Warbird Information Exchange

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all ... p-for-sale

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Been up for sale for several years.

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CraigQ

Plus it comes with a boat load of spares...

Interesting statement...
Wouldn't RCAF Mustang IV 9298 at Rockcliffe also qualify? Other than a paint job applied in 1964 or so when it was transferred from the RCAF, to my knowledge it has never been restored.
I'm sure there at least one or two others out there too.


Although most of here know that MH415 was used in the filming of the movie 'Battle of Britain' in 1968, to the unsuspecting reader they would assume that she was in the actual battle in 1940.
Oh well...

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Yes, but you'd have to have what my Mother refers to as, "More money than sense" to not do your homework before you'd seriously considering buying it.

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I think this is one of those deals that IF you had the money and the time to sit on the parts cache it would be totally worth it. The mustang could be restored and flown or sold. Then the engines and parts could be cleaned up/restored/prepped for sale and then as stated in the article, you would be the king of P-51 parts for future restorations.

Tom P.

I know that it is not explicit in his comment but I have a hunch that he probably meant the last complete and unrestored example that will ever come on the market. I could be wrong of course.

Either way, the statement is incorrect. I personally know of two complete, unrestored Mustangs in private hands. Neither are for sale, which I think is what he meant. One is in New Zealand, and is quite well known. The other is here in the States.

There was another, that sold at auction a couple of years ago, that sold for under $1 million, which goes a long way towards explaining why Connie still owns his airplane. The other reason might be that Cal Pacific owns the type certificate and can legally produce parts under PMA authority. Is it desireable to buy 75 year old parts when you can buy new ones? Probably depends upon the price?

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Rob C

Historically, the claim of consensus has been the first refuge of scoundrels; it is a way to avoid debate by claiming that the matter is already settled. “

– Michael Crichton

would that be NZ2423 (c/n 124-48266, ex 45-11513) ?

Complete, but with outer wings torched off for transport!

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

thanks , found a photo with wings cut off , not sure if link will be visible
https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2497/408 ... a4ca_b.jpg

He owns it, he can ask whatever he wants, BUT, this is why only a select few people in the world can ever own and enjoy these planes. People like this have been driving the prices into astronomical territories for years. No different in the car world. Interestingly, in the 60s you could buy the baddest hot rods both in the air and on the ground for a few thousand bucks. Now you need tens of thousands for the ground pounders and a few million for the flying hot rods, which is unfortunate, but it's where we've ended up.
I do appreciate the Soplatas, Edwards, and all those that saved planes from becoming beer cans. At least they are still around for people to enjoy from afar. Rant off.

Maradamx3,
I have to disagree with you on what is driving the price up. It is a simple case of supply and demand.
There are only a finite number of P-51's available, and even a smaller number of those are original (non rebuilt) airframes.
There is no shortage of people with the desire and means to afford one.
The present market sees a mustang rebuild that is 60-75% new manufacture parts and an existing dataplate selling for more than the cost of repair which has made the supply of "restorable" airframes hit a low.
Mustang wrecks are purchased and rebuilt on a regular basis, many are sold as completed before they even make it to the restoration shop.
They are such a desirable aircraft that what is essentially a replica airframe (nearly all new metal) will bring the same price and "provenance" of an authentic factory built aircraft (think Gerry Beck's "A") .
Collector vehicle's are the same. Less cars than buyers=big $.

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Expert:
Ex: Former.
Spurt: A drip under pressure.

Connie is typically right on his pricing. He's eccentric and has made many good decisions financially and strategically with his wealth. Certainly wouldn't bet against him.
In my mind , you need a 35 year old Kermit Weeks or Rod Lewis. Kermit bought several dozen Allisons when he was young to cover his future needs and has released a few since then. Very few people have or need more than one airworthy Merlin. So you're really looking at an engine builder , etc. I guess I would separate the two. Maybe have the P-51 with a spare complete Merlin to spare. Then have a huge lot of Merlins and all the pieces sold separately. Imagine if they had an auction to sell of the engine inventory.

Platinum Fighter Sales. "Last Of The Unrestored Original Mustangs. As Flown By The Guatemalan Air Force. All Original Equipment Except Guns. Last Flown 1983. Sold With Large Inventory Of Merlin Engines And P-51 Airframe Parts." See link trade-a-plane below.

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?li ... nn22mWEf8#

SALE STATUS: For Sale
YEAR: 1944
MAKE/MODEL:NORTH AMERICAN P-51D
REGISTRATION #: N38227
SERIAL #: Not Listed
LOCATION: TX USA

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Zero Surprise!!...