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$102K Big Healey at Palm Beach...

YankeeTR

Luke Skywalker
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Just wondering if you fellas happened to catch that on Saturday... Another gorgeous one went for $75K (I think) earlier in the week...

Strong prices but these cars were restored far better than new...
 
Over priced
 
I did not go look but the Green Healey by Kurt Tanner which was recently sold on the AZ BJ auction was back up for sale at the Miami one. I bet it is the one that brought that price BH.---Keoke

Well I did not see the sale of the green Kurt Tanner car, but his golden beige one resold for $112,200.00. Seems like this is flip the car time.
 
Lemme think...a black one with cream coves sold for $75K, I think. The high dollar one was in a non-stock champagne color with a light color (biscuit?) interior.

While these cars are overpriced for most of us, I doubt very much if anyone would turn down a gadzillion $$$ for their car based on the opinion that the offer was too high...

Obviously what goes up has to come down. I followed the high Ferrari and 300SL prices in the late 80's and the subsequent fall in '91. But a car's worth what someone is willing to pay for it...and these two cars were restored to a far higher level than most of us are capable of doing with the average budget...and ability.

Big Healey and Jag prices are far higher today than ten years ago...
 
Yes that non stock colored car was another Kurt Tanner car. However, the bulk of the Healey cars on this auction, including the non stock colored one, were just purchased at the end of last year at the BJ auction held in AZ. Plus this auction had a wrinkle in it. A car previously restored by Fourintune was updated by Kurt Russel for this sale. Which implies "If you can't beat em join em". Consequently, it look like flippin to me---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cowboy.gif
 
Look closely at those cars. Specifically the sage green one. They are different cars. The one in AZ was a 1964 phase 1 and the one just sold in FL was a 1966 phase 2. Kurt Tanner has a following and people are willing to pay for his product. From what I saw in AZ, he puts together a very good car and from someone who is building a car for sale I say here here to the strong prices. I doubt I will get to those prices but it sure helps.
 
Well that may very well be maybe Kurt just captilized on a color. However, The bulk of the membership here are not building cars for sale. We build them strickly as a hobby and to enjoy on the road. Similarly, Just like houses which the average working American can no longer afford. The experience and enjoyment of the Healey clasic car is going to be out of his reach also.---Keoke- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cryin.gif
 
Keoke - Since when did Kurt Russell start restoring Healeys? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 

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You Bugger! Brandon, but it's fixed-----Keoke--- /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/lol.gif
 
Interesting listing YankeeTR, did anyone notice lot number 754 sold for $22,500. It was a '61 4 seater with incorrect interior, modified dash to accomodate a radio etc. They listed it as a survivor car with 51,256 (approx) miles. Considering the high cost of entering a car at BJ you have to wonder if it really was worth it? The owner might have been better off just listing the car locally or selling on ebay.

Note: I'm basing this on the price shown included buyer and seller's premium paid to BJ.
 
As you can see, I don't post often but I had to respond to this thread. I googled Kurt Tanner and looked at his cars, in particular the sage green one for $100000 +. The description was a 100 point restoration. My response is what does the description mean 100 point restoration? That car was clearly what I would call a Healey kit car or hot rod. Never did a Healey look like that when it came off the line. Am I right in assuming this?
I am a laisez faire kind of guy and I say hey more power to this Kurt Tanner guy but we should'nt credit him with being a so called Healey expert. IMHO he is just providing cars to wealthy individuals who just want something that looks like a Healey but with leather seats etc.Not a whole lot different than some of these Shelby Cobra replicars around today.

There are plenty of nice Healey's here in Ohio. There are some that are better than this sage green car in terms of upgrades and such but they too are Healey kit cars or hot rods. Nothing wrong with that but 30 years from now there will be very few people around who actually saw a Healey when it trully rolled off the line. Do we want the Healey's to be just hot rods or kit cars then with no sense of history or tradition? I don't think so. Thank God for the Concourse fanatics who dicker and gripe over whether that bolt is zinc plated or not.
 
This whole deal with 'over-restored' cars really isn't anything new.

Back in the 70's my brother ran a resto shop doing big $$$ restorations of 30's classics, Euro sports cars and other cars. The guys with the big money simply want the car to be like a piece of jewelry...they want it to impress their friends and neighbors and use it for a status symbol. Money is no object for many of them and they will pay for the shiniest paint, deepest looking chrome, etc.

Are these cars pretty? Yes they are. Are they like they came off the production line? Nope. But these cars do attract a lot of attention to the 'hobby' and they usually do bring a smile to my face. I'll never own one of these big money restos...my cars are beaters and will always be that way.

Compare our hobby to restoring homes. An 1800's Victorian home is never painted in whitewash...they get the best paint for the job. I never see one of those home improvement shows remodel a kitchen and install a wood cooking stove and gas lights...and coal furnaces really aren't all that prevelant anymore. Single pane glass? Never!
I could go on and on but my point is these fancy restos still harken back to 'the old days' although they certainly aren't completely accurate...
 
The Aston Martin "green" and Golden Beige Kurt Tanner cars at Az and PB were all different cars. He had made one of each for the two auctions. Neither was a flip. I have been to Kurt's shop several times ( I live in southern CA) and you may call his cars "over restored", but in my opinion, they are in no way "kit" or "hobby" cars. I hate to sound like a commercial for him, but every time I have been able to stop by, he has stopped work and talked to me like I was going to buy one of his cars when he knows I have a 62BT7 driver and am looking to get educated and get free advice from an "expert". There is room for all kinds of enthusiasts in the car hobby. That's one of the reasons it is so much fun.
 
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