Hi Guys,
Well if you couldn't afford James Garner's old ride how about a Imai Elefant? There is one just listed on Ebay. It is even in the right category. Although I can't say that about the price tag. Any tankers out there with a couple of grand to spare for a piece of RC tank history? Bob, thecommandernj

Here is the link for you to Bid/buy....http://cgi.ebay.com/IMAI-1-16-IMAI-E...item2eacf1cb00

Let's try that again http://cgi.ebay.com/IMAI-1-16-IMAI-E...item2eacf1cb00

HA! I don't care how rare the tank is or sought after....no way, no how is a 1/16 scale tank worth that much, especially when I can't build it for the cost I paid for it unbuilt. Let's see...50,000 yen almost 40 years ago.....hmm, cost about 150 bucks, insert appreciation over 4 decades....I'd pay 500-700 tops!

Be wary of anyone who wants payment by bank transfer. You have zero protection then. Isn't this the same guy who had it listed at 50 some hundred bucks a month or so ago?

So 40 years ago where did you buy one for ¥50,000? Good luck finding one for $500-700. Collectible or sought after items don't follow normal appreciation patterns and they sure don't go for what some think they should. If they did the Dino 246 I passed in the 1970s would be just a few more bucks more than the $15,000 price I passed on.

That said the price is a bit over the top. Wait for Hooben's; leave the Imai's to others.

Jerry

Hmmmmm. If memory serves, the LAST IMAI Elefant sold on eBay for MUCH LESS than $1,500 US, a couple years ago. Good luck to 'em selling one for 4 grand in today's economy. But then again, someone recently paid over a hundred millon for a Picasso...,

I know about collectibles, trust me. Raised all my life around collectible figures and toys, which inspired me to become a sculptor and artist. Just cause some one "thinks" it is avaluablecollectible, doesn't make it so. If that were the case, my fathers grade 9.9, Uncanny X-men #1 should go for the 100k it's appraised at.As for the tank is concerned, there's factors involvedasidefrom age and the fact that it isn't produced anymore. Significance of the company.......I'm only aware of the model figures, Robotech and cars Imai made when I lived in Okinawa, (and the cute little model toys in the box of gum.) So maybe there's some value to it because theydabbledinto tanks..... I don't know...but to me, it ain't worth 4 grand. Certainly, this is no rare Tamiya that carries the reputation of high quality models...right? We're talking about a tried and failed tank valued at $4000 on ebay. And just cause it's rare doesn't make itvaluableeither....if that were the case, Hooben's elephant should be valued that high too! lol
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I think I might put myself up for auction. Balding, slightly used stud


lol
Wade

LMAO! .....ya know, that conjures up bad memories for me. When no one but your wife bids on you at a charity bid...it really hurts the pride ya know?lol

It seems to me this kit sells (if it does sell) for the fact that is no longer made. How well did they sell when it was on the market?

I have seen Tamiya Shermans and King Tigers that almost qualify as antique. I see them on this forum all the time, but not one Elephant.

Was it a good kit? Don't get me wrong I would love to have an Elephant made by anyone, however the price tag on this one just makes me wonder wahat was or is so special about it.

In our hobby, and at least to me, a running working tank is the goal. A tank that we modify and paint to our liking. I don't consider my tanks collectible, playable, runnable, fun, challenging yes.

Still with this model is very interesting to see the range of responces. I know that if I were a kit manufacturer and happen to read these posts, I would quickly put out a good quality, fairly priced Elefant as soon as I could.

Don

My wife didn't even bid Go figure.
LOL

Jim

for that kinda money ill go buy a 1/6th mark 1 tank get it shipped to canada and have enough left over to take my wife out for a wonderful dinner and some lame show so i can explain to her why there is a 1/6th tiger in the front room hidden under a cat bed

First I'm not disagreeing with anyone about this particular ebay item. I don't feel the model is worth the
asking price either.

It's ok to say you don't believe a particular thing is not worth the price asked; just don't buy it.

But also understand why someone else might. Understand why a seller would think there's even a slim chance why
someone with more money than sense would bite on an over priced kit. Imai's kit was, is and always be a landmark
offering, like it or not, agree or not. Doesn't matter if Hooben or anyone else comes out with another Elefant that is 10 times better for $50 ( fat chance); Imai's kit will always have its place because they were there first. One doesn't have to agree or assign that fact any value but it is fact. Surely no need to be offended by people who do. People seem to resent items( or their sellers?) on ebay when they have a high start price. It would be interesting to see how high a kit in the same condition as this one would be bid to if there was no reserve. I believe we've all seen such kits in various condition sell for very high prices.

When I see comments like this I realize the writer hasn't the experience with the kit, perhaps they've seen the model built
it photos or in person but have never seen what Imai was able to deliver nearly 40 years ago as a kit when the nearest competitor was the Bandai PzKw IV. Again you don't have to assign that fact any value but others do; they will have the item and you will not; it is that simple.

My fondness for this particular model is very well known to many. Still I'm not a zealot; I can smell a rat also. In this economy the seller is reaching a bit....

I collect other items as well. I believe as a collector one needs to often step outside themselves; that is to say you must have the ability to view something without assessing it with "contemporary eyes". If I couldn't do that I wouldn't be
a collector of anything; some people are incapable of this.

I thought I understood from one of the poster's comments that they had purchased a kit 40 years ago. I misunderstood that comment.

Jerry

Hey Jerry,

I think what we need is a very talented person to make a high quality Elefant kit...hint hint. Someoe whose work is amazing and whose engineering ablity is second to none...hint hint. Someone with a real understanding and love of the subject...hint hint. Someone we already know and respect.

By the way your site is great! You are a very talented builder, with great enginnering skills!

Don

Yes remember one man's trash is another man's fortune. or something like that. My uncle before he passed away (God rest his soul) bought and sold antiques so I know that some find it to be junk and others a great deal. He once bought a tea set from a railroad at a flea market for $20, cleaned it up and had a women who collects RR tea sets, that did not have this one in her collection buy it for $2500 sight unseen, to her it was a rare collectible and she had the money to afford it. I am not a collector by any means so if someone see's this as a great deal more power to them. I am neither here nor there on this, although it would be nice to have.

Cheers,
Wade

Good point Tanque, I don't disagree that this tank has aparticularplace in history and translated to physical currency. I what you've stated is very true. You as a collector know that it is not the original owner of the item that dictates the bought price, it's the buyer. The seller of asupposedcollectible item certainly can put any price he/she feels it's worth to them...but this doesn't make an item valuable "globally" when thought of as a for sale item.<div></div><div>First we must define what a personalcollectibleis and whatcollectiblesevolve to monetary gain. Everything and anything can be acollectible, this is no doubt. I'm sitting on tons of comic books and sculptures that date back to the 30's passed on from my father (waiting for him to give me Superman #1.) A lot of them are from significant companies who either no longerexistsor progressed to becomesubstantialcompanies and have their place in history....yet are worth a few dollars according to price list books. Surely age doesn't dictate me putting a high price tag on my items. But, because they have personal value to me, for me to let them go....you'd have to a) kill me or b) offer me some good, good money. Not because I think they are rare and to exploit peoples pockets....it's just valuable....to "me."</div><div></div><div></div><div>Bottemline is......I'd give you 4000 dollars for one of your built tanks on your site before I pay this! lol</div><div></div>

What he said.

Ahhhhhh.

Ah see there you have me, my models are all worthless. Worthless cause I never sell them. Worthless because I am the roach motel of model tanks: tanks check in but they don't check out... I've sold tanks only once when I was in a tailspin after losing a parent in 1984. Wanted to make changes, wanted to move forward so I sold several I had so I could buy a house.. Regretted it almost immediately. Spent the next years not resting until I got them back, all of them. I remember meeting a local guy years ago, when first he came by to see my 'stuff' he became very agitated when I wouldn't sell anything. "You people, you ever part with anything!"

Yep, I'm one of "those" people

Flattery, flattery. I think everyone is in a very good place right now to be able to build an Elefant. There are parts, tracks, wheels,, you name it. With the options there are why wait for Hooben?? Make your own just the way you want it Static, plain rc or full function complete with sound, smoke, animatronic crew and a mechanism to eject spent shell casings out the back
all while playing Edith Piaf's La Vie En Rose or Lale Anderson's Lilli Marlene...

Have fun out there gents.

Jerry