Help needed on a spotted ebay.com-auction

Hey guys,

I found this auction in everybody´s darling homepage.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/knobi23232/images.jpg

It´s a very small picture. I didn´t find a different one in the google-search-area that fast.

I wonder, whether this a true Pocher-kit. As I recall the boxes look different normally. BTW - what is the difference between a Pocher and a Torino-Pocher kit?

Thanks for your help.


Robert

I dont know if its real or not, I've never built a pocher... But why dont you ask the seller for some more pics of the kit?

That is the original box art the Pocher Alfa Romeo Monza had during the early 70's. Pocher was located in Turin (Torino) but later moved to Lake Como area.

The most important thing when buying a Pocher Alfa is to get confirmation from the seller that the kit is complete and no assembly has been started. Many kits have minor assembly started on the engine which isn't a big deal, unless the block was misplaced by the previous owner. If the seller won't provide more pics or more info PASS...Monza's are common.

EDIT: I looked at it just now. Ask seller what happened to the frame rails. Those are kinda important.

First of all. Thanks for your fast replies.

I asked the seller, how he can be certain that the kit is complete despite the fact that some parts seem to be taken out of th box. Her replied that he knows wehre the kit comes from and that this would ensure him of the kit being complete.

I also asked for pictures of the frame rails. No answer yet.

Next step will be for to calculate shipping to Germany. If that is out of reach I´ll pass anyway.

Any other thoughts?


Robert

Sellers with over 1000 feedbacks are professional eBayers but don't know jack about the stuff they're selling. Now that you've brought the rails to their attention, the seller will probably cancel the auction if they can't find the rails. I suspect the original owner started the frame, put it in a separate box when his wife told him to get it off the kitchen table back in 1973, and the current owner bought the incomplete kit at an estate sale last month for $10. You can get frame rails from Marvin at Model Motorcars. But what else is missing? Springs, shackles, hardware......You can quickly find that you've paid more trying to make an incomplete kit whole than if you had purchased one that was pristine in the first place.

I like the Monza because it is the only "gentleman racer" in the classic Pocher line so it can be modified drastically without the "Originality Police" condemning it (the Fiat is a racer but of one specific car). The Alfa and the Rolls Sedanca are the most common, hence, the most reasonably priced kits too. I suggest you watch some auctions and familiarize yourself with the current market before jumping in. Buy one you feel confident is complete and unstarted for around $400, maybe less if your lucky.

That sounds like a lot of money and it is. But as I write this current production Hiro kits are fast approaching $300 and Pocher's haven't been produced in 10 years and likely never will again.

Thanks for taking your time to provide me with your side of the story on this subject.

I had a Pocher Porsche 911 once. That one was fairly disappointing regarding the quality and the chance to detail it.

I always fancied the Alfa and over here in Europe the prices for one unbuilt complete kit are through the roof. For that reason I played with the idea of buying a built kit to take it apart and rebuild it.

Therefore I was pleased to see this kit up for auction. As I recall correct you can get most of the kit parts from aftermarket sellers. I think I make the price - in connection with the shipping costs - make the decision for me.

As I think you know - once you´re hooked on a project and a rare kit - it is hard to maintain a clear head. Again - thanks for providing me with information keeping me head clear.

I´m happy for more input if you have...

Robert

I could prattle on about Pocher kits and likely put everybody to sleep or I could just show you what it's like to build a modified Monza:
http://i419.photobucket.com/albums/pp280/cratecruncher/Ferrari%20Testa%20Rossa/swbfrt053.jpg
This project is only about half done despite working on it now and then for years. It has many scratch built items like the leaf springs, straight pins for each rivet head and several purchased parts from Model Motorcars. Since I last worked on it Marvin has created even MORE cool parts for this puppy that are on my purchase list. Thank you for starting this thread and renewing my enthusiasm for this long dormant project!