If that arm was a registered trademark of Willie Borsch, it may not even be the property of the seller to sell. This could end up going to court if all the "i"s aren't dotted and the "t"s crossed. It might even say something about it being a "registered trademark of Wild Willie" or "trademark left arm reproduced with permission" somewhere on the Revell model kit box. If it is trademarked property I don't believe the seller can legally sell it unless he has express written permission from the owner, or in this case his surviving family. I have a call out to a buddy of mine on the west coast. He has THOUSANDS of unbuilt model kits in his collection. I've asked him if he has this particular model, and if he could send me a copy of the licensing credits from the side of the box. I'm very curious at this point. Just waiting for his reply.
Man! I'd sell my Harley for that thing!!! Willie was one of my heroes of racing just from watching old runs of the Winged Express(I was 6 when he passed). He just had a balls out style to him that I liked and it never hurt the car was crossed up smoking them half the time! I'd like to see it in a rightful place like back with Mousie and Boyd and The Express!!! Long Live Wild Willie!
I'd love to, but I have more important things to spend my money on. Like a mortgage, insurance, utilities... I didn't read where it was SOLD to the owner (Father-in-law). I was under the impression that it was "left" there after one of Willie's seasonal stays, and then he retired and it was forgotten about. MY concern would be for the guy who BUYS it. He could end up paying a bunch of money for it, only to have someone come out of the woodwork and try to reclaim it.
What a great history lesson! If I had the cash, screw the museum I would like it for garage art and a conversation peice.
If the right people see that auction (they may already have), maybe. I'd guess less, $2K-$3K range for regular folk. Agree, it should be in a drag racing museum. Iconic piece of memorabilia. Especially with the interest in Willie's fame & legend, both past & present. That's a long auction. I'm sure the word will get around, and your guess may be close, Ragtop.
I liked to fell out of my #^*% chair when I read someone thought it was a real arm. I wonder where the Charger Funny car is.
I have a unopened model, comes with the arm mentioned here. Willing to trade for real estate, lear jet or pure gold, lots of it. I relly do
What did you see? According to the stories, he only drove the altered that way, and didn't use the fake arm until later with the funny cars....
Willie was well known for driving the altered with one hand... the fake arm was never in the altered, it wasn't until they switched to Funny Car that someone had the idea of mounting a fake arm in the left window to give it the effect that he was driving the Funny Car one handed. It's actually too bad the person that has the real car (if it still exists) didn't keep the fake arm with the car.
Actually,believe it or not, something similar to this has already happened. A guy in England found a Monet in a land fill, and gave it to his daughter. She put it up for auction at Sothebys, and the surviving children of the last known owner successfully blocked the sale, as far as I know, it is still tied up in the courts ten years later. Funny thing is, the estate was contacted long before the painting went up for auction to try to find out the history of the painting, they did not express any interest until it went up for auction $$$. Sorry, Windslow Homer, not Monet... http://www.youghalonline.com/2011/0...tip-to-sothebys-but-who-owns-250000-painting/
Its not the arm for sale, The seller is trying to get sombody to reinburse him for storage fees and the guy who does that gets the arm so he can store it for awhile.
Boy! Hope my wife don't sell my left arm still in my firersuit and glove when I'm gone. Hell,She might do it while I'm still here. Now i'm thinken.
I seem to recall a story about the whole Revell deal not working out that well, Due to "differences" between Willy and the Revell brass. Anyone recall the details?
Ummmmmm, did you or did you not say in post #25 "My bet is that its just a scam......seriously doubt that they took his arm before cremation"... FAIL.
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