eBay Find of the Day: 1963 LeMans Tempest sells for $226,521
1963 Pontiac LeMans Tempest on eBay – Click above for high-res image gallery
The eBay auction for this 1963 Pontiac LeMans Tempest started out innocently enough. Obtained after owner died. Appears to have original interior but no motor, no transmission. Body has a little rust and some dents. There's stuff in the trunk, but no key to open it. Opening bid nine days ago was a mere $500. After one week, eBay seller 123ecklin will pocket $226,521 before auction fees. What happened between Day 1 and Day 9 is an amazing story.
The car's plexiglass windows, unusual suspension setup and a dash plate bearing the name of a racetrack tipped the owner to its racing history. But what he didn't know is that the car is one of only six 1963 Pontiac LeMans Tempest Super Duty coupes ever made. Hemmings recently did a story on the rare cars in which they listed all ever built. This one looks to have been driven by Stan Antlocer and was the fastest drag car in 1963 before disappearing.
Reading through the questions on the auction gives us reason to believe the seller truly didn't know the car's provenance. In his answers, he seems both surprised by the car's potential value as well as overwhelmed by the attention. He turned down an offer of $160,000 to end the auction early because he feared getting negative eBay feedback. That decision paid off. With only seven minutes remaining, the highest offer was $95,000. When the virtual gavel fell, eBayer ccsi2000 had bought a very rare, if a little rusty, LeMans for $226,521. Thanks for the tip, Trevor!
[Source: eBay Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Gomi 11:05AM (11/10/2008)
WOW. lucky for the owner this got so much attention (bids). I would imagine it could have easily slipped through the cracks for $600.
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TJ 11:14AM (11/10/2008)
I can see it going for that much with engine/tans.... but for a beat up shell it seems a bit high.
Still, a cool find. Nice to see pieces of lost history still resurfacing.
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tankd0g 11:30AM (11/10/2008)
This may be the highest price an ALL CAPS auction has ever closed for.
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Tim 11:30AM (11/10/2008)
That's one of 3 know surviving cars according to the Hemmings article, so it's easily worth that.
Restored that thing could be worth WAY more.
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jack acc 11:33AM (11/10/2008)
Sometime someone just got too much time and $$$ and dont know what to do with it.
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L3 11:33AM (11/10/2008)
Here is my favorite exchange in the Q&A...
Q: High bid has ZERO feedback! LOL! Goodluck.
Answered on Nov-08-08
A: jay leno has high feedback, thanks
It's always nice to have 'The Chin' bidding on your item!
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Menice 11:35AM (11/10/2008)
and to think someones granny has been driving that for years
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Aldo 11:42AM (11/10/2008)
Sadly, the granny never got very far in it, it not having a motor and all.
John P. 11:38AM (11/10/2008)
Recession? Where? Very cool for the seller and the buyer. Congrats!
I wonder what kind of restoration will be done on this? If any.
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RPM 11:43AM (11/10/2008)
See, American cars do hold their value!
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Dino 7:50AM (11/20/2008)
This auction is far from indicative of the residual values of average Yankee cars. Most American cars are S#@t and do not hold any value. This one was clearly a little bit different and special!
zapperdude60 7:57PM (9/21/2009)
You obviously haven't stepped into an American car in a long time, huh?
henrykrinkle 11:50AM (11/10/2008)
Once driven to the Sack-O-Suds by two 'utes'.
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why not the LS2LS7? 12:42PM (11/10/2008)
Looks like a '64 Skylark to me.
happy_penguin 4:25PM (11/10/2008)
HA!! My Cousin Vinny. :D :D :D
dukeisduke 11:52AM (11/10/2008)
Some of the pictures give big clues, like the conventional rear suspension setup and rear axle (it should have swing-arm rear suspension with rope drive), and also check out the loooooong traction arms. The build date on the body plate ("12B") says it was built during the second week of December, 1962.
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TJ 11:59AM (11/10/2008)
huh? So, are you saying you believe this *isn't* one of the six made? You think its a fake?
arturo 3:20PM (11/10/2008)
It was probably build in december but it sold as a 1963. This car is a very unique and it could be worth twice as much with a proper restoration.
DKB_SATX 12:10PM (11/10/2008)
TJ: I think he's saying the opposite... if it were a "regular" Tempest, it would have the rope-drive setup with semi-independent rear, but this one has a conventional rear setup to handle higher torque/heavier abuse.
TJ 12:24PM (11/10/2008)
Gotcha...
Ok, here is the test:
Look at the man/woman in the cubicle next to you and ask them if their vehicle has a "swing-arm rear suspension with rope drive"
How many people got something more than a blank stare in return?
Honestly, how many people have a relative with old Detroit iron rotting away in the garage (father with a '79 Cordoba lean burn that hasn't run since 1993 here)... now how many of those are one-of-six-made-and-one-of-three-left vehicles? Stuff like this doesn't happen everyday, and I honestly believe a majority of sellers would have no clue.