Family selling 12-foot Ivar's clam on eBay

[flamingyouth]

Ivar's grand clam, the 12-foot bivalve that graced many a Seafair Torchlight Parade, is being peddled on eBay. The big clam is parked in a yard in Des Moines waiting for someone, anyone, to buy it. At first, no one dug this clam. But this morning there were at least 13 bids. Bidders have until July 21 to make an offer or keep clam.

"It would really be so cool as an entrance to a park or a hotel or a clam processing plant," said Traci Buxton, who rescued the Ivar's sign when it was on the way to the dump. "It seems like somebody around here would think it's way too cool to saw it up and throw in the trash."

Buxton took possession of the giant wood, mesh and foam clam when a friend, who is a salvager, contacted her and said he was taking it to the dump. The salvager knew Buxton sold items on eBay and asked whether she was interested. She was, though her husband wasn't.
The clam is 12 feet long, 12 feet tall and 7 feet wide. It weighs 700 pounds. It has a spout on its head that shoots water, as clams do. The name "Ivars," in big letters, adorns both sides.

The clam was built in the late 1980s as part of an Ivar's advertising campaign. After appearing in several parades, it was retired about 10 years ago and put in storage, said Kerri Lewis, Ivar's spokeswoman. "It had a parade life and then retired," said Lewis. "It was time to let it go. It was pretty old."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002382734_keepclam15m.html

[Fenris]

1. That would look so good in the backyard.

[flamingyouth]

2. My birthday is coming up...

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLAM-GIANT-IVARS-PLAYGROUND-STATUE-GARDEN-FOUNTAIN-SIGN_W0QQitemZ7700676465QQcategoryZ208QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I agree - we should put it in the backyard!! :D

[Fenris]

3. 24 bids already....this is gonna be a scorcher.

I so want that.

[flamingyouth]

4. The teeny-tiny would love it!

:D

[Fenris]

6. Oh yes indeed!

Especially the spray function. :D

[flamingyouth]

9. Perfect for hot days! Forget running through the sprinkler!

We're all going out back to sit next to the giant clam!:rofl:

[Fenris]

10. ROFL

:D:D:D:D

[bigwillq]

5. What's the highest bid so far?

:shrug:

I think that clam is really cool!

[Fenris]

7. $247

http://cgi.ebay.com/CLAM-GIANT-IVARS-PLAYGROUND-STATUE-GARDEN-FOUNTAIN-SIGN_W0QQitemZ7700676465QQcategoryZ208QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Gormy Cuss]

8. Oh that would freak out the neighbors so much.

I need it for my front yard. I'd even hook up the pissah again and have a nice little fountain. It would be a good balance to the faux bridge over a faux creek in the neighbor's front yard.