Micro madness

[lowdrag]

I've been following the sale of the Bruce Weiner museum, and I really can't get my head around the prices paid. I've driven a few of these oddballs in my time, including a Messerschmitt 200 and Tiger, a Trojan and the disaster that was the government handicapped thing (forget the name). But I never thought I'd see the day when a Peel was worth $105,000, a Goggomobil pickup tricked out in Coca Cola colours at $120,000, an Isetta at $85,000, the "Pez" (sugar sweets) Goggomobil at $110,000 and so on.

But if that leaves you all dazed and speechless, sit down, grab a stiff drink and prepare to be completely blown away. The Messerschmitt Tiger 500 sold for a whopping $280,000. That's not far off £180,000, and I don't need to tell you what that money can buy elsewhere.

For those who wish, the full results can be found here:-

http://www.rmauctions.com/results/result.cfm?SaleC...

[vdubbin]

Why so high? Is it their provenance as part of the Weiner collection, genuine collectability, or hype?

[ClassicMotorNut]

The cars are:

- Rare (even unique in some cases)
- Interesting
- Appealing

I think that should justify some of the high prices.

[rallyspit]

As an impecunious student in 1969 I bought a ten year old Messerschmitt KR200 for the princely sum of £5 - this included three new tyres and a new battery. My friends joked that the registration, VCG832, stood for Very Crappy Generally. Two years later I had the last laugh and sold it for £25 - still the highest percentage profit I've ever made from selling a car.

Why, Oh why didn't I keep it? $77000 for a red KR200..............

[Astacus]

My brother and I bought a kr200 in bits in 1979. It was 50 quid. We rebuilt it. He did the tub for his metalwork O level!

He later swapped it for a sunbeam stiletto. The equivalent of 250 quid at the time.

Car is still on the road.

[exkay]

World wide recession....what recession ???? !!

[greenrat]

Well that's me put firmly back in my hole then! I thought they'd ALL struggle in this climate. There truly is no accounting for taste. The lesson learnt is that Classics are not sold by the kilo or the metre.

[P50]

I have a Peel P50, a Peel Trident, a Scootacar and a British '63 rot free KR200 cabriolet.

All in excellent condition. I heard a lot was bought by Russians and definately the TG500 has gone east. One must consider these as wine or art.

FYI the P50 made £80k which is pretty stiff if you happen to want one!

[0a]

greenrat said:

There truly is no accounting for taste.

Taste? More than one person really wanted them - fair enough in my books!

[greenrat]

0a said:

greenrat said:

There truly is no accounting for taste.

Taste? More than one person really wanted them - fair enough in my books!

Absolutely agree. I'm just amazed that there was so much interest. But then I've never understood the appeal of Damien Hirst either. I'm clearly a complete philistine.

[midgeman]

Doubt I/we will ever see some of those vehicles again, in the flesh or just pics taken of the museum and for the sale.
My grandad had a Gog., not sure what model but I'v only seen one other in the flesh at Beaulieu. Those van and pickup's must be incredibly rare and as for the tiger 500..

If you have the money and like/want it, I'm sure I would.

[Captain Cadillac]

I seem to recall predicting this and it being suggested that I wasn't going to end up being all that accurate.....