Cost of a Watson Roadster

[Mitch G.]

A.J. Watson built 23 wonderful roadsters, between 1956 and 1963, winning the Indianapolis 500, 6 times! Most of these cars lived long hard lives, becoming super modifieds, being wrecked, burned, having cages added, V8's replacing their Offy engines. Most have been accounted for, and restored, many books have been written, magazine articles, and the Indianapolis Speedway museum has a couple. Bob McConnel of Urbana, OH owns 8 of them! Here is one that McConnel put for auction with RM auctions, for the Amelia Island car show. Want to know what a fully restored, authentic original Watson Roadster is worth?
This one sold March 13 of this year, for $240,000

[Olen McGuire]

Neato Mitch, here's a 1960 Watson Indy Roadster that was up for bid at RM Auctions, June 2008. Starting bid was $125,000 with an estimate up to $300,000. Click Live Auctioneers (http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/5327340) to see more pics and a nice write up of A.J.Watson.~Olen




http://autoracingmemories.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=271&pictureid=2074

[Quick Time]

Mitch,

GULP

Great info, you really stay on top of this history.

Chuck

[Mike Croley]

I don't think there has ever been a better looking open wheel race car than a front engine Watson Offy roadster . I like the later ones ( 1963 , 1964 ) , but they are are all works of art . Calhoun is my all time favorite Indy car . I saw it on display at Daniels Chevrolet in Colorado Springs in 1963 or 1964 .

[mac miller]

Here is the replica Watson, I built. It has an Alfa Romeo engine and Alfa 5 spd gearbox. It is a great car to drive and runs many midwest vintage meets, including the Milwaukee Miller meet.
A top level "replica" costs 75 to 85 thousand dollars. A top level "recreation", with an OFFY engine, costs 130 to 140 thousand dollars. "Real" roadsters have been selling, at auction, for 200 to 240 thousand dollars, although the market price seems to be below 200 thousand right now.

I am currently looking for a customer, to build a "laydown" engine roadster.