Weekly Newsletter |
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Weekly Newsletter |
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Volume 1 Issue #2 Seems the D4C Packard Darin is currently HOT on everyone's mind. No matter what color is finally decided on, as of this writing, there are already over 800 models ordered! With this years limit of 3 per member, (and only about 1/3 of the club members buying on the Net) this model is a SURE BET to hit 1500 and 2000 isn't out of the realm of possibility! What this means to collectibility and the secondary market, is yet to be determined, but I'd say that the first ones out of the box will IMMEDIATELY hit around $300+ (can you believe there are still MANY collectors that don't belong to D4C, just for the opportunity to BUY the yearly L.E.!) and as EVERYONE jumps on the bandwagon (a la the LE Camaro) prices will drop. Do not fear though as these will NEVER be worth less then issue price and because of the desirability of the '40 Packard, will enjoy a healthy after market! 
Another NEW HOT issue from FM is the L.E. of 450 pieces,
1973 Mercedes Benz 450 SL in European trim (NOT the same as the
silver European edition) with single headlights, black interior
and the same accessories as the U.S. DARK blue model. Already
the first FOUR are offered to our eagerly awaiting masses on the
D4C auction as a fund raiser and prices, as we speak, are OVER
$660.00 per model! AS the LOWEST ANNOUNCED production model (NO
one is telling how many SMOKEY'S Hudson's, RED 1988 Porsche
Targa's, '57 RED Chevy Convertibles, or '60 RED Chevy hardtops
((WOW, look at all them RED CARS!)) were actually produced).
This is an EYEBALL different car and as such will be coveted by
the fraternity! Made SPECIFICALLY for M-B Germany, this should
EASILY stay in the $500-$750 range for awhile!
(IF it were a CLASSIC American L.E. with this small a run, as
they say here in Brooklyn, "FORGET ABOUT IT" prices would
immediately be over $1000!)Of some interest are some CONFIRMED sales this week of some RARER FM models! The EVER POPULAR 1986 Mid-America Pace car brought $750.13 on the D4C auction sans ORIGINAL M-A box and papers! (I had a sale this week of a pristine example at $900!) and for ANYONE that does NOT know the story behind this, please check e-Bay auctions lot #342910440 (already ended) for some close-ups of what a REAL one should look like and the original paperwork! This model is surely UNIQUE as FM models go! Made long before the true collecting craze for these had caught on, and having languished in a few dealers inventories for what seems like forever, they have now been mostly gobbled up by collectors of FM cars AND CORVETTE collectors! As the RAREST of all the collectible Corvette models, this will hit the $1000 mark before Christmas! With prices this high, you might see some lucky collectors, putting them up for sale in order to buy 10 or more other models he/she wants! Truly not a bad return on the money spent, as only last year these were $350-$400 each (and NO brokers fees or SILENT partner around when you sell it!). The 1957 RED Chevy convertible was out on D4C at $1750.00 with NO BIDDERS! Guess the VACATION money was held in the wife's pocket as I SOLD one this week for at least this much a few day before that auction! The LE 1961 White Lincoln confirmed at $1295, and to my eye, a GOOD DEAL! Notice that COMPLETE, NO PROBLEM models are few and far between and have a high watermark of $2000! This IS the car that started it all and is legendary amongst collectors, a true BLUE CHIP! Noted a BROKEN one changed hands this week at $750! Where are all those 1941 BLUE Lincoln's that we are told were made in the thousands??? PLEASE, someone call Vince up ay Phillymint and buy his model. At $695.00 its a BEST BUY in my book! Honestly, the sources of these models (FORD employees) have simply dried up and with the RPO (Regular Production Option) 1941 Lincoln NOT AVAILABLE, a truly great and historical model will have passed into oblivion! I do make note that SOME blue Lincoln's were shipped to South America and into Europe for retail there! From my sources, I've learned that not too many were shipped and that both supplies have been gobbled up! Nice to note that there are some astute collectors in those areas also! Keep an eye on these and if you don't see any offered for quite some time, prices will go UP again! Did I hear someone ask about the FM 1955 2 tone blue Sunliner Ford? Another nice box and papered model sold this week at $539! Again, where did these models go? Produced about the same time as the RED 1970 Chevelle and 1955 Pontiac Convertible LE, all with a 5000 mintage, the Ford was GONE 6 months before the other two! With the Chevy and Pontiac selling currently in the $350-$400 range, the Ford is MUCH harder to secure and brings substantially more! Watch this one, it will be $600+ shortly! Though last here, but certainly not in my book, is the 1982 LE Corvette! 2 sales this week, one black tire car at $895.00 ( This IS truly hard to find!) and a white lettered tire car at $795.00. Both to advanced collectors who are TRYING to complete a FM model set! Taking into consideration that 6759 were made, ( approx. 1700 black wall tired cars by serial # 1-1700 or so and 5000+/- white lettered tire cars) the money garnered by these is impressive! Many do not realize that the OWNERS of real 1982 LE Corvettes want these models as much, if not more than, collectors! I currently have 4 men willing to pay $1000 each for matching serial # to their FULL SIZE Collector's Editions! Seems they make a GREAT display at local and regional Corvette shows and guys actually BRAG about them! Good to know that decadent spending is NOT dead yet! I can't end without the "What's NOT HOT" being left out! I'm picking one model from each mint, not to make one jealous of the other! DM' s loser for this week is the 1949 Mercury Club Coupe. Really a nice model, it just, put simply, does NOT sell on the secondary market! No specific reasons why, perhaps it reminds us older guys of Grandpa's car! Remember when you would rather walk to school then be caught DEAD riding in stuff like STATION WAGONS, RAMBLERS, STUDEBAKER 4 doors, etc. OK, NOW we want models of them, but the Mercury just doesn't get the job done! This should be a perfect model for DM to retire and try PAINTING it another LIGHTER color! Make it a L.E. of 3000 and sit back and collect the money! If DM can bring out a Garfield 1948 Town and Country (without the "COWABONGA" on the side and assorted characters) in that cool shade of blue, it SHOULD be able to paint a Mercury! FM's "loser" has got to be the original red 1935 Mercedes Benz 500K!!! This was FM's FIRST offering and really wasn't a bad looking or poorly put together model. I'd bet the store that they have made OVER 50,000 of these, probably closer to 100,000, as they were first released SEVENTEEN years ago! I make note that the NEW blue issue of this model is much finer in detail with photo etched parts and an all around better "LOOK" to it! But on the secondary market this model should have DEATH painted on it where the Garfield's car has "COWABONGA". A car now only bought by new collectors, who need it to complete their set of models , these, IMHO, will never bring a premium! I've got some great models picked that SHOULD be "HOT" and worthy of your consideration to tell you about next week and, in my opinion, the good reasons why they are! Hope to talk to you then. As always, feedback and comments are always appreciated! Regards, Roy return to franklindanbury.com |
roy@franklindanbury.com |
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