Anyone looking to buy an Italia ?

harry54

http://www.oldride.com/classic_cars/951617.html



http://www.rmauctions.com/Carlist.cfm?SaleCode=AM09&start=1&Category=Cars&SortBy=RO&View=Normal

Aaron D. IL

At that price I'll buy a house or two first.

hudsontech

Yep, good old RM Auctions. They're another of the "hi-buck" auction people - even worse than Barrett-Jackson.



I believe that RM was the outfit that auctioned off that 1953 Hudson Hornet on steroids, Satan of Miramar, a while back.



Hudsonly,

Alex Burr

Memphis, TN

50C8DAN

There is somebody that has advertised in Hemmings for years wanting an Italia!

[Deleted User]

Italias are really neat cars and all, but $250K??? There are other cars from that period, just as rare (or nearly so) and similar in concept; that are a lot faster and a lot more car for the buck, IMO. That little 202 Jet engine is not the fastest kid on the block back in the day! When there were Cadillac and Chrysler Hemi-powered Allards and such available, and the Blue Flame Six Corvette, I don't see $250K.



Like I said, they are neat cars, but...!

Uncle Josh

In my opinion, the engine size/power is irrelevant. At that price, I probably wouldn't even drive it, let alone race it.

[Deleted User]

And, therefore, the fun value of owning it would be lost. Sitting in the shop and looking at it, or only driving it on and off a trailer at shows, kinda negates the point of owning it, regardless if it's an Allard OR an Italia. And if I'm going to spend $250K on an automobile, it had better provide me a fun and pleasurable (and fast!) driving experience! Somehow, the ability to say "oooh, looky, I have an Italia (or any other car) that never, ever sees the light of day!" for that kind of money, seems pretty silly.

Hal

So, Patrick, what's that Terraplane do in the quarter mile?

hornet53

Patrick is right, there's no fun in a car you can't, in good conscience, drive to the grocery store for some Funyuns and a meat platter, then stop by the bar for some wings and Wed. night trivia. #3 Drivers are what make the classic car industry turn, regardless of the junk the Speed channel insists on jamming down our throats. I wouldn't even own my Hornet if I couldn't jump in it tear out of the apt complex and scare some old ladies.



Trailer Queens (or in this case, car in the climate controlled bubble queen) are nice to look at for about 10 seconds. It's the heaps that have been put back on the road, or never left the road, that intrigue me the most.



I understand the club's fascination with the Italia, it's the classic "Oh, what might have been" car. But, having seen one before, I probably wouldn't give this one more than a quick once over at a meet. But, you will find me checking out Nick's convert, Sarah's Jet, or maybe even Patrick's Dodge with my Sweptline pals.

RL Chilton

50C8DAN wrote:

There is somebody that has advertised in Hemmings for years wanting an Italia!

Yeah, Mark Hyman. But he's just interested in re-selling it at escalated prices, so he wouldn't be interested in this one . . . it's already escalated! It would surprise me if the car sells for anywhere near what their "estimate" is.

:eek:

[Deleted User]

The only reason I would buy an Italia would be if it were really cheap and I could resell it at a profit! I think they are butt ugly but, that's just my personal opinion.
Bob

Unknown

BJ__TN wrote:

The only reason I would buy an Italia would be if it were really cheap and I could resell it at a profit! I think they are butt ugly but, that's just my personal opinion.

Bob

Come on now, tell us what you really think.

frank spring

No, he doesnt want to buy this one, this one is one of the two he already owns.

[Deleted User]

To be totally honest. No, I'm not looking for an Italita. Instead I'm looking for a short wheelbase '51 to '54 stepdown like a Super Wasp.

[Deleted User]

There's a reason cars like this are expensive, to keep them out of the hands of people like me. I wouldn't be a very good custodian of an Italia. Can't you just imagine me, 6 foot, 280 lbs, shoehorned into an Italia with a cooler on the back shelf, GPS stuck on the windshield, boom box on the passenger seat, eating a mega size bag of Doritos on the 450 mile trip to the Western Regional? Besides, I think the trunk is too small to fit any folding chairs.

[Deleted User]

Hal wrote:

So, Patrick, what's that Terraplane do in the quarter mile?

It's not a drag car, knucklehead. By the way, it will do a solid 21-second quarter, so what does YOUR car do in the quarter, pal? Different thing, anyway! My '37 is a Brougham, not one of 25 or whatever. Plus, it's not $250K, either. BIG difference there, Junior.



It gets driven, period.

[Deleted User]

Hudson308 wrote:

Allright, kids.... simmuh dahn nah.

Y'know, I get the historical significance thing. These are rare, important and it's even possible that a well-restored one could be worth $250K if this economy turns around. As a paycheck prole however, my issue is this... if I can't DRIVE it, I don't want it. You really can't/wouldn't drive these museum pieces cross-country. I do wish someone would knock these off in fiberglass, however... so a guy could splice one on a Jet subframe and actually have some fun with one. Sure... the styling is a bit awkward here and there, but I generally like the lines and the attempt to try some unique styling ques. If I didn't have to worry about trashing history, though... I'd love to build a one-off with a huffed vintage hemi and an overdrive 5-speed. You could cruise to the show two states over and people would love it. And the best part of that formula? It wouldn't take me no $250K to get there. :eek:

No, you don't want to use a Jet subframe! Then before you know it, there'd be no original Hudson Jets left. Instead, why not use a Chevy frame, Chevy small block V-8, 350 turbo transmission, and a Chevy rear end. I bet you'd then have something that would REALLY stand out body wise and best of all, drivetrain wise at that next "rod" meet!

frank spring

It is aggrivating that the auction company is making unsubstantiated claims - "...While it is believed by some authorities that the flamboyant Las Vegas-based entertainer Liberace may have once owned this very car, no corroborative evidence has currently been found. ".

More provenance by innuendo... :mad:

This would make two Italias that Liberance owned - when did he have time to sing?

This is the same "Liberace" car, it has undergone a cosmetic restoration and as such is no longer silver. And it is the owner who gave the story not the auction company.

[Deleted User]

I too would like to have a copy in fiberglass.

Make a cool tube chassis Hornet 308 powered drag racer!

PaceRacer50