALER! (NOT Mark Hyman) - and his car is still in pieces!
Rarity, exclusivity, performance and CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION!
It is thought by many that the lack of an "in-period" racing history for Frua's is a liability in calculating value and desirability. Seems to me that's not actually true.
Maybe it's the glow of the "AC" badge.
Maybe it's the "story" of it's heritage in light of the "big-block" coil-sprung Cobra. Want a Cobra (in disguise) you can actually USE? In relative comfort?
Maybe it's because there are so few of them, and, though flawed by a lack of development, they can be "improved" with adjustments and "in-period" or contemporary go-faster parts.
Want to be one of the few to have a real car that can squash the competition, yet still be economical and fun to run and maintain?
I'm sure Mr. Hyman knows what he's doing. And the price is not out of line for the potential audience of well-heeled collectors.
Considering the deferred or botched maintenance that has affected some of the 428's over the period they've languished in value, it's a good thing they're being bought by individuals who can (presumably) restore them properly.
As tempting as it might be, this is not a time to be greedy. Quality and satisfaction of ownership counts. Only good cars should sell at these levels - my opinion...
(sorry about all the quotation marks and parentheses. Just trying to be "expressive")