Valuable Clunkers
As the old saying goes, one mans trash is another mans treasure, and the recent Cash-for-Clunkers program is a good example of that truth. Government records suggest some of the so-called clunkers turned in by consumers who took advantage of the program were pretty exotic and potentially desirable collector cars.
Among the vehicles traded in was a 1997 Bentley Continental R, which the Detroit Free Press notes originally went for a solid $300,000. Other vehicles on the list included a 1997 Aston Martin DB7, a 1992 BMW 850i, a 1999 Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG and a limited-edition 2008 Ford F-150 Foose pickup customized by Chip Foose. Another buyer traded in one of only 547 Buick GNX Grand National muscle cars ever built.
The government list also showed that there were 37 vehicles traded in that were less than a year old and even more curious, there were a number of Mini Cooper, Scion xDs and other small, fuel-efficient models traded in, along with the big Lincoln Town Cars and Chevrolet Silverado pickups.
Under the Cash-for-Clunkers program, the traded in vehicles were to be disabled and destroyed, but dealers were also free to provide the required government trade in value to the consumer out of their own pocket and not destroy the vehicle. Lets hope that was the case with at least some of the exotics traded in.
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