Snow Bet Is Big Loser

A Manhattan car dealership bet that it wouldn’t snow more than 4 inches Monday.

Looks like a losing bet.

Potamkin Automotive Center promised that all the cars it leased between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 would be free - for the life of the lease - if more than 4 inches of snow fell in Central Park on Jan. 8.

A blizzard hit New York City on Sunday and was expected to continue well into the day today.

More than 100 people took the dealer up on the offer and rented Cadillacs or Buicks.

“People are calling left and right,” said salesman Paul Koka. “They want to know where the snow has to be, because a lot of them live in Connecticut. But the deal is four inches or more in Central Park.”

Business at the showroom picked up after forecasters began predicting heavy snowfall the week after New Year’s. “A lot of people heard the predictions and took delivery at the last minute,” Koka said. “The last day, we were here until 9:30. Regular closing time is 8.”