eBay Strato Bug

The tank looks real. We will see about the backplate. You scored huge if it’s the real deal. Good job!

The price showing is not correct, that was his starting price. Click on the (1bid) will show what I paid.
I offered 75 he shot back 125. I took a gamble if fake I'm hosed.

crankbndr wrote:The price showing is not correct, that was his starting price. Click on the (1bid) will show what I paid. I offered 75 he shot back 125. I took a gamble if fake I'm hosed.

I dunno, clicking on "see original listing", then "1 Bid". It shows $14.60 as the one and only bid. Perhaps E-Bay disallowed the 2nd bid and thus nullified it, giving it to you for starting bid price? If you got it for that, then even if it had a Sure Start piston set would still be a very good price.

According to them, you would were only obligated $25.25 with shipping included.

(In the Year 2525,
If control line stays alive,
If Cox engines can survive,
They may find ....)

I remember 2525


The eastern world, it is explodin
Violence flarin, bullets loadin
Your old enough to kill but not for votin
You don't believe in war, but whats that gun your toxin

crankbndr wrote:The eastern world, it is explodin
Violence flarin, bullets loadin
Your old enough to kill but not for votin
You don't believe in war, but whats that gun your totin

Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction (July 1965)

When I was in school they told us to hide under the desks in case of attack, the more things change the more they stay the same.

crankbndr wrote:When I was in school they told us to hide under the desks in case of attack, the more things change the more they stay the same.

I remember those days in the early 1960's. It was the same in Biloxi Mississippi schools. I was there 1964 - 1966 (4th through 6th grade). But, I was glad when I became 12 years old. I could buy cherry bombs, M-80's and larger than bottle rockets without having a parent present.

Brad Upton, Dry Bar Comedy wrote:When we were growing up, our parents let us play with guns, knives and fireworks. There were no dumb kids. You know why? They never made it!

Fireworks were had to come by down here back then. You could drive at 14 any vehicle under 5 horsepower, Cushmans, Vespas or any cycle under 50 cc, at 16 good to go.
You could drink at 18 also, it is a wonder i'm still here.

I saw this post earlier today on my phone, I was like $14.60! I would easily pay that for a fake one!


Now seeing you said you actually paid $125, that is still a good price if its real. Looking at the eBay auction, it only indicates that it sold for $14.60 (as Best Offer), instead of $125... not sure I like how eBay does that


Great find! I hope it turns out real.

It must be only me can see the price as the buyer. The backplate is turned funny and looks like lite wrench marks on exhaust ports. Can't see the head.
If real I'll try to run it and video if reed works.
At 14.50 wouldn't be much of a gamble

This is what I see:



Maybe someone looking to sell will see this and think that's all they're worth...and we'll get some good deals

If you look at his other listings he doesn't seem to know a lot about these engines and very short descriptions.
He might have been better off letting the auction run 7 days, I hit him shortly after start. Assuming its real.
The only other Cox I saw was a decent Golden Bee and he might think it worth 125+ now.

You beat me to the draw, Jacob. I see exactly the same thing. I don't like how E-Bay fudges the bids, it ought to show the exact end results. Perhaps this is more FAKE NEWS?

crankbndr wrote:Fireworks were hard to come by down here back then. You could drive at 14 any vehicle under 5 horsepower, Cushmans, Vespas or any cycle under 50 cc, at 16 good to go.

In Mississippi, Gulf Coast was kind of touristy, fireworks were available more readily, particularly around 4th of July.

I got my drivers license when I was 16. Didn't ride motorcycles until I was in college. Bought a well used 1971 Honda CB100 in 1979 for $300. It smoked a little, but my gas bill was $10 per month, parking at the U was $5 per semester, every major building had reserved motorcycle parking closest to the building. My 1968 Chevy Caprice (luxury Impala) was $40 per month gas, $65 parking in the U quarry 1/4 mile away. Motorcycle Insurance was a fraction the cost of the car. That bike help me survive the last 2 years of my training.

crankbndr wrote:You could drink at 18 also, it is a wonder i'm still here.

