Aerocar One: A Flying Car You Could Buy Today — Or in 1954

The problem with the Transition is that it is not quite ready for customers. New aircraft have to go through many long rounds of Federal Aviation Administration tests before they can be sold to the public, and the Transition’s testing could take another year or more.

If you must have a flying car right away — and you have an enhanced sense of adventure — here’s an interesting option:

Courtesy Aircraft, a company that specializes in selling World War II-era fighter planes and other collectible flying machines, put a 1954 Aerocar One  on the market about a year ago for $1.3 million. Today it is still available, and the asking price is down to $975,000. While it lacks the Transition’s modern technology, materials and convenience, it has one clear advantage: you can actually put it in your hangar now.

Potential downsides include the intensive care and feeding that vintage aircraft require. The Aerocar, which spent years in a museum, also hasn’t had an annual inspection since the 1990s. It will need a current inspection and, almost certainly, some serious work before it can be flown.

The Aerocar is also pricey compared with the $279,000 Transition.