1949 Mercury Lead Sled

The car pictured sold at Dana Mecum’s Arlington Premier Auction in Arlington, Illinois on November 7, 1998 at no reserve, bringing $23,625, including buyer’s commission.

Estimated at $30-35,000, a value that even at this level is probably less than half what’s invested in it, this is typical of the re-sale performance of hot rods. The money spent on building one is about the only thing “going down in flames” today.