Kitfox serial 0002 is up for sale

[tracstarr]

Found this today.


Ultralight aircraft,
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-buy-sell-other/edmonton/ultralight-aircraft/1337712468?utm_source=com.google.android.apps.docs&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialbuttonsVIP&utm_content=app_android

[Esser]

It’s been for sale around here locally for a few months. No matter it’s pedigree, it’s too expensive for the model and how it’s equipped.

[tracstarr]

Didn't realize that. Thought it was interesting, but yeah, bit much.

[Av8r3400]

At the current exchange of .78:1, this makes it $38,500 USD.

IMO, that's over double it's market value.

[Esser]

Other way! It’s about 26k USD. Still about 8k too high

[skyguy04]

Note, it does come with full lotus floats. However, i think it's still too high.

[Paul Z]

Way too expensive!

[TJay]

I would sell my Model 1 for 26 thousand ss number 11 and never left the ground ha

[atosrider]

now be nice, fellas, you want to say you got a good deal when you purchased whatever, so you need guys priced way out there to help with your bravado,
BTW, I got turned on to such a good deal, I'm now a kitfox owner, soon to be flyer, bet lots of you arrived here on a good deal too !

[HighWing]

I guess being closer to 100 than I am to 50 years old might just give a slightly different perspective. This airplane is the first commercially sold kit designed and produced by Dan Denney - http://www.ksql.com/myriad/thunder.htm . There is history here. I have several 1943 zink pennys worth a tad more than 1 cent each - history there as well. I restored a 1957 Thunderbird and sold it for three times it's original purchase price. I could go on and on, but the point I am suggesting..... Never mind.

[Guy Buchanan]

Sorry Lowell. You're just never going to be worth three times your original purchase price. ;)

[HighWing]

You got me there, Guy, but checking a bit of history, the 57 Thunderbird actually sold for just under 5 times the "original" listed price. I guess if there is no interest in owning a bit of history, the seller will discover that. Just trying to be fair.

[av8rps]

I own the first Avid Flyer, the one that is shown on the early brochure with Dean Wison and Dan Denny standing next to, well before the Kitfox was thought of. I once tried to have it appraised for insurance, and as soon as they learned it was the prototype they said they would only insure it for 10% more than any other similar Avid Flyer, and really weren't interested due to how much insurance fraud happens to one-only collectibles.

At one time I considered donating it to either the Smithsonian or EAA (both showed interest) for a tax write-off but no appraisers would put a number on it. They said it falls under the term "Priceless" as being a prototype it is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it, which no one knows until you try to sell it. So true value cannot be determined easily.

A good example of that would be that Thunderbird Lowell mentioned: An old t-Bird like that will bring 50 grand today. But a bunch of years ago Ford Motor Company sold a 1956 Thunderbird that was serial number 2 and got 600k for it. Oh, and remember, that wasn't even the first year of the Thunderbird, the 1955 was. And of course, it certainly wasn't the 1st Ford. It was just year number 2 of one Ford model.

So sometimes the value of such things is truly hard to determine. If that really is serial number 2 Kitfox, it really isn't just your typical early Kitfox. So if the owner sees more value because of that, you can't blame him for trying to get a bit more for it.

So where is Kitfox number 1? (84DD as I recall) I've always wondered where that ended up. Someone told me it was wrecked, but again never researched.

[Av8r3400]

Wouldn't that mean that SkySteve's 85DD is really the second?

[DesertFox4]

84DD was born in ‘84’.
85DD was born in ‘85’.
Both historic Kitfox aircraft but serial numbers are likely hundreds apart from each other due to the popularity of the design right out of the gate in 1984.

[SkySteve]

Well, it just so happens that I can confirm the serial # of 85DD is "42". As usual, it takes a few tries to get to "perfection"!:)

[DesertFox4]

42 it is. Not as many sold the first year as I would have guessed.

[SkySteve]

The building of 85DD was started in 1985. The Airworthiness Certificate was issued in 1986. Then, off to Osh for 1st place build awards in both 1986 & 1987.

[av8rps]

Pretty cool to know 85DD is still going strong. Thanks for keeping it alive Steve.

As light as the early planes were, now that you have a 912 under the hood 85DD has got to be a real hotrod.

[SkySteve]

And 85DD still looks brand new:

https://i.imgur.com/XjqXsQXh.jpg

[av8rps]

It looks great! I remember seeing your Kitfox when it was new. It was a part of the early beginnings of the company for sure.

[avidflyer]

It is a nice color combination. My Kitfox 1 # 151 uses the same colors. The Kitfox 4 I'm rebuilding will copy my Kitfox 1. JImChuk

[SkySteve]

Looking great, Jim!

[efwd]

When I hear how old that plane is I am comforted in some way. I have an 87' Dodge Ram PU that I bought in Sep. 86'. Still runs great and looks great also with the new paint. I often see these older aircraft and they look like nobody has taken care of them. It has made me wonder if my airplane is going to decay like that, but seeing Steve's looking so good Im reassured that I can keep mine looking fresh also. Nice upkeep Steve, very inspiring.
Eddie

[SkySteve]

Thanks, Eddie. 85DD has lived in an enclosed hangar all of it's life. It does make a big difference.