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Transparent Car Sells for Over $300,000
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August 2011

Car collectors pay high prices for unique or unusual cars. The transparent car made for the 1939/1940 New York World’s Fair was sold last week (July 30, 2011) for $308,000 by RM Auctions in Plymouth, Michigan. The 1939 Pontiac Deluxe Six "ghost car" was made to show the mechanical parts of the car and to promote the new transparent material, Plexiglas. It may be the only car like it, although rumor suggests two cars were made.

transparent car

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Aaron Summerfield ©2011 Courtesy of RM Auctions

 

  Comments
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  andy  - Yes, there were two   |08-10-2011 15:37:01  
It's a little inaccurate to call the existence of a second ghost Pontiac a
"rumor," as General Motors themselves have stated that such a car was
built: "A second 1940 'Ghost Car' was built for the 1940 Golden Gate
Exposition on Treasure Island, near San Francisco. [...] Later, both were shown
at Pontiac dealerships nationwide and the 1939 vehicle was loaned to the
Smithsonian Institution during WWII."

Ref:
http://history.gmheritagecenter.com/wiki/index.php
/The_Pontiac_Deluxe_Six_%22Ghost_Car%22
  ajbits  - none   |08-10-2011 16:35:59  
I'm quite sure I saw this car in 1940 at the NY World's Fair. I was about 11
years old at the time. Fascinating.
  waynemikosz  - ghost car pricing   |08-11-2011 10:03:43  
Your article on the 39-40 Pontiac Ghost Car is slightly misleading. Please be
aware that the car sold for $280 thousand dollars, plus commission (28K). As a
Certified Specialty Car Appraiser I do not consider the commission as part of
the fair market value of the car.
  tessonator  - auction price vs. selling price   |08-11-2011 17:24:47  
The difference between what items sell for and what they REALLY sell for has
always been confusing. If I'm buying, as far as I'm concerned, the total
dollars out of my pocket, including commission, is the price of the car.
Similar to purchasing a $300,000 home - you wouldn't say it was a $278,000 home
just because the seller had to pay $18,000 to the realtors in commission! It's
a confusing system.
  TerryKovel   |08-15-2011 15:11:43  
We are reporters for collectors and every time we report a price; we try to
include the buyer's premium because that is the amount the buyer paid. Cars may
be different but most antiques auctions today give prices that include the
premium. Thanks for mentioning it.

And yes, there was another transparent car
but we could not find anyone who knew where it was now. Can anyone help with
this? -Terry
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