:
So lets see what it's really worth

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120953574878?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_500wt_1265

A few days ago, we had a discussion that started with the
: message, "The most expensive Viceroy Autavia in the
: world" . We discussed a Viceory style Autavia, listed on
: eBay , with a BuyItNow price of $12,995, subject to offers, of
: course.

: Having now spoken with the seller, I wanted to post this message
: regarding my assessment of the watch.

: Bottom line: I believe that the watch is authentic. I believe that
: this Autavia was produced in late 1971 / early 1972, and
: engraved at that time to mark the two USAC (United States
: Automobile Club) championships won by the Vel's Parnelli Jones
: Racing Team, in 1970 and 1971. [I'm not quite sure whether the
: watches were commissioned by the VPJ team, by USAC, or by
: someone else, but does not seem like a critical point.]

: Here's why I think the watch is authentic: Seller sounds honest;
: we chatted for a while, and everything that he said about the
: watch, and his connection to the watch, sounded right. Seller
: has strong Indy 500 connections; his father actually won the
: Indy 500 in the early 1960s, and he grew up with close ties to
: the Indy racing community. It was through a connection in this
: community that he received the watch, in the early 1970s, as a
: gift. Seller provided me with the serial number, and it was
: exactly what it should have been, for late 1971 or early 1972.
: Seems doubtful that Seller had access to the information that he
: would have needed to have "made up" this serial
: number; I believe that he gave me the number that is on the
: watch, and that number is perfect for the watch. Sure the
: engraving looks messy, but these were racing guys, not the
: Tiffanys or Cartier crowd. I have seen other watches from this
: period that are done in the same sort of style. I will leave it
: to others to suggest what this watch is worth. Yes, the $12,995
: seems high, but over the years we have seen lots of people using
: eBay for the "free advertising", and then selling for
: a more reasonable price. The fact that we have seen this
: listing, and are discussing it here, demonstrates that Seller
: was using a good strategy with the eBay listing (and the
: shocking price).

: Jeff

:
:

:
: