1940s Chevy Dealer re-opens to Auction off 500 Time Capsule Cars

[teedubya]

http://www.messynessychic.com/2013/0...-capsule-cars/

Car collectors dream about finding a forgotten “new” classic car, discovered in a barn or warehouse somewhere, covered in dust. This is that dream, only 500 times better….



A small-town Midwestern dealership in Pierce, Nebraska sold Chevrolets to local families and first-time buyers for 50 years until it’s husband and wife team finally closed their doors seventeen years ago. Since then, a staggering inventory of 500 surviving cars, new & used, have been stored away, undriven for decades. Some 50 cars “brand new” Chevrolets from the 1950s and 60s have less than 10 miles on the odometer.



Ray and Mildred Lambrecht are now in their 90s and have made what is described by their daughter Jeannie, as a “a difficult and painful” decision, to liquidate the dealership’s massive inventory of ‘survivor vehicles’. On September 28th and 29th, 2013, VanDerBrink Auctions will have the honor of selling this incredible, once in a lifetime collection of American automotive history.

[ptlyon]

Wonder if the gas monkey guys will be there

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

A friend of mine growing up had a Monza with a v8 in it. Had to drop the engine to change the spark plugs. Damn thing was a rocket.

Interesting.

In all seriousness, what do we think a brand new 1980 Monza or brand new Vega station wagon would go for? I can see a market for the 1950s stuff and the 1960s stuff, but I'm wondering how many buyers there will be for the 1970s stuff. Maybe that's my bias showing since those cars were common on the street when I was a kid so I don't think of them as collectible.

[ptlyon]

I wouldn't say much, RM, unless you're taking Pintos

[Brando]

Reminds me of Citation Motors, an abandoned BMW Dealer in Ontario Canada.

Several articles can be found on Jalopnik

More pics here

Some interesting personal stories if you want to sift through 14 pages of posts at maXForums

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Auto restoration guys are going to lose their minds over this stuff.

These are going to be all original, numbers matching vehicles with straight frames and no wear and tear. A restorer can get in there, blast out some rust, polish the paint, tighten up screws/suspension, etc... and have themselves an amazingly rare vehicle.

Those cars will go for a lot and the people that buy them are going to be guys willing to put even more money into them to get them back to showroom new.

One question I have is what they do with it AFTER it's restored. Do you really want to drive a car with 5 miles on it?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by DaFace

One question I have is what they do with it AFTER it's restored. Do you really want to drive a car with 5 miles on it?

Take it to Mecum. Or to every car show you can find.

No, they'll almost certainly never drive it. In fact, I'd say maybe 10% of the new cars in this auction will ever truly see the road again, apart from maybe a poker run or other charity event.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaFace

One question I have is what they do with it AFTER it's restored. Do you really want to drive a car with 5 miles on it?

My guess would be that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will buy most of them and then crash them into new cars.

[ptlyon]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

My guess would be that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety will buy most of them and then crash them into new cars.

Thought cash for clunkers ended years ago?

[teedubya]

Originally Posted by Phobia

I'd consider rolling with you if it works with my schedule. Once in a lifetime there.

I may go with you ****ers. This is an insane find. These cars will go for shitloads, and it will be amazing to see.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Interesting.

In all seriousness, what do we think a brand new 1980 Monza or brand new Vega station wagon would go for? I can see a market for the 1950s stuff and the 1960s stuff, but I'm wondering how many buyers there will be for the 1970s stuff. Maybe that's my bias showing since those cars were common on the street when I was a kid so I don't think of them as collectible.

That Vette will go in the high 30s I would imagine.

[Donger]

Wow, that's nuts. Couldn't they have put a sheet over them or something, though?

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by cdcox

Only 18 years.

I had a '70 Monte Carlo and a '76 Cutlass both of which I drove well after most of their peers and hit the junk yard. I guess I've burnt myself out on driving out of date cars.

I love my 2012 Mazda3 every day I drive it. It's nothing special in terms of luxury or performance, but is such a pleasure to drive compared to everything else i've ever driven.

I have a 2011 Sonata; great little car. It has the 275 HP turbo and the sport package so it will run like a MFer and turn on rails. All the nav and leather and crap, so it's comfy as well.

That said, all three days this week I brought the '67 Camaro in. Why? It's just an entirely different feeling. No radio, just the exhaust note through the flowmasters. It dances on the road a little and there's harmonic where the exhaust sits in the hangers when you idle, but who cares? You have 400+ HP of road-torching fury at your disposal and even if you don't use it (and I rarely have), it's still just fun to run around town in that thing with the windows down and the sun shining on it.

It's no different than motorcycle days. Sure, the car's easier, safer and cleaner, but some days I just want to be on the bike because it's an entirely different feeling being on the road.

They're not the same creature at all.

[Donger]

What is this one?

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Take it to Mecum. Or to every car show you can find.

No, they'll almost certainly never drive it. In fact, I'd say maybe 10% of the new cars in this auction will ever truly see the road again, apart from maybe a poker run or other charity event.

That makes perfect sense, and yet is sad at the same time.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

That Vette will go in the high 30s I would imagine.

Yeah, those anniversary vettes develop a bit of a following.

And I still think that the late 70's corvettes will find a market in the coming years. Just like the early 80's 911s, I think they're very underrated cars that just never developed a following among collectors.

I think they're great buys if you're looking to get into classic cars and don't want to spend a ton.