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William (Bill) Beall
Re: Bill Warner
I for one, appreciate William Harrell’s update on Bills recent bout with cancer. At our last class reunion, I was supposed to meet Bill at his home. When I arrived, his wife Jane invited me into their living room and informed me that Bill was on his way home. I asked how she & Bill were doing and she replied “I’m fine but Bill had recently been diagnosed and treated for cancer. Jane did not elaborate on the type of cancer, but stated “For now, Bill’s health is good.”
I had driven my 2011 Mercedes GullWing to the reunion and thought Bill would like to see it… Perhaps, take it out for a spin. It was Bill that shared his expertise on investing in Vintage Automobiles. Bill stated that he did not understand that much about the Stock Market. “I feel it’s manipulated with their ultra fast computers.” However, I do know about collector cars and feel I’m better off dealing with cars than in the stock market.” At that time, I did not realize how important this casual conversation would be to me and my future investments in Classic Collectable Cars.
One of my best fiends at Landon was Randy Groom. We were both on the Baseball Team and lived off San Marco
Blvd. Randy’s Dad was a Car Salesman for Burwell Chevrolet. I told Mr Groom Sr that some day… I would come back to Jax and buy a Corvette from him. Ten years later, I made good on my promise and I finally purchased a 1971 Corvette. I sold it in 1981 for same price I had originally paid. I mentioned this to Bill Warner, that my 71 Vet never lost its original value during the ten years that I owned it. Bill stated that “Vets” were indeed “Collectable” however, there are other makes that would in time, appreciate in value, much more than american cars. I asked Bill to recommend some and he said “Mercedes raced 300 SL Gull-Wings in 1953-56 and 300 SL Roadsters in 1957-63 and won a lot races in Europe.” This was strictly done for publicity to increase car sales. Bill mentioned these Gull-Wings had doors that raised straight up… (Like wings on a Seagull) but the windows do not roll down!!! With no AC… they are hotter than HELL!!!
I found a Gullwing priced @ 60 G’s…too much for my wallet and a Mercedes Roadster which was priced @ 43 G’s. Bill said he believed both models will double or even triple in resale price. A good investment for sure! In 1985, I purchased a 1961 Mercedes Roadster 300 SL which had conventional doors with windows that do roll down and are much cooler… But still no AC!
The year 1961 was the year we graduated and a very good year for a great sports car. I ordered my License Plate to simply print 1961. My young son Jordan, installed my license UP SIDE DOWN. Guess What? It still reads 1961 !!! Bill advised me that if I ever wanted to sell my Roadster, call him and he would put it in his Concours d’Elegance Car Auction at Amelia Island. I had no plans to sell this car during 30 years I owned it. However, in 2014 one of the 29 original Aluminum Body 1954 Factory “Gull Wing” Race Cars was sold at Auction for $4.2 Million. This made the value of all Mercedes Gull Wings & Roadsters increase to a Million Plus. I called Bill and requested he place my 1961 Roadster in his next Auction. It sold for my asking price. Bill advised me to use some of the proceeds to immediately purchase another car. Why? I asked. He explained “This will reduce my State & Federal Income Taxes on the profit I made on the sale of my Roadster. Therefore, I purchased a 2011 AMG 6.3 Mercedes (“Replica Gulling” ) from Rick Hendrick Mercedes here in Charlotte, NC. The Sales Mgr informed me that locally, Michael Jordan had purchased a black one and that Dale Earnhart Jr was given a silver one for his birthday by Mr Hendrick.
I ordered my car to be “Resale Red” which Bill Warner stated “Red Cars and First Edition Models” (First Year Production Cars) always bring more money. (Note: These “Replica Gull Wings” were sold from 2011 thru 2013 with a total production of only 1200 cars.) Hopefully, this new modern version “Gull Wing” will also increase in value by the time I turn it over to my son Jordan.
To say the least, I am very fortunate that Bill Warner shared with me, his expertise on Collectible Cars. Perhaps, some of my fellow classmates were as fortunate as myself. Thanks again Bill. Get Well Soon! I hope to see you
and Jane this year at Amelia Island.
Sincerely,
Bill Beall
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