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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The aircraft in this list have drawn attention for their rarity, history, or condition—but the dollar figures attached to them are not a current price guide. The source article, published July 30, 2023, promised 11 airplanes but named only 10. Its figures mix old asking prices, estimates, one reported auction result, and a rumored sale amount. Treat them as historical examples, not as evidence of what any aircraft would sell for today.
Why this list has 10 airplanes, not 11
The July 30, 2023, SlashGear article titled “11 Old Airplanes That Are Still Worth A Ton Of Money Today” contains headings for 10 aircraft. It does not identify an eleventh airplane in the article text. The entries below cover those 10 named aircraft and retain the source’s important distinctions between sale results, listings, estimates, and rumor.
None of the amounts below is an independently verified 2026 market value. SlashGear’s figures were published in 2023, and its article did not provide a consistent set of comparable transactions. Where the heading and article text disagree, both figures are identified rather than silently reconciled. SlashGear’s original article
10 old airplanes and the figures reported for them
| Aircraft | Figure reported | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 Taylor Aerocar | $275,000 | SlashGear reports this as a Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale sale in 2020. It is a dated sale result, not a present-day asking price. |
| 1943 Yakovlev Yak-9U-M | $569,000 in the heading | The supporting text instead describes post-Soviet replicas offered around $600,000 and a true vintage Yak-3 around $400,000. The article does not explain how those details support the $569,000 heading figure; it should not be treated as a verified sale. |
| 1944 Douglas DC-3 | $525,000 | A historical listing for a later 1944 model, according to the 2023 article. It also mentions a C-47 nearing restoration listed at $395,000. Neither amount is presented as a completed sale. |
| 1929 Ford Trimotor | $1.2 million | A Barrett-Jackson auction result reported by SlashGear for 2009. It is the clearest completed-sale figure in this list, but it is nearly two decades old and does not establish current value. |
| 1953 Hawker Sea Fury FB.MK 11 | $1.7 million | Described as an aircraft available at the time of the 2023 article. No completed transaction is given. |
| 1944 North American P-51 Mustang | $3 million or more | A generalized estimate in the article for a Mustang in flying condition, not the documented sale of a particular aircraft. SlashGear also says an incomplete fuselage could exceed $500,000. |
| 1979 British Aerospace Sea Harrier | $4.5 million | An asking price reported for a package of three aircraft, one described as flight ready. It is not an individual-aircraft sale price. |
| 1944 Supermarine Spitfire Mk XI | $4.9 million in the heading; $4.8 million in the text | The text describes a flying example listed at $4.8 million at the time of writing. The mismatch is unresolved, and neither figure is a completed sale. |
| 1945 Martin JRM Mars | $5 million | The 2023 article says the retired Hawaii Mars remained listed for sale at this asking price. It is not a reported transaction. |
| 1939 Messerschmitt Bf 109 | $6 million in the heading; $6.5 million in the text | The article describes a particular aircraft listed at $6.5 million. The difference from the heading is unexplained; the figure is an old asking price, not a sale result. |
| 1942 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress | $10.5 million in the heading | SlashGear says a B-17 sold in 2020 for an undisclosed amount rumored to be around $10.5 million. That is not a confirmed price. The article separately reports a $9 million 2021 asking price for a different, disassembled B-17. |
All figures and transaction descriptions in the table are claims reported by the 2023 SlashGear article, not independently confirmed auction or listing records. Source and context for the reported figures
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Why an old airplane can be valuable
Age by itself does not establish value. The SlashGear article cautions that older aircraft do not necessarily appreciate like classic cars; many small two- or four-seat airplanes in good flying condition may be relatively affordable. Its examples suggest that unusual rarity and prominent military history can draw high prices, but they do not amount to a standardized appraisal formula.
Rarity, condition, and airworthiness
A rare type may attract collectors, but an aircraft’s physical condition and whether it can fly matter to how it is evaluated. The P-51 example illustrates why condition changes the comparison: the article’s broad estimate for a flying aircraft is distinct from its statement about an incomplete fuselage. Those numbers are not interchangeable prices for equivalent aircraft.
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Documented history and provenance
A model’s reputation is not the same as a particular airframe’s documented story. The Museum of Aviation Foundation describes an F-100D whose significance to its collection included a known pilot’s combat missions and the aircraft’s connection to a local base. The institution says there are no hard-and-fast rules for historical value; that is a museum perspective, not a market formula. Museum of Aviation Foundation on aircraft history and meaning
The Cradle of Aviation Museum identifies its Blériot Type XI as a 1909 aircraft and describes its early-aviation role, original purchase by Rodman Wanamaker, and distinction as the first aircraft imported into America. That example shows why provenance can add significance beyond a type name. Cradle of Aviation Museum’s Blériot Type XI exhibit
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How to read a headline price before treating it as a value
- Check whether it sold. A completed sale is different from an asking price, an estimate, or a rumor. Even a confirmed old sale may not represent current market conditions.
- Identify exactly what was included. A three-aircraft package, an incomplete fuselage, a disassembled aircraft, and a flight-ready airplane are not comparable without accounting for their condition and scope.
- Look for the date and source. The figures here were reported in a 2023 article, with some examples dating to 2009, 2020, or 2021. The source does not supply independently verified current sale comparables.
- Check the specific airframe’s record. Provenance, operational history, and documentation can distinguish two aircraft of the same model.
A figure without those details is a headline, not a reliable appraisal. A buyer or owner would need current evidence about the specific airplane and transaction rather than relying on a list of historic examples.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
