The Alpine Fighter Collection's Hawker Hurricane MkIIA failed to sell at auction in Melbourne on Sunday night.
Bonhams and Goodman auction house specialist Catherine Davison, of Melbourne, said when contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday the 1940 World War 2 fighter plane passed in at $A2.4 million ($NZ2.8 million).
The auction company would still like to find a buyer for it.
"We hope to negotiate.
"But there's not much we can say, at this point," Ms Davison said.
The aircraft is still on display at the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum at Wanaka Airport.
It was offered for sale through the Melbourne branch of the London auction house, Bonhams and Goodman.
It was the first time a fully operational Hurricane had been offered for auction.
The Hurricane was expected to fetch between $A2 million and $A4 million.
It is one of 11 airworthy examples of the Hurricane and is a survivor of the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain.
