Pay your taxes or lose your Hemi

There isn’t much information on the IRS auction site: “Under the authority in Internal Revenue Code section 6331, the property described below has been seized for nonpayment of internal revenue taxes due from Taxpayer. The property will be sold at public auction as provided by Internal Revenue Code section 6335 and related regulations.”

Ventura Classics has been around for about 20 years, but it looks like they’ve got themselves into a little Willy Nelson. No surprise there in this economy, and it could happen to anyone. But didja have to seize their ‘69 Charger Daytona?

According to Ventura, they have Govier documentation stating it’s one of 11 surviving four-speed Hemi Daytonas. They also say it’s the most heavily-optioned build, and one of three with the original engine.

And now the IRS is accepting sealed bids. I’ll be interested to see how it does. Seized vehicles seldom live up to their potential, but aside from the means by which it’s coming up for sale there’s no suggestion of funny business. Then again, the Hemi market is in disarray right now.

Until recently I would have said that $400,000 wasn’t unreasonable. But I haven’t seen this car in person, so I can’t judge the quality (the Interstate battery isn’t a great sign). Ventura was asking $269,750, which was either indicative of the quality, realism in the current market, or a need to sell the car in a hurry with the Feds breathing down their neck. Hmm.