While I am not an aviation expert, I do have preferences when it comes to planes. Really, anything by Beechcraft is going to be right up my alley, as these just seem to be the most overly-styled planes of their era. Call it art deco or just more inspired than your conventional Cessna, it doesn’t matter to me – these are just far prettier than many of its counterparts. The Bonanza was a wonderful design and it still looks stunning today when in condition like this one, which has been extensively refreshed and has only 35 TTAF. Find it here on eBay with bids to just over $30,000 and no reserve.
The Bonanza benefits from fresh paint, a critical detail we don’t see on very many planes that come up for bid. The paintwork looks great, and it reminds me of a similar Beechcraft H35 that was also restored a few years back and benefited from a new paint job – it’s transformative. The seller claims the paint and the interior are both 10 out of 10s, so it’s pretty obvious this Beechcraft has been extensively gone through. Based on the hours its flown, this beautiful C-35 hasn’t seen much use since its rejuvenation. It’s currently hangared in Florida at Marianna Airport.
The Beechcraft is powered by a Continental E-185-11 engine that makes 205 horsepower. The seller doesn’t report whether the engine has been rebuilt or otherwise serviced, but one would assume with the low hours, that it was overhauled at some point. My research indicates this engine came with 185 horsepower stock, so the rating the seller offers may indicate some engine work to squeeze some extra performance out of the Continental engine. The listing indicates the Beechcraft is currently undergoing its annual inspection, but the seller invites local buyers to come and check it out in person.
The interior looks quite nice, but this is the only photo we have to go with. The seats look lovely, and unlike some aircraft of this size, it does look like four adults can sit comfortably inside, but I believe it is officially a six-seater. The Bonanza is the longest-tenured production aircraft in aviation history, with more than 17,000 built to date. The active bidding indicates most bidders are seeing what I’m seeing, which is a vintage aircraft that has had very real money spent on it in recent years, and even with a high sale price, it will likely still be cheaper than performing all of this work on a needier example.
The V-tailed Bonanza has been out of production for some time, but the Bonanza plane is still being built with a conventional tail. These V-tails are very nice-looking. This plane could be mine if I had a hangar and pilot’s lessons!
Rented one out of Long Beach to fly to Catalina in late 70’s and half way, smoke came from dash. Marker lights shorted out. Both Son and Daughter with us. Did not say anything to them.
Otherwise an enjoyable plane to fly.
Ahh, the venerable old Doctor Killer
I believe I know the owner and have flown this one. Still has the electric prop where you switch from climb to cruise rpms. The tail walk on descent takes a bit getting use to.
Where is the 35TTAF coming from? The ad says “BEECH C-35 1952 BONANZA, ONLY 5549 TTAF, E-185-11 205hp 1248 SMOH”
Over 5k hours means this plane was flown ALOT, which isn’t necessarily bad.
It looks like an nice airplane and if it has a good fresh annual and all the AD’s complied with it could be a nice aircraft for the price. Figure 20K for a fresh radio stack. They are relatively fast for their engine size and it has a very nice paint scheme. If you are over 5’10” you better sit in it before you buy it. With the wing spar running through the cabin, it is CRAMPED.
And I should have gone to the ad (like Jay did) before posting my own comments.
Going to add to Jay’s comments. 1248 SMOH. If memory serves, E185’s have a 1500 hour TBO (Time Between Overhaul). That’s not an absolute requirement if the aircraft is in private use, just keep an eye out for indications of excessive wear (ex. metal in the oil at oil changes). But if the aircraft is being used for commercial use, the insurance company (and say,.. injured passengers) can use flying past TBO as grounds for a variety of legal damages.
Minor nitpick. No way this plane has 35 hours TTAF (Total Time Airframe), despite looking showroom fresh. Probably meant 35 hours SMOH (Since Major Overhaul).
