A recent eBay online car auction in the states started out looking very normal and ended up with a $226,521 ($391,900 NZ) sale. The auction was for a 1963 Pontiac LeMans Tempest obtained after owner died, appeard to have original interior but no motor, no transmission. Body had a little rust and some dents. There was stuff in the trunk, but no key to open it. The opening bid was for only $500, which initally seemed fair considering the condition of the car.
However, clues to the vehicle’s true worth could be found in the plexiglass windows, unusual suspension setup and a dash plate bearing the name of a racetrack. This tipped the owner off to the Pontiac’s 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. The car was driven by Stan Antlocer and was the fastest drag car in 1963 before just disappearing.
After seeing the questions on the auction, it’s clear the seller truly didn’t know the car’s importance. In his answers, he’s both surprised by the car’s potential value as well as overwhelmed by the attention. He turned down an offer of $160,000 US 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, one bidder had bought a very rare, if a little rusty, LeMans for almost $400,000 kiwi dollars.
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