There is a lot to like about the early Cessna 180, especially with a P-Ponk engine, but the asking price on this seems a bit ambitious.
Very nice!
I sold my 180 a few years back – my biggest mistake ever!
I sold my 180 a few years back – my biggest mistake ever!
Which model did you have? I sold my K model in 2013. We had a great Cessna 180/185 fly in here in Ireland in 2009.
This site has some useful information on this type.
Am told the 180H may be the sweet spot: the airframes grew tougher as they evolved, but also the handling similar to a Cessna 170 of the early 180 variant became more truck like. Getting empty weight down below 1800 lbs combined with an upgraded -470 means a power to weight ratio not far from a Pitts S-2A.
Here is a motivated seller 180H looks like it is a horse that has been ridden a lot, and put away wet. Although in Africa probably dry :)
They are not trivial to maintain and the jack screw trim needs proper TLC.
Another 180H on planecheck. Some argue this is the best of the type and this example has the sought after Sportsman kit. With the kit, and am guessing this is due to the aileron gap seals, these 180s handle in a very nice, perhaps un-Cessna way. If I were in the n+1 aeroplane ownership category this would be a nice candidate!
https://www.planecheck.com?ent=da&id=53909
planecheck_N8SQ_53909_pdf
I haven’t flown a C180 with the Sportsman Kit, but the handling of the one I flew (very early, IIRC 1953 production) was like driving a dump truck, particularly in pitch. It did not seem to be a plane that you’d buy for the fun of flying it. The metal wing 170A that I flew earlier was much better in all axes although it’s worth noting that the original 1948 rag wing 170 has almost non-existent roll control at low speed, like a Tiger Moth.
Have only flown a 180B with Sportsman and I was pleasantly surprised (have a lot of hours on the venerable 182). The jackscrew pitch trim makes it quite precise for a ‘heavy’ tailwheel airplane, obviously not as nice feel as a Super Cub.
Anybody looking for Cessna 180A for sale could do worse than drop me a message. 
