"The Cigarette " model
 

Who has bought any of the models
Is the price really $2,500
How many are they going to produce ?
Will they go up in value as time goes on ?

Thank you for your interest in the model ....The Cigarette. I hope I can answer some of your questions.

At the Miami Boat show, we just delivered model # 21 out of a total limited run of 100.

Most of the buyers have been former racers but we have had a few collectors mixed in there too. The model delivered just before the Miami Boat show model went to John Haggin of AMF Offshore Racing fame.

The price for the first 25 of the 100 limited editions is $2,500. The next 25, the price will go up....undecided at this point. The third 25 will also see a price increase and the last 25 may be just what the market will bear.

Will they increase in value.....we feel that there is no question about that. There was only one Don Aronow....he had this particular model in his office while he was making Cigarette a household word around the world.

This model run is an exact duplicate of Don's personal model....not of some of the lesser copies made later.

If you have an interest in purchasing a model, just contact us through the website and we will be in touch with you re payment and expected delivery dates.

Thank you for your interest.

www.historicraceboats.com

Who has the original one ?

Michael Aronow, the eldest son of Don Aronow....that is how we are so sure of the heritage of the model.

Nice to see in the latest issue of Yachting, page 80, they have Don as one of the top Super Stars in boating in the last 100years.

It is ironic that the photo they chose to show him, is one of him holding his model of ...The Cigarette. This kind of public recognition of the model stuff can only make the values go up.

I seriously doubt you will see any appreciation of this model. To think so would be very optimistic. Buy it because you like it. It would be a handsome addition to anyone,s collection of boating memorobilia.

No regrets with my model.
 

I will post a picture of mine in a couple of days. I have got $2500.00 of satisfaction of seeing the model everyday. Most of us are lucky to see are real boats 15-20 times a year.:D

Cigarette model
 

Here is a picture of mine. What a conversation piece!!

Some of the model buyers are starting to double up. One for the home and one for the office.

I guess that speaks about the quality of the model.

Latest sale to a Two Model guy, who is getting a matching number to match his new full size 2007 Cigarette HIN number....that is classy!!

Had a couple of inquiries regarding the time frame.

From order time to delivery time, it runs about 6 to 8 weeks....that is for all the models sold to USA customers.....overseas varies, depending on country and delivery method.

Very nice model.............but in my opinion overpriced.........It looks too plastic to me........I think it would have have a nicer piece had it been down sized in dimensions (I would have a hard time finding a place for a 3 foot model in my office), and maybe more details such as hatches that open,props that spin,etc.......also use of other materials such as wood, maybe real cloth for the seats, etc..........There are some very nice, smaller metal die-cast models out there with allot more detail that may have been a better route to go..... .It looks like the auction price on EBAY for one of these models is just over the $500 mark with just over 1 day to go. That usually tells you what something is worth on the open market

I would like to thank you for your comments re the model and would like to take the opportunity to review them with you.

This model is an exact duplicate of the model that Don Aronow had in his office at Cigarette.

So as far as size and materials, these are what Don chose at the time and this is how his son Michael chose to duplicate it...exactly.

Don Aronow was not a "smaller metal die cast" kind of guy, either in the way he lived or in the things he owned.

We are finding that they buyers of the model are pretty much of the same vein. Successful people in their own right, who appreciate an opportunity to own a real connection to someone they may never had a chance to meet.

As far as e-bay, we made a decison to gain more market exposure by putting the model up for auction. "With a reserve", if you will note. The reserve is $2,500. We sold a model this past week as a direct result of e-bay, but not on e-bay.

When the gentleman saw the link to www.historicraceboats.com he realized that by looking on the site he could see what the sale price of the model is. He contacted us and said he didn't want to get into a bidding war and could he buy one at the $2,500 price. We said yes and he did.

For the same reason that Goodyear doesn't sell blimps, but uses them for exposure to their brand, we did the same with e-bay. No model will be sold on e-bay unless the bididng meets or exceeds the reserve price.

This is a personal value type of decision. For the same reason that we who are Cigarette owners, made a decsion that we were willing to spend the money, to get what we feel is the top brand, the buyers of the model feel they are buying something that cannot be replicated in a cheaper version.

How many of your first production run is still available?

Will the next run be a different price and unsigned?

That was very nicely put Charlie!!:D

Quality costs $$$ It's only overpriced when you can't afford it.:D

Nope, guess that's about it... :drink:

Hey Tim , where did you get that line , from Yogi Berra ??
Didn't mean to ruffle anyone's feathers, just stating my opinion on the price of the model, and that paying too much for something doesn't necassarilly make you a successful person, as "Top Banana" slightly suggests.
I guess the proof is in the pudding. How many units have been sold since the models have been up for sale ? I remember talking to Mike Aronow in Feb. of 05' ,when he built the first five models, and now two years later, only twenty plus units are sold.
Maybe it's the marketing of the models. I guess you could always rent space on the side of the Goodyear blimp to help sell the units.
Hopefully that will stir the pot a little....

I see that you've heard that one before... I wasn't actually referring to the model, just the comment of "Anything Cig". I was actually referring to the "real" boats. :D

And Yogi is a little before my time, but I got the point...:rolleyes:

I don’t think quantity of models sold is really paramount, moreover the memory of a man that created such a unique marine product is. To own something that was displayed in Mr. Aronows’ office during his years running many powerboat companies would be priceless. From what I gather its not about trying to build many toy boats, but honoring a person, and a father who meant a great deal…

I hear ya.... :D

You must also realize it is a very common marketing practice to list an item for sale on a website at an inflated price, and then list it on ebay with a reference to the aforementioned "website", so that people will see the "website" price, and then figure the price on e-bay is a good deal. Not saying thats whats going on here, just that it's common practice.

Or how about that other marketing ploy - if you're trying to sell to the truely affluent, then you have to "price it high, or they won't buy" ie: you have to place the price way up there, so the "average" consumer" can't afford it, so it's "exclusive" to the wealthy...or they won't want it. Not saying that's involved here either.......................

Then again, theres the fact that it looks like a nicely done, sweet model, and will bring whatever the market will bear..........

OK, maybe I'm just bitter 'cause I want one!! :):)

Of course, once the Chinese see this thread, it will be available two months later for $99, complete with fresh lead paint :)

I got my cig model a couple of weeks ago, it is way cool, looks awesome sitting on the wood cradle that comes with it, even my wife likes it, prob more than my rough rider