The x35 Bonanzas fained the reputation of “Dr. Killer” from doctors that would learn to fly in Cessnas or Pipers, then turn right around and buy the “latest and greatest” ie, expensive, Bonanza. Higher performance. Someone (organization?) found that a significant number of these doctors then attempted to fly into IFR conditions without having acquired an IFR rating. Recipe for disaster – and a meme. :-)
Well… I have owned over a 1000 airplanes..since I was a Used airplane dealer for over 25 years… These old V Tails… have more recurring Ad’s that Carter has liver pills… BEECH parts are ridiculously expensive… You have to remember.. whether you are buying parts for an old plane like this.. You are still buying parts for a plane today… Bonanza… that can cost over a million dollars New… and a New Radio Stack for 20 GRAND… I almost Choked when I read that statement… Show me a New Radio Stack for 20 Grand… you dont have a clue… believe me…
Thanks guys the TTAF number almost made me choke on my coffee! My dad was the one I first heard the term Dr killer from, and I never forgot it. Nice looking plane but LOTS of omissions which are important and potentially costly! No pics of the panel, to confirmed time on engine and prop. I was all the specs on instruments including all radios, glide slope DME, ADF, transponder and all backups! The plane then needs a corrosion inspection! Lots and lots of questions that need addressing!
ONLY 5549 TTAF, E-185-11 205hp 1248 SMOH
Interesting piece of history. I’ll stick with my classic cars which are not designed to fly. Flying an classic plane would scare the crap out of me. When they crash..you might die.
Fortunately, when a classic car crashes you don’t die I guess. Not sure why some folks like to brag about fear of flying.
I got my license in 1985 and have owned a C150, C182, 2 different Cirrus SR22’s and a 1958 Piper Comanche 250. I have reached an age where I don’t feel safe and put up my wings. Anyone who says they have no fear in flying is fooling themselves.
The owner is a retired Air Force fighter pilot (Viet Nam vet) who then retired from Delta as a pilot. He has owned this plane since the late 60’s and I know he did have the engine rebuilt a few years ago. I haven’t flown with him in a number of years but the avionics are older the last time I flew it.
I got my license in 1965 and have owned a Navion and a Bellanca Viking. Just passed 3rd class medical and fly about once a month in a 172. Lost an engine in the Viking enroute from Jacksonville to Tampa, and again when leaving Pensacola. Guess I’m fooling myself ’cause I “… have no fear in flying”. I have respect for the possible risks, just as I do for driving an automobile. Which I don’t “fear” either.
Airplanes are out of my realm, but it looks like a nice one. Seems al these small planes are always from the 50’s or 60’s. The V tail is like the standard image of a small airplane. My biggest gripe is a “bottom wing” limits your view down. It remains the one thing that I regret in my life, is I never learned to fly. And don’t say, “it’s never too late”, in this case, living on $1200/mo.,and instruction costing upwards of $10g’s, or more,, yes it is too late.
WHEN AVGAS went to over 5 dollars a gallon… and it cost somewhere in the
neighborhood of 300 dollars to fill up a Piper Cherokee.. I QUIT…. I used to fly from Ohio To Florida in a Piper… Nowadays.. it would cost over 500 dollars in Gas.. when I can get on Allegiant for about 75 bucks… sip a coke..and be there in 2 hours…
Flying nowadays is not cheap. I started with a piper 140 then to a piper arrow then to a Mooney. When I started flying the Mooney it was around 200.00 per he to fly it and that included everything, hanger, insc, annual etc. 10 years later the operational costs were well over 400.00 an HR to operate that plane!
I chuckle some at the replies about flying being expensive. As with a boat, just find a friend with a plane ( or boat). I have a close friend that always had a stable full of planes over the years. Everything from a J3 Cub to a King Air. I got a lot of experience in a lot of planes. Now he has trimmed the herd and only has one plane now. A Citation III complete with pilot on the payroll. Now we sit in the back and drink Bloody Mary’s while flying to his condo in Key West.
Gosh, his Social Security check must be stretched really thin. He must work part time at McDonalds to make up the difference. A lot of us oldsters do stuff like that these days. Not like it once was, that is for sure.
If i recall correctly, these early Bonzanza have a welded steel center section spar that requires a penetrant die inspection yearly. Also the flight control skins are pure magnesium and subject to corrosion.
Many years I almost bought a clean early one like this and chickened out after I thought about the fact that the owner was a Colonel in the Air Force and if he couldn’t afford it, how could i?
Ended:
Jul 08, 2021
Winning bid:
US $33,100.00
[ 41 bids ]
Item location:
Panama City, Florida,