I make an effort to closely monitor Bring A Trailer. It might appear that the period of cars fetching exorbitant prices has concluded, but that is not accurate — the excitement still persists. Extravagant auctions are still taking place on the platform, whether it’s a resale or an individual valuing a Honda Element with nearly 100,000 miles at over $10,000. For instance, consider the recent listing for a two-decade-old Oldsmobile.
General Motors discontinued Oldsmobile in 2004. In honor of the brand, the final 500 units of the brand’s lineup at the time — the Intrigue, Silhouette, Alero, Aurora, and Bravada — all received “Final 500” special editions. Evidently, with the belief that these vehicles would appreciate in value over time, an individual acquired one of the Final 500 Aleros and left it untouched for the subsequent 20 years. This Final 500 Alero has a mere 84 miles on the odometer and is essentially in showroom condition.
All the Final 500 editions were painted in Dark Cherry Red Metallic color and adorned with special heritage-inspired Oldsmobile badges all around. The interior boasts Light Neutral leather upholstery with Oldsmobile heritage logos embroidered on the seatbacks. It comes equipped with 16-inch wheels, a rear spoiler, and a Sun & Sound package that includes an upgraded stereo system and sunroof. Additionally, it features a performance suspension, although its power comes from a 200-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Apparently, these features were enticing enough for a buyer to make a winning bid of $24,000, which is undeniably absurd. Strip away the unique Final 500 elements, and you’re left with an Alero, which was never particularly exceptional to begin with. What adds further intrigue is that this vehicle had three previous owners over the past two decades. Records indicate that the initial two owners each held onto it for ten years but never actually drove it. Between the first and second owner, a mere 42 miles were added to the odometer, suggesting that they either stored it in hopes of appreciation or considered occasional resale attempts. Some comments even speculated that the winning bid might come close to the car’s original $26,400 MSRP; ultimately, it fell $2,400 short.
Congratulations to the winning bidder, I suppose? I anticipate witnessing this vehicle listed again in a few years as the owner endeavors to recoup their expenditure.
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