How much costs a Warbird?

[Che_Guevara]

Hey all,

I was wondering that nobody has asked this before, but maybe I´ve just missed the right thread ;)

So how much would a flyable P-51, which is in good condition, cost and how much a replica. I don´t mean these special warbrids, like Glacier Girl with a cost of 20 million bucks until there were other P-38s, which changed the owner for much less?

Cheers,
Che.

[Double T]

Che:
I seem to recall reading that in those early post-war days, a Lockheed P-38L Lightning with full fuel-tanks could be had for the princely sum of $1,500.00 US.

I was born in 1954 and I can recall growing-up with a wide variety of military-surplus items. There was an absolute boon in post WW2 and the deals on a dizzying array of military surplus were supposed to have been pretty amazing. I remember P-38 can-openers and lots, and LOTS of c-rations. I loved digging through and finding neat things to sample. The peanut butter wasn't the best, and those GD lima-beans earned a special hatred. Field-jackets and gloves, radar-style hats and all that stuff... for mere pennies on the dollar.
Dad and his brother each owned a surplus Willys Jeep and trailer. I'll never forget the distinctive sound of a Jeep engine.

Tim

[Che_Guevara]

Hey Tim,

nice read, sometimes I just wish to be able to travel through the time. Getting back in the late 40s buying a Lightning for (almost) free and enjoying this lovely plane nowadays. ;)
I also like Willys MB and compared to a warbird this pleasure ist much cheaper.

So far,
Che.

[livingwarbirds]

I've seen some ads for P-51s with price of $1 mil and above.

This is a pretty cool 3/4 scale Mustang though: http://www.titanaircraft.com/aircraft.php?aircraft_id=1

[Che_Guevara]

I found three interessting offers at www.aero-auktion.com, like the YAK-3UA http://www.aero-auktion.com/angebotdetails.php?selectlotid=1500# and the YAK-3 http://www.aero-auktion.com/angebotdetails.php?selectlotid=1494 Additional the most interessting offer, for an original P-51 Mustang, worth 1.650.000€ http://www.aero-auktion.com/angebotdetails.php?selectlotid=1456

So we got at least one price impression for a warbird. Next question would it be easier or cheaper to rebuild an aircraft? For example the P-51 mentioned in the link above. Would it be ways cheaper to rebuild a P-51 1to1 ?

Cheers