At an auction, one of the rare Plymouth Superbirds found a new owner for $175,000, which is a fairly good deal. Perhaps the relatively low price is related to the unusual history of this car – it previously belonged to former Sheriff Jamie Noel, who purchased it using state funds. During the investigation, the car was confiscated, and under other circumstances, it could have been sold for more.
Last year, Noel was sentenced to 15 years in prison for 27 counts of embezzling budget funds intended for the fire service and emergency medical services. Investigators uncovered extensive illegal spending on luxury travel, airplanes, clothing, and, in particular, a significant car collection.
According to the investigation data, he had two Superbird models from the 1970s alone, which raises questions about the effectiveness of financial oversight of his activities.
The 1977 Superbird sold at the auction is equipped with a 440-horsepower V8 Super Commando engine with a six-barrel carburetor. Factory specifications are 390 hp (290 kW) of power and 663 Nm of torque. The car has an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. It is one of the most valuable modifications of its time. According to the seller, it is an original specimen with only 42,109 miles on the odometer.
Given the rarity and condition of the car, its price could have been significantly higher. An analysis of recent auction sales shows that out of nine similar models, only one sold for less than $200,000. Meanwhile, another Superbird with 82,000 miles was sold for $172,000. Thus, the buyer got a real deal on a collector’s car.
Regardless of the sad history of its former owner, this Superbird remains an outstanding representative of the muscle car era. It’s just that its path to a new garage turned out to be unusual. Noel, in addition to imprisonment, is obligated to repay over $3.1 million in state funds. And the new owner of the car received not just a rarity, but also a piece of a scandalous history.