MNeagle
31st July 2011, 08:58 PM
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QymXVfhHreHvMqrinEm_8A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MjU1Njtjcj0xO2N3PTQyNTY7ZHg9MD tkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTM3OTtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/890da3c2ea095b10f40e6a70670068f7.jpg
One-of-a-kind transparent "Ghost Car" sold at auction
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/FZN6924R0WZ__x92.x6.GA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9Zml0O2g9Mjc-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/logo/reuters/d0c3eb8ca18907492a4b337b5cec5193.jpeg (http://www.reuters.com/)By Mary Wisniewski | Reuters – Sat, Jul 30, 2011
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QymXVfhHreHvMqrinEm_8A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MjU1Njtjcj0xO2N3PTQyNTY7ZHg9MD tkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTM3OTtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/890da3c2ea095b10f40e6a70670068f7.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/photos/1939-plymouth-deluxe-6-referred-ghost-car-because-photo-192633588.html;_ylt=AmwFW2GuPB2lOcdCWaVoYOVtzwcF;_ ylu=X3oDMTNjZmE4YTY2BHBrZwM4YTdhMDE3Zi03ZTJmLTNmYm EtYWFlMy02Yzc2YTNiNGM5ZDkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0 aWNsZUxlYWQEdmVyAzAzZDUxNWMwLWJhMTktMTFlMC04ZGRiLT A1ODk0YmQ2ZTljMQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTJsdGh0bjY4BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDMDkwMjAyMzgtYzNhMi0zZThiLWJmMDUtZjk1NmU2NG QxMDg2BHBzdGNhdAN1cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3) Detroit News, David Guralnick - The 1939 Plymouth Deluxe 6, also referred to as the "Ghost Car" because its chassis was constructed of plexiglass , is driven at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth, Mich. July28, 2011. The see-through Pontiac built by General Motors for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair is going on the auction block this weekend. The car's Plexiglas body offers a view of its chrome, steel and iron innards. It also features white-colored rubber moldings and tires. (AP Photo/Detroit News, David Guralnick) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT, MANDITORY CREDIT
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Some car enthusiasts prefer black - some red. But a buyer at a Michigan auction Saturday got a truly one-of-a-kind color -- transparent.
The 1939 Pontiac Deluxe Six "Ghost Car," first displayed at the New York World's Fair and later at the Smithsonian Institution, was sold Saturday for $308,000.
Originally built for $25,000, the car with a Plexiglas body was the first transparent car built in America. Another was built the following year, but its whereabouts are unknown.
"This is the only one known to exist," said Alain Squindo, a car specialist for RM Auctions, which held the auction for the "Ghost Car" and other specialty vehicles in Plymouth, Mich. "It's a very original car."
The Ghost Car was first displayed at the 1939/1940 New York World's Fair, Squindo said. It toured a number of dealerships, and then was at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for a number of years.
It has been owned by the same family since the 1980s. "They were rather sad to see their beloved car go," Squindo said. He could not disclose the name of the buyer.
The car had less than 100 miles on it, picked up by being driven in and out of dealerships for displays. It was a collaboration between GM and Rohm & Haas chemical company, which made the Plexiglas. Structural metal underneath was given a copper wash and all hardware, including the dashboard was chrome-plated.
Squindo said the top price paid at the auction was for a 1932 Packard convertible sedan once owned by singer Al Jolson, which sold for $1.1 million.
(Writing and reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Tim Gaynor)
http://news.yahoo.com/one-kind-transparent-ghost-car-sold-auction-203402602.html
One-of-a-kind transparent "Ghost Car" sold at auction
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/FZN6924R0WZ__x92.x6.GA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9Zml0O2g9Mjc-/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/logo/reuters/d0c3eb8ca18907492a4b337b5cec5193.jpeg (http://www.reuters.com/)By Mary Wisniewski | Reuters – Sat, Jul 30, 2011
http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/QymXVfhHreHvMqrinEm_8A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Y2g9MjU1Njtjcj0xO2N3PTQyNTY7ZHg9MD tkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTM3OTtxPTg1O3c9NjMw/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/890da3c2ea095b10f40e6a70670068f7.jpg (http://news.yahoo.com/photos/1939-plymouth-deluxe-6-referred-ghost-car-because-photo-192633588.html;_ylt=AmwFW2GuPB2lOcdCWaVoYOVtzwcF;_ ylu=X3oDMTNjZmE4YTY2BHBrZwM4YTdhMDE3Zi03ZTJmLTNmYm EtYWFlMy02Yzc2YTNiNGM5ZDkEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQXJ0 aWNsZUxlYWQEdmVyAzAzZDUxNWMwLWJhMTktMTFlMC04ZGRiLT A1ODk0YmQ2ZTljMQ--;_ylg=X3oDMTJsdGh0bjY4BGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRw c3RhaWQDMDkwMjAyMzgtYzNhMi0zZThiLWJmMDUtZjk1NmU2NG QxMDg2BHBzdGNhdAN1cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2U-;_ylv=3) Detroit News, David Guralnick - The 1939 Plymouth Deluxe 6, also referred to as the "Ghost Car" because its chassis was constructed of plexiglass , is driven at the Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth, Mich. July28, 2011. The see-through Pontiac built by General Motors for the 1939-40 New York World's Fair is going on the auction block this weekend. The car's Plexiglas body offers a view of its chrome, steel and iron innards. It also features white-colored rubber moldings and tires. (AP Photo/Detroit News, David Guralnick) DETROIT FREE PRESS OUT, MANDITORY CREDIT
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Some car enthusiasts prefer black - some red. But a buyer at a Michigan auction Saturday got a truly one-of-a-kind color -- transparent.
The 1939 Pontiac Deluxe Six "Ghost Car," first displayed at the New York World's Fair and later at the Smithsonian Institution, was sold Saturday for $308,000.
Originally built for $25,000, the car with a Plexiglas body was the first transparent car built in America. Another was built the following year, but its whereabouts are unknown.
"This is the only one known to exist," said Alain Squindo, a car specialist for RM Auctions, which held the auction for the "Ghost Car" and other specialty vehicles in Plymouth, Mich. "It's a very original car."
The Ghost Car was first displayed at the 1939/1940 New York World's Fair, Squindo said. It toured a number of dealerships, and then was at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. for a number of years.
It has been owned by the same family since the 1980s. "They were rather sad to see their beloved car go," Squindo said. He could not disclose the name of the buyer.
The car had less than 100 miles on it, picked up by being driven in and out of dealerships for displays. It was a collaboration between GM and Rohm & Haas chemical company, which made the Plexiglas. Structural metal underneath was given a copper wash and all hardware, including the dashboard was chrome-plated.
Squindo said the top price paid at the auction was for a 1932 Packard convertible sedan once owned by singer Al Jolson, which sold for $1.1 million.
(Writing and reporting by Mary Wisniewski; Editing by Tim Gaynor)
http://news.yahoo.com/one-kind-transparent-ghost-car-sold-auction-203402602.html