Value of Zebco 1970 black spin reel

[rolliec]

What is the value of a Zebco 1970 BLACK spin reel, good condition,no box. My research found that about 100 of these were made, but none sold on the general market. The 12 clear salesmen sample reels seem to be quite valuable. Thanks.

[Midway Tommy D]

What is the value of a Zebco 1970 BLACK spin reel, good condition,no box.

Not unlike most rare reels at any given time, it will depend on who's looking, or if it's in an auction format how many interested parties there are bidding on it. To bring top $ it needs to be NIB or in at least excellent condition w/ box. A couple of photos would actually better determine condition as that opinion somewhat varies from one person to another.

[clinton_beeler]

I don't know how much it's worth, but my father ran manufacturing at Zebco during that time. You are correct. He set up the production line for a "pre-production" run. These were only about 100 units to test the process. He said more than once that we should have made these. The last time I saw a price was in Ben Wright's book which listed a salesman's sample at $1200+. That was in 2006. Your reel lists at 600+. That was ten years ago and the number of existing reel can only go down. To get that price you would need the box and paper. You will probably never see a clear one. I can name where 7 are. R.D. Hulls reel is at Zebco and says "Zebco 2000" because they hadn't decided what to call it. Dick has one as well. The project was cancelled because it would have been competing directly with the Cardinal 4.

Hope this helps,
Clinton