When I joined the Army in 1972, California drinking age was 21, but the military bases were under Federal, not State jurisdiction. They'd let anyone soldier on base drink at 18. But, you were not allowed to transport liquor off base if you were under 21. Also, they highly advised anyone from leaving the base intoxicated, because you could be cited for under age drinking by the State (AFAIK). Each military unit would have their own beer busts at the on base parks and clubs. Back in 1973, I even remember the NCO's enjoying a tour of the Primo Beer Factory in Pearl City (west suburb of Honolulu). We played a concert for the employees and guest, then there was free beer on the house. I was never a drinker, never developed a taste for liquor, but that was me, and I was out of the norm. But, I didn't object to others drinking. It was a different era then.

But, congrats on your bid. You've got a rare one. I haven't been quite as aggressive toward these, because I'm sort of a bang for the buck flier. It was only recent that I acquired a Medallion .09 RC and a Medallion .049 that I plan to convert to RC. Before except for one .020 Tee Dee, all the rest of my Coxes were reedies.
To each their own.

Thats wild, I had a 1968 Chevy Caprice SS also till I totaled it around early 80s

It looked like this only wasn't red



The interior was like this only all black

The one I had was a 4 door hardtop with 327 c.i. V-8. It was originally aqua blue-green metallic with a light blue interior, but since it belonged to my parents (they bought it new), several years later a wind storm scattered gravel off the roof onto the side of the car pelting little paint chips all over one side. We only had a carport, no garage. My father had it repainted in a light yellow to mimic his 1966 Malibu.

It had the same dashboard with electric clock, but no tachometer. There were the usual idiot lights and I think an engine coolant temperature gauge. It had a 3 speed automatic column shift and no air conditioning. (Back then, many cars sold in Hawaii didn't have A/C. Hottest it got there was high 80's during summer mid day. Rest of the year was mostly in the 70's with winter dipping down into the mid 60's at night.)

Since leaving the Army for college, my parents moved out of state and gave me their car in 1977. I had it only for one year, it was too expensive for a college student on the GI Bill and Hawaii's cost of living to afford, hence the motorcycle. I rode that motorcycle everywhere, even on short portions of the then H-1 "Interstate" Highway, doing 55 mph wide open throttle. Rode around the whole perimeter on Island of Oahu in less than a day on that bike. I still have it, just bought new tires for it.

Congrats, i'd bet it's real, fakes usually are all cleaned up with a line of BS attached. Glowhead looks correct, Kaysun white prop, tips trimed.

(car photo is just to post one from back-in-the-day!)

crankbndr wrote:

Wow, cool looking shifter.  Never seen one like that before.

That interior was cool, console with buckets. I don't have a photo of the car but someone caught me sitting in it around 1975.

Mark Boesen wrote:Congrats, i'd bet it's real, fakes usually are all cleaned up with a line of BS attached. Glowhead looks correct, Kaysun white prop, tips trimed.

(car photo is just to post one from back-in-the-day!)

I liked the 62 and 63s most, owned quite a few. This is my 62, had it painted yellow in 72. 283 with bench seats. The back seat was good for parking!!

A chevy fan will know what this one is.

crankbndr wrote:The price showing is not correct, that was his starting price. Click on the (1bid) will show what I paid.
I offered 75 he shot back 125. I took a gamble if fake I'm hosed.

It looks like a nice engine. It is going to clean up nicely. If it is fake, it will still make a good display engine. From the looks of it, I would bet that it is real. Good luck! Andy

crankbndr wrote:A chevy fan will know what this one is.

I used to fly for the Hallman Auto Group out of Erie, PA. Hallman Chevrolet was one of their dealerships. When the Caprice was discontinued there was an order for 25 police interceptors that would not be filled. As a result, that police department cancelled the order. What was originally going to be the last Caprice was transformed into the last full size Imapla SS. It had everything Chevy/GM had to offer, including a complete police interceptor package. Mr. Hallman got this car and kept it for himself. That was a fun car!