Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Thinking about selling my '59 150

The economy being what it is, I may have to put my '59 150 up for sale. I'd like to post a realistic asking price that gives me a little wiggle room for negotiation. Any advice on how to set a price?

Yes, this plane is the "Gin Fizz," the 150 in which I retraced Cal Rodgers' 1911 coast-to-coast flight for the book FLIGHT OF THE GIN FIZZ.

Pictures and stats Henry. I'll give you my honest opinion.

Henry, I enjoyed your book.

What I did was take its value when I bought the plane and then subtracted $10.00 for every hour that I'd flown it since then. I've only had my C150 for five years.

Earlier this year, I stopped at Fulton, Missouri for gas, and it was the first day that I'd finally reconciled myself to selling my plane. Another man was there who had just bought a Cessna 150. I mentioned to the FBO that I wanted to sell my plane, but not to the other man because I figured he would not be interested.

But before I left, he came out and wanted to learn more about my plane. Turns out, he buys small planes and flies them to Brazil to sell. He said he flies the island route. He talked as if the market there was stronger than in the US for Cessna 150s.

The price really does depend upon finding a person who is interested. I expect the market during winter, and especially during this economy, is going to be tough for selling a plane. No one is likely to buy a plane merely because it is a good deal.

Henry,

You might consider finding partners to share the fixed costs. Is it too early to reprint Flight Of The Gin Fizz, or is there another book in you wanting to come out? I learned a lot from your book, and respect the way you made the world fit you.

Jim

What a plane!

What a trip!

What a book!

Loved it!

I hope you can hold on to the bird. (Won't post what your wife named it...)

Henry,

Very sorry to see that you might have to sell the Gin Fizz. We see a lot of airplanes for sale here, and the basic things we use to determine value are as follows:

Total Time
SMOH
Condition of the Paint
Avionics (Type and condition)
Instruments (any non standard, such as a multi channel EGT)
Condition of the Interior
Condition of the external plastics
Any significant STC's (VG's, wingtips, oil filter, hp increase, taildragger conversion etc.)

If you answer the above, I can give you a very accurate price range.

OK, here goes:

1959 C150
5814 hours TT
977 hours TSMOH
Paint 9; new 1998 and hangared since then
Interior 7
External plastics 9
Narco COM IIB
Narco NAV II (glide slope unconnected but could be)
Ameriking 400 Mode C transponder, recertified 9/2/08
EGT
Apollo I Loran, 1994 database
Trimble Flightmate GPS with yoke mount, 1995 database
New tires 1997
Spin-on oil filter
Tanis heater
New ELT battery 2008
6 inch wheel/brake conversion
McCauley DCM6948 propeller with skullcap spinner
Next annual due 9/2/09

Hope this is enough to work with.

Thanks -- Henry

Whoops, apologies for the dual message submission!

Whoops again, that should be "new tires 2007." This is not my week.

Absent any suggestions, I'm going out on a limb and saying $16,000.