This highly rare and collectible Abu Garcia 5500C bait casting reel is being offered by the ORIGINAL OWNER.
It is a one-of-a-kind, 47 year old collector grade item, in perfect condition, with a factory mis-stamped 1977 date code.
It was received from my employees as a Christmas gift that year, and has only been used 3 times that I can recall - the last around 1981 with my then 7 year old son.
It still has the original mono line that was loaded on it when I received it, mounted on a Garcia 9656A graphite rod.
That rod, shown in a photo and also in a separate ad, will also be available to the buyer at a discounted price if still available.
(The rod itself is less than pristine from being moved around in the garage over 47 years.
) Since last used it has been stored dormant in my garage, so it has some surface dirt that I have intentionally not cleaned off.
This reel is exactly as it came from the Swedish factory in 1977.
It has never been disassembled, and it was only used those limited 3 times in fresh water in Texas and Alabama.
I have purposely not tried to clean it except for the one side plate to photograph the identifying information.
Because this reel is so rare I did not want to do anything to impact it's collectibility; I will let the new owner choose the process.
The reel has been mounted on the original Garcia rod the entire 47 years without ever being removed until now.
That is when I discovered the date code had been so lightly stamped it is extremely difficult to make out the date.
I finally determined the second digit is a "7", making it an early production year of manufacture, the same year I received it.
If you look at other 5500C reels you never see a date code that has been mis-stamped, making this one of the rarist of the rare.
The reel also comes with all of the original factory literature, including the original spare parts list and warranty form, the spare parts kit and lubricant bottles, the original leather case, and the outer cardboard box.
Any dated literature is dated pre-1977.
Unfortunately the leather has deteriorated from the Birmingham heat, but it is all there if you wish to restore it.
This is a ONCE IN A LIFETIME opportunity for the serious angler or collector to own a truly rare piece of history.
The only way to get one of these in new condition today is to buy one of the custom made Japanese models costing hundreds of dollars more.
This is your chance to own a rare original, in virtually new condition, with a one-of-a-kind factory hiccup.
You will never find another one like it.
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