While were on the subject of rare old boats for sale on eBay, we thought you might like to see this one. Fellow Woody Boater Jim Staib from Fine Wood Boats spotted this listing on eBay and sent it in to Woody Boater HQ. It’s a rare 1947 25′ Chris-Craft Red & White Express Cruiser.
Most of our regular viewers here at Woody Boater know by now that we have a soft spot in our hearts for these rare and unique Chris-Craft Express Cruisers and had a great time aboard Jim Frechette’s Pre-War Red & White “Old Paint” during the Sunnyland show back in March. So it’s good so see another one of these survivor’s out there being cared for.
According to the “Essential Guide” there were only 302 Post-War Red & White Express Cruiser’s built by Chris-Craft in Algonac between 1946 and 1948 and according to the seller this one is #154 of the production series (X-25-154) built in February 1947.
So if you have an extra $104,500.00 kicking around, you can bid on this beautiful old Chris-Craft and have it just in time for the summer boating season this year. In six days to be exact as that’s when the bidding closes. By the way this particular Red & White has one of those unusual “Witches’ Cap” bow lights, also rare for the Post-War series Red & White’s.
You can see the eBay listing by clicking here. The seller also has a web site dedicated the “The Olde Man” and his journey over the years from Algonac to Seattle, you can click here to go there.
It’s always fun to see an eBay boat listing with good photography too!
Texx
Anybody know the origin of the Red and White color scheme? Was it a post war thing? Or marketing?
Dave – Woody Boater did a story on the Red & White Express Cruisers back in March. They were first introduced in 1940-42 (Pre-War) and then re-introduced in 1946-48 (Post-War). They have quite an interesting history…
http://woodyboater.com/classic-boats/old-paint-has-some-new-paint-just-in-time-for-the-sunnyland-antique-classic-boat-festival/
Very cool boat but a tad “aggresive” on pricing, I would say. That is the damndest color I have ever seen for a Chrysler Royal engine. Maybe it is the light somehow?
I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and say, it ain’t gonna sell
It is too bad that it only has the buy it now option. If there were straight bidding it might give an idea of what these great classics are really worth. As the owner of “Old Paint”, I would love to see it sell for the asking price but I agree that it is a tad too much, by way more than twice.
How about a twin engine red and white?
http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/boa/2407951015.html
rob
Rob – Two Post-War Red & Whites for sale in the same area… Thanks for posting this listing.
That’s quite a range in price. So if this Express has the original twin power plants, according to the Essential Guide they should be Hercules K’s. It would be interesting to know how many were originally produced with Twin Herc’s…
Prewar there were 17 with twin k’s. one had twin Chrysler Crowns. Post war, 102 with twin k’s. Number 295 had twin Packards. The majority of the boats prewar had either the twins or the MS (M with reduction gear). Most postwar had either the twins or the Chrysler straight 8.
http://s1106.photobucket.com/albums/h377/occams_grazer/
This is another red and white for sale in the San Francisco area. I believe they want $4,000
http://www.classifiedads.com/boats-ad4318511.htm
Interesting how this boat was listed for $77,000 just a month and a half ago!