XP-82 for ssle

[Xrayist]

Platinum Fighters just listed the XP-82 for $12,000,000.00.

[Kyleb]

Platinum Fighters just listed the XP-82 for $12,000,000.00.

I hope they get every dime of it, but every time I think about this project (or thought about it when I visited the shop) I wondered if it would sell for enough to recoup the investment.

[JohnB]

There seems to be a lot of rare/expensive aircraft (XF-82, B-17, F8F...on top of the usual stuff) on the market now.I
Makes me worry a bit...I wonder if they know something we don't?

[Lon Moer]

So its for sale again ? or still for sale and just listed with Platinum now ?

Was/Has been for sale through Bob Hanna;

[Jesse C.]

Didn't someone post a rumor that a Russian buyer was looking at it?

Too bad FHC isn't doing much lately. This would be a heck of an addition to their collection, but then again, a Stuka project might end up on the Sale ads

[Craig59]

Interesting.

Twelve million dollars divided by 207,000 man-hours is $58/hour.

About what it costs to get your car worked on...

[GRNDP51]

There seems to be a lot of rare/expensive aircraft (XF-82, B-17, F8F...on top of the usual stuff) on the market now.I
Makes me worry a bit...I wonder if they know something we don't?

More or less coincidental. The XP has been for sale (although not as publicly) for a while now. There have been F8F’s and B-17’s for sale somewhat recently that were picked up. This is one of Platinum’s best years to date, don’t think there is really anything to worry about. Charles Sommers and Fagen both added some really nice stuff to their collections this year (and POF with the Meteor even though it was a donation). Some people buy, some people sell. Surprised as many people are buying as they are so that’s great news.

[menards]

Platinum Fighters just listed the XP-82 for $12,000,000.00.

I hope they get every dime of it, but every time I think about this project (or thought about it when I visited the shop) I wondered if it would sell for enough to recoup the investment.

This answer is always no. And its not just warbirds. Ever come across the guy who spent decades restoring what he thinks is a "rare muscle car" and he has $100k in receipts but the car is only "worth" $25k? The XP-82 is only worth what someone wants to pay for it..or more correctly what the seller is willing to finally let it go for. $12M is still just the ask...not the final sale price.

In reality there are only a few buyers who would have the means and the potential desire to purchase this specific airframe, and all of them are uninterested at this point (why it hasn't sold)

[bdk]

And excludes parts of course...

Twelve million dollars divided by 207,000 man-hours is $58/hour.

About what it costs to get your car worked on...

[phil65]

Will he take a personal check...

Phil

[Firebird]

In reality there are only a few buyers who would have the means and the potential desire to purchase this specific airframe, and all of them are uninterested at this point (why it hasn't sold)

Exactly....and likely while it will remain unsold for a very long time to come (at that price)

[LysanderUK]

Well it's the perfect two-seater for socially distanced flying, it's a great time to sell it!

Joking aside, the price seems a little bit eye-watering. If it did sell at that price, would it set a record? I'm struggling to think of any warbird that has come anywhere near that price in the past.

[Kyleb]

This answer is always no. And its not just warbirds. Ever come across the guy who spent decades restoring what he thinks is a "rare muscle car" and he has $100k in receipts but the car is only "worth" $25k? The XP-82 is only worth what someone wants to pay for it..or more correctly what the seller is willing to finally let it go for. $12M is still just the ask...not the final sale price.

In reality there are only a few buyers who would have the means and the potential desire to purchase this specific airframe, and all of them are uninterested at this point (why it hasn't sold)

$12 million is a lot for an aircraft and type without WWII history. OTOH, Tom Reilly's spiel to potential XP-82 investors was that all of his previous investors had made money on his projects. So I'm sure he has a sense of the market for this airplane.

[phil65]

It will be interesting to see if it sells and who buys it. It's not like you can really give rides in it to make any money. It's got two of everything, so more operating cost and potential problems.

Phil

[JohnB]

I agree with the previous post about the money is a lot for a type without WWII history.

I spoke to someone who said that's why he sold his "just too late to see WWII combat" type.
In other words, to many, and to the public that might pay to see them or ride in them...history matters.

Some guys want to be the main attraction in something neat and rare where ever they go...Oshkosh, a small show or even to the next town over on a proficiency flight. Fine, it's there money.
Other warbird owners want to relieve the glory days of the AVG, Mighty Eighth of the Pacific Fleet. That too is fine.
But you can see two different markets for warbirds.

This isn't meant in any way to criticize the type or its restorers...and I'm not saying the asking price is too high or isn't worth it, just making a (rather obvious) statement.

Last edited by JohnB on Fri Sep 04, 2020 12:24 am, edited 1 time in